Rezum Procedure
Posted , 31 users are following.
Hi All,
I'm Ted from San Jose CA in the US. Had the Rezum procedure completed in my doctor’s office on Thursday, 16 Nov 2017 to alleviate my BPH. Here is the log of what has happened so far. Hopefully this is helpful in what to expect. I will attempt to post my discussion for each day every few days.
Patient info: 65 YO, 192 lbs (87kg), 6' (436cm), diabetic type 1 for 51yrs, A1C 6.5 level, Flomax for BPH since ~2013, Prostate ~50cm. Have had weak urination flow since my 20's. I work full time as a Facilities Mgr.
A few days prior to procedure - started taking probiotics, and more fiber and stool softener. Increased my fluid intake and decreased my intake of solid food.
16 Nov 2017
One hour prior to the procedure at home I was directed to take 1 Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen (10mg-325mg Tablet). Within 30 minutes of taking it, I started feeling its effects.
At the Doctor's office - 1.5 hrs after taking the HA tablet, the doctor gave me a short duration general anesthesia in my arm. Did not know the procedure was done until I was getting dressed. Did not feel anything. The entire procedure (from the anesthesia to when I was getting dressed was about 45 minutes). I left the doctor’s office with a catheter and leg bag. Catheter will stay in until 27 Nov (partly due to Thanksgiving holiday and weekend (23-26 Nov). Thought I'd have it out no later than 22 Nov.
Once home I took my first pill of Levofloxacin (500mg -antibiotic, 1/day). No pain but some discomfort from the catheter moving around when I moved. Had some blood in urine. Drank a lot of fluid, herbal teas and water. Empty ~300 ml from the bay every 2-3 hours. Ate lite meals. Went to bed feeling fine. Got up 3 times to empty bag.
17 Nov, 2017
Feel OK and continued same routine. Took one Levofloxacin (500mg) tablet. Took a nap for ~1.5 hrs. Woke up and my vision was totally blurry. My wife contacted the doctor's office and they prescribed a different Cephalexin (500mg, 4 x day). Found out on-line but not through the doctor or pharmacist that the Levofloxacin has a black label ((("increased risk of tendinitis and tendon rupture. In February 2011, the risk of worsening symptoms for those with myasthenia gravis was added to the Boxed Warning. In August 2013, the agency required updates to the labels to describe the potential for irreversible peripheral neuropathy (serious nerve damage)."
)) My vision took several hours to return after taking the Levofloxacin. First bowel movement since the procedure. Some bleeding coming from the penis. Once in a while in the urine bag , there was one or two piece of bleed clots. The rest of the day went without a hitch. (no pain).
18 Nov, 2017
Feel OK and continued same routine. Food intake is on the lite side. Eggs, soup, chicken, veges, apples (good fiber), peanut butter, pretzels. Staying away from things that have red in them. Continued taking probiotics, fiber and stool softener. Bowel movement some bleeding coming from the penis. Started new antibiotic Cephalexin 4 x day. Walked around a little 15 minutes twice at our apartment. I'm typically pretty active. Took first shower since the 16th. Felt good and relaxing for the 15 minutes in it.
3 likes, 71 replies
jamie77475 ted75005
Posted
Good to hear youre experience.
Had rezum on 25th. First day was hard. Cath is a PITA. Didn't have any blood till today when I've needed to acquire food and meds and thus walk. Probably planning to rest as much as possible is a good plan initially. Half way now to getting cath out. Only had five injections (two each side, one in median lobe because it's mainly median).
Good meds make this bearable. Have ready to go everything, have entertainment, be prepared to sleep on your back. Looking forward to getting it out. Also good to know what antibiotics you tolerate as some will bug ya.
Have photos. He pointed out my bladder was very muscular and will need to be retrained. So will be follow up with new meds and have valve/switch cath, so trying to extend time between peeing. The sting is a b, but drinking lots of fluid. Getting in protein. Loaded with o-3 and 6 before procedure for pro and anti inflammation.
steven05114 jamie77475
Posted
Hi Jamie,
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Can you please elaborate on "He pointed out my bladder was very muscular and will need to be retrained." When you say "very muscular" are you referring to bladder wall trabeculation?
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I had a Rezum on November 29, 2018. The Rezum which involved 10 injections (4 per lateral lobe and 2 in the median lobe) was successful in clearing the obstruction and I can now pee again after AUR, but due to the moderate bladder wall trabeculation observed in the cystoscopy, I still cannot completely empty and my PVR's remain above 100 ml each day.
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I am trying different techniques to better empty my bladder including triple voiding and suprapubic tapping. My urogist says to pee when ever I feel the urge in order to exercise my bladder as much as possible. The urge is usually at about 200 ml. I am curious what your urologist says about how to retrain your bladder?
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Thanks,
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Steve
jamie77475 steven05114
Posted
Yes, thats the one. I just got mt cath out today so i'm not quite up to that, he said he'd deal with it in follow up. He had mentioned some kind of drug regime.
steven05114 jamie77475
Posted
Hi Jamie,
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Thanks for the clarification.
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I am curious to hear from you later when you have the follow up with your urologist. I had my follow up 3 months post-Rezum, but not with the urologist who did the Rezum because they were out-of-network for my insurance plan.
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Provided that your Rezum worked, at 2 months, you are going to be opening up and at 3 months you should be all opened up. At that time, you will see how much the trabeculation will impact your ability to pee and retention amounts.
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Good luck to you over the next 3 months.
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Steve
jamie77475 steven05114
Posted
I'm definately having better flow already, although the recovery is taking longer than any medical person suggested (still occasional blood, have had to take it easy longer, take alpha blockers longer, and yeah, still on those but only low dose). One day about a week after, I spent in bed on codiene.
But retention is still making me fairly irritable at night. Having had a bit of a duckduckgo on the topic, I couldn't find much. Kegels?, emptying as much as possible, surgery (probably a bladder neck incision) and something called a bladder pump (pumping air or something in there whilst under aneasthesia), but that might be experimental.
Kinda sounds like there are not easy answers. I guess if one was stuck, one might consider a partial bladder neck incision. Hoping mine diminishes with careful voiding, maybe some kegels (to tone other muscles I suppose, but IDK if that's real medical advise) when I am fully recovered, and perhaps alpha blockers later on, just to ease things up. I guess the key is, like any stiff part, is getting it to flex (ie empty as much as possible, by whatever means works)
But does seem like 6 months is a more realistic time frame for improvement overall given the bladder thing. If I were you, i'd probably consider going on some meds again for awhile, see if that can help you get the extra voiding. Keep up the techniques if they work for you of course. And if it's still a major problem later, perhaps the incision? Does seem like there are at least a few other options, so perhaps get another consult.
Thanks for your support, and sharing,
Cheers,
Jamie
derek76 jamie77475
Posted
Codeine causes urine retention.
steven05114 jamie77475
Posted
Jamie,
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Kegel exercises are more for "holding it in" then "letting it out". I found suprapubic tapping to help me empty. I found it by accident when doing a Google search for "crede maneuver". Personally, I would not do the crede maneuver without being instructed by a medical professional first.
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For the suprapubic tapping, I just tap over my bladder area using 3 or 4 fingers held vertical to my body. After about 40 or 50 taps, I start to pee. I keep it up to about 200 taps and usually get 1 or 2 more rounds of peeing in. I find the tapping useful for my overnight and morning pees.
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A lot of us on this forum have found 3 months to be about right to fully see the results of our Rezums. Also, the more your exercise you bladder, the better so try to pee often. That does not mean drinking too much though.
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Steve