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

Dave why don't you have a urolift. No side effects. Easy recovery. It will open you up and relieve the pressure of the bladder. Going on 3 yrars for me. Take care. It's up to you what procedure you have. The doctors only can suggest a treatment. Good luck. Ken

PAE, Urolift, FLA, are all less invasive than Resume.

Neal

I would disagree.

Every single option have risks.

Rezum has a very low long-term risk profile.

That may be true but it does take longer to heal and see results. Ken

Let me add my thanks and appreciation for your involvement in this forum. It helps to have the voice of many experiences with Rezum, as opposed to what we patients can offer, which is just a single experience, either good or bad.

Some of the guys on here have not had good experiences with the Rezum procedure, and it does tend to give a pretty negative view.

I've read through some forums on other procedures, such as the '(g)old standard' TURP and others. When you compare those experiences with the Rezum experiences, it still sounds like it's the best current option for many of us. My Rezum procedure is scheduled for this coming Friday. 

Ken

The rezum is a wonderful procedure for the right candidate. It is minimally invasive and incurs minimal (or sometimes no) anesthesia risk.

You always need to take what you read on anonymous Internet forums with a grain of salt. Some of the procedures that some of the men discuss have been performed very few times, are not covered by insurance, and have no studies performed to demonstrate their effectiveness for BPH.

When in doubt, I always recommend a second or third (and in the nyc area, sometimes a 13th or 14th) opinion before making a decision.

That being said, the rezum has helped many men with very few long-term downsides compared to older procedures.

@JerseyUro: When in doubt, I always recommend a second or third (and in the nyc area, sometimes a 13th or 14th) opinion before making a decision.

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Interesting comment. Is this because you have reservations about NYC area doctors or because there are so many of them that you mine as well got lots of opinions? I assume you were talking about FLA regarding anecdotal accounts and lack of study data. However, we have gotten lots of valuable input on more established procedures like Rezum here which I believe are a good complement to what the doctors and manufacturer says.

Jim

The NYC comment is just that Manhattan folks are known to doctor shop; and I don't necessarily believe there is anything inherently wrong with that.

From the few Rezum patients who have left comments here, it appears most have been satisfied, with several who probably should not have had it done (and probably should not have had any prostate procedure performed.) That being said, it's impossible to make any sort of scientific judgment based on any of these procedures from an anonymous forum, but hopefully, it increases discourse for when you speak with your doctor(s) about what treatment is right for you.

I agree with the others. No need to rush into any surgery because of prostate size. In fact, prostate size alone is no reason for prostate reduction surgery at ANY time. It's function, not size when it comes to the prostate and whether to treat it. As to getting up to urinate, that can often be related to other things besides the prostate. A simple 24 hour urine log can help determine why this is going on. If your night time volume exceeds 40% of your 24 hour output then you may have what is called nocturia polyuria which is common as we get older. A prostate reduction surgery will probably not help much with that. If you tolerate the meds, then keep taking them. If not, there is also the option of self catherization. Surgery should be reserved only after the less invasive avenues have been explored. Given your symptons, no rush to make any decision. Take your time. Learn more. Get a second and third opinion.

Jim

Its definitely one of the lest invasive with a low side effect profile. But you don't seem to need any procedure. Rezum isn't simple enough to warrant being done for someone who has an annoying day a few times a year. Here's what to expect: You'll wear a catheter for a few days to several weeks (or self cath, which I HIGHLY recommend over the foley that your doc will almost surely want you to endure) and it will be over a month before you're as good as before. You'll have urgency, a few weeks of lots of blood in your urine, ect. When its all over, you should be better than before, IF you had trouble peeing.

You might have occasional overactive bladder, which could cause your symptoms. If so, no prostate procedure will help. You may be going into a sort of semi retention every now and then. For that, I'd recommend self cathing when it happens and seeing if that doesn't solve the problem til the next episode. If after self cathing you still feel the urge, but very little comes out, its almost surely overactive bladder. Myrbetriq will help that with little or no side effects. Either way, you're fine most of the time and have never gone into retention. I'd try self cathing on bad days and/or Myrbetriq before considering Rezum. Its one of the least invasive, but its no fun either.

 

Dave, I agree with oldbuzzard. Don't do anything until you have to do it. A disrupted night or two every few months would not be enough for me to risk any procedure.

