First I want to thank this news group who have helped me to know there
was a better way to solve my BPH than TURP. I am 76 and have had BPH
for 15 years. My Uro tried to get me to have a rooter ruter job 10
years and I said NO. I finaly blocked and could not Pee April 29,
2003. I had a catheter for 1 week with flomax, but no help. Then he
did try avodart & flomax for the next month which got nowhere. At this
point he said my only choice was surgery. I didn't like that option so
he said I can send you home with a hand catheter and have you come
back Dec.3rd. After one month of self cath. I went to the internet to
find a solution and hats when I found you guys that have helped me so
much. I went to Laserscope.com and found a docter Pat Hezmall and then
called and made an appointment for August 6th. One month away. When I
was given a digital He said Ralph you donot have a large prostate.
However he gave me a simple exam and discovered I had a Heart problem
and that I would have to return to Texarkana( 210) miles and have my
Dr. sebnd him a clearance before they could operate. I had no symptoms
and at 54 I ran 3 marathons. I returned and went to my Dr.(Internal
Medical). She put me through EKG, 24 hour monitor, echocardiogram, and
a stress test. She then had to stablize me on coumadin. It took 6
weeks for the coumadin to be at the right level in my blood. My
surgery was finally scheduled for Sept. 30,2003. I had a spinal and
Dr.Pat Hezmall said he took 45 min. So that meant that my prostate was
45 to 50grams. I was in recovery 2.5 hours before I could feel my
toes. I had my dinner at 7:30 and devoured it. The Dr. had told the
nurse to remove the catheter at 6AM. He came to see me and explained
that if I couldn't Pee by 3PM The nurse could put the catheter back in
and I could remove it on thursday. I starting peeing by 9AM but only a
little then at 1PM I finally let go and the nurse said I will take the
IV out and you can go. I was so happy I could shout, I left with my
wife by 2:30 PM and drove us home by 5:30PM and felt great.(no pain at
all) I had a lot of people at my church praying for me and I give God
all the glory for my experience. I thank God and you guys for all you
have done to give me the knowledge of this surgery. The only pain that
I have had is a headache and I am told it was from the spinal. It did
last for about 4 days and laying down was the only way to stop it. My
Dr. had done 200 Plus men. He is the only one even in Dallas. He
happens to be in Arlington, between Dallas and Ft. Worth.
  I am considering about calling a reporter from our local paper and
telling him my story and trying to get this Laserscope surgery more
visibilty for men that have BPH. What do you guy's think?