After Years of Prostate Problems, Jeff Chose HoLEP

Summary Paragraph

Jeff Sedam came to St. Elizabeth Healthcare for advanced care after living with worsening prostate problems for almost 20 years. A holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) procedure relieved symptoms that had affected his sleep, travel and daily life for years.

Key Takeaways

• Frequent urination isn’t always just part of getting older.
• Jeff underwent multiple procedures before finding a treatment designed for very large prostates.
• Don’t make light of it — early treatment may help prevent more serious complications.

After Years of “Just Living With It,” Jeff Found Relief for His Prostate Concerns

Jeff Sedam didn’t think much about his prostate problems at first. But over time, the interruptions, inconvenience and constant bathroom trips became harder to ignore.

The issues began in the early 2000s. Jeff, who is 73 and originally from Cincinnati, struggled with frequent urination during the day and night and eventually had trouble fully emptying his bladder. He’s lived in Argentina for the last 30 years but travels back to the States often to visit family. For those long flights, he always booked an aisle seat to allow quick access to the bathroom.

As the symptoms became harder to ignore, Jeff began seeing doctors in Argentina. Eventually, he was diagnosed with an enlarged prostate, or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

The prostate sits below the bladder and surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body.

The prostate often grows larger as men age. BPH is common, but it can make everyday life challenging by causing frequent urination, interrupted sleep and difficulty emptying the bladder. Left untreated, it can lead to more serious complications.

Jeff had surgery to reduce the size of his prostate. When the symptoms returned a few years later, he had the same surgery again. And then again.

Jeff’s wife encouraged him to seek more advanced care during a visit to the U.S. in 2023. During that visit, Jeff saw a urologist with St. Elizabeth Physicians who prescribed medicine to manage his symptoms. Looking back, Jeff wonders if staying longer and pursuing additional treatment in 2023 might have prevented some of the complications that followed.

A Serious Turn

In March 2026, Jeff returned to Northern Kentucky to visit family. His symptoms had been worsening for a while. Now he was passing blood in his urine.

“That kind of got me worried,” he says.

Jeff went to the emergency department in Florence, where he met Dr. Balaji Kalyanaraman, urologist with St. Elizabeth Physicians. “When we looked at the imaging together, Dr. K. immediately goes, ‘Whoa, you got a big prostate,’” Jeff says with a laugh. “I said, ‘Yeah, I’m kind of aware.’”

Dr. Kalyanaraman recommended a procedure Jeff had never heard of: holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP).

“HoLEP is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a laser to remove excess prostate tissue blocking urine flow,” Dr. Kalyanaraman says. “We access the prostate through the urethra, so there are no outside incisions. For appropriately selected patients, HoLEP can help improve urine flow and reduce symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate.”

An Unexpected Delay

Dr. Kalyanaraman scheduled the surgery, but before the procedure, Jeff experienced severe urinary blockage and significant bleeding. He required several days of hospitalization for doctors to clear blood clots and manage the bleeding.

“It was kind of dramatic,” Jeff says. “I was just bleeding like mad.”

Even during a stressful time, Jeff says the experience at St. Elizabeth stood out.

“What really caught my attention was the facility,” he says. “I was amazed that I had a menu to order from, and the food was great. Everybody was so nice. I wasn’t accustomed to that level of attention, friendliness and professionalism.”

Dr. Kalyanaraman performed Jeff’s HoLEP as planned at the end of April 2026. Like any surgical procedure, HoLEP comes with a recovery period, and patients should know what to expect.

“Most men notice a stronger urine stream and better bladder emptying after HoLEP,” Dr. Kalyanaraman says. “During recovery, it’s not unusual to experience temporary leakage, urgency or frequency while the urinary system adjusts. Those symptoms typically improve over time, and we work closely with patients to help them recover as smoothly as possible. I like to tell patients that their enlarged prostate is like the hoover dam holding urine back and that when the dam is removed, urine gushes out. That is what causes the incontinence which is temporary and not every patient has it. However, patients find the incontinence minor compared to the symptoms they had before.”

Recovery and Relief

Jeff said recovery has been an adjustment, but he already notices a major difference.

For a period after surgery, he dealt with urinary leakage while his body adjusted after years of blockage. He continues doing Kegel exercises to strengthen the muscles involved in bladder control.

“Before I couldn’t go, now I can’t stop,” Jeff jokes. “I have no pain, no burning. Just dealing with the leakage.”

He says the symptoms continue improving with time. “Compared to the years that I spent dealing with this thing, I’m pretty positive about everything,” Jeff says. “I’m feeling good.”

Jeff especially appreciated Dr. Kalyanaraman’s approach throughout the process. “Dr. K was always very upbeat and very informative,” he says. “He saw what I had. He saw what I needed to do. He didn’t string it out with test after test after test.”

“Don’t Make Light of It”

Today, Jeff encourages other men not to ignore urinary symptoms or avoid seeing a urologist. “My advice is, don’t make light of it,” he says. “Go in and check to see what’s wrong. Today, the technology exists. You don’t have to live with that.”

Looking back, Jeff wishes he had taken action sooner. “You don’t realize the weight it takes off your shoulders,” he says.

Learn more about Urology Services at St. Elizabeth Physicians.