Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) Surgery Options

You are not alone. I haven't had any procedure yet and share your malady. Age related, I say.

I've been dealing with BPH since I was 44, I'm now 60. When I was 52 I had green light laser surgery, but after just 3 years I was back on the meds. A month ago I started bleeding in my prostate which lasted for 12 days. I saw a urologist at UIHC and I'm scheduled to have transurethral bipolar enucleation on July 1st. I'm praying to G-d for a lasting solution. He's got this and I'm in His hands.

So sorry to hear that. I struggle to understand how that must feel for you. I trust you get a very satisfactory long term solution after what you have been through from a relatively young age. Keep the faith, take care and keep us informed when you can.

After telling my doctor that myrbetriq worked for overactive bladder but did nothing for my nightly visits to the bathroom, he prescribed Dutasteride 0.5mg (Avodart) saying it would shrink the prostate after 2-6 months. Has anyone any experience?

Anyone had experience with Prostatic Artery Embolization (PAE)?

Welcome, Bruce. I know that @bill5letsfixthis was considering Prostatic Artery Embolization. Perhaps he will have some information to share with you. In the meantime, this article may help as you make your decision:

- What is a Prostatic Artery Embolization? What can I expect? https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/prostatic-artery-embolization

And this video with Dr. Chandler Dora, a Mayo Clinic urologist, who shares more about benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), otherwise known as enlarged prostate, and the various treatments available.

Bruce, what options are you considering?

Colleen,

Thank you for those references. I will say that those references lead to others about PAE and to a great overview of treatments by an Arizona Mayo doc. I have also found online an enthusiastic discussion of PAE by members of the Yale Medical School.

As to my own treatment, I'm looking forward with an open mind to my first visit with a Mayo team on July 7.

Bruce I see you wished to add the URLs to the resources you referenced above. You will be able to add URLs to your posts in a few days. There is a brief period where new members can't post links. We do this to deter spammers and keep the community safe. Clearly the links you wanted to post are not spam. Please allow me to post them for you.

- Yale Medicine Prostate Artery Embolization https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/prostate-artery-embolization

And these videos
https://youtu.be/8IO86t1Eeac

Good researching. It's good to be well informed for your first visit with your Mayo team.

Thank you Colleen for remembering me, I thought no one had any interest in this subject.

Bruce, I’m away from my office until Thursday but I have some information there that may be helpful. I did find out that the pre procedure process is important for the success of the procedure. If I remember correctly if enlargement is in inner lobe there is a higher rate of failure, I’ll confirm that Thursday.

I am seriously considering the procedure after my Uro recommended me going on finasteride in addition to tamsulosin. Too many negative problems with that. I decided to research alternatives and found different studies on botanicals that I thought I would try. I used all the clinical strengths and must say in conjunction with tamsulosin I am pretty much improved with no reason to rush to do anything else at this time. My goal is to eventually get off tamsulosin, which I have tried every other day with no problems but I won’t go any further without doctor’s supervision. Talk to you soon,
Bill

Hi Bruce,

This is what I found out about PAE. If you have a large median lateral lobe there is a high rate of PAE failure. I don't know how high but that is definitely a consideration. Of course the pre procedure exams are important especially the arteriogram to see the vascular system. I have looked into a number of interventional radiologists and found that there are some around the country that claim to have high success rates, some as high as 98%, but I think the average is much lower at 76-80%. I have not gone any further as I mentioned I am doing quite well with my own combination of botanicals and tamsulosin. Good luck, let us know your progress and what you find out.

Best,
Bill