Forced Reboot At 70

I spent my birthday in the hospital recovering from prostate surgery. Everything went well, and I have no pain but some bleeding.

TURP scared me a little, but the doctors and other medical staff at Tampa General were all first-rate.

They sent me home with a Foley catheter and a follow-up appointment in a few days.

Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) Surgery

Description: TURP is a surgical procedure primarily used to treat urinary problems caused by an enlarged prostate.

A surgeon inserts a resectoscope (a combined visual and surgical instrument) into the urethra and guides it up to the prostate. The surgeon then shaves off pieces of enlarged prostate tissue, thereby relieving pressure on the urethra and making it easier for the patient to urinate.

In my case, the prostate was 102g and 33g were removed. They wanted to remove more but kept things at a safer level.

Why is it needed? TURP is commonly indicated for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a noncancerous prostate gland enlargement.

As the prostate enlarges, it can constrict the urethra, causing various urinary symptoms, including:

• Difficulty in starting urination.
• Frequent need to urinate, especially at night.
• Weak or interrupted urine stream.
• A feeling of incomplete bladder emptying.
• Recurrent urinary tract infections.

Before the surgery, I suffered from urgency and had to urinate about 15 times a day. Sometimes more. For years, I have been unable to empty my bladder.

BPH can significantly affect a man’s quality of life. TURP might be recommended if medical treatments (like medications) don’t alleviate symptoms, or if there are complications such as bladder stones, recurrent UTIs, or kidney problems due to blocked urine flow.

All of these complications came into play. The doctors were worried about the stress on the kidneys. I know people on dialysis, and I don’t want to be one of them.

Possible Complications: TURP is generally safe and effective, but all surgeries have risks.

Possible complications of TURP include:

• Bleeding: Some men might require a blood transfusion after TURP, especially if they have a larger prostate or are on medications that increase bleeding risk. When you go in, they ask several times if you consent to blood transfusion if necessary.
• TURP Syndrome (Transurethral Resection (TUR) Syndrome): This is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication that can occur if the fluid used to flush the bladder gets absorbed into the bloodstream.
• Urinary Incontinence: Some men may experience difficulty controlling urine after the procedure. This is what I fear most.
• Retrograde Ejaculation: Semen flows backward into the bladder during ejaculation rather than out of the penis. It’s not harmful, and the semen is later expelled from the body during urination.
• Erectile Dysfunction: A small number of men may experience difficulties with erections after TURP.
• Urinary Tract Infection: As with any procedure involving instruments inserted into the urethra, there’s a risk of introducing bacteria and causing an infection. These do crop up now and then.
• Urethral Stricture: Scar tissue can develop in the urethra after the surgery, causing a narrowing that may restrict urine flow.
• Bladder Injury: Rarely the bladder can be perforated during the procedure.
• Need for Repeat Procedures: Some men might require another procedure if the prostate continues to grow or if all of the tissue wasn’t removed initially. I can see how this is a possibility for me.

Before undergoing TURP, patients need to discuss potential benefits and risks with their urologist to make an informed decision.

I have never had so many Happy Birthday wishes. I only had to wait 70 years.

It’s time to get back to basics and sluff off unnecessary possessions and practices. I follow the Lakota Medicine Wheel.

What are the four quadrants of the medicine wheel?

Spiritual, Mental, Physical, and Emotional.

Simple, but not easy.

 

---

This information does not replace written law or regulations or professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have questions about a medical condition, always seek the advice of a doctor or other qualified health professional.