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

Ron - your experience is more typical than the docs who perform the procedure suggest. But it will get better. I was self cathing for two weeks before I was able to pee at all and it took 3 weeks total before I ditched self cathing for good.

Some suggestions:

1) Get a catheter script from your doc so you can order those speedicaths that are mentioned often on this and other threads. They make portable ones that don't require lube you can keep in your pocket. As long as you can find a stall, no one ever has to know, it only takes seconds more than peeing on your own and from what people say, the go up easily and painlessly. That will allow you to live a normal life while you self cath.

2) The vast majority of improvement occurs in weeks 6-12, so don't exepct to do much better than before til then. My doc told me I was took longer than any of his Rezum patients, so worst case scenario for you is probably similar to mine. I didn't get the results that some do, but I'm definitely better than I was before I had the procudure, so be patient and don't worry - your exp[erience isn't all that uncommon. My urologist said that in the end, he thinks 10-20% will have some trouble peeing for like you and I did.

Ron,

Sorry to hear you're having these issues, but, anytime heating or radiation is applied to the prostate there will be tissue swelling for a while and this makes it more difficult to urinate temporarily - happened to me after radiation for prostate cancer. After some weeks (in my case 5 weeks) the swelling went down and all returned to the way it was before. In your case, the prostate tissue that was steamed will die off and be absorbed and it will get easier and easier to urinate. What you are going through now is the worst part. it will continue to improve. 

My best,

Tom

Thanks for advice, hard to wait to improve

Yes it is - I was miserable, especially because I was told I would be off of the cath in a day or two. It will get better - you probably have another week before daylight and two before things are relatively normal. At week 7 or so, it will start improving dramatically.

The reason I had the rezum was because I was getting up 6 or7 times a night to urinate plus some other urinating problems. If I lay on my back to try and sleep I don't have to get up and urinate but when I lay on my stomach I have to get up 6 or7 times . Has anybody else observed this situation.

Yes, I have to urinate less frequently when I sleep in a recliner than when in bed on my side. I can't explain it but intend to ask my urologist on my next visit.

I am curious what made you go for REZUM procedure and not laser Turp? What were  the advantages/disadvantages of both?

Nktoronto  I think you should look up both and see for yourself.  REZUM is a less invasive procedure.  It will make the prostate smaller but it does take a little longer to heal and you will not have retro and your sex life will be save because they do not go into the penis  With the turp they cut out most of your prostate they can damage your bladder neck and they will damage the sex nerve because they are attach to the prostate. you will get retro and you have a chance of leaking.  But sometime they do work but you have to look at both to see what you want and to see if you can handle the out come of the procedure.  I know I'm going to get some flack about this but we have to get all the information we can before we pick a procedure.  Talk to your doctor a friend or your family get there opioions on each see which one will work and make you happy  Ken   

TURP of any kind wasn't a consideration for me. IMO, the only reason to have TURP done is if you are flat out miserable and its the only thing available to you/your insurance will pay for. RE is a virtual certainty, the recovery is long and there are all sorts of complications that can be severe - particularly leaking and incontinence that are typically permanent. TURP is NOT the gold standard anymore, its outdated and barbaric by today's standards.

I had one retention episode in 4 years and my doc set me up to self cath after that in case it happened again. It did once (on a business trip) but I was prepared and it was no big deal or problem. Before Rezum was FDA approved, my URO offerred me the Greel Light, but I didn't want RE and the recovery was long and he cautioned me I might need a diaper for 2-4 weeks so I said no - particularly because he told me that Rezum was on the horizon.

He offered to get me into the clinical trial for REzum, but I didn't think I was bad enough to risk the trial and decided to wait until they had more experience and FDA approval. I opted for it last March because it was low risk - no RE, no coring out the prostate, short recovery (was longer than I or my doc thought, but as they've done more it turns out there are some with smilar and even longer recoveries)I just figured some steam sprays were pretty benign and they had een getting good results - but that the worst likely scenario was that it wouldn't work and that I would have gone through some discomfort for nothing.

I'm not perfect, but much better than I was and I don't regret having Rezum done. I think it should be SOP to try the less invasive stuff (REzum/PAE/Urolift) before anything more involved - if they don't work you can always have something more invasive done.. IF you aren't a candidate for one of the non surgical procedures and you have to do real surgery, I'd only consider Holep.

Just my opinion, could be wrong.

Hey Mr. OLd.  So you do not have retro.  I was looking up the procedure but it does not say anything just that it perserves sexual functions.  Most of the procedures say that  I don't think they consider ejaculation a function.  The doctor tell us after 40 we don't need it because we are not having kids  That is bull...  I agree with everything you say.  Thank you  Ken

Rezum has a 2.5% chance of cuasing Retro. PRetty good odds

I guess it because it damageing the prostate and it makes less fluid  Good to know  Ken 

RE is really one of two things.

Some procedures, like the PAE, can shrink the prostate, including the part that actually makes seminal fluid. No fluid, no ejaculation.

Other procedures, like the turp, damage the valve between the prostate, and the bladder. When you ejaculate, the fluid can go into the bladder, rather than out the end of the penis.

I have RE. Neither my wife nor I can feel any difference. If you're not planning on more children, it's not worth worrying about.

Remember, there's a difference between ejaculation, which is the fluid coming out of the penis; and orgasm, which is the sudden flood of great feelings that happen through intercourse.

Neal

Old Buzzard - It's been 2 days since I passed my Trial Void and have started Self-Cathing....I've experienced 6 Natural Voids during that period of time and have Self-Cath'd 3 times....It seems the Self-Cath produces Less than 100ml...How long should I continue to Self-Cath?...Please Advise...

If you consistantly yeild less than 100 ml naturally, I'd stop now. You might want to keep a protable cath in your pocket just in case for a little while so you don't get stuck away from home - but anything less than 100ml is considered normal and safe.

If you get up alot in the middle of the night, you might want to cath before bed to make sure your empty, but thats just personal preference. Less than 100ml and you're doing great!

Thanks for your quick response and  good news.....The URO Doc stated that I should only have to S-C for 2-3 days.......He seems to be right....

Your Uro doc hasn't been right very often, but even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile

Did you self cath at the same time of the day. You might try it first thing in the moring, midday and before bedtime. If they are consistently under 100ml, you probably can stop.  However you might want to periodically check your PVR by self cathing, or you could just go to your doc's office and get your bladder scanned. Just make sure if you do the latter, not to drink extra fluid before the scan even if it means waiting around the office until you feel the urge to naturally void.

Jim

Thanks I'll try your suggestion.....I was surprized that I could VOID on my own so fast with my Bladder Muscle being dormant for ~ 4 months while I was on the Foley...I was worried that I might never come off a catheter due to an inactive Bladder Muscle...The URO Doc stated after a cystoscope of the prostate and bladder that the REZUM did its job by removing all obstructions and, if the bladder muscle resumed its function, I should be able to stop Self-Cathing within 2-3 days...That would be great!...The nightmare might be over....