Rezum Procedure and REtrograde ejaculation

Why not GL or Holep with much faster recoveries.

The urologist I just found does most of the procedures that are available. I am about to have some diagnostic work done that will produce data that will allow the Doc to give me opinion on which procedure is my best option (and why).

Get his advice as to the best for you but get it done by one who js a specialist in it rather than one who is a Jack of all trades.

Well said and well taken.

The Doc I'm working wi.th is one of the most experienced Urologists in Colorado. He comes highly recommended by my cardiologist who have saved my life on a number occasions beginning with 7-way bypass surgery in 2004

Barry,

I had the REZUM procedure on June 28 with Dr. Kevin McVary at Loyola University in Chicago. 93 gram prostate with median lobe, 13 injections, no RE. Can pee pretty well now, but recovery was around 10 weeks with self-catheterization after the Foley was removed. For any details you need, PM me.

Best,

Fred

That was a big one. I only had my aortic valve replaced in 2012 and that was bad enough. What medications are you on now ?

I had GL in 2004 when my prostate was 75 grms and Thulium/Holmium laser when it regrew to 135 grms 2013. Both were quick recovery and I was out and about as normal by day three.

I went into my Rezum procedure at 67 years old, prostate was about 56 cc with a median lobe. Had been on Flomax for 2 years, finesteride for 1 year. My BPH continued to get worse. Had to urinate 5 to 6 times a night, and it was very slow. Hugely disruptive to my sleep and general well being. I also did not like the side effects of the BPH drugs.

I could see this was only getting worse, and I was going to really damage my body if I did not address it soon. I did a lot of research and thought Rezum was a good fit for me. I also thought that better get it done while I was still relatively fit so that I could better recover from it. I must admit, I also thought it was the safest, in that it seemed to have the lowest number of bad outcomes.

So about 7 weeks ago I had the procedure. 5 hits, 2 on each side and 1 on the median lobe. Had 2 pain pills before. Procedure was very uncomfortable for me with only that much pain medication. Went home with a Foley, which I removed after 2 days. 3rd day urinating had some blood and burned like hell. 4th day, still urination discomfort, but much less. I stopped taking finesteride a week before my procedure, and one week after, since I was able to urinate without issue, I also stopped taking Flomax. My urologist wanted me to continue with both for 4 months, but I really wanted to get off them so I did.

After 2 weeks, was only waking twice a night. Urination really working correctly, with good stops and starts and, less frequency.

After 7 weeks, I now get up once a night about half the time, but never more than I twice. They are quick, so very little sleep disruption. Really wonderful.

In summary, for me, really good results. My remaining issue would be that I still feel like my entire urinary tract is a bit sensitive. I hope this also improves in the next weeks and months. Being able to sleep so well again, and feeling my male hormones return in the absence of the BPH meds has been a MAJOR improvement in my life.

thank you so much for sharing your story

it is very appreciated

Its an excellent procedure. My hang up is with the retrograde ejaculation percentages. I think they are in accurate. recovery time is based on the individual. The ability to urinate has improved greatly in a short period of time.

Are you still using BPH meds after your Rezum procedure? In my case, these drugs had me experiencing RE 100% of the time before my procedure. Since I stopped taking them at about the same time as my procedure, and they were the cause of my RE, it has been resolved now. If you are still on the meds, once you don't need them post procedure perhaps this will work for you, too. I hope so.

Derek76 Did you have GL and HoLEP? Is that how you know about faster recoveries?

Scooter: When you say a "short period of time" for ability to urinate, exactly how long are you talking about?

Michael_Rezum: Is there something terrible that you don't like about Retrograde ejaculation? Is it painful?

Yes I had GL in 2004 when I was 70 and my prostate was 75 grms and Thulium/Holmium laser very similar to HoLep when it regrew to 135 grms 2013. Both were quick recovery and I was out and about as normal by day three. No RE after GL but by the time I had the other I was on the way to RE from medication and age.

Thanks Derek76. After this Rezum, if I need another procedure, I will be looking into the TULSA Pro procedure at UCLA medical center.

Its not a procedure that I've heard much about but this jumped out at me:

The treatment is performed in a single session that takes a few hours. It is usually conducted under general anesthesia. After the treatment, the doctor may decide to keep the patient in the hospital overnight for observation or the patient may go home the same day.

My GL took 57 minutes of lasing time plus a bit of time to finish up. The surgeon who did my Thulium/Holmium procedure complained that being crouched between my legs for 3 1/2 hours had ruined his back 😃 He had told me that the procedure would take to long for a spinal to be used.

I am not a fan of spinals. Never had one and hope I never do. Just put me out and wake me when your done. I'm curious though...he was kidding when he said 3 1/2 hours right? You said it was only 57 minutes.

No Kidding nor for the few hours for the TULSA. At least it is not 24 hours from TULSA as Gene Pitney sang

Michael Rezum (and other fellow sufferers here)...

I have had BPH since around age 40. I was always a prolific fluid consumer and still am. Not at all unusual for me to consume 6 fluid quarts daily -- 8 in the summer. Juices (non-citrus), skim milk. Plenty of skim milk for sure.

And like you Michael, I pee multiple times per night. And each time it can take ten (10) mins to pass maybe a quarter of a cup. Dribble, stop. Dribble. stop. Maddening. Almost.

I reduce fluid intake starting around 7pm for 9:30 bed time. Annoying as I find the interrupted sleep , I have yet to pull the trigger on surgery --largely for the sad stories I read here re various surgery shortcomings, self-cathing discomfort, ejaculation side effects, and more.

And I do have another theory so far untested: I weigh 240 on a 5'11" frame. I sleep on my stomach, the belly serving as a sort of soccer ball cradling my bladder. Maybe simple physics here, my pee issues?? I was 265 not too long ago. But those next 50 or so pounds are a b***h, as any weighty folk will attest.)

Bottom line for me, I guess: the "cures" I read about here seem more of a hassle than those ten minute pee sessions at night. For me. anyway As for hurting my body if no surgery, the uro says my bladder empties fine -- after one of those urodynamc procedures two years ago. I found the pain of that procedure indescribable. (I must have a very tight urethra). But no bladder cancer or dysfunction apparent by the test result , said the uro.

So I soldier on...very often 4 or 5 times nightly. But I am retired and take daytime naps to make up the disturbed sleep. It seems a fair swap. Thus far, still, not willing to trade the hassle of 15 daily pee breaks for the seeming hassle and pain of all the procedures (and procedure failures) I read about here.

But GLTA. You have my sympathies for whatever your personal situation.

(I am, btw, age 73 and in otherwise overall OK health. On daily Alfuzosin Sex drive intact, too. Ejaculatory apparatus AOK, FWIW.

Owen,

I've been doing to testing/biohacking on myself. What that means is I'm trying the carnivore diet (since Nov 1, 2022). I have to say 2 things. It's virtually effortless weight loss. By effortless I mean eating high fat meat (I get butcher to make me 50/50 hamburger, use butter with abandon, etc) your satiety and lack of hunger is off the charts. After about 30-60 days you just notice you start feeling better. My belief is that you end up at your ideal weight. It's easy enough to give it a try and you can always go back to a high carb diet if you decide it's not for you.