Patient stories: Moses

The following profile tells the experience of one patient who has had RF therapy for symptomatic enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH). Medtronic invited him to share his story candidly. As you read it, please keep in mind that the experiences are specific to this one person. Results vary; not every response is the same. Talk to your doctor about whether PROSTIVA RF Therapy is right for you.

Before RF therapy

Moses first noticed the symptoms of BPH when he was a pastor in Jacksonville, Fla., when he was in his mid-60s. "As I drove from place to place, I'd have to stop every 10 or 15 minutes to use the restroom," he says.

In rural areas where restrooms were few and far between, he had to find creative solutions to his problem. "I'd jump out of the car to get into the woods or bushes to relieve myself," he says. "For years, I carried a cup in the car so I could urinate. I've urinated going 60 miles per hour because I didn't want to stop!"

The bothersome BPH symptoms were also affecting his sleep. "I was getting up 4 to 5 times a night," he says. "I knew something was wrong with my prostate, but I didn't know whether it was enlargement or cancer. I think a lot of people have that fear. But when you get diagnosed and go on to have treatment, a lot of the fear goes away."

Moses' primary care doctor referred him to a urologist who prescribed Flomax® for his BPH symptoms. He took it on and off for about two years. While the medication gave some relief, it also caused side effects that affected his sex life. And, it was getting expensive. "When you're retired, income is critical," he says.

Moses was ready to look at other options. "At my stage of life, I wanted quality of life," he says. "Going to the restroom 10 times a day or more and sometimes getting caught urinating in my clothes – that's not quality of life. That's embarrassing."

When Moses' doctor first suggested RF therapy, he had some fear about the procedure. "But my wife is a nurse, and with her confidence, and the confidence I had in my doctor, I said, 'OK, let's go.'"

RF therapy experience

"I'm always afraid of procedures and operations – anything, even a shot – but the doctor walked me through the procedure so calmly," Moses says. "When someone's talking to you, you talk back. It made the time go and made me more comfortable."

"During the procedure, I felt a little discomfort, but no pain. I could feel some pressure and maybe a little clipping, but no pain. I've been through worse getting hit by a golf ball!"

After RF therapy

"About a week or so later, I could tell the results, and it has lasted," Moses says. "Since the procedure, I've had tremendous relief. I feel like I can live 70 more years and still have good plumbing."

"What better can you do than sleep at night since you don't have to get up to urinate all the time? You rest during the night, and you're ready for the next day," he says.

RF therapy has also made it easier to do his work as the senior pastor at a rural church. "I often lecture for two or three hours at a time," he says. "Can you imagine having to stand and lecture for two hours having to go to the restroom? So having the procedure helped a lot. That makes it worth it all."

Now, Moses feels it's his duty to raise awareness of prostate issues. "I introduced prostates in a Sunday school session. My members didn't like my taking Bible time to talk about prostates. But I knew it was incumbent upon me as their pastor to do it. We need to educate people from boys and girls onward about life and about their bodies."

Flomax is a registered trademark of Boehringer Ingelheim.