REZUM--HAVE YOU HAD THIS DONE???????
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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
randy_85492 ChuckP
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I've heard and read that Prostate Arterial Embolization (PAE) treatments performed by Interventionist Radiologists have the Highest Rate of Success (97%) with the Least Amount of Complications...Men older than 60 yrs. have a lot of success with PAE.....See the Aetna Report (referenced last post) for verification......GOOD LUCK!....
billyjk randy_85492
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Definitely looking into PAE. Interesting that since PAE is performed by Radiologists, it's not likely that our Urologists will point us in that direction. This is an interesting dynamic that must be factored into our info-gathering and decision-making.
oldbuzzard billyjk
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randy_85492 oldbuzzard
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tom86211 oldbuzzard
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From my research PAE involves less pain or discomfort than any of the other procedures, so, based on effectiveness vs side effects, it is the best way to go. Availability, as you mentioned, is an issue. But, the way to find out if it is available in your location would be to call the interventional radiology departments available to you through your insurance to find out if they are doing this. I have found that it is unlikely you will find out from your urologist. When I mentioned PAE to a couple or uros they didn't know what I was talking about! That was two years ago. By now, I think they know what's going on.
richp21 randy_85492
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Couildn't find the Aetna report. Must have been a link in the post the moderator deleted. Could you send a little more general info so we could use google to find it? Thanks!
rick_86089 ChuckP
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I had been on tamsulosin for about 6 months but the side effects were worse than the problem (diffculty sleeping, rash, etc). As my doc had been involved with the original Rezum clinical trials and help develop the procedure, we agreed together that I was a great candidate for the procedure.
Had it done 5 days ago with only local anasthezia. I had four steam injections, each lasting 5-7 seconds. I was able to watch the monitor the doc was using as he probed the prostate and adminstered the steam. Quite cool but weird. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being unbearable, I would rate the pain of each steam injection at about a 4 -- not terrible but a major discomfort.
My doc warned me that urination would be worse before it got better and he was right. Just in case, he supplied me with two catheters and taught me how to self-adminster them. I never needed them. The first two days urinating was difficult, with a burning sensation and some blood. The blood disappeared the 3rd day, And five days later I'm now at 50% of the stream strength I was pre-op. So my recovery appears to be going quite well. I expect to see dramatic improvements in 2 weeks that will put me in a much better place than I was pre-op.
I should note several things. The doc has me on Mortin to reduce swelling, Uribel for five days, put me on antibiotics the first day post-op, and switched me from tamsulosin to a different alpha adrenoceptor blockers with fewer side effects (I have to be on that for a month as I recover). I'm also pretty fit for my age, so I assume that will result in a fast recovery.
randy_85492 rick_86089
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Thanks so much for sharing your experience with REZUM!....It seems to have been successful for you...My Uro doc states REZUM has the least pain, fewest complications, quickest recovery, and the highest record of success of All the procedures that Urologist offer... There's clinical study information listed on the web that seems to verify those...Also, REZUM Patients, ie. yourself, have reported Quick Success & Cure.....All this information makes me confident in trying REZUM as a treatment......Please continue to report on any complications, problems, and your recovery...
rick_86089 randy_85492
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Thanks Randy. Will post as I make progress toward reovery. I'm very encouraged so far.
ron53733 randy_85492
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I've had rezum and it's now 2 weeks since ,still having urinating issues and still wake up 6 or 7 times a night to pee, sure hope that gets better...
richp21 rick_86089
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oldbuzzard rick_86089
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It may well be more than 2 weeks before you're better than pre-op. Most of the improvements come in weeks 6-12.
rick_86089 ChuckP
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RobMok ChuckP
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BobFL ChuckP
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OK, a month ago I was about 3 weeks post-Rezum and things were not going too well. I promised an update and since I cannot change my original post, I will start over from the beginning. Bottom line is that 6 weeks post-Rezum things are GREAT and I would recommend the procedure. I have a great flow, I'm voiding completely and going many hours between bathroom visits. Getting up during the night was never a regular thing for me but that is completely gone now as well. But the 6 weeks in between the Rezum procedure and my final results were like Mr Toad's Wild Ride. Here are the details which I am sharing in hopes that others will not lose faith in the early weeks post-Rezum...
