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
robert81316 ChuckP
Posted
Hey guys, I am posting my current situation. Last week after about a week post surgery to remove that giant stone from my bladder/prostatic urethra I cam down with the flu. Five days ago I was in the ER with super low calcium, potassium, an infection showing in my blood and dehydration. Today I went back because I am suffering some significant pain in my backside, almost like it's my prostate or tailbone and I still feel some ache in my bladder.
They performed a CT with contrast and the doc told me that everything looked normal, including my prostate. My urine was clear and so was my blood. It is unreasonable to think that 15 days after having transurethral laser cystolitholapaxy to remove the stone that I would still be in pain? I can't imagine for as long as that stone was stuck in my prostatic urethra that I would be feeling normal already. I don't really have urgency but I can still feel like I have to pee a little from time to time. It comes and goes but is not intense. The pain in my backside is significant though. I did not feel like this prior to the surgery.
Clevelandclinic.org says It may take several weeks to recover from a cystolitholapaxy. You may have to take 3 to 4 weeks off of work, and even more time if your job requires physical activity or heavy lifting. I had it done on Friday and was back to work on Monday. Boss wouldn't give me additional time off.
My doc gave me ZERO information on how long it would take to recover, what to expect, and if I would have the crazy constipation I had. I also have generalized anxiety disorder so if anyone knows what that is like you know that doesn't help if I have to speculate on your recovery. Sad the doc literally told me NOTHING. He didn't even tell my wife. And before you mention it, yes I should have asked. But I also believe it is the doctor's responsibilty to inform the patient.
So, if Jersey Urology could weigh in I would greatly appreciate it, and no I don't expect any knowledge given as medical advice to be used. My nurse at the urology center seems relatively unhelpful and not very knowledgeable. And if anyone else has had this done or has an opinion I would love to hear about your experience and how long it took to recover from the surgery. Thanks in advance
ken19524 ChuckP
Posted
I'm on day 11 after Rezum, so I thought I'd share my experience so far. If you've not seen my previous post, I'm 65 years old, 68 gram prostate with enlarged median lobe, self-cathed for a few months before the procedure.
The operation was quick and painless with a light general anesthesia. I've had almost no pain at all, only a bit of discomfort on a couple of days associated with starting the flow. I found that 400mg of ibuprofen takes care of not only the slight discomfort, but also eliminated the slight urgency as well. One suggestion for anyone contemplating the procedure: learn to self-cath beforehand so that you can avoid the Foley catheter. There was some tenderness in the urethra for a day or so after the procedure but otherwise no problem at all.
At about day 5, I noticed that the flow when peeing naturally was increasing. I normally sit when urinating because there's less splash and the wife who does most of the cleaning appreciates that. But when standing, the flow increase is easily noticeable. Based on everything that I've read, it's far too early to expect noticeable improvements in flow, but I'm happy to report that, at least in this case, the improvements have started already.
I know that you're supposed to wait at least a couple of weeks before testing the rest of the plumbing but I was anxious and so tried it at day 4. No problems with erections or ejaculation. But I also didn't have any reduction or RE from taking Tamsulosin either. In fact, my semen volume and force has increased since I started taking the second daily Tamsulosin. It will be interesting to see what happens when I stop taking the Tamsulosin.
I don't know how typical my Rezum results are compared to the majority of patients. Certainly, some of the guys on this site have had much more difficulty, and I really feel bad for them. I'm hoping that others who are contemplating the procedure won't be afraid to go through with it, assuming that they have been qualified as good candidates.
JerseyUrology ken19524
Posted
What you describe is what the vast majority of our patients experience, with the exception that most of our patients will have significant urgency and frequency for a bit longer.
I wish you continued success!
anthony2858 ken19524
Posted
I have not been following the site for quite some time now however first off is congrats on the procedure! Hope the improvement continues.
As I recall you had the Urolift procedure approx 2 years ago and now seeing you have completed the Reezum procedure. Was just wondering if during that time between the two were you reliant on self cathing and have you had any other procedures? Just asking because you and I had the urolift done around the same time, and like you it was short lived so I have been just watchful waiting and reliant upon CIC. However self cathing for so long I can feel exactly where the restriction in, which is at the very end of the insertion, which leads me to believe that, I have a median lobe that has the very opening closed. Kinda backed off having a urologist beings how they just want to perform a turp. Have been off all drugs for over a year now. Still in the watchful waiting mode.
have a good one!
ken19524 anthony2858
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Anthony,
You're thinking of a different Ken on here. I've never had Urolift.
