I wanted to give you all a brief report on my very successful PVP procedure
three weeks ago.  I am 50 yrs old and had a 50 gram prostate with pretty
severe BPH symptoms.  I had been taking Floxmax for several years and more
recently Dextra LA to help with urgency.  I was having to strain to force
urine to flow most of the time.  
This year I decided to undergo the surgery and with the help of some of the
posts on this message board, decided to have a PVP.  I am extremely pleased
with the result and feel like a new person.  Also am very happy not to be
taking Flomax any longer which for me caused pretty bad congestion.  I can
sleep though the night without waking to use the bathroom, and feel in control
of when I use the bathroom.  It had been quite a while since I remember being
able to say either of those statements.

I did not spend the night in the hospital, but left the hospital with a catheter
and took it out the next morning.  I was a little disappointed to need the
catheter, and my surgeon said I could remove it if it really bothered me,
but he recommended I keep it in overnight since it would help me get a good
night's rest.  I was given Cipro (two weeks) and Pyridium (three weeks).
I didn't need to take any other pain medicine (except for occassional Tylenol)
after the first night.  It took a few days (maybe three) before I would say
I felt really back to normal.  During the initial few days I had a little
bit of stinging after passing urine and of course a few blood clots.  But
this cleared up quicker than I was expecting.

I just finished the last pyridium a few days ago and I have noticed a bit
more stinging after passing urine, but this is really minor.  My urine flow
is outstanding and no more uncontrollable urgency.  And I can also report
that although my surgeon told me to expect retrograde ejaculation, and I
was fully expecting this, so far this has not been the case.  

So I am a very satisfied patient and extremely pleased to have gone through
the procedure.  It could not have been a smoother process and recovery and
the results I have experienced to date surpass what I was expecting.  I only
regret not doing this earlier.