Going with Focal Laser Ablation for BPH

Good luck....

Light1,

Please keep us posted. I also live in the Bay Area, as you do. I am also thinking I may set up a resume with Dr McVary, at some time. I have heard good reports about Dr McVary, and I believe he was in on the original clinical trials of rezume.

I am interested to hear your results, and where you stayed in Chicago, and how long you stayed. Also did you have preliminary tests in the Bay area or are they all being done in Chicago ?Will it be done in a hospital setting, and what kind of anesthesia will be used ? What will you do for follow up ?

Will Medicare or insurance cover some of the cost ?

Thomas

Good luck Mate! The more procedures the more we will all learn. Hope it goes well for you.

Hi Thomas,

Thanks for your note.

I had the blood tests and urine culture at home and they sent the results to Dr. McVary along with a medical clearance from my internist, who I saw last week . I also forwarded the results from a biopsy and a cystoscopy I had in May, along with my MRI. They did the urodynamics in Chicago yesterday. REZUM is scheduled for later today. Apparently Medicare plus my Medicare supplement will pay for it. Some docs do this procedure under local anesthesia but Dr. McVary prefers sedation. If you have someone with you who can take you back to your hotel, they let you leave. Otherwise you stay overnight.

More later.

Best wishes,

Fred

HI Fred well we are a week out from your scheduled procedure hope all is healing well. Please let us know how you are doing.

Joe

Had the procedure last Friday, June 28 at Loyola University with Dr. Kevin McVary and a full operating room staff including an anesthesiologist and her resident, a Urology resident to help Dr. McVary, and a couple of nurses. I opted for light anesthesia but I was completely out. The procedure lasted around 20 minutes with 13 steam injections for my 93 gram prostate. I would not have wanted to do it awake. Dr. McVary said it went well. There was some pain, for which they gave me oxy plus Tylenol. That knocked it down but not completely out. I stayed in the hospital overnight because I didn't have anyone with me but otherwise would have been released. In retrospect, I'm glad I stayed overnight. Was quite uncomfortable and needed attention from the nurses with the catheter collection bag, pain meds, etc. It was also nice to have meals brought to me and all the assistance I needed. I'm a healthy, active guy and usually pride myself on being self sufficient, but was in a fair amount of pain and glad for all the help I could get. This surgery is not as minor as I thought it would be.

Travelled by air from CHI to Hartford on Saturday, with foley and leg bag. Uncomfortable, and probably too soon to travel.

Went out to dinner with my mom upon arrival in Hartford. Had a painful bladder spasm and leaked around the foley, enough to make my whole backside wet--- embarrassing .

Removed the foley later that evening and decided to self-cath the rest of the way. I'm using way more catheters than usual due to the the spasms about every 2 hours. So ordered more on a rush basis from my supplier, 180 Medical. Heard from Dr. McVary that this is not unusual and I should not worry, improvement will be gradual. Wearing pads in my underwear to prevent a recurrence of the other day. Have been sleeping a lot, and no energy. Taking about 750 mg of Tylenol every 4-6 hours. Not able to pee yet but hopeful.

Stopped wearing pads after two or three days, but still using 10 or more catheters per day and having painful bladder spasms though they are less frequent and less intense as time goes by. Still can't urinate and get pretty severe burning sensation when I try. Dr. McVary says this is normal since I was in complete retention and it may take 3+ weeks before I can urinate. After 3 years of self-cathing, I guess I can wait a little bit longer. Getting tired of it though. Down to 4X per day on the Tylenol, or 750mg about every 6 hours, including when I get up at night.

Will keep you all posted.

Best wishes

Further to earlier reply. I'm now 12 days post-surgery. Still having to self-cath but Dr. McVary told me 3-4 weeks before I would be able to urinate. Still having bladder spasms but less, and less intense. Still a bit of blood in urine and still taking Tylenol 4X per day but the pain is less. And this morning I woke up with an erection, so that part still works! Grateful for that. Haven't tried anything else because they told me no sexual activity for 2 weeks. Keeping my fingers crossed for continued improvement. This is definitely real surgery and not to be taken lightly, at least in my experience and opinion.

More later,

Fred

Joe,

Two and a half weeks out from procedure. I can urinate a little more every day. I still do have to self-cath but it is down to about 4X per day. Pain meds (Extra Strength Tylenol) down to a couple of times per day. No ED and no RE up to this point. I would have to say I'm pretty happy with the results to date, and looking forward to continued improvement.

Hey Light

That is great. Glad all is working out good for you. Keeping healing

All the best......Ken

Thank you, Ken!