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Tulsa Pro Experience, Mayo Clinic MN – July 2024

Posted by jcf58 @jcf58, Jul 19, 2024

Gleason 7 (4+3). I was treated Wednesday July 17, 2024. I checked in at 7am, entered the MRI/Tulsa suite at 8:15, and woke up in the recovery room around 11:30am. Approximately 30% of my prostate was ablated. I woke up with no pain and catheter in. The first 5-6 hours of the catheter were a little tough as I felt an urgent need to pee, but you can’t because you have the catheter in. Was fine after that. I did take Oxybutynin for bladder spasms at night. At 12:30pm, I walked out of the hospital and 2 blocks to my car to be driven home to Minneapolis.
Over the course of the next 40 hours, I just needed to regularly empty the catheter bag and continued to have no pain. Didn’t even take a Tylenol. The morning after TULSA I took my normal 2 mile walk. Catheter was removed at 7:45 Friday morning and I was good to go home. Catheter removal was not bad and they had to ensure I could pee on my own before release. Urine stream is about half of normal but will improve as inflammation of urethra declines. No medication needed at this point.
I did a ton of research before deciding on TULSA Pro. I talked to 7 different doctors. 4 current and 3 retired (1 had RP and another had radiation). The technology and low risk of side effects made this an easy choice for me. I was also fortunate to have the cancer contained in a fairly small lesion.
I couldn’t be more pleased with the procedure and my care at Mayo.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

datatech | @datatech | Mar 20 6:12am
In reply to @bobbygene "I almost feel guilty for the ease of recovery from my TULSA procedure. I didn't need..." + (show)
@bobbygene

I almost feel guilty for the ease of recovery from my TULSA procedure. I didn't need any meds for pain or spasms. I took the antibiotic and Flomax. Stopped Flomax after 3 months and didn't see any difference in stream. My stream is back to pre TULSA and I seldom have to get up at night. The Dr. asked if I wanted Viagra and I took his offer. He wrote it to an online pharmacy called Cost Plus. 12 tablets were only $5 plus postage. It works well and the cost is great. My GF thinks I'm a stud.(:

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How long for your urine stream to return to normal? I am probably impatient, well, actually I am impatient about it. Prior to TULSA I almost never woke at night to urinate, now, I am up maybe twice a night. Of course I am not completely healed but still, I want this over with. 🙂

I am off Flomax in another week or so, I really don't like the stuff as it makes me slightly sleepy during the day. Not so bad that I can't function but if I sit down, I will want to sleep.

REPLY
jcf58 | @jcf58 | Mar 20 8:22am

It was a couple months for me. But I always had full control which is better than some of the other procedures out there! Be patient. You likely still have swelling and some ablated tissue keeping stream restricted. Good news for me is I only have to get up once per night now vs twice before procedure.

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datatech | @datatech | Mar 20 4:44pm
In reply to @jcf58 "It was a couple months for me. But I always had full control which is better..." + (show)
@jcf58

It was a couple months for me. But I always had full control which is better than some of the other procedures out there! Be patient. You likely still have swelling and some ablated tissue keeping stream restricted. Good news for me is I only have to get up once per night now vs twice before procedure.

Jump to this post

Thank you, it is good to know your experience is similar as mine. My biggest indicator of improvement is the first morning 'pee'. At first very, it was very weak but now has improved. I have also noticed the stream is now better when sitting on the toilet that what it was right after the procedure. I am making improvements and healing so I am happy. I just need to be patient. 🙂

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