Hello. This is my first time posting here but I wanted to discuss a problem I had with the Rezum procedure since I've seen similar discussions elsewhere on this site in discussions which are mostly closed. When I did research before my Rezum procedure there was almost no negative comments to be found anywhere online and my urologist suggested it strongly for me since I was adamant about not wanting any sexual side effects.
I had the procedure last August. It is now the end of February. The procedure, for me, was extraordinarily painful throughout. I have had three prostate biopsies with this urologist which were not painful at all so my tolerance for pain is pretty high. I was almost in tears with Rezum even with the prostate block. My doctor did not put me on a catheter after the procedure since I had been trained to self cath and I voided after the procedure without catheterization (painfully).
I noticed no improvement from symptoms until five months after the procedure but after that time I was only getting up twice a night to go to the bathroom. I was grateful for that. However, I was one of the negligible number of men who now suffer from retrograde ejaculation after the procedure. I was led to believe that this complication was extraordinarily rare but apparently I am the unlucky one. My personal opinion is that this complication is far more common then the company is letting on. I stopped taking BPH mediations because of retrograde ejaculation and now it is how I will live my life for the rest of my life. I know it's not the end of the world and many people have much bigger problems.....but I'm only 50 years old and the thought that I will not be able to ejaculate or have an intense orgasm again is depressing......especially since my urologist was so confident that this would not be a problem. If I thought this would be my likely outcome I would not have had the procedure. I just wanted to give my story so that others can make a more sound decision when considering options for procedures. Rezum is not complication free. Far from it.
Had Rezum, Dec 6, 2017. Still peeing to often, with extreme urge to pee. When I relieve myself, it seems that only 50% is coming out. Have not been able to ejaculate yet. I was 76 in December.
Todd , Im sorry very much for you.
Will be great if a lot of REZUME patients will add their comments here.
Im ahead some treating and REZUME is one option. ( Another is FLA).
I think -is very importnt to present to Dr. 3T MRI scans to see where is biggest problem with excedeed tissue Due to REZUM unit has camera controling I think its not so big problem to be concentrated during the procedure and avoid critical locations like both sphincters , ejaculation ducts and nerves. Pls let me know your comments . Thank you , Stan
Thanks for your comment, Stan. I had two 3T MRI's before biopsies so they clearly had those to use as reference for Rezum but they only relied on the ultrasound provided with the Rezum equipment. I'm trying to find a urologist who can look and see where any damage has occurred. I'm no longer relying on the urologist who did the original procedure as I have lost faith in him.
I had extraordinarily painful urination for at least three months post procedure. So badly I had to brace myself against the wall when I peed. Now my dry orgasm comes with frequent pain as well more than six months out. It's mad masturbating very unfun.
I am so sorry Todd. Doctor tell the men that there is only a 4 % chance. But we have found out that it is more like 29 %. They will tell you anything to get you to have any surgery. Again I feel for you. God bless Ken
Thanks for posting this. I am 53 and just started looking ar options, Rezum and urolift, after I told my uro I was not comfortable going with turp yet. It sucks going through this and I try to be positive as there's worse things that others are going through. Stay positive!
Thanks, Ken. It's been terribly frustrating and my urologist wasn't at all sympathetic. He was not willing to offer any solutions or admit that the procedure caused it.
I would much rather deal with the BPH than the sexual side effects at my age. That's why I stopped taking the medication. I waited and waited for this kind of procedure and I felt like they were dishonest just to sell the procedure. I'll survive. But I do miss ejaculating. I never knew how much I enjoyed it until I couldn't do it anymore.
Hi Todd,
Sorry things didn't work out well with Rezum. We've been hearing and seeing for some time here around 10% retro with Rezum. Could be higher. Trial data from a manufacturer, especially with a new procedure, always has to be looked at with a skeptical eye.
Jim
My experience pretty much mirrors yours, except that by 2 months out I was peeing way better than before. It hurt like hell when they did it and I couldn't pee for three weeks and not well for 6 - also made much more tolerable by self cathing.
I ended up with about 70% RE. I usually ejaculate a little, but 10-20 seconds after orgasm - and once in awhile its like the old days, with no rhyme or reason as to when or why. Intensity is as good as before, but I also miss the feeling. It seems that the incidence of RE is low with Rezum, but not as low as the test study showed. 10% is probably a more accurate number.
For me, as disappointed as I am, I don't regret the procedure. The bathroom ran my life before and it doesn't now. If I could turn the clock back, I wouldn't.
Thanks Jim. I had actually had the procedure scheduled for January of last year but postponed it until fall to do more research and see if any negative reports had surfaced. I wasn’t able to find any negative reports about Rezum online so I went ahead with the procedure. Clearly I should have waited longer. But my urologist was more concerned that my insurance covered it than about any possible side effects for me.
Todd I do feel for you. That is why I keep telling men to research the procedure and see if they can deal with the side effects. That is why I had the Urolift done 3 years ago. No side effects. It is the only one that will not cause retro and it does the same thing as the other procedures. Make a tunnel without cutting. I was reading about retro after Rezum. What happens is the tube is blocked. How many injections did you have. I will look into it more to see if it can be unblocked. I get a lot of remarks about my opinions. But at 62 I don't care if I am not having any more kids I will never give up my ejaculation It goes with my orgasms. Take care and don't give up Ken
I’m hoping against hope even to eventually have sporadic ejaculation. Usually I will get a small stream of pre ejaculate and nothing else. But the last time I masturbated it was completely dry.
I’m with you, Kenneth. To me the feeling of ejaculating adds so much to the pleasure of orgasm for me. I enjoy everything about it. No. It’s not the end of the world. But I’m sad to think that I may never experience it again. I decided against urology because I get occasional MRIs of my prostate and wouldn’t be able to after urolift.
It's possible that the retro is only temporary but I'm just guessing here. We do have a doctor who posts frequently who has done many Rezums and you might want to ask him. He posts under "jerseyurology" I believe and you can find him in the other Rezum threads.
Jim
Tom Hello. At 53 I am sorry that you are stating to have some problem. Have you found out what the problem is. Some doctor all they want to do is cut out the prostate. If you have started to research you may come across this saying. A doctor will give you a pill or do a procedure on you because he feel the benefit to you is greater they the side effects. They do not have to deal with the side effects you do. They do not care about your sex life or you ejaculation. They feel we do not need it after a certain age. That is why I picked the UROLIFT. It is the only procedure out of the top 10 that will not cause any side effects. And it does the same thing. Make a tunnel. Life is to short to give up anything. Take care and good luck Ken
Todd you also have to remember that your prostate is smaller and not making as much as you had before. It may unplug by it self in time. But will still check for it. I don't know if you even checked but the other day I was enjoying some porn and my orgasm was good and I could feel the pumping about 3 or 4 times but nothing came out. I was surprised. But when I pressed the head and opened the pee hole. Everything started coming out. Like I said before give your self time Ken
Who told you that you could not have it done with a UROLIFT. I had MRI last year No problem. It on my card. Was it your urologist Ken