Oftentimes, my male patients need encouragement and support from a spouse to seek medical treatment for urological issues; spouses are sometimes key to preventing a mild condition from becoming more serious.

I spoke with the wife of one of my patients about her husband’s experience with enlarged prostate and his early decision to seek treatment. Excerpts from our conversation are printed below.

Dr. Walsh: Your husband sought treatment for enlarged prostate, a condition that affects more than 40 million in the United States  and many patients in my practice. What symptoms did your husband experience?

MH: My husband’s primary symptom was waking at night to urinate. He is a cardiologist and, in addition to receiving emergency work calls in the middle of the night, he also woke up to use the bathroom. These additional nighttime awakenings were annoying, and he knew his symptoms would probably continue to worsen over time. Also, he is an avid golfer and didn’t want to interrupt his game to use the bathroom.

Dr. Walsh: Did your husband discuss available treatment options with you?

MH: We discussed the options available to him. He tried medications that helped somewhat, but he didn’t like the side effects and didn’t want to take them for the rest of his life. As a physician, he understood the alternatives and was not interested in having an invasive procedure. He understood the possible permanent side effects of TURP [a more invasive surgical option]. He chose the UroLift System because he believed it would be a safe, minimally invasive procedure. We both trusted the research on the UroLift System and felt confident that it was the best choice.

Dr. Walsh: How was his recovery after treatment?

MH: I drove him to his appointment and,  after his treatment, he wanted to go back to work. He saw patients that same afternoon! He had a small amount of bleeding with exertion, but he went to work the next day and didn’t take any time off from golfing. We were both very happy with his recovery.

Dr. Walsh: He recovered quickly – patients can take a few days to get back to normal activity. Do you have any advice for other women who may know a man suffering enlarged prostate symptoms?

MH: My husband and I are very pleased with his treatment and follow-up care. We have already recommended this treatment to friends.

For more information call Walsh Urology at (760) 346.7191 or visit www.walshurology.com.

Reference: 1) Berry, J Urol 1984 and 2017 U.S. Census population estimates.

Read or write a comment