Prostate Artery Embolization for BPH. Anyone have it done?

Day 15

Really feeling good and fully back to normal.

Recap: med regiment for first 7 days seemed perfect. First two days uncomfortable (a bit like getting punched hard in lower gut + different sensations when yrunating); after that physical discomfort pretty much done.

Scab on left femoral artery entry point fell off this morning so the lone 1/4” incision healing up nicely. Hair growing back (after being shorn - that was a surprise; guess it’s to allow everything to be squeaky clean and allow IR doc to flip to other femoral artery if need be). Expect I will be looking at my old self before too long.

Urgency post morning coffee to get to bathroom greatly reduced! That’s a good bellwether.

Still getting up 3x at night but think much of that is muscle-memory where I’ve trained myself to get up (even while practically asleep) and use bathroom if I happened to wake at night (which happens easily a couple times a night).

Too early to say what (if any) effects on sexual performance. Been too timid for first couple weeks to attempt. Will push past that soon. Looking forward to ceasing finasteride and tamsulosin in a couple weeks.

Sexual mechanics seem unchanged by PAE. And unlike prostate biopsies I’ve had, no blood in ejaculate. So good news all the way around for my experience to date with PAE.

Had the aquablation and AE done in Northern Va. The surgeon for the Aqua is Dr. Nathan Roberts. Cannot recall the radiologist that did the AE.
Met with prostate surgeon two weeks ago given I have bleeding after running. Also am passing material in my urine which is unclear as to source. Had an MRI this past week to diagnose and the results show prostate calcification and some bladder stones but minor. So now not sure where we go from here. I am scheduled to have a scope done in 4 weeks - not looking forward to that but perhaps he will see something. I think at this point we are guessing and am losing my patience.

when did you have the procedures done

I'm 71 and wanted to share that I had the PAE procedure this past April.

I had been experiencing many of the usual symptoms other guys have (frequent urination, urgency and occasional incontinence). I wanted a procedure that was the least invasive, and given that I work in a hospital, I consulted with folks in our Interventional Radiology department, as well as my urologist, and all agreed this may be a good option for me.

In all honesty, even though it has only been about 3.5 months since it was performed, I have been a somewhat disappointed that my symptoms haven't really improved yet. In fact, some of the symptoms have actually increased. I was told that this is normal, and that I need to be patient because the overall results can take up to 6 months. Given that, I decided to wait until October, at which point it will be 6 months since the procedure. Depending on the results, I will work with my urologist and decide what the next step will be, if another step is needed.

Just wanted to share my own personal experience. Still trying to be optimistic for improvement and hoping to avoid a more invasive procedure in the future.

Please keep us updated on your progress. Thank you very much! What was your prostate size and psa value?

You're most welcome!

I don't know, or don't recall the size of my prostate prior to the PAE procedure. I only know that I was told that it was enlarged. My PSA value before the procedure was 1.8. Note, however, that I had been on Tamsolosin and Proscar for a number of years prior to the procedure. However, following the PAE my PSA dropped to 1.2, which is encouraging.

Had AE done in December 24 and Aqua done Feb 25.

Why did you have both? What happened with the PAE that made you get the? Prostate Aqua?

I just had PAE a few days ago, they went through the groin area, with Twilight sedation. I could here all the conversations going on during the procedure. No pain, and pretty much 2 days later everything seems good.

When I asked my urologist about PAE he said he was a big fan of it, but the important thing is to get an interventional radiologist that does quite a few of these every year. He mentioned some only do 1 or 2 a year.

So he uses a group that is about all they do, PAE procedures. And it went without a hitch. I choose that way to go as it was the least invasive, and had the least amount of potential side effects. From the studies I have read, you can expect a 40% reduction in size of the prostate by month 3. Then expect 5 to 10 years of relief.

By week 2 Tansulosin, gemtesa, and dutasteride, typically can be discontinued for most. But its mostly trial and error, depending on how your urologist sees things.

It is almost too easy it seems. No real inconvenience in recovery so far, a little burning on urination, frequent urination but not that much. It seems to me that it is the only way to go for reducing the size of ones prostate, as long as you get someone experienced in the procedure.

The only risk I was concerned about was the CT Dye