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PAE for BPH - Post Procedure

Posted , 18 users are following.

michael8714
michael8714

I had the PAE procedure performed September 10, 2015.  Dr Bagla at Inova Hospital, Alexandria, VA perfomred the procedure.  First of all, the internentional radiology department at this facility is new and top notch.  I underwent an approximate 44 minute MRI with contrast the day before the procedure.  Dr Bagla discussed the results of the MRI with me and advised I should have a successful outcome based upon reading the results of the MRI.  He did say however...you won't like me the first two weeks.  Yup...no kidding.  Immediately upon recovering from the fog of the procedure, there was intense burning sensation at the prostate, equate it to a 4" piece of rebar heated to white hot and inserted in the anus.  There's no chance of finding a comfortable position.  I began to think that flying home to NM the next morning was a bad decison and, yes, I'd advise one additional day if you're traveling long distance.  Frequency is increased, inability to empty and the burning seems to move around in the anatomy down there from one place to the other each day.  I'm 9 days post procedure and the constant burning sensation has for the most part subsided.  There is still a burning when I urinate...all this was expected so no issues...just grit the teeth and get throught the first few weeks.  The one thing I didn't expect and I'd like feedback from those that had the PAE, the head of the penis has turned some blotchy colors, dark purple blotches and the very tip of the penis at the urethra opening has swollen and is extremely sensitive to touch.  That means everytime I move, walk sit and the tip rubs against underweay or pajamas there is extreme sensitivity and pain.  Has anyone else experienced this sensation post procedure, PAE?  I had a urine culture at the local clinic, checking for bladder infection but all was clear.  The Inova Hospital Docs suggested I visit with a local urologist because they don't list this sympton and common to the procedure.  Any thoughts, comments would be appreciated.  I do expect a good outcome but I suspect I'll see full recovery and a good outcome about a month down the road.  Michael

0 likes, 69 replies

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  • derek76
    derek76 michael8714

    Posted

    Whu should filling the prostate arteries cause that burning pain? Did he explain?
    • michael8714
      michael8714 derek76

      Posted

      Derek...I'm sure the pain is caused by the catheter entering each lobe of the prostate as well as the embolization beads limiting the blood supply...but the tip of the penis sensitivity is not a common side effect...according to the docs at Inova Hospital.  I'm thinking it may be a yeast infection. 

       

    • caringbah
      caringbah michael8714

      Posted

      I agree...at first I thought I had a UTI but in hindsight I believe that the burning was caused by the catheter. It's actually bladder spasms which go away after a few days.
    • derek76
      derek76 michael8714

      Posted

      With PAE there is presumably no need to put instruments through your urethra and cause any trauma there apart perhaps for a catheter during the procedure.
  • ChuckP
    ChuckP michael8714

    Posted

    Hi Michael;  I too had a "PAE" from Dr. Bagla at Inova Hospital.  I had mine in August of 2014 (last year).  I did not experience your "blotchy penis" problems at all.  I agree about the burning sensation immediately afterwards.  As you mentioned it lasts about 2 weeks.  I fully agree.  For me the PAE did not work.  I was getting up about 4 to 5 times a night to pee and after the PAE pretty much the same thing.  Four to five times a night.  A year later on  June 23rd, 2015 I flew to Joliet, Illinois and had a "UROLIFT PROCEDURE".   Much better results!!!!!!!!!!   I now get up 3 times a night.   Much better than the 4 to 5 times previously.  The thing I really "Love" is the fact that I completely empty my bladder.   So now I know its "Not the Prostate" as Iam just trying to "retrain" my bladder and brain that I really don't need to get up.  Iam much happier after the Urolift.  I don't visit this site much anymore but just thought I would chime in after seeing that you used Dr. Bagla the same guy I used.  Good Luck to You!!!!!!
    • caringbah
      caringbah ChuckP

      Posted

      Hi Chuck, 

      Im so glad you had a good result at last. Very pleased for you. Thanks for all the good advice you gave me early in the piece. 