kenneth1955 ken19524
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Ken glad to hear your doing well. Give yourself some time to heal. Relax and let nature take it's course > Ken
kenneth1955 anthony2858
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Good morning Anthony. This is the Ken that had the Urolift. It will be 3 years next month. Are you having a problem. I am having a problem now but it is not with the Urolift now Prostate is still open. Right now I am having a problem with the first sphincter it is to tight. So my flow is thin. My urolift put me on Cyclobenzaprr 10 MG 3 times a day. It is helping some. Back pain is gone and so it the groin pain. Over the last few months by bladder stop working and had a kidney infection and my bladder was inflamed. I think what I'm doing will up me it just will take time. How many clipes did you have put in. Maybe you need more. Take care ken
hank1953 JerseyUrology
Posted
Hi Jersey, many people on this forum have what kenneeth1955 described as "tight external sphincter", probably caused by prostate enlargement, causing slow stream as well as difficulty in starting the flow. What are the usual treatments for this ? Medication ? Surgeries ? Which ones ? Thanks. Hank
hank1953 ken19524
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ken19524 anthony2858
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Anthony,
I had/have an enlarged median lobe. I understand that these tend to grow upward into the bladder. It makes sense to me that a Urolift couldn't be used in this area because if the prostate is indeed growing up into the bladder, that means that the surgeon can't insert the Urolift device into the median lobe of the prostate because it might puncture the bladder. At least that is what I see in my mind. If that is the case, and there are no devices already in your median lobe, then you should be a good candidate for the Rezum procedure on the median lobe. But of course your uro would need to make that determination. My uro used a TRUS (Trans Rectal UltraSound) to initially determine the size and shape of the prostate. I'm sure that a 3T MRI would be more detailed, but I'm not sure if the Urolift precludes MRIs. I don't believe so, but I don't recall what I read on that. WAY too much information to keep track of sometimes!
ken19524 hank1953
Posted
Hank, yes, so far, so good on my procedure. Of course things could go south; we've read about how that can happen. But I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
I started the second Tamsulosin several months before my Rezum procedure, at the same time I started CIC (self cath). I sensed that it made a small difference. I'm continuing to take the two per day dose at my Rezum uro's suggestion. Since I'm not having any side effects from the tamsulosin, I will continue to take it until I have my one month checkup in 3 weeks. Interestingly, I have an appointment with my original urologist a week later. He's the one who wanted to do a bipolar turp on me a year ago. I intend to push him to consider offering the Rezum procedure locally. We'll see how that discussion goes.
hank1953 ken19524
Posted
I guess the second Tamsulosin was not helping enough so you had REZUM done. Just curious, why are you planning to push your uro to offer REZUM ? If he is not already doing that, it won't be easy for him to offer it. Hank
kenneth1955 ken19524
Posted
Good luck with trying to get the first doctor to do the Rezum. Some are set in there way's and won't do anything new.. Be well ken
ken19524 kenneth1955
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Ken and Hank,
Now that I think about it, I think you're both right; it may be just wasted effort to try to convince my first (local) urologist that he should move into the 21st century and help his patients, instead of just doing what he's been doing. I understand that he is a very talented urologist. He did a great job on my circumcision a couple of years ago. I think he is, like most urologists, very dedicated to his patients. But for some reason, he was convinced (as of a year ago anyway) that his TURP procedure was the right thing for me. I am SO GLAD that I didn't take his suggestion.
kenneth1955 ken19524
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ken19524 JerseyUrology
Posted
Well, I'm at the two week mark as of today. My urine flow is the best that it's been in years. Not exactly racehorse flow yet, but the improvement is amazing after just a couple of weeks. I'm down to cathing just a couple of times a day to check out the amount of residual. Right now the residual is averaging about 100cc. So my question to you is: what do you tell your Rezum patients about resuming certain exercise routines? I've continued my usual light weightlifting and elliptical routines all along, but I'm wondering about riding a bicycle. The weather here is getting nice enough that I'd like to get out and ride my bike a few miles. But my prostate might be a little bit too close to the bicycle seat.
JerseyUrology ken19524
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I would say that at two weeks, you should be able to resume (pardon the pun!) regular activity. Riding a bike is probably fine, too, but go light on it at first.
alan1951 ken19524
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I appreciate this update, and I'm glad to hear you're continuing to improve. Thanks again, Ken. I'm on my way to the Cleveland Clinic for testing procedures; i.e., urodynmaics, cystoscopy, etc on January 31, 2018. If I'm approved, I'll schedule the procedure.