REZUM--HAVE YOU HAD THIS DONE???????

I had the Green light procedure done about 16 years ago. 2 nights with the catheter and I was allowed to take it out.

Except for post void dripping everything went fine. No pain after the catheter came out. I had plenty of sick time coming to me and I used it . Two weeks of nothing but rest at home. I was very happy as I could now sleep through the night and the stream was solid. About two years ago it started to slip back. I’m 74 now. My long time urologist had retired and no one in the area did Greenlight any more. I actually found it difficult to find and one in my state that did it.

My current urologist suggested Rezum. Four days with a catheter did not sound like fun but I figured it would be easier than a TURP. They gave me Valium and codeine before hand. As usual the doctor said there would be some discomfort. Baloney! The procedure hurt like hell. At the end he put a catheter in and sent me home. I took a pain pill that night and one more the next morning. I did not have any real pain but knew that it would better to take the pills before the pain snuck up on you. I had no pain other than the discomfort of the catheter. There was no obvious blood in my urine after the first day I had no fever. After 4 days I went back to the doctors office and they took out the catheter and I went home. After drinking plenty of water I tried to pee and got almost nothing. I felt the pressure on my kidneys and kept trying over the next few hours before returning to the doctors office. They said that my prostate was still swollen. They put a catheter back in. That also hurt like hell. Four days later I went back to the doctor’s office and they removed the catheter. I went home and drank more water. This time there was a stream of urine when I went to the bathroom. It took about 15 second but there was a fairly weak but steady flow. A beautiful sight.That was four days ago. I’m up two or three times a night to pee instead of once a night. I have an appointment to see the doctor next week.

It’s too early to tell how this will work out. If I had to have something done in a few years I would not do a Rezume procedure. If you are going to have this done make sure that they put you out. I was screaming bloody murder. I may be a wuss but it hurt like hell. The fact that I had to have the catheter put back in after 4 days was not a good experience. 8 days with a catheter was a drag. I only needed to have it in for two days with the Greenlight procedure.

So let me start off by saying i had this procedure done back in September 2020. I'm a 39 years old which baffled the doctor as to why I had an enlarged prostate in the first place. I started off the finasteride and tamsolousin (forgive my spelling) and those worked for a while but my body just didn't react to those medications anymore and i was suffering. So i decided to do the procedure, had to wear a cather for 5 days because i had the procedure done firday before labor day so i had to wait until tuesday to get it taken out (best feeling in the world when it's removed). And right now my prostate is fine and i'm urinating beautifully. No more waking up multiple times at night. no rushing to the bathroom when i think i have to pee only to have a dribble come out.

However, i now suffer from retrograde ejaculation. I thought it was from the medication but when doing further research and speaking to my doctor about it, he said 9 out of 10 patients come out from the procedure with no problems. But that one person might have complications. I'm that 1 person out of 10. It sucks that i can't ejaculate. Nothing comes out at all. Maybe some pre-jac, but other than that, you may think it's going to come out but it goes right into your bladder. My only saving grace as per my doctor is to take sudafed. But we all know what sudafed will do to the prostate. I'm trying viagra (not that i need it) but there was as tudy that shows it can help smooth the lining of the urethra and possibly reverse the retrograde. No nes on that yet. My biggest gripe is that Rezum really wasn't clear with this being a side effect.

So yes there is a risk of RE, but if you do the procedure, you will feel 100 times better. I hope my sharing helps. Good luck!!

Hi everyone. It's been just over a month since I've had the procedure. Here's some background and my thoughts. I’m 56 and I initially saw Dr. John Kefer with Colorado Urology based on a referral from my PCP after increasing PSA numbers (latest 9.9 on 8/20/20) and BPH symptoms. He initially performed a prostate biopsy to make sure I didn’t have cancer which thankfully was negative. Afterward, he suggested Urolift before performing a cystoscopy to alleviate my BPH symptoms, which were becoming more severe with extreme urgency and frequency. Dr. Kefer has a banner in his lobby awarding him some recognition for number of successful Urolift procedures. I was totally on board for Urolift. After cystoscopy in early 11/20, he determined that I was not a good candidate for Urolift but for Rezum due to locations of my prostate blockages. So I started all my research about this procedure all over again. I felt confident that it would work for me but was a little anxious after reading real-world feedback on the web.

The procedure took about 10 mins and the doc did 15 steam injections and was more painful and uncomfortable than I had expected. I had a foley catheter for 5 days and was very uncomfortable. Blood emanated from the tip of my penis during BM's and it was difficult to sleep with the bag. Glad to be over that after 5 days.