    • derek76
      derek76 ChuckP

      Posted

      When you go three times during the night how much do you pass each time?
    • ChuckP
      ChuckP derek76

      Posted

      Hi Derek;  How goes it for you???   In regards to your question like anything in life if varies by how much I had to drink late in the afternoon or early evening.  I rarely drink anything after 6:30PM.   But as Iam sure you know the kidneys "continuously" manufacture urine around the clock.  Seriously they never stop working so its just something us men have to deal with.  I have learned to live with it.  For me when I go to bed I usually sleep really good the first 3 to 4 hours and then get up every 2 hours after that.  I like to get about 9 hours so hence I do get up about 3 times every night. 
    • michael8714
      michael8714 ChuckP

      Posted

      Chuck...did you have a MRI the day before the procedure?  Mine was about 44 minutes...longest MRI ever and with contrast.  Dr Bagla reviewed the MRI results with me...showing two large nodes in the middle of each side of the prostate.  The nodes were considerable size and white in color, indicating blood.  He predicted a good outcome for me based upon the large nodes in the middle, containing blood....thus, the embolization would shut off the blood supply to these large nodes resulting in the shrinkage.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed because, despite the fact that there is no entering the urethra, this procedure is no walk in the park.  The sides are very uncomfortable...Dr Bagla warned that the first two weeks would be worse before any improvement took over.  Glad to hear you had a great result from Urolift.  If I don't get relief from this procedure, I suppose that would be the next step for me...retrograde ejaculation with HoLEP is not a place i care to go at this point in time....
  • caringbah
    caringbah michael8714

    Posted

    Mike I had my PAE 5 months ago and couldn't be happier. I had the burning you described for three days but on the 4th day everything improved dramatically. I certainly didn't have the white hot poker experience that you reported. I too had an enlarged head of my penis but it wasn't painful...I regarded it as a bonus :-)

    Thirty percent of PAE patients report improved sexual performance and I'm happy to be in that category. Better erections...fuller flaccid penis....I'm a happy camper. 

    In a nutshell , I had an uncomfortable three days but everything improved dramatically on day four. 

    Im certainly glad I had my PAE. I have heard of horrendous experiences of people who have had TURP, laser and Urolift. 

    PAE is the new gold standard in my opinion.

    • michael8714
      michael8714 caringbah

      Posted

      Great to hear a good news story and I'm keeping my fingers crossed to be in that 30% group with improve sexual performance.  Size is not an issue...so says my parner, ha, but cialis causes a problem with "finishing"...any others had that issue?  I mean, it's great for the partner that wants to go for hours but a finish would be nice on this side as well! 
    • nealpros
      nealpros michael8714

      Posted

      Are you taking any other medications besides daily Cialis? Finasteride, for example, is famous for causing this problem, but I have never heard of Cialis causing it.

      Neal

    • michael8714
      michael8714 nealpros

      Posted

      Hey Neal..only other med I take regularly is medium and Lorazepam.  I believe the problem is as much between the ears as anything.  
  • whitebeach
    whitebeach michael8714

    Edited

    Hi Michael,

    I had similiar pain to you but was diagonosed as CPPS as the cause. Often prostate pain is confused with CPPS as most urologists ignore this condition which has many similiar symptoms as BPH.

    • whitebeach
      whitebeach nealpros

      Posted

      Chronic pelvic pain syndrome. As I said it has the same symptoms as prostatitis or BPH. The pelvic floor muscles go into spasm and this restrics urine flow causing pain, hesitancy etc etc. I advise everyone to first have a pelvic pain specialist check one out before going down the surgery route.
    • Howard31850
      Howard31850 nealpros

      Edited

      Hi Neal,

      Did you have a CT scan or MRI the day before your procedure with Dr. Isaacson? I will be having my PAE with him next month and like you I have to travel a distance. Did you find the drugs they gave you when you went home lasted through all the discomforts or did you have to get any of them filled again? Thanks. Neil

    • nealpros
      nealpros Howard31850

      Posted

      Hi Neil,

      I had a CT scan with dye the day before the PAE. They put you in a gown, and you get on the machine's table. Then they enter a vein in your arm (like they do to draw blood for lab tests). Then they move you into the machine. Since they are looking at your prostate, they don't put you all the way in; your head is sticking out, so it's NOT claustrophobic. You hold still and they take some pictures, then they inject the dye through the needle in your arm. You feel a slight warming sensation in your abdomen, more pictures, and you're out of there. Dr. Isaacson was there for the whole process. Piece of cake. Some few people are allergic to the dye (my wife is one of them). If you have a reaction, and she did once, obviously not for a PAE, they give you a medication to get rid of it, and you have to stay there for a while to be sure you're over it.

      The post op meds were more than adequate. This was not a big deal for me. It involved much LESS discomfort than a tooth filling with novocane. It's not in the same ball park as the various flavors of TURP that they are always writing about on this site. Please let us know how it goes, or if you have any other questions.

      Neal

    • Howard31850
      Howard31850 nealpros

      Posted

      Thanks Neal for the detailed info. How did you know I was claustrophobic! When I have MRIs I have to put a facecloth over my face. It is very helpful to know what is coming and I really appreciate everyone here. I will return the favor by giving everyone an ongoing detailed account of the procedure and its effectiveness over time. Thanks again for the good wishes.

      Neil

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