I have a UroCuff Test in a few weeks

[SkyWarn]

Anyone have experience with the UroCuff test? My doctor is doing one in a couple weeks due to my frequent urination. I read about it briefly and it sounds painful.

 

[Dudley]

It's not painful. I have had it several times now, both before (when I came to my urologist with frequent urination and slow and erratic stream) and after trying out alpha blockers (hated them) and then having a Rezum procedure (minimally invasive, in-office). The prep for the Uro-cuff is you have to arrive at the doctor's office with a very full bladder or as full a bladder as possible; and you keep drinking water; and when you're at the point where you really can't hold any more, they use ultrasound to make sure your bladder is full (and how full). Then you have the Uro-cuff, which takes 1-2 minutes tops. They strap a miniature version of a blood pressure arm cuff around your penis, and just like when you have your blood pressure taken the cuff inflates and deflates. While it is inflating and deflating, you are peening into a nice plastic trough. First time you do it, don't be shocked that even though your bladder is full, the inflating cuff at its most inflated will stop the flow, and then maybe you can resume as it deflates-- and then, at some point, you have peed all you can. The great thing is they are able to track over time whether your symptoms improve and how close you are getting to normal function. I was surprised that the alphablockers did have a moderate impact, and I guess many guys wouldn't just stayed with those meds to avoid the procedure. I found that alphablockers (I tried two) made me feel bad. My Rezum result has been about the best possible. Instead of getting up to pee every 1-2 hours (sometimes even more often) each night, now I get up to pee 1-2 times total each night. Also, I have a reliable stream and don't to try to mentally coax more pee to come out faster (which only gets you so far). So bottom line is I found Uro-cuff helpful especially as my doc and I discussed options for treatment; and while I can't say the Uro-cuff is pleasant (squeeze your penis like a blood pressure cuff would, you get the idea) it didn't hurt and was brief. Filling up my bladder and holding it as it got as full as possible was the hardest part of the process.

 

[SkyWarn]

It's not painful. I have had it several times now, both before (when I came to my urologist with frequent urination and slow and erratic stream) and after trying out alpha blockers (hated them) and then having a Rezum procedure (minimally invasive, in-office). The prep for the Uro-cuff is you have to arrive at the doctor's office with a very full bladder or as full a bladder as possible; and you keep drinking water; and when you're at the point where you really can't hold any more, they use ultrasound to make sure your bladder is full (and how full). Then you have the Uro-cuff, which takes 1-2 minutes tops. They strap a miniature version of a blood pressure arm cuff around your penis, and just like when you have your blood pressure taken the cuff inflates and deflates. While it is inflating and deflating, you are peening into a nice plastic trough. First time you do it, don't be shocked that even though your bladder is full, the inflating cuff at its most inflated will stop the flow, and then maybe you can resume as it deflates-- and then, at some point, you have peed all you can. The great thing is they are able to track over time whether your symptoms improve and how close you are getting to normal function. I was surprised that the alphablockers did have a moderate impact, and I guess many guys wouldn't just stayed with those meds to avoid the procedure. I found that alphablockers (I tried two) made me feel bad. My Rezum result has been about the best possible. Instead of getting up to pee every 1-2 hours (sometimes even more often) each night, now I get up to pee 1-2 times total each night. Also, I have a reliable stream and don't to try to mentally coax more pee to come out faster (which only gets you so far). So bottom line is I found Uro-cuff helpful especially as my doc and I discussed options for treatment; and while I can't say the Uro-cuff is pleasant (squeeze your penis like a blood pressure cuff would, you get the idea) it didn't hurt and was brief. Filling up my bladder and holding it as it got as full as possible was the hardest part of the process.

Doesn't sound too bad. What is the cause of your frequent bathroom visits? I hope my issue is just BPH and not some blockage or growth in the bladder. Although my PSA is only 1.4. I read online that the procedure can differentiate between a prostate or bladder issue.

 

[Dudley]

I am 66 years old and have BPH. As it has progressed over time, my symptoms appeared and became worse. I am not an expert on the bladder, but I do know that a digital rectal exam by an experienced primary care doc can tell you a lot about whether and how much your prostate is enlarged. The PSA is mostly helpful to differentiate whether prostate growth represents BPH or possibly cancer. A PSA under 4.0 suggests the likelihood of BPH. A rapidly rising PSA or one elevated above 4.0 is more ambiguous; and sometimes this is when a prostate biopsy is indicated to assess whether it might be cancer.

Good luck with your Urocuff!