I had lots of frequency and urge for the first week after catheter removal. At one time, I had to empty my bladder every 10 mins! Over the next couple weeks, flow and urgency fluctuated between good and bad. Also, blood in urine became worse. They said it's normal but it was alarming to see after the first couple weeks of normal color. It's still that way after 4 weeks with blood being very visible at the start of the stream then clearing up. I've been able to sleep better and get up just once or twice a night. The doc told me to keep drinking lots of fluid to flush out the system and blood but it makes me go a lot during the day. Glad I'm working from home these days. I just stopped taking Terazosin last night, the alpha blocker that helped before the procedure, so I'll see how I do. (Flomax didn't work for me and caused RE) I've tried ejaculating and output seemed low. Not sure if it's due to healing, the Terazosin or the procedure itself. I'll see if getting off the meds will make the RE go away. I would say my condition right now is about where it was before REZUM. I'll update as things progress. I'm still hopeful that I will see better improvement in my BPH symptoms over time. One good thing is my PSA went down to 6.

UPDATE: Now 5 1/2 weeks out from the procedure. Feeling much better with great flow and less urgency. Completely off Terazosin and flow is fine. Still wondering when capacity will increase as I still seem to have to go about every 2 to 3 hours during the day without much coming out. Blood in urine has really tapered off now and rarely visible. Also, I think RE is not an issue as I've been able to ejaculate a little and blood in semen is virtually gone now too. One other side benefit is my lower back seems to be much less achy. I've always had a sore lower back and even thought I might need a hip replacement or, earlier when the doc did biospy for prostate cancer, my brain went to the dreaded mestatic prostate cancer into the hip bones. But I no cancer but my back continued to ache. In fact, it got much worse after the REZUM. But since my steady improvement from the procedure, my lower back has steadily gotten better too. I am thinking my prostate may have been the cause of the back issues. If you look up chronic prostatitis, which is an infection of the prostate, it says that back and groin pain are a common symptom. I'm wondering if my prostate was so large, it was causing this issue. Anyway--happy to be feeling much better now and look forward to more improvement in the future. More later.

Thank you for asking. Yes I have had Rezum procedure done about 5 months ago. Generally it was okay. Recovery is slow. But I am still experiencing burning when passing urine and testicular pain usually when I try to hold urine for a bit. This may be referred pain from the bladder. For me the most disappointing thing is that I'm having dry ejaculations. The literature suggests a very small chance. I am hoping this will be temporary. If there is anyone medical reading this, please let me know.

Hi,I'm new to this forum. I had Rezum performed 4 weeks ago after 3 trips to,the ER in a month for acute retention and a long history of bph. My urologist thought Rezum might not work because my prostate size was 90, just outside the nominal cutoff. However, I got a second opinion and he was very positive that it would work and would not preclude other procedures if it failed, so I went with Rezum. The procedure was painful but tolerable..no anesthesia other than local numbing. I had 10 shots. The foley was removed 2 weeks later. The first day or 2 after foley removal were rough with some bleeding and getting used to daily self catheters. However, now 4 or 5 days later, I can pee fairly well, bleeding is reduced, and catheter volume is typically less than 50. I'm due back with the doctor for evaluation in a couple,of weeks. Overall I am pleased. The ER experiences were the most painful experiences I have ever had and will do anything to avoid in the future. Self cathetering is no fun, but is manageable and I think will be finished soon. I'm 76.

I had it done 27 days ago. Age 62, prostate 51mL. Taking Tamsulosin the last 14 years. I have moderate symptoms. Some days it wasn't a bother. But increasingly weak stream and dripping was getting to be a p****r. Didn't want to take dementia-causing Tamsulosin any more (it wasn't doing much anyway). So I decided to do it before I retire. A couple weeks before had a cytoscopy. That was pretty bad, he just jammed some cold lidocaine and threaded it up there for a quick look. I though if this little thing was that uncomfortable the Rezum tool is gonna be awful. But it wasn't. I got 2 vicodins and a xanax before (I wish I would have had a few for after but they are getting real stingy with drugs). I was relaxed going into the room, and also had nitrous...Pro-Nox system where you hold the inhaler and administer it to yourself. I started deep inhaling the nitrous as soon as I could, and it made a big difference. Really took me out of the moment. I was aware of him inserting the tool and some pain/discomfort, but it was the best nitrous I've had (had a couple times at the dentist with the passive nasal dispenser, the self inhaler was a game changer and much better than how the dentist gives it.) I inhaled it deeply the whole time, about 15 minutes, until he finally said it's done. Got 6 steam shots. Didn't even notice the catheter going in. Had catheter 4 days, and it was the worst part of the whole experience. Couldn't sleep more than 2-3 hours, didn't hurt, but was uncomfortable, worried I would tangle it up when sleeping. Just a gross thing to have hanging out of your body and on your leg. I wouldn't sleep in same bed next to my wife those 4 days, and didn't leave the house and yard. I pulled it out myself on day 4 per Dr's instructions, which was an adventure, but it came out pretty easy, with a glop of blood on the end, and luckily I was able to pee. It was worse than before treatment for about a week, slow flow, a bit of blood and debris coming out as recently as 2 days ago. But now nearly 4 weeks in, the flow is stronger. Real happy with that. I'm still getting up twice a night, but it comes out faster and don't stand there dribbling and purging (night was the worst for the obstructed/weak flow). I hope it continues to get better. I mulled this over for the last couple years before doing it, largely out of fear of the procedure and catheter. The procedure was much less of an ordeal than I expected. The catheter was pretty bad, not from a pain perspective, but just being grotesque and having the fear if you are clogged up it might have to go back in. So I am peeing better. I hope it continues to improve. My only disappointment is still getting up at night about the same as before. But its done, no more mulling. My only advice is take as many pills as they offer, get nitrous or some kind of twilight sedation (pay the $100-150 extra if needed), based on the cytoscope I would not want to do it with local lidocaine or shot only. The only thing to be afraid of is being afraid itself.

