Patient Testimonials

A positive outlook.

I have been a patient of Dr. Hettiarachchi since May 28, 2008. From 2006 to 2008, I had been experiencing pain and urinary problems constantly. I was seeing a urologist and neurologist in Winston-Salem. I had numerous bladder studies, blood work, two MRIs and many more tests done, but still continued with the pain and urinary problems and did not know what the problem was. In May 2008, the problem was so painful that I had to have some relief, but did not know what doctor I should see. My husband is a patient of Dr. Hettiarachchi so he suggested I call his office, and if he could not help me he could recommend who I should see. I called Dr. Hettiarachchi's office early one morning and within an hour I was sitting in his waiting room. He examined me and asked if I had had a Cat Scan recently. I was sent to the Diagnostic Center for a Cat Scan and told to return to his office after the scan. Dr. Hettiarachchi showed me the scan on the computer and I had a tumor the size of a large grapefruit on my left ovary that was laying on my bladder. I was told I needed to see an OB-GYN immediately. Dr. Hettiarachchi's office helped get me an appointment with Dr. Lewis Lipscomb in Winston-Salem the very next day. I had the tumor removed and thankfully it was not cancerous, but was told it had been growing in me for a long time. Thanks to Dr. Hettiarachchi the tumor was found immediately whereas other physicians had not detected it.

In December 2008, I returned to Dr. Lipscomb's office for a check-up and during my physical, he found blood in my urine. He had me checked again and I was told I needed to see a urologist. There was no doubt in my mind who I would see since Dr. Hettiarachchi had helped me before. I called for an appointment and was seen on January 13, 2009. Dr. Hettiarachchi performed a cystoscopy and found a suspicious growth in my bladder, as well as red areas. On January 20, 2009, I was hospitalized and Dr. Hettiarachchi did a biopsy in my bladder and removed the growth and red areas. My husband and I went back to Dr. Hettiarachchi's office on January 23, 2009 for the results of the biopsy. I had a malignant melanoma in 1976, so I was becoming anxious waiting to hear the results. Dr. Hettiarachchi came in and sat down and told us what no one wants to hear, that I had bladder cancer. He explained that the cancer had not spread through the lining of my bladder, but I would need to have treatment. He explained the type of treatment that was most successful with bladder cancer and the protocol he would use. Currently I am having intravesical BCG therapy (a live TB virus is put into my bladder once a week for six weeks). After completion, another biopsy will be performed to determine if I have any remaining cancerous cells.

I am in God's hands now and I am trying to be positive about my future. I just want to thank Dr. Hettiarachchi and his wonderful staff, Melissa, Sandy, Brandy, Keri and Monica for being so kind to help make a difficult situation more pleasant. If Dr. Hettiarachchi had not been so diligent in pursuing my problem, the results may not have been as optimistic.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

- Rachel R

Thanks to Dr. Hettiarachchi, I feel like new again.

In January during my annual check-up, I was informed my PSA level was a 5.3 and I would need to see a urologist ASAP.  Within a few days I was in Dr. Hettiarachchi's office and he proceeded to perform a DRE.  He then advised to schedule a prostate biopsy.
 
My wife accompanied me to his private office for consultation after finding to have a score of 6 on the Gleason scale.  We sat on his couch and when the Doctor entered he sat down between the two of us. He clearly stated what the deal was. Dr. Hettiarachchi's compassion for my concerns gave me confidence in his abilities.  He suggested surgery, we agreed and the surgery was scheduled.

The surgery went just as he had explained and the follow-up with him and his staff has been very gratifying.  I also feel that this area is very fortunate to have a Doctor of his caliber offering his services.

- Robert H.

My life is back to normal – thanks to TURPS

For the past two to three years I have been treated for an enlarged prostate by Dr. Hettiarachchi. During this period I have taken a number of prescription medications in an attempt control the discomfort that an enlarged prostate has caused. As time passed, the medications failed to give me the relief I felt was minimum to my having a normal life experience. I found it much more difficult to urinate and urination became more frequent and urgent. I found that I was forced to get up to "go" as frequently as every hour during the night. I found myself frustrated over my inability to control this condition with medication as well as natural supplementation. I might add that my the reason that we did not proceed to surgical alternatives sooner was purely my reluctance to go to an invasive procedure that I was concerned might cause significant complications.

In November of 2008, I asked Dr. Hettiarachchi to explain the surgical alternatives that would relieve my discomfort from my enlarged prostate. Dr. Hettiarachchi spent a good deal of time with me explaining the various procedures that were available to me, both through his practice and procedures that he didn't provide. He explained which procedure he believed would be best for my condition and toook more time to explain why others were not best for my condition, in his opinion. Dr. Hettiarachchi gave me brochures and websites that I could read to learn more of the details of the procedure.

After much discussion with Dr. Hettiarachchi, reading and Internet research I determined that Laser TURPS surgery, recommended by Dr. Hettiarachchi, was the best solution to my deteriorating condition. The procedure went as described by Dr. Hettiarachchi and I was released from the hospital the day following the surgery. I will say that I did experience some discomfort during the healing process, although I did not find it necessary to use pain medication. I experienced some burning while urinating and there was some minimal bleeding as well for about three weeks after the surgery. The bleeding was complicated by my own failure follow the doctor's direction to keep exertion to a minimum. Even so, I found the healing process to be swift. The worst experience that I had during the healing process was during the first four to six weeks after the surgery when I had to be within "feet" of a place to "go"! When the urge to "go" came, I had to dash for the toilet or suffer an embarrassing premature release of urine. After three months I found that I was at a level of normalcy that I had not experienced in many years. I no longer take any medication for an enlarged prostate and I find that I sleep up to six hours and sometimes longer without getting up to "go". I am grateful to Dr. John Hettiarachchi for his dedication and commitment to his patients and his medical practice and for the care he gave me during my Laser TURPS surgery. Life is, once again, very good.

- H.G.
Crumpler, NC