My Rezum procedure was done June 23. I was 2 monnths shy of 63 and had been struggling with BPH the last 4.5 years with my major symptom being lack of flow. My urologist would probably say the biggest thing was retention, but I didn't "feel" that. Lack of flow was the real issue for me and I would occasionally have issues with frequency & urgency. In any event, after my Rezum procedure I had a Folley catheter in for 4 days which was no fun, but after that, I peed like a 25-year-old for 11 days! Every time I stood at the toilet an exclamation of "wow!" came out of my mouth. Then things started to go awry. For four days, I had diffuse pain in the area of my bladder/prostate/rectum. Nothing too severe, but when it woke me up at 2 AM on the 4th day, I decided I was calling the doctor today. Then when I woke up for real at 7 AM the pain was completely gone. This is where it gets strange... while I had the pain, I was still peeing well, Not as well as the prior 11 days, but if those were 9-10 out of 10, now I was around 8 out of 10. As soon as the pain went away, I started having flow issues. I went through five days of my flow varying between a 2 and 6 out of 10. BUT, 17 days post-Rezum, I dropped to less than a 1 out of 10. Being Sunday, I tried to tough it out for a while, but by 3:00 PM I was headed for the ER. I came home from the ER with another catheter and was completely demoralized.
My urologist called me the next day and he said it was typical to get swelling about 2 1/2 weeks post-Rezum. On top of that, the ER diagnosed me with a UTI. I probably would have been OK with just swelling or UTI but not both.
I ended up staying with the catheter for another 4 days. After that it was replaced by a Spanner prostatic stent. This is kind of like a catheter with no bag so you can live a little more normally. And for the most part, I did, but there were some issues. First of all, the first 3 days after they put in the Spanner there was a lot of pain which slowly subsided into general discomfort. The discomfort never completely left me over 2 1/2 weeks but it was tolerable. There were things like bikes and certain stretching exercises that did not feel good at all and I never dared trying sex. I was supposed to keep the Spanner for 3 1/2 weeks but with a week to go, the device moved a little and I was suddenly incontinent. I wore Depends for a couple of days until the urologist could remove it. On top of everything else I wound up with another UTI which my doc said could be because of the foriegn device in there.
The Spanner has now been out for 2 weeks and everything has been wonderful that entire time. My flow is truly like I am 25 - 30 years old. They did a bladder scan on me one week post-Spanner and I was holding 20ml! In the past I was usualy above 200ml and at times was over 400ml. Just today I went 5 1/2 hours between bathroom visits and the time in between included 3 - 4 cups of coffee.
So at this point, I would say "do it" to anyone whose doc is recommending a Rezum procedure. For me, the results are amazing and assuming they last several years, they were well worth the issues I went through. I just wish I had been better educated beforehand to minimize the desperation I felt at the time.
One last thing... when the Spanner was put in I had a lot of pain so my doc recommended Azo which is an OTC med intened specifically to treat urinary tract pain. It does an amazing job. Only issue is it turns your pee bright orange and is like peeing with orange paint.
If anything changes I will repost. Best of luck to all of you!
Phil77382 BobFL
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I am considering the Rezume Procedure. I had the Urolift last year and It only hepled a little. Now I need something done to help with flow. My doctor is recommending the Greenlight Laser or the Rezume Procedure but he is leaning toward Greenlight. But I am nervous about greenlight laser and its complications. I am very happy for you.
kenneth1955 Phil77382
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I'm sorry that it did not work well for you. I had mine done in April of 2015 Been doing well. Don't be talk into the green light. It will cause you to have retro orgasm and some other side effect. Tell him you want the rezume procedure. You will be better off..Take care Ken
randy_85492 Phil77382
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richp21 randy_85492
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Hi Randy,
I'd love to see the trial data you mentioned. Where can I find it. If it's a link, you can send it to me in a private message. Thanks!