Just had mine done 11 days ago. 4/21/21. Uncomfortable but tolerable. 6 steam shots. 69 gram prostate, 52 years old, 5'8" 165 pds and overall healthy. 5 days with Catheter, got a boner in my sleep the 3rd day with the Foley in and it was PAINFULL!!. Happy I could get a boner so fast though. Burning sensation at the begining of peeing, lately I've been spitting out lots of clots, or tissue or whatever it is. Having to pee more than before, about 12 to 14 times a day. Actually a little more but sometimes I just try to go even if I don't have much just to keep the bladder empty or if I have to go out. Most I can hold is about 3 hours. Sometimes I measure the output and I'm averaging about 175 ml. Trying to stay positive but it's hard. I know I have to wait. Anyway, hoping for the best.

Update 5/28/21

Five weeks and 2 days out and so far so good. the first two weeks I was worse off, sometimes going to the bathroom every hour, one day even every 15 minutes and I was freaking out. About the third week I started seeing slight improvement in my flow. Now 37 days out I am pretty happy with my results so far. Flow has improved significantly. I haven't measured the output in a while but about two weeks ago I was up to 260 ml and I'm sure more than that now based on my output in the morning. I'd say probably over 500 ml in the early morning or when I wake up at night to pee. This started about 4 days ago and I couldn't believe it, I would just keep peeing and peeing. I'll try to measure it next time and update. Only waking up 1 or two times (mostly 1 time) a night so I'm super happy. Most I can hold @ night is probably around 5 or 6 hours which is a tremendous improvement for me. No sex for three weeks after procedure as I was worried about pain, blood, etc. So far I'm pretty sure no RE. I still have a little bit of pain during climax and sometimes a little blood but not too bad and getting better daily. Blood is almost gone from urine even though once in a while I still have a little in the beginning of the stream. I haven't had any clots or chunks in the last two weeks, just blood.

Overall very happy so far and hoping for more improvement.

Update 6/14/21

7 weeks and 5 days so far. Not sure but I'm a little worried I am regressing. Today the stream was not too good. Urge to pee has become really bad when it's time. At night I can hold 450 ml as per my last measurement so not too bad. No more blood after about the 6th week. Still burns at the end of my stream and during climax. I know this sounds crazy but every time I have sex I feel my symptoms worsen. I do hold an erection for about 45 minutes or more during sex so maybe I should just penetrate real quick and get done in 5 minutes??? It's like the prostate swells or gets hurt or something. Sucks because I am getting worried of having sex for fear of losing my gains. Before my resume the urge was not that bad. My flow was weak and it would take a while at night just sitting there waiting to pee. Now I don't have to wait but the urge is insane. Trying to stay positive as I can still pee better than before but this part of my "recovery" is very frustrating. I'm still waking up mostly once, rarely twice so that's pretty good but during the day I need to go about every 2 hours Sometimes less. Also, when I get the urge to go it stings just like when I end the stream. Not to happy right now. Hope the stinging means I am still healing. Fingers crossed.....

I had the procedure 3 years ago. I seemed to be better after the month of healing. Then the pain and urgency returned. I have visited 4 more Urology doctors and tried what they suggested. I continue to have pain every day and have to pee every 1 1/2 hours day and night. I am 85 and generally in good health. If I could go back, I wouldn't do it again. The normal disclaimer I hear a lot is: "Everyone is different."