My Rezum Story -- Critical: ALL men should learn to self cath (CIC
Posted , 18 users are following.
So I finally had a procedure, the Rezum.
I found an excellent doctor in Chicago at Northwestern. He does both Urolift and Rezum. His name is Dr. Matias Hofer, if anyone's interested. He is also familiar with the NW doctors doing PAE. While he's my fourth Urologist, he is the FIRST one to do the cytoscopy that actually told us what the problem is. As suspected, a median lobe obstruction. My prostate is only 49 cc so he said PAE doesn't work well for that size. Because it was median lobe, he said he didn't think Urolift would work.
He said a Rezum would get good results and I agreed going forward. Just days before the procedure, I began to stop urinating normally at all for about a week so THANK GOD and the MEN ON THIS BOARD, who previously coached me through learning Self-CIC. This Uro also had no issue with prescribing catheters unlike my prior Uros.
Also, critically, he would have normally post-Rezum inserted a Foley Catheter but I asked since I was already self-cathing could I just continue to do that? He thought about it for a few seconds and said sure. So I am now recovering at home, self-cathing without having to have an uncomfortable Foley inserted.
I honestly believe every man on this board, if you're having symptoms, should learn to self-cath as an insurance policy. It may save you a trip to the ER and may prevent a Foley after whatever procedure you do have.
Back to the Rezum. I was having it done under a local. It was incredibly painful. Fortunately, it didn't last long. After I was in a lot of pain and discomfort. Mostly, a HUGE burning desire to pee despite a totally empty bladder. This pain gradually got better after an hour or two. I took the opiods and stayed on pain meds that first day. My procedure was at 2 p.m.
The next day I woke and cathed and felt 100% better. The pain is gone. I'm peeing very little naturally but I feel great. The urgency is gone. I'm self-cathing 3-4 times a day.
1 like, 35 replies
pluff_mud Motto
Posted
As someone who has hit the two year mark of self cathing, I have to agree with Hank about the stiffness of the Coloplast hydrophilic catheter. My first two attempts at self cathing were with stiff plastic, coude tip catheters. Each time I injured myself internally and bled profusely. I switched to softer straight tipped catheters made of latex or soft plastic and haven't had problems since. Coloplast makes a softer plastic non hydrophilic catheter that is very soft, which I like. I agree that their hydrophilic catheters have a very slick coating, and with all my experience in self cathing, I have tried them a few times since. However, I am very careful when negotiating them through my urethra. For daily use, I use latex or soft plastic straight tipped catheters, which I self lube. Everyone has different plumbing, and what works for me may not work for others.
GInAndPlatnic46 pluff_mud
Posted
Hello pluff....I replied to one of your posts in the turp thread. I am also self cathing & I really dislike doing it...but needs must of course and it is surely better that a fixed cath...I use speedi caths but have noticed some irritation as they ake their way through my urethtra...wher as the hollister vapro pocket caths give me no irritation but are sometimes stubborn to get all the way through...
Is the lube you use antiseptic also, or just solely for smoothing the way as it were...
Motto
Posted
New Update:
I'm on Day 12. Not much progress. Still not peeing anything close to normally. Having to self-cath 2-4 times a day. Had an appointment today with the doctor's office (nurse) and she measured PRV at 330 CC, which seems like a lot especially since I CIC'd an hour before coming to the office. Based on her recommendation, I'm going to start back on the Tamalusin, even though I do not like it. I also need to drink more water to flush out the blood.
Starting yesterday, the pee has been a lot more bloody. I had an obstruction and couldn't get the catheter in yesterday. Pulled it out and it was bloody. Then I was able to pee normally a large amount with bloody clots.
I'm also having this weird symptom where it seems like I have to have a BM, however, nothing comes out or not much and the colon/rectum spasm is incredibly intense and painful. During that, I pee some small amounts. This is happening at night sometimes, and I have this urge as often as every 15 minutes, sometimes more. This started a week before the Rezum procedure so I know it's not related. But it's painful and annoying.