REZUM--HAVE YOU HAD THIS DONE???????
Posted , 385 users are following.
I had a nice conversation today with the President of the "Urology Times". He was telling me that there is a "New Procedure" that has been approved called the "REZUM SYSTEM". The company that makes the system is called "NXThera, Inc". You can google them up and lots of stuff comes up. I called them for a referral and they gave me a Doctor in Minnepolis that has done it over 50 times now. I called his nurse and she said he would call me back and answer my questions on monday. As you guys probably know Doctors are not very good at returning calls but we'll see what happens. Iam not very good at explaining how the procedure works but basically they take the device and put it up the uretha and vaporize the prostate cells which kills them. It works with high pressure "steam" that at a certain degree will kill the prostate tissue. My question for you guys is there anybody out there that has had it done to them and how are you getting along and are there "side effects", etc etc?????
35 likes, 5645 replies
raygar13 ChuckP
Posted
Im at month 10 post rezum, just last month i noticed a solid improvement in leaking which was much better starting at 3 months and continuing to the present. I now feel normal in my ability to control or hold off urination and leaking. I am in control again....good luck....
oldbuzzard ChuckP
Posted
Two UTIs was really bad luck. Hopefully you're out of the woods now on on to a good recovery
michael38709 ChuckP
Posted
Hello I am new here! I had the Rezum procedure done on Sept. 21, 2019 so 5 weeks ago today. It's been a total nightmare for me. I had the foley in for four days after the procedure and could pee on my own very little, but at least I was going, there was pain and burning while going but I assumed that was all normal due to inflamation. October 4th my urine started dripping out, it would start ok then it felt like something (glue like) would just stop the flow and it burned really bad, this is what I've been going through since. I have had one doctor visit and one ER visit (which was yesterday Oct. 26th) Talked with my Dr. several times over the phone and have been on two weeks of antibiotics and now going on my third week with new Rx from the ER yesterday.
Monday 10/21 when I saw the Dr I gave him a urine sample and it was all blood, I asked why it burns so badly (pain is a 10) and only very little comes out. His answer to me was maybe the procedure didn't work and if I get worse go to the ER. I left his office feeling like I did something wrong. By Friday (yesterday) I was moaning in pain trying to urinate, so my wife called the Dr and they told her to bring me to the ER. After a long day there, they basically said they're not sure why your Dr sent you here, my bladder was not full enough for the foley, but urine was showing a little infection, so they prescribed Bactrum, which I was on two weeks ago, then Levaquin, and now Batrum again.
I just feel like I made the biggest mistake of my life by having this procedure, NO ONE is telling me anything and I am a backhoe operator and basically get bounced around in a machine all day. I struggle in extreme burning pain to pee 5 weeks in and urinating a lot worse then before the procedure.
I'm glad I found this forum because it's the only thing that has helped to feel like there might be a little hope for me and I might start getting better???
Badbolr michael38709
Posted
wow! this really scares me. i feel for you and i pray i avoid the same fate. i really dont get the doctor just leaving you hanging. i hope you improve drastically every day.
did you pee good with the cath? as my first day moved into evening i started to have a strong stream through the cath, but then it just stops suddenly and i feel a type of gurgling feeling then I start a weak stream,
michael38709 Badbolr
Posted
Hi Badbolr I had no problems with the cath at all, it all started about a week after they took the cath out. I pray you have better experience then me too! I go back to the Dr on November 8th and plan on educating him to not minimize this recovery. Before I had the Rezum done he told me it was NO BIG deal and would be back to work right away. He did the procedure and sent me home with no care instructions for cleaning the Foley. Whenever I call his office I get a nasty receptionist who tells me the Dr will call and he usually doesn't get back to me for a day or two. My first round of Bactrum came from my primary doctor because my urologist wasn't getting back to me.
TKM michael38709
Posted
Michael,
You might have a lot of blood clots and other debris in your bladder that sometimes plugs the pipe. You could either start self catheterization with a large size catheter like 16 (red rubber/latex), or you could ask your urologist about irrigating your bladder. They do it by inserting a fairly large catheter and running saline solution through the catheter into your bladder and then drain it back out. It flushes out clot and debris.
Thomas
steven05114 michael38709
Posted
Michael,
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Without stating the obvious, if you are being bounced around on a backhoe all day, then that will have a significant effect on your Rezum recovery. This would effect the recovery from any other BPH surgery too. This is pretty basic stuff. After my Rezum, there were certain activities that the uroligist specifically told me not to do such as "riding a motorcycle", which I don't do anyway.
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Again, without stating the obvious, if you have lots of blood in your urine, then the wound caused by the Rezum is not healing so you are bleeding instead. This would be the same for any other BPH surgery too. All BPH surgeries have some morbidity with some such as (mono) TURP, having more so, if you had a (mono) TURP, you would probably be bleeding even more.
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Also, learn how to self-cath. Any guy who has a Rezum should know how to self-cath. It goes with the territory. If you have a lot of blood, then you may have blood and tissue clots which means also having some larger diameter catheters along with the standard diameters ones. I had some clots that blocked my catheters. Also some stiffer catheters will get past the swelling.