I had the Rezum procedure done just over 7 months ago when I was 61. Prostate size was 54 gm, but the flow was pitiful, day and night. I developed a bladder stone. After it was removed, I knew I had to do something and Rezum seemed to be the lowest risk/highest gain option.

I had the procedure done while awake. It was pretty painful, but I'm sure it was less so then when my wife had our children. I had to self-cath one time, the night after the procedure. I guess I was fortunate. 

My IPSS score was 21 before Rezum; now it is 10. I can tell you that your quality of life is much better at a 10 than 21!

What is your IPSS? I suggest waiting until it's 15 or higher before pursuing any procedure. If and when you do, from my perspective Rezum is a good choice. Just be sure your doctor has experience performing it with good patient results. 

Best wishes,

  Bill

 Thank you so much for the reply, still very nervous and confused. Dr is claiming I should have the resume done because of the size is 81 g, and Do i want to live for taking the prescription medicines. I don't know if it 81 g I should have something done just because it's large???   I need more help making this decision and having a hard time finding it, not sure where to go for a second opinion?

 Thank you for the response very much appreciated. I believe the doctors were concerned that it's so large 81 g. Urinating issues like OK, once in a while urgencies. My PSA is 3.7, the sizes 81 g. Don't know what the hell any of this means, very worrisome. Would like to get a second opinion don't know where to go.  Thank you for your reply very much appreciate it. Dave

Having a procedure; ANY procedure  just because a gland is large is a bad idea.

If you are happy with medication and you are emptying your bladder reasonably well, don’t have a procedure 

 Even with the prostrate at 81 g, isn't that very large.  Should I get a second opinion?  Thank you very much for the response .🙏

Dave  Just like Jersey.  I'm going to say the same thing.  If you are still able to pee and you can deal with the meds.  Do not rush into surgery just because your prostate is bigger.  It's a bad Idea.  Do not have anything done at this time.   

Yes - don't have a procedure even if your prostate is 81 grams. Function, not size is (or should be) the determining factor. Prostates grow in different directions and impact flow differently. My prostate is 30 grams, yet I had pretty significant BPH symptoms and so I was a good candidate for a procedure (I had Rezum). Yours is 81 grams, your problems are minor, so IMO, you aren't a good candidate for a procedure for two reasons. 1) Your issues aren't severe enough to warrant it - all procedures come with risks. 2) Its not at all clear that the minor issue you do have is caused by your prostate - if its not, no prostate procedure will help at all.

I'm not sure that you need another opinion, but I do think you should consider a new Urologist. Suggesting a procedure for someone with only occasional minor symptoms is bad judgement IMO, as is doing so without anything to go on other than prostate size.

OldB- My Uro says I will prob. need Rezum or TURP not for trouble peeing (I have no problem with that) but for not completely emptying my bladder which he thinks caused two bladder stones last fall. 

Should have added- he says retention is caused by median lobe. 

Okay, Mike, now you have added additional pertinent information: you had bladder stones last fall. A bladder stone was the impetus for me to do something about my BPH. I had Rezum and it has worked out so far for me.

I'd say that Rezum should be high on your options list. Just be sure that your doctor is competent with doing the Rezum procedure.

  Bill

How much retention do you have? Did you ever do the 24 hour void log? As I mentioned before, you may have an excessive water intake. 6-8 eight ounce glasses of fluid (water, coffee, soda, soup, etc) should be more than enough unless you exercise and sweat heavily. Remember the food you eat also contains a lot of water esp fruit and vegetables.

Jim

Did he test you for retention? All urologists have an ultrasound that can measure what's in your bladder.  If you do have chronic retention, then a procedure is probably indicated, but that should be confirmed clinically, not presumed based on stones. And if you only have occasional retention and you can tell when that is, self cathing when it happens is a viable option if you'd rather skip the procedure.

And almost no one should get a TURP anymore.

 

Before you have anything done make sure you do have stones.  He can do a scope on you to tell.  And if you need a procedure have a Rezum to make it smaller or the Urolift to pull it apart.  They both will relieve the pressure of the bladder  But stay away from the TURP that will cause you more problem.  What about a pill to relax the bladder.  Good luck  Ken