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

After much research it is my understanding that all of these procedures involve some pain and recovery time. 

When you had this done were you under anesthesia? Was this done in a hospital setting or in an office setting? 

I assume that the difficulty urinating is due to tissue swelling. Instead of trying to do self cath the urologist can insert a Foley catheter that you can keep in for a few days until the swelling goes down. This is MUCH easier than trying to self cath. 

I had prostate swelling after radiation treatment for prostate cancer, and had to have a Foley catheter off and on for 5 weeks. I got used to it. I did self cath a few times but that was much more difficult and irritating than the Foley. 

Thank you for your post. 

Tom

The Foley was really easy and comfortable AFTER I did the following:

I taped the drain tube to my leg with a couple of the little white butterfly bandages that the doctor gave me, so there was no tugging or pulling. Second, I carefully padded my underpants so that the tube rested sideways. That way there was no pulling or tugging sensation. I barely noticed it at all. The urine drained into my leg bag, which I emptied frequently. I used the velcro straps on the bag to secure it to me, so again, no discomfort or tugging. Now, here's a VERY important step that I took. I kept the tube constantly lubriced with Neosporin at the point where it entered the penis, so it was always slippery and antibiotic. Otherwise, it can get irritating and crusty. This also prevents infections. 

So, Neosporin, taping, padding and velcro. Almost 100% comfortable for five weeks. Easy to sleep at night. 

Hope this helps somebody out there who has to use a Foley or is concerned about having to use one. 

The self cath was MUCH more difficult and painful. 

Tom

For the Rezum treatment I would absolutely want to be knocked out. A few years ago I had tooth taken out and the dentist asked if I wanted to be out or awake. I said awake, and there was no pain, but for the Rezum I would NOT want to feel anything. 

This would be true for any of these treatments, TURP or Holep or Rezum. If a urologist is going to go up into my prostate and cut it, laser it, or spray steam into it, I want to be OUT.

Tom

Thanks Tom, thanks for these tips on managing the Foley.  Until I stumbled on these tips and used them my experience with the Foley was not good.  Thanks so much for sharing!!.  I'm day 21 into Rezum recovery.  During this period I've had three cycles with the Foley. Tomorrow they will remove it again and let me go ‘Foley free’ again to see if I can restore my urination.  So far no luck; but, my prostrate was quite large (> 100 cc) so recovery for me may take more time.  Once I'm though recovery I'll report back to the group on the results and experience.  I hoping the results will be good - I'll see.   Take care, John

Our REZUM experiences are the same so far and I've been told to allow up to 3 Full Months for significant improvement in my flow and correction of my retention...My uro plans 3 Trial Voids starting 30 days from Aug 15th, the day of the procedure, and,then, 30 days apart until successful...He requires me to "cut my foley catheter early in the morning, then drink as much fluids as I can until i Void. Then, let him check my Retention. If my Retention is 100 ml or less for 3 Viods then my REZUM is deemed successful...FYI - I failed my first TRIAL VOID last Thursday..Now, I'll have to wait another 30 days before another TRIAL VOID is attempted........I hate the Voiding Steps my Uro has, because I can "mess up myself" on the way to the Uro's office...This has already happened once...Very Em\barrashing!.....

Wow, my instructions were nothing like this.  My uro doc has specified no void instructions. I return to his office having gone without the foley for 4 days. He asks if I can pee. He inserts the cath to see how much volume I expell and based on that he decides if I need to keep to foley in for 4 more days.   So far I've had to have the foley re installed; I'm currently on my 5th run with the foley since Aug 22.   I go back this Monday and will ask him again about self cath

Agreed about the neosporin; i ran out so am using KY. Have had a foley catheter in me w/little Bard squirt gun on end, for about the last 26 days. For the first week pain at peehole was substantial; after about a week it went away and found i could use treadmill and play rktball and paint the house, with just slight pain at peehole that advil seems to handle with ease. I strap the squirt gun to my leg under a big rubber band wrapped around my upper thigh. What happened was 26 days ago I had AUR; had been on a boat for a week and became constipated; went from peeing only once a night, to no peeing at all. Went to ER; have had a foley cath w/squirt gun ever since, and started on tamsulosin that night; having cath taken out in two days, hoping to be able to pee again; the VA had tried taking it out after 5 days, was still conspitated, and it was a no-go; back in went the cath; worst pain i've ever felt. A week ago I saw a Resum doc (lst ltr in alphabet not working on keyboard); he suggested finasteride for 10 weeks and then revisiting the situation and to at that time do Resum; said he would do 2 shots on each side; said prostate was big that it had no median lobe; he indicated i might be on the cath that long, as in 10 more weeks; yikes. I've adapted to it, and know things could be worse, but it wouldn't break my heart to see it go and return to using the original equipment. Am much grateful for all the comments on this site; lots of good information, from firsthand eksperiences; things you won't find out from the trials reports or the physician websites. Am also considering FLA, but none of my lottery tickets have won yet. cheers, or at least a few hand claps.

Tom86211, you were constipated probably because you weren't drinking enough water on a daily basis, trying to avoid the pain while peeing? I know that was my problem, so I started forcing myself to drink more water anyhow and just hope and pray that this pain while peeing goes away. I'm still only two weeks into the REZUM recovery period though.