 

[Dicky]

It's not painful. I have had it several times now, both before (when I came to my urologist with frequent urination and slow and erratic stream) and after trying out alpha blockers (hated them) and then having a Rezum procedure (minimally invasive, in-office). The prep for the Uro-cuff is you have to arrive at the doctor's office with a very full bladder or as full a bladder as possible; and you keep drinking water; and when you're at the point where you really can't hold any more, they use ultrasound to make sure your bladder is full (and how full). Then you have the Uro-cuff, which takes 1-2 minutes tops. They strap a miniature version of a blood pressure arm cuff around your penis, and just like when you have your blood pressure taken the cuff inflates and deflates. While it is inflating and deflating, you are peening into a nice plastic trough. First time you do it, don't be shocked that even though your bladder is full, the inflating cuff at its most inflated will stop the flow, and then maybe you can resume as it deflates-- and then, at some point, you have peed all you can. The great thing is they are able to track over time whether your symptoms improve and how close you are getting to normal function. I was surprised that the alphablockers did have a moderate impact, and I guess many guys wouldn't just stayed with those meds to avoid the procedure. I found that alphablockers (I tried two) made me feel bad. My Rezum result has been about the best possible. Instead of getting up to pee every 1-2 hours (sometimes even more often) each night, now I get up to pee 1-2 times total each night. Also, I have a reliable stream and don't to try to mentally coax more pee to come out faster (which only gets you so far). So bottom line is I found Uro-cuff helpful especially as my doc and I discussed options for treatment; and while I can't say the Uro-cuff is pleasant (squeeze your penis like a blood pressure cuff would, you get the idea) it didn't hurt and was brief. Filling up my bladder and holding it as it got as full as possible was the hardest part of the process.

How was your Rezum procedure? Were you unconscious for the procedure? What was you experience after the procedure was done? Any Pain? Any lingering side FX?

I am likely to have a procedure done in a few months. I am eyeing Urolift. My urologist does Urolift and Rezum. He said that he has better results w/ Urolift. Did you consider doing Urolift?

 

[Dudley]

The Rezum worked great for me. It was done in my doc's office with laughing gas as the anesthetic and I was completely comfortable; not totally out or out of it, and capable of very simple conversation with the doc as he did the procedure; he was able to show me exactly what was happening. Medicare only covers Rezum when it's done in-office, so it could well be different for you in terms of anesthesia if you go to a surgical center. My doc has experience with Rezum and Urolift and of course TURP and its variations; he recommended Rezum telling me he has had better results in terms of how long the procedure solves the problem. Both procedures have a finite life, often 3-5 years, but sometimes only a year before symptoms have recurred. He wanted me not to have to be back for another procedure in a year or two. But it's not very predictable apparently whether the procedure will have longer or shorter value; varies by patient and not sure why. I think the important thing is to ask how many of each procedure your doc does; if he's much more familiar with Urolift, then that might be better than having him do a procedure he does less often. But because either procedure has a finite life, you might want to wait until your symptoms worsen before having one. I had reached the point where my sleep was really seriously interrupted by my need to urinate; I had done my watchful waiting as long as I could, but I felt I had to get treated. If you feel that same urgency, then of course act. But if your situation feels manageable a while longer, that might serve you well. The goal, from my point of view, is to be able to wait as long as possible before I have to get a TURP, which is often where all this leads. TURP is a very effective procedure, "the gold standard" for urinary symptom relief. But it comes with significant chance of serious side effects including incontinence (relatively rare) and impotence (unfortunately, not so rare).

 

[broker]

Instead of turp, the new last resort seems to be the green light laser procedure. impotence with green light laser is very rare. Supposedly they are now looking at “ ejaculation sparing “ ways of doing green light laser.

 

[Dicky]

The Rezum worked great for me. It was done in my doc's office with laughing gas as the anesthetic and I was completely comfortable; not totally out or out of it, and capable of very simple conversation with the doc as he did the procedure; he was able to show me exactly what was happening. Medicare only covers Rezum when it's done in-office, so it could well be different for you in terms of anesthesia if you go to a surgical center. My doc has experience with Rezum and Urolift and of course TURP and its variations; he recommended Rezum telling me he has had better results in terms of how long the procedure solves the problem. Both procedures have a finite life, often 3-5 years, but sometimes only a year before symptoms have recurred. He wanted me not to have to be back for another procedure in a year or two. But it's not very predictable apparently whether the procedure will have longer or shorter value; varies by patient and not sure why. I think the important thing is to ask how many of each procedure your doc does; if he's much more familiar with Urolift, then that might be better than having him do a procedure he does less often. But because either procedure has a finite life, you might want to wait until your symptoms worsen before having one. I had reached the point where my sleep was really seriously interrupted by my need to urinate; I had done my watchful waiting as long as I could, but I felt I had to get treated. If you feel that same urgency, then of course act. But if your situation feels manageable a while longer, that might serve you well. The goal, from my point of view, is to be able to wait as long as possible before I have to get a TURP, which is often where all this leads. TURP is a very effective procedure, "the gold standard" for urinary symptom relief. But it comes with significant chance of serious side effects including incontinence (relatively rare) and impotence (unfortunately, not so rare).

Thanks for the reply. I am indeed waiting as long as possible before having any procedure. I already take Flomax and Cialis. And I'm not a big fan of the Flomax side FX.

I think you are right about going w/ the one that the doc does the most. And my guy does a lot of Urolift. I live in a fairly rural area and don't have much choice in terms of Urology docs.

Like you I am hoping to avoid a TURP. Yes they work great. But I'm too young to have my sex life ruined with a procedure.