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I had a 10 injection (4 per lateral lobe and 2 median lobe) Rezum in late November 2018 which was very successful. I went from total retention and 10 months of catheters to peeing normally. My IPSS went from a 28 or 29 to a 8 or 9. My Rezum followed the common schedule. I started to open at 4 weeks and I was peeing normally by 2 months. Rezum takes time to complete.
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The bottom line is that riding a backhoe and lower pelvic surgery don't go well together, so you may want to consider an extended sick leave. The other option is to just not recover...
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Good luck to you,
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Steve
michael38709 ChuckP
Posted
Had my doctor informed me of any of this I would of taken off of work more then two weeks. However, he told me I was fine to go back to work. Again, the only thing he basically told me was my procedure was "text book" it was perfect. I asked him how many injections he did, he repeated "it was text book" When the complications started, he repeated the procedure was "text book" No other answers to anything except go home and have sex, you're fine.
My bleeding stopped Monday and I am no longer passing clots. Before Rezum, I had a slow stream, now it trickles out mostly, I read here that someone almost has to milk it like a cow to come out, that's basically where I'm at. The burning when I go is my biggest complaint right now. I am taking Aleve, Azo, Antibiotics, Flomax and Saw Palmetto. Plus drinking cranberry, pomegranate juices and water.
As far as self cathing, that is not something I could handle, didn't have to do this before Rezum, and had I known it was going to be this bad, I would have never done this.
raffie michael38709
Posted
Give it time Michael. Everyone heals differently. Keep the faith.
Raffie.
raygar13 michael38709
Posted
When the urethra is burning or urination is sensitive to painful, is an indication of infection. as the body absorbs the dead tissue it should start to free you up. Antibiodics should help the infection. All these symptom will improve. 2 to 4 weeks to start to open up with best improvement 6 weeks to 3 months. i am still improving at month 9. hang in there
oldbuzzard michael38709
Posted
You probably keep aggravating things by riding the backhoe before it was advisable. Your Uro seems to be a real a-hole which is the true source of the problem. He should have asked the type of work you do and given different advice to you than say I got - because my work involves being on the phone and emails, so I was fine to work the next day. His refusal to say anything but "text book" means that he's more interested in protecting himself from liability than the welfare of his patients.
My suggestions:
Once you heal up from the backhoe induced injury, you'll likely be fine. Six weeks is the typical point where most men are better than before - it may be a bit longer for you because the back hoe caused a set back.
When I had mine done, I was unable to pee on my own for longer than anyone who had ever had the procedure - but self cathing was a life saver and allowed me to live normally til things improved. My guess is that if you take a week or two off from work, you'll be fine and happy with the results, if not the recovery.
Three 1/2 years later, I'm glad I had it done.
steven05114 michael38709
Posted
Michael,
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That your urologists would not tell you how many injections they gave you and all that they could say was "text book" is a major red flag. How did you chose your urologist to do your Rezum? How many Rezums had they already done?
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One thing that I always tell guys on this forum is to carefully chose the urologist who does you Rezum and make sure that they have done at least 50 of them.
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The urologist that I chose, had been doing Rezums for 2 years and I gave me a complete report of my Rezum including how many injections and where they were.
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I had blood for about a month. Bleeding is common in all BPH surgeries. Saw Palmetto is a bunch of new age nonsense. Don't waste your money on it. Cranberry juice may or may not help with UTI's. I like it blended with pomegranate juice.
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Again, I highly recommend that you learn to self-cath and learn how to handle it too. Good luck to you. Let us know at a month post-Rezum how you are doing.
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Steve
steven05114 oldbuzzard
Posted
Oldbuzzard,
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Well said and good advice to Michael. Hopefully, he you will take your advice. Why are there so many a-hole urologist out there? I feel fortunate to have been recommended a good urologist who did my Rezum on this forum. She was the 3rd urologist that I saw. The 1st only did mono TURP and pushed it. The 2nd was a newbie and had only done 12 Rezums. Carefully choosing your urologist is critical!
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Steve
raygar13 steven05114
Posted
that the urologist wouldnt tell you how many is questionable, you were on the table the machine clearly clicks for 9 second bursts of steam. at 7 it gets warm, I knew exactly how many when I was done.
michael38709 steven05114
Posted
Hi Steve
Thanks for replying! The Urologist that did my Rezum has done hundreds, and he was referred to me by another Urologist. He is very arrogant though and doesn't like being questioned. His bedside manner has a lot to be desired.
After my last post I took a little turn for the better, instead of a pain level of 10+ I am now at a 8 1/2. My flow isn't dripping anymore, it now comes out a little better. Bleeding stopped a week ago today, so that is good! I'm 5.5 weeks post Rezum.
Also, I met two guys that both had the Rezum done and they both said it was the worse thing they ever went through and it DID NOT work for them. I am hoping that's not going to be my case.
steven05114 michael38709
Posted
Michael,
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About the same time that I started to open up, was also when I stopped bleeding. At 4 weeks, over a few days, my pee went from pink to yellow and from drips to short streams. Over the next 2 months, the streams got stronger and longer. Due to bladder damage, it took me about 8 months to get really strong streams again.
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What did your urodynamics test and cystoscopy say about bladder damage? For any BPH procedure, the health of your bladder will be important in your ability to pee after the procedure removes the BPH blockage.
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Steve