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Eight days past HoLEP. Happy to answer questions.
HoLEP Experience
I am 8 days past a hoLEP procedure and wanted to share my experience and offer to answer any questions. I was nervous prior and found this site helpful.
69 year old male. Tacoma area resident so traveled to Phoenix for the procedure. Large prostate, 200g. Flomax user but ability to urinate was deteriorating and occasionally needed to self-catheter. Ugh. I needed to do something. Otherwise healthy.
Surgery performed by Dr. Briggs and supervised by Dr. Humphries.
Four hours on operating table. Some bleeding beyond normal required an overnight stay (for which I was grateful).
So far I consider the surgery an overwhelming success. Still a little blood in urine and minor discomfort. Almost zero involuntary leakage of urine (and I was living with some prior to surgery). The first 24 hours after are difficult, uncomfortable and a bit painful. But much less so than I anticipated. Passed a moderate amount of blood and some decent sized clots. I was only on pain medication for three days after and it was only Tylenol. Thank god no opioids. My urine flow is strong and the discomfort (feeling like you need to hold back urine while peeing) eases a bit every day.
My care at Mayo has been outstanding. Dr. Briggs is young and very confident and competent. I trusted him from day one. Dr. Humphries is a legend and exudes confidence. I was pleased he was supervising. Nurse Grace in Observation was outstanding. Everyone at Mayo epitomizes caring, competent, professional medical care.
Has not all been perfect but I am very pleased. Fire away if any questions.
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@hoytgier
After my recent visit and UroFlow and Cystoscopy procedures it's probably time to do something. Talked to one of the docs at Mayo yesterday and we discussed water ablation and HoLEP. I will have a powwow in January with one of the docs who will do a procedure. At this point I'm favoring HoLEP. I guess they use your rectum for their flouroscopic flashlight.
@bajjerfan Well, at least you know and you are making progress. Good to continue researching. I don’t remember water ablation being discussed as an alternative for me but from what I know it seems a reasonable alternative to HoLEP. Today I am exactly three weeks past my surgery, HoLEP. I’ll update at one month but the short version is that I could not be happier with the results of my procedure and the progress of my recovery. And the care I got from Doctors Briggs and Humphries and the whole staff at Mayo Phoenix was absolutely top shelf. Highest recommendation.
For those who have had HoLEP done at Mayo Rochester which hospital did they use?
@bajjerfan Phoenix. I will post a one month update tomorrow. Good luck with your decision.