‘I now don’t have to worry about being near a loo’

“About six years ago, I started getting up far too often in the night to use the loo” explains 63-year-old Ken, from London.

“I underwent a steam-based treatment in 2019 called Rezum which injects sterile water vapour – steam – into the prostate to destroy excess tissue. But, unfortunately the prostate tissue simply grew back and after five years my symptoms returned.

“I was determined to get it sorted, as I was getting fed up with waking up in the night and broken sleep.

“A cystoscopy “to take a look” at what was going on inside my urethra and bladder resulted in an emergency admission for serious sepsis. I became very unwell and told I was four hours from death. I was due to go on holiday the next day to Miami which had been a long-planned break but was told I would be going nowhere. I spent nearly a week in hospital.

“I waited six months and saw a different Consultant. He recommended a laser procedure to destroy the excess prostate, but on trying it found that the sepsis had caused strictures which had caused my urethra to close up. He simply could not get the laser in. Still, the symptoms continued. And now I was dealing with urethral strictures too– which had resulted in narrowing my urethra and blocking my urine stream.

“Treatment for the strictures – intermittent self catheterisation – was suggested. This involved me using a catheter rather like a pipe cleaner to ensure there was a clear passage. I had to do it every day but after only four days I got sepsis again. Another emergency admission, another week in hospital very ill. This was clearly not a solution.

“Eventually, I came across Professor Mundy at London Bridge Clinic, he is a world authority on strictures and assessed mine for several months. But when it came to prostate surgery, because I was still getting up several times a night he said, ‘You need to speak to Miss Stella Ivaz at The London Clinic.’ He regarded her as one of the very best urology surgeons around.

“From the moment I met Miss Ivaz, I saw exactly why. Her expertise and determination were unmistakable. Under a general anaesthetic she used a robotic water spray technology called Hydros to destroy the tissue.The strictures did make it very difficult, the operation is normally about half an hour but mine took over two hours. Her prediction was that because of stretching the strictures I’d be “in agony,” but I wasn’t. In fact, the relief was instant. I had almost no pain at all.”

The London Clinic’s Consultant Urologist, Miss Stella Ivaz, said, “In view of his previous urological surgical procedures and the co-existing urethral narrowing (stricture) in addition to the enlarged prostate, Mr Batty’s case was slightly more complex than usual enlarged prostate cases.

“We pride ourselves in excellent and bespoke patient care and I am obviously delighted to hear that Mr Batty is very happy with the outcome of his procedure”.

Ken said, “For years, I lived with a constant fear: the fear of becoming seriously ill again. Once you know you’re susceptible to sepsis, every twinge, every temperature spike, every night of poor sleep causes major worry. “

And the result?

“For the first time in a long time I could urinate normally. A steady stream, no discomfort, and — unbelievably — no fear. I was “peeing like a horse,” as I joked at the time and I feel certain I will sleep through the night again.”

It wasn’t just Miss Ivaz’s surgical skill that impressed Ken. He said she phoned him regularly to make sure he was recovering well.

For Ken it was also the small details that stood out that made his experience at The London Clinic exemplary.

“The next day after surgery I was asked if there was anything I fancied eating. I said I’d love some ice-cream, but I wasn’t sure if I was allowed dairy as I was on Ciprofloxacin, which reacts in the stomach with the calcium in the milk and reduces its effectiveness. The nurse confidently explained there would be no issue with the antibiotics I was taking to keep infection at bay as I was taking them intravenously so there was no chance of them mixing with the calcium in the milk. It was a very detailed technical response, — information I’d normally expect from a pharmacist. Every person I met was knowledgeable, competent, and genuinely caring. Even the cleaner was an absolute joy.”

After years of failed treatments, multiple consultants, repeated infections, strictures, and terrifying sepsis episodes, the outcome with Miss Ivaz has been different.

Miss Ivaz, who has won awards for her work, added, “Hydros utilises the latest robotic and AI technology, allowing us to treat the parts of the prostate to preserve parts of the prostate that are needed to ensure continence and sexual function are maintained.”

Ken’s symptoms are continuing to improve; and his overactive bladder is settling with the urgency fading. He hopes to see the full benefit of the surgery within two to four months.

He said, “I now don’t have to worry about being on my holiday and worrying about being near a loo so its nice to have my holidays without interruption. I will be able to finally take that cancelled Miami trip.

“Very, very clearly: I would recommend Stella Ivaz without hesitation.”

Find out more about Hydros treatment at The London Clinic.