1. Community
  2. Men's health
  3. Prostate Problems

My Results After A PAE Procedure

Posted , 34 users are following.

latour1961
latour1961

I had a Prostatic Arterial Embolization (PAE) procedure done at the University of Miami on June 2, 2015 by Dr. Shivank Bhatia. Prior to the procedure I had completely lost my urinary function and was wearing an in dwelling Foley Catheter. I had been told by a prominent Urologist at UM that I would never urinate on my own again, I needed to learn how to self catheterize and that if I chose to have the PAE procedure I should expect it would not be successful. My prostate was over 100 grams, I was not a candidate for the TURP and I should go home and have a nice weekend.

My attitude was I had nothing to lose. If the PAE did not work I was no worse off than if I did not try. Dr. Bhatia was an expert in this procedure so I took a shot. My resutls have been nothing short of miraculous. The procedure was done on 6/2/15. I never had one ounce of pain, either during or after the PAE. I continued to wear the Foley, but it was horrible. I went for my first follow-up 10 days after the PAE. I still could not pee on my own. Dr. Bhatia wanted me to continue wearing the Foley for another week, but I just could not. He was understanding of my discomfort and I was shown how to self catheterize and went home without the Foley, thank God!

I used the catheters approx. every 6 hours or 4 times per day. Each time I used them, I would try to urinate on my own. On June 25th at around midnight I attempted to pee on my own and 6 drops came out. It was a revelation. I then used the catheter and went to bed, arising at 6 am. This time when I went to use the catheter 12 drops came out. Each time I went to use the catheter things would improve. From a weak stream to ultimately a regular pee. I reduced using the catheter from 4 times per day to 3, then 2, then I was comfortable knowing I did not need them at all. On July 1, 2015 I stopped using catheters. I never have looked back. 

Three months post procedure I had an MRI. My prostate had shrunk from 0ver 100 grams to 72 grams. My PSA had gone from 8.7 to 2.5. I no longer had any symptoms that would indicate prostate or urinary issues. I sleep through the night. I pee when I have to go, but can go 6-8 hours in between bathroom breaks. I have no discomfort, no pain, my sex life is outstanding and I am 66 years old! Dr. Bhatia has given me my life back.

My suggestion to anyone who is having symptoms: Explore ALL OF YOUR OPTIONS!! I am certain the PAE will become Standard of Care in the future. Try and understand what the potential side effects are of the "traditional" surgical procedures. They may be acceptable for some, but they were not acceptable for me. I take no drugs or medications. The PAE had no side effects. There was no possibility of becoming incontinent or impotent or having an orgasm without an external  ejaculation. Find a facility that is doing clinical trials with the PAE and a Dr. who is experienced. Peeing through a straw for the rest of my life was a real possibility. Now I function like I was 40 years old, not 66 years old. I highly recommend Dr. Shivank Bhatia of the University of Miam. He learned this procedure from the man who invented it and he trained with him in South America to perfect it. You have very little, if anything to lose, and you have getting the rest of your life back to normal to gain. Happy to answer any questions or inquiries. Good Luck to all.

8 likes, 75 replies

75 Replies

Prev Next
  • william79680
    william79680 latour1961

    Posted

    Congratulations and thanks for providing others with a well written update. I had my PAE on April 1st 2015 by Dr Isaacson at UNC Chapel Hill NC. Dr Isaacson is also outstanding. My results are similar to yours. My prostate has shrunk 40%, PSA went from 22 to 1.8. Most importantly I never think about peeing anymore. I rarely get up at night. If so it is only once and is usually when I have had an extreme amount of coffee, tea and other liquids,  I also had to use self catheters before the PAE, but not as often as you. I have been given a new lease on life and want to share with as many others as possible. Hopefully the PAE will get FDA approved and become the gold standard in the future.
    • mike588
      mike588 william79680

      Posted

      That sounds great, thanks for your update as well william79680. For how long did you have symptoms and how old are you if I may ask? I hope to have the PAE done as well in the next few weeks. I've been suffering for at least 3 years and if not for Cialis would have to use catheters for sure. I'm 60.
    • william79680
      william79680 mike588

      Posted

      Mike,

      I am 69. I was experiencing BPH symptoms for 8-9 years before I had my PAE. The last year and a half were awful.

    • latour1961
      latour1961 william79680

      Posted

      William, I could not agree more! So glad to hear my outcome has been replicated by others. My prostate went from 102 grams to 72 grams in 3 months. My PSA went from 8.7 to 2.5 in that same period. I will have another MRI next June after one year and will see where I end up, but I suspect the percentages will be similar to yours. I will fill in that information as it is received. Don't you love it when everyone else you are out to dinner with has to go to the bathroom and you don't?!  Congratulations and best of luck.
  • caringbah
    caringbah latour1961

    Posted

    Thank you for your report Latour. I am so happy for you. Your report confirms my dislike of urologists. The three urologists I saw before deciding to have a PAE were rude, condescending and arrogant. They have become so because they have had the prostate franchise to themselves for far too long. It has been a gravy train for them. I now add ignorance and avarice to the list because of their refusal to consider and reccomend PAE. They are more worried about their wallets than the welfare of their patients.