Rich
Phil77382 randy_85492
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Thanks for the advice. I will not do any procedure for a month or two because of scheduling off work. Please let me or all of us know what your thoughts are of the procedure and your recovery. I am truly wishing you the best success.
I am trying to read more about these procedures after being informed from my doctor that I need something done. I have put it off for a while because I have been concerned over side effects. Good luck
randy_85492 Phil77382
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Most urologist prefer doing a TURP, but that procedure has had a lot of complications and some irreversible consequences... My first urologist wanted to do a TURP, but I refused....I feel a TURP should be your last resort for treatment....My current urologist has 35 years experience, has had no medical board complaints, performs alternative minor or non-invasive procedures besides a TURP...He performed a series of medical tests and, then, recommended the REZUM....If you do one of the non-invasive procedures and it doesn't work, you can always do a TURP later...Dr. Isaacson mentioned in this blog has recommended the REZUM for me,,...Thus, two expert doctors plus clinical tests seem to confirm the best treatment for me is the REZUM....My doctor's nurse just called and my REZUM procedure has been scheduled for this Thursday...The procedure costs ~ $5500, but I'm only responsible for a $300 insurance co-pay..The procedure can be done in the doctor's office, lasts ~ 45 minutes, and, then, you're sent home....You'll be on very strong antibiotics for awhile and be on a direct bag catheter for ~ 4 weeks..Your flow increase with time, but in most cases, returns to normal within 3 months..The doctor rates the pain as a 5 out of 10, but it only lasts for 9 seconds per the area targeted......I hope All this is correct and the procedure goes well.....GOOD LUCK in Your Decision!...
kenneth1955 randy_85492
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patrick37209 randy_85492
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I'm 5 weeks post Rezum. I am so much better. I would recommend it to all with an enlarged prostate and the associated symptoms. I wore a Cath for 5 days and hated it but part of the procedure. After I took it out generally I have had very few symptoms. And now 6 weeks later I feel very normal. I am still taking Flomax and will stay on it for another couple of weeks. My biggest complaint (before Rezum) was this awful burning deep inside me. Doc said not only was the prostate enlarged but inflamed. I have no pain now and peeing seems normal and only 1 time at night(yeahh). But let me say this.... I didn't have any sex for about 2 weeks after Rezum. It all worked and felt normal... A little less semen but who cares... I took the matter in hand the first ejaculation. Dark and bloody...and then again(days later) and it was clear. So be aware of the first couple ejaculations. I'm so glad that's all behind me. Life is good.
randy_85492 richp21
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I've misplaced my notes and website address for those, but Aetna insurance has a very good article posted on their website regards BPH Treatments...I don't know how to send a private message from Patient and Patient will not allow Links to be posted..Try to find the article on Aetna's website...use aetna com, cpb, medical, data, 1....GOOD LUCK!
randy_85492 patrick37209
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Thanks, Patrick! I hope I'll be able to report similar success!...Please wish me GOOD LUCK!
Tim-B randy_85492
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Randy -
Good luck on your procedure and please report back on your progress. The current Uro practice I'm seeing has one doc focusing on Rezum and another on Urolift. I was told they use a foley catheter for 3 days, so if you end up with one for 4 weeks, let us know. There are posts from other men (different forum) stating they were not catheterized post Rezum. Regardless, that is not a deciding factor for me either way, nor are the comments about the level of pain as we all have different pain thresholds and the locals they provide can have varying levels of impact.
My primary issue is with starting the flow, especially after sleep or sitting for long periods and the strength of the flow at that time. Middle of the day, I have few issues. But getting up in the AM (or during the night) - it takes me 5+ minutes just to start and a good 10 to void.
randy_85492 Tim-B
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Thanks, Kenneth....I will keep our blog informed. I hope my experience will be the same as Patrick's - see his post today...
kenneth1955 randy_85492
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kenneth1955 patrick37209
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