Thanks... I have seen a uro and he told me my prostate was too big for
a PVP. When they get that big, there are issues with bleeding,
possible collapse of the prostate afterwards creating a new
constriction, and burning up of the laser probe. Those probes are only
good for so much energy. The uro is a well-known name in Toronto --
and I'm in Alberta, Canada, so there is the problem of distance too.
My problems don't occur that often. I can wait.

PVP hasn't arrived in Alberta. My uro here is a great guy and I don't
want to piss him off by asking him to send my records to uros in the
States, unless I know I have to make a move.

I'm hunkering, taking my time, wondering if some other improvements
might come along.

Ed

Ed,  I remember that you mentioned your prostate size is around 150g before.
My heard goes with you that you need so many minutes to void at night.  Why
don't you go to a uro (must be capable of doing good pvp) to see if pvp fit
you?  My average flow was around 5 cc/s with urgency, retaintion,...prior my
08/2005 pvp and had taken Cardura or Flomax for 6 years.  My size was 100g.
Fortunately, I found this NG early 05 and thanks to those pioneers of Patrick,
Al, Dave C, Jim W, Mr. B, Spread deMocracy,...(to name a few).   I am totally
satified with my pvp.  According my searches within this NG, Richard F
Somer's size was 190g( shrank from 250g by taking Advodart for year), then
had pvp by Dr. Te (my pvp doc too) in NY city with good outcome.  Another
example, David DeBar's size was 150g.  Here were his words, Dr. Lin is a
world calss doc of pvp who has a human touch...it was worth the long trip
from N. Virginia to Floria, Flagler hospital...    Please search "PVP" + one
of those names I mentioned above within this NG and you will find many good
posts.    This is my 2 cents opinion.  Wish you the best.

I've been keeping track of the amount I produce per night. It is
usually 300-500 mL. What I've noticed is that my night-time
difficulties depend greatly on that nightly production.

If I make 200-300 mL, I get up once or twice. Peeing goes okay and I'm
back in bed in a couple of minutes.

If I'm around 600-700, I'm up 3-4 times, and each time can be
stressful, taking maybe 45 minutes each time to void completely. By
stressful, I mean that straining might be required, and I pee only a
bit at a time, having to wait 5 minutes before I can try again.

If total production is around 800-900 mL, I risk going into acute
retention and require a catheter. Fortunately this does not happen
often.

So my strategy is to try to minimize nightly production, without going
to such extremes that I'm noticeably thirsty, which could risk
problems such as kidney stones. I usually don't drink in the evening,
and have a salty snack before retiring.

This usually works pretty good, although there are unexplained
exceptions! Overall, I have difficulty around once a month.

1000-1500 mL seems like an awful lot! I would be at emerg having a
catheter.

Ed

Nice summary of reasonable expectations concerning Nocturia post-PVP.  Jim
W.

" However my night time visits are down from 4/5 to
2/3. I could not reasonably expect the PVP to cure Nocturia and I usually
pass between 1000 and 1500 mls in total during the night, the same as before
but more at a time."

The point has been made here previously that the less successful patients
are the ones with a reason to post after the procedure: either to moan or to
ask if others are having similar problems. The instant successes have no
real need to read the NG or report continued improvement. I am 71 and 20
weeks post PVP and have had no problems. I travelled home by train from
Newcastle (England) to Edinburgh (Scotland) on day two. The next day I went
to the racetrack and was on my feet for over six  hours. From then my life
and exercise were as normal apart from avoiding lifting and carrying
anything heavier than a bag of groceries. Basically bleeding had stopped in
the first week with just a few drops at the start of urination for the next
couple of weeks, no retention, no retro. My flow is much better than before
but not as good as I had hoped for but it is still improving and my Uro
suggests that my bladder had been somewhat stretched and that Kegel
exercises will help. My AUA SYMPTOM INDEX   was 22 prior to PVP and is now
11 it would be lower but for night time urination still being a problem
(I marked that as a 3 ) However my night time visits are down from 4/5 to
2/3. I could not reasonably expect the PVP to cure Nocturia and I usually
pass between 1000 and 1500 mls in total during the night, the same as before
but more at a time.
Derek.

According to a urologist in California: PVP and Turp are a toss up. Either
one has its benefits and drawabacks.
Just don't believe the advertising hype of Laserscope. As you can see,
reading these posts, this surgery is no picnic for many patients. Be
prepared for a less than satisfying experience, and thank modern medicine
for any help that might result.

Marcus

CJ /........... something is definitely not right with your
symptoms.......you need to go back for more investigations

I had PVP 2.5 yrs ago having rejected TURP .......PVP was a total breeze and
I have not regretted one single day

week

up

CJ /........... something is definitely not right with your
symptoms.......you need to go back for more investigations

I had PVP 2.5 yrs ago having rejected TURP .......PVP was a total breeze and
I have not regretted one single day

I had green laser about 1 1/2 years ago.  For me, it was not as great as
made out to be.  I probably should have heeded another doc's advise to use
the "gold standard" which was TURP.  For me, it wasn't simply a 2 - 4  week
recovery.  I am still experiencing  abnormal things, however, a lot has
improved over the 1 1/2 years.  Urine flow is much stronger and I only get
up twice a night to go. My greatest problem is after ejaculation,  when I
urinate, a lot a blood comes out, even in clumps.  Either my doc screwed up
or it is not uncommon for this procedure.

I have been following this group for quite a while.  PVP is continuously
praised.  I just wonder if anyone has had or has heard of any bad
experiences.   One post said something to that effect but did not give any
details.

Others report good results with TURP but a few have with what might be
called horror stories.