    Of the three urologists I saw, one wanted to do TURP, the other Holep and the third , a woman, wanted to do open surgery on me for BPH for Gods sake. All claimed that their procedure was the " gold standard" whatever that means. 

    Pride cometh before a fall. 

    • latour1961
      latour1961 caringbah

      Posted

      Caringbah, no truer words have ever been spoken! Logic says the greatest source of referrals for the Interventional Radiologist who is expert and performs the PAE should be Urologists. But Urologists are surgeons. They make their living doing surgery. A referral for a PAE costs them dearly. Why wouldn't a person consider a procedure which has none of the potential nasty side effects of surgery, has no pain associated with either the procedure or the healing process and can be done with minimal hospital time? There are many factors to consider, and the final say belongs to the patient. Most importantly, the patient MUST take responsibility for their own care. Read, explore, ask questions, don't simply accept a Doctors word as the gospel, make your feelings and concerns known and find out any and all alternatives. Get educated and take responsibility for our own bodies. 

      I hope your results are outstanding. Best of luck on this journey.

    • caringbah
      caringbah latour1961

      Posted

      Latour, my results are outstanding. I had my PAE 7 months ago in Sydney Australia. 30% decrease in prostate size. I pee like a horse and only get up once a night (6 previously). Sexual performance much improved as well. 

      I totally agree with you on the necessity to do your own research and not just blindly take the doctors advice. In the end, each of us are responsible for our own health. 

    • bill80656
      bill80656 latour1961

      Posted

      What I am now wondering, out loud, since it appears that the PAE will become the standard of care if there was a way that those of us on this blog could somehow get the word out via the media to the rest of the suffering souls with BPH. The media has covered many other medical advances over the years. What if anything can we do? Just putting it out there.
    • latour1961
      latour1961 bill80656

      Posted

      Bill, I believe it is up to the Interventional Radiologists who do this procedure to push forward on that front. We, as mere patients, do not have the necessary cache. What we can do is be available to speak to groups, become real life testaments to those considering the procedure, be willing to share our time and experiences, and to participate in spaces like this where people will search out the truth. I know my Doc is leading the charge to get the word out.
    • bill80656
      bill80656 latour1961

      Posted

      I hear you. I tell everyone about my terrible experience with the TURP and the wonderful experience now with the PAE.

      Word will spread. Thanks for your response.

    • Limn
      Limn latour1961

      Posted

      Well said.

      By the way ... I very happy I had the PAE 6 months ago and have been much improved ... but I’ve had a few occasions when the old frequency and urgency have returned for a few days, then everything  fine again...

      I’d like to know if anyone else has had these occurrences? 

      I thought I might have gotten an infection UTI but tested negative and no pain so that wasn’t it.  I’m wondering if the dead tissue that has died away might sometimes block the urethra for a few days before being absorbed completely by the body.

    • robbiekw
      robbiekw Limn

      Posted

      Hello Limm,

      I've read your comments about the PAE. So is that a procedure done by Radiologists ?  where did you have yours and what's the cost. I definiteley need to do something ... i have to pee every 2 hrs...night and day.

      Robbie

    • Limn
      Limn robbiekw

      Posted

      I had it done at Stanford medical center in the BayArea by an interventional radiologist Dr Sze.

      Mine was a clinical trial but the PAE Procedure has now been approved.

      I have been helped significantly and enough better to have finally been able to wean off of the drug flomax which I’m sorry to say I’ve been taking for years - I’m completely drug fee now. 

      I would recommend the PAE to anyone before TURP  because there’s nothing to lose... it’s safe and there are basically no side effects ... whereas guys I know who have had the TURP have had terrible pain, bleeding and can’t ejaculate anymore.  One older man I knew bled to death (rare but it happened.) ..my cousin had the TURP and 2weeks later was in the emergency room with blocked urethra from the dead tissue and blood clots... they put in a catheter and the catheter plugged up... had to flush and backflow the catheter ... and as usual he will never ejaculate outwardly again.

      Also about 5% of TURPs end up with incontinence.... 

  • Steelyburt
    Steelyburt latour1961

    Posted

    Thank you for the good news, all of you. I am a 31 year old male who has suffered symptoms of BPH since age 19. It has been tearing me down psychologically ever since. I hope to have this procedure done as soon as I can afford to. 
    • latour1961
      latour1961 Steelyburt

      Posted

      Don't give up and don't give in. You are so young and you have your entire life ahead of you. Search out a Doctor in your area who specializes in this procedure and learn as much as you can about it, the good, the bad and the ugly. Then you can make an informed choice. And with some assistance by your Dr., it should be covered by insurance or you become part of the research.
    • Carry-on_CMDR
      Carry-on_CMDR Steelyburt

      Posted

      As a 31 year old, Steelyburt would not qualify for current clinical trials (you can find them on ClinicalTrials.gov) which seem to have a trial age range of 50 through 90, but he can certainly learn about the procedure and be ready for when it gains FDA approval and is (hopefully) covered by medical insurance.  I know that the best hospital in the Tampa Bay area, Tampa General, is one of the hospitals doing clinical trials for PAE, but there are a number across the country which are also doing them.
Back to top
Prev Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.