I had my laser (HoLAP) surgery 15 months ago for my enlarged prostate after I was diagnosed with acute bacterial BPH.  A lot has happened to my body in those 15 months. As told elsewhere on the site, my foreskin restoration is progressing. Now it is time to report on the state of my prostate.

My immediate recovery from surgery was uneventful. There was very little lingering pain. When I urinated, my stream was mostly normal colored. But, there were a few times the first few days when small blood clots came out with my urine. Five days after my HoLAP prostate surgery I had the surgery catheter removed. I have been urinating on my own ever since.

Ejaculation

My doctor told me to hold off ejaculating for two weeks. After that, I could do what I please, sexually. The doctor told me that full recovery would be at least two months. The prostate lining my urethra needed time to heal. Even waiting two weeks, my first few times ejaculating were slightly painful. Actually, more uncomfortable than painful. After the third week, I had no pain ejaculating.

There is a slight risk with any prostate surgery of retrograde ejaculation. That is, the semen backs up into the bladder instead of shooting out of the penis. Before my surgery, I had weak ejaculations. I was not a shooter. The volume was low and there was not much pressure. I had the muscle contractions and the pumping when I ejaculated.

Well, after the surgery I was one of the few that ended up with retrograde ejaculation. I still have the muscle contractions and the pumping action. But, little or nothing comes out. It varies, but, usually, my emission is about what many men have as pre-cum. Every once in a while a lot of semen will come out. But, that is the exception.

Some men are devastated by not shooting semen. I think it is a blessing. Masturbation is much cleaner with nothing to clean up. Everything still feels the same. I just am not a shooter.

Urination

My flow during urination gradually increased during the three months after my surgery. By the end of the third month, my surgery was forgotten as ancient history. I was urinating like a 20 year old after drinking a lot of beer. I was urinating like I had a fire hose in my pants. It is a really good feeling after having troubles for the past several years.

I had to learn how to go to the bathroom again. Before the surgery, I was making trips to the bathroom every 1/2 hour to 1-1/2 hours. At work, I used to take different routes to the men's room to avoid looking like I had a frequent urination problem. Talk about denial.

Now that I don't have a restriction and urine flows freely, I don't have a need to go to the bathroom as often. But, out of habit I feel like I have to use the restroom. Before, I never got in the car without first going to the bathroom, even for a 5 minute trip. Now, I realize halfway to the bathroom that I really don't have to go. So, I turn around and I am fine.  I can now go hours without having to make a restroom stop. That is one of the biggest changes in my life after the surgery. It makes it all worthwhile.

Long term

I think my flow and holding capacity peaked at about the 6 month mark after surgery. I notice that around February my flow was at its maximum. Also, I was fully emptying my bladder so my bathroom trips were very infrequent.

This lasted until about the summer. At the one-year mark I noticed that my flow was slightly less. The change is not drastic, but it seems like I have peaked. I noticed this when I was coming out of the prime hay-fever season for me and I had been taking a daily antihistamine. I was also drinking a lot of caffeine. Both of which are known to be bad for the prostate.

A year and quarter after my surgery I am still very satisfied with the results. My urologist said that the HoLAP surgery typically is good for seven years. It all depends on how fast the prostate regrows. I've stopped the antihistamines. Now, if I could just give up caffeine.