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

For me, so far it has been great, after three weeks.

How would you describe the improvement?

I am noticing that my stream has really improved.  I am not straining at all when I pee, and the flow is strong.  I am still on one flomax per day down from two and will be getting off it, but I truly believe the rezum has made the difference.

I have noticed that I do not have a heaviness with the urethra since I am able to pee so much better.  I just feel a lot better since the Rezum and it is easier to go out and use a public restroom when you are not taking a large amount of time to urinate.

How long was the recovery?

I had a Foley catheter in for two days and once that was out and after urinating on my own that day, that was the end of my recovery, 2-3 days.

Alan, recovery seems to be all over the map, Some lke Paul are quick.  to recover others not so much.  I'm into 5 weeks and making progress but I'm still not there yet.  Dragging around a foley with the bag strapped to my leg for the better part of 5 weeks has been a pain.  Good thing I'm retired and can lay aound the house like a lazy butt; I would have had a tough time going to work with a foley... eeerr!!  I'm looking at self cath options now.  Good luck and keep us posted on yur situation.

 

I think the limit is 80 but many docs are doing it off label on much bigger ones and having success. The recovery time is longer - apparently it takes longer for the process on bigger ones - with months 3-6 having more impact than on smaller prostates.

John - I think when you start self cathing and trying to go naturally that you'll improve quickly. I think the foley is holding you back at this point - please let us know who you do.

When you say "off label", do you mean that some doctors are pushing the envelope of the guidelines or that it's done without insurance on prostates bigger than 80?

Both. Sometimes doctors can get things done off label and paid for, sometimes they do it without insurance reimbursments, depnding on the cost and need. But compared with other more invasive procedures for big prostates that require surgery, anasthesia and follow up care, Rezum is cheap and some companies will agree to pay say, $7K for Rezum off label rather than pay $30K for a Turp that could have complications and cost even more than that.

It all depends on the doc and insurance company - but I know that there a lots of big prostates being treated now and its likely that the FDA will approve bigger ones soon.

 

Thanks a lot for the info. I am off to my appointment. Let's see what the uro says.

Does that mean 3 to 6 months on antibiotics while self catching?

Oldbuzzard, I've got a feeling that you may be right. I'll push the

doc to OK a self cath for me when I see him this Thursday.

Of course, if he does not support it then I'll take his guidance. He has

been my urologist for the last 15 years and, based on past

perforance, I have a lot of confidence in him.

The thing that I'm now excited about are clear signs that my recovery is

happening.

For what its worth, his method here is way out of the mainstream and not what the company recommends. Good LUCK!!

No, it shouldn't. There are lots of guys on this forum who have self cathed for years without needing antibiotics. Wipe the tip, use disposable caths or wash them well after and you shouldn't have a problem - if you do it will be 10 days on antibiotics and then you're done.

But if your still needing some kind of cath after 8 weeks there is something that isn't right, unless you had known bladder issues going in. I was a slow recoverer and was better than when I went in at 6 weeks. I suggest that they look into it - my guess (and I'm not a doctor, but this is new enough that the docs don't always know either) is that either you have an obstruction in your urethra or your bladder was shocked into non response. Both are treatable.

Ross,

I had this done 3 days ago.. Took cath out this morning.. Incredible the difference.. nice strong stream.. Discomfort really has just been from the catheter being placed. I haven't been on any pain meds at all. Obviously it is still early, so we will see what time will bring. I had forgot what it was like to have a strong stream and not stand at the toilet for 5 minutes. I see my urologist on Monday for followup.. Im wondering how soon after this before I can try to ejaculate..

Steve, when you say "this," I assume you are talking about a Rezum procedure. Glad it went well for you but a quick heads-up. I had mine done in Jume and peed like a 25-year-old for 11 days post-cath. Then the swelling started.... on top of the swelling I picked up a UTI. Stream started to decrease and 3 1/2 weeks after the Rezum I was at the ER to get a cath because I completely shut down. Hopefully that won't happen for you but I was told (after the fact) that the swelling comes along 3 weeks post procedure. So if you feel yourself losing your stream, see your uro doc!  Good luck! PS -  everything has been great since 5 to 6 weeks post-procedure and I love the results.

Thanks for the heads up! I'll pay attention for sure. I was wondering if I might be jinxing myself saying something so soon. Being in my early 50s and dealing with this for along time it was just great to see some pressure come from the hose, lol. I'll be sure to question my doctor about post procedure swelling. I am on an antibiotic for 4 more days so I hope that wards of infection.

Steve, that is good news for you.  Based on what I have read on this blog, recovery is all over the map and depends on several things including the size of your prostat and number of injections.  It was not until week 39 that I was told I no longer needed a catheter.  During the better part of 5 weeks I cycled between foley catheter and no foley catheter (5 times).  What would happen is that after the foley cath was removed I would go strong for several days and then my urethra would swell (?) and I'd be back in the uro office to get the foley cath reinstalled.  Don't be disspointed if you relapse.  If that does happen then consider asking for a self catheter; wearing a cath with a bag strapped to your leg is a pain.  - good luck !!

Hey Steve, glad it worked out for you so far and thanks a lot for sharing your experience so far with us. I saw my uro on Monday who told me that my prostate was "huge"! I am somewhere between 120g and 140g. He said that Rezum therapy for such a large prostate would be a challenge, mostly because of the extra amount of "sticks" required, thus potentially leading to too much bleeding impairing his ability to see through the scope. That being said, both he and the company think that putting me on 5mg Finasteride for a few weeks prior to the procedure would mitigate such a heavy bleed and make the procedure possible. Does anyone have any experience or information on this procedure for larger prostates?

Ross,  mine was 48g and my Uro doc said he would not do Rezum for anything bigger than 49g.  I understand that some docs are doing it for larger prostates.

Hey John, sounds like a conservative guy. I heard that there are Rezum trials underway for larger prostates which are enjoying great success. However, I don't qualify as I had PAE 3 years ago.

Does anyone have any experience of information regarding Rezum on prostates > 80g?

Hey Bob. I'm so similar to you in situation. Although I got checked and they put me on Augmentin. Right now I'm on day 29 and I feel as bad as pre procedure. I'm on Augmentin for 6 more days. Doc gave me 14 altogether because mine got so bad. I like my doc but all he told me was that I would feel like I had a UTI for two weeks. That's why I waited over a week to get checked. I thought it was normal, even after the bleeding started, 8 DAYS POST OP.

Did you ever feel pressure in your back side or behind your testicles? Thats the most annoying thing for me. The urge to pee comes and goes. But I can't gauge where I'm supposed to be right now since I got delayed by the UTI