Following a number of years of suffering with urinary issues - which were having an increasingly detrimental impact on my quality of life - and the Tamsulosin prescription not having the desired affect, I decided that having a minimally invasive procedure may be a solution.
My increasing nocturnal urination (3 or more times per night), frequent visits to urinate during the day and general low flow was something I really wanted to do something about.
My father had undergone the TURP procedure and did not have a positive experience and it was certainly something I did not want to undergo. Having researched the options, I discovered iTIND and after discussions with Professor Hindley, I decided it was the best solution for me.
The insertion of the device under a light general anaesthetic was a day procedure and there was some discomfort following the insertion. The week of having the implant in my bladder was an uncomfortable week with pain on urination and blood in the urine. I was having to be very close to a toilet for the whole week as I needed to go very frequently and with urgency. I was certainly looking forward to the removal the after 7 days.
The removal of the device was again a simple procedure under another light anaesthetic. Once removed I started to feel more comfortable straight away. Initially I still needed to go to the toilet a lot including during the night probably more than before the procedure – 3 to 5 times per night. The discomfort on urination persisted for a further 1-2 weeks however it did subside compared to when the device was in place.
I kept taking the Tamsulosin for 2- 3 weeks and then discontinued that. After two weeks my frequency of urination and discomfort improved dramatically. The pain disappeared and my visits to the toilet reduced.
After about 4 weeks post the procedure I am delighted with the results. My urinary flow has improved and I have reduced my daily urinations a lot. I no longer worry about how far I am from a toilet and can hold on for a lot longer. My nocturnal requirements to urinate have improved beyond my expectations I am now down to once a night occasionally twice. This has made a big difference to me resulting in better sleep and general wellbeing. Not needing the Tamsulosin is a also a big plus as I do not seem to have the light headiness feelings I had sometimes with it. My sexual function also seems to have improved which is another benefit.
I would certainly recommend the procedure to others as an alternative to more invasive surgery. My advice would be to plan for a week at home following the insertion close to a toilet and persevere with the discomfort during the first few weeks as it does improve and is certainly worth it in the long run!