Has anyone had to use the catheter for more than a few days? I had my Rezum procedure on May 7, 2019 and still need to use a catheter to pee? I've had it removed twice so far only to have to go back later in the day and get a new one inserted for relief. I'll be having the current one removed on May 24 and I sure hope I can go. The procedure was nothing compared to having to wear a catheter for so long only to be disappointed when it's removed and I still can't go. On Dr. Goldberg's video he says the turning point of inflammation is about 2 weeks and returning to one's baseline flow ( pre-op ) is about a month with a gradual improvement in flow from that point on.
had my turp procedure 6 week's ago had to pee 14 times since 21-00 last night urologist told me things will improve in time prior to my procedure had a catheter in place for 20 months
The short answer is yes - particularly if your prostate was really big. There are several aspects to this that you should discuss with your uro. Your situation is uncommon but not unheard of.
1) When you are recovering, ability to pee varies a lot from hour to hour. For that reason (along with many others) you should get rid of that Foley and self cath. IT could well be that some, maybe most of the time, you can pee well enough to get along - but the test in the docs office is a snapshot - and one where you're nervous and more likely to lock up.
2) - By self cathing, you can track your progress and start rehabbing your bladder. It will also allow you to lead a normal life, which is very hard with a foley. Get the right one (most like the speedicath 14 coude) and you can hide it in a sock , use it in a stall and take maybe an extra 30 seconds to pee (vs. normally) while no one knows. I couldn't pee on my own for several weeks after Rezum but was back in the gym doing squats 5 days after the procedure.
How big was your prostate? IT could also be that your BPH caused bladder issues - and the best way to resolve those til you can pee normally is to self cath. I highly recommend it.
My bad ....I meant to say June 7 and June 24. It only seems like a month and 12 days.
Oldbuzzard is right. Self catheterizating is far and away the best way to transition after the Rezum procedure. Yes, it will probably take at least two weeks, and you'll be cathing 2 to 4 times per day. But, as he mentioned, you are in control, and you can go back to a normal routine almost immediately after the procedure. I second the recommendation for the prelubricated Speedicaths, but I recognize that not everyone prefers them.
OLdB thanks for your input....I'll definitely consider self cath.
Prelubed Speedicath catheters are not very good for beginners because the are stiff and cause bleeding easily. I recommend using other softer more comfortable catheters like Cure or McKesson.
I had my Rezum done on 1/31/19 and had the Foley in three weeks after the procedure. After the first two failed attempts to remove it, they flushed me out with a #24 repeatedly for an hour. Lots of blood clot like lumps were removed. I wore the #24 home and they removed it successfully a week later. After a quick CIC lesson they sent me home with a package of #16's and some lube tubes. Five months later I haven't had to use them yet. My condition is much improved compared to prior Rezume (AUR). My current retention was measured at 54 cc six weeks ago and I have a follow up scheduled in 5 months. My PSA went down from 11.5 to 5.5. I can usually sleep 5 to 6 hours continuously now, and day time urgency and frequency levels are down but still present occasionally. Hope your condition improves. Good luck to us all.
Harry,
I had radiation for prostate cancer in 2014 and my prostate became swollen and cut off all urine flow. I had 6 Foley's in and out over a period of 5 weeks before the swelling went down and I could pee again. It really took 6 weeks to return to normal.
Tom
Wow! Thanks for sharing....kinda puts things in perspective.
Thanks for your insight!
Thanks James, I could be headed down a similar path. All the best.
Harry,
I went through the same thing w/ the Foley catheter for 6 weeks in 2014 (off and on 4 times!). The uro told me that self-cathing was much better and I said no way I would ever do that. I finally learned how (took 5-10 minutes). It is so much better and more natural and gives you opportunity to try to pee normally whenever you want and just self-cath as needed. I'm still doing it while I wait for a procedure w/ better odds and fewer side effects.
Best of luck!
I had a Foley for a week and had to CIC for another 2 weeks, only once per night. Things opened up by week 4.
Harry, . Twelve days post-Rezum is not that long a time. I had a Rezum on November 29, 2018 that involved 10 injections, 4 per lateral lobe and 2 in the median lobe. . The urologist had me keep the Foley in for 2 weeks. I had to self-cath as for pre-Rezum for 2 more weeks until I started to open up at 4 weeks. Over the next 2 weeks, I continued to open up and reduced my self-cathing to 2 times per day. Over the next 2 months (total of 3 months), my flow continued to improve. . Due to bladder damage (moderate trabeculation observed in cystoscopy), my PVR's are still over 100 ml so I am still self-cathing before I go to sleep and only get up to pee 1 time overnight. I consider the Rezum a success as I was completely blocked before it. If I am lucky, the bladder damage will improve over time. I am crossing my fingers. . Good luck, . Steve
James, . I am curious what your PVR values have been over time and how they were recorded. As I posted, while the Rezum was successful in removing the blockage, my PVR's remain over 100 ml due to bladder damage. Because I self-cath before going to sleep, that is how I am recording my PVR's. . Thanks, . Steve
Arlington, . I hear you on waiting for a better procedure. After researching the various procedures available now, I chose Rezum. I had no side effects from my Rezum which involved 10 injections, 4 per lateral lobe and 2 in the median lobe. It was successful in opening me up after AUR and 10 months of catheters. I would say that the odds on the procedure were good for me. I was careful in the urologist that I chose. Due to bladder damage that Rezum does not address, my PVR's remain over 100 ml. Hopefully, that will improve over time. . Steve
Hey Steve,
I only had one PVR test and that was 3 months post Rezum. My PVR value was determined at the Urologists office with one of those machines where they smear that gel on your belly over your bladder I am guessing, and it gives a read out of bladder volume? Sorry but I have no idea of the proper terminology. They had me pee in a cup prior to the test and I voided 75 ml. This is all a mystery to me since there are so many variables involved. I would imagine the results of this test can be effected by how much, what, and when you drank last. Also recent food consumption and what you ate. Your activity level might also effect the PVR value? It just seems to me that this isn't an exact science because your retention can vary throughout the day. The first time I experienced AUR was on the day after Thanksgiving (2018). I had to wait four hours at the Urgent Care Center due to a staff shortage. When they finally got around to Foleyizing me, I filled almost two of those rather large plastic beakers. I feel fortunate my bladder didn't burst.
James, . I agree that measuring PVR's is not an exact science and the variables that you mention may play a role and the amount of retention may vary. I measure my PVR's by self-cathing. How many times did you experience AUR? The plastic beakers that you mention, most likely are the 1 liter ones. I had 2 liters taken out when they put the Foley in. My bladder did not burst but it was damaged which is probably the reason for my PVR's of over 100 ml. How many times did you have AUR? . Steve
Hey Steven,
My first episode of AUR came on as a total surprise. Maybe because I ignored the symptoms and never really heard of AUR until it happened to me. I wore a Foley for three months after the first episode while awaiting for my Rezum procedure to be cleared through my insurance company and scheduling issues. One week after my Urgent Care experience I scheduled an appointment with a Urologist. His office removed the Foley and he immediately recommended a TURP. I went home and a few hours later I was getting uncomfortable from not peeing again. Luckily the Urologist called me at home to see how I was doing and told me to get an emergency room. Two weeks post Rezum I had a failed Foley removal. A week later I had another failed removal. A week later they irrigated my bladder and I've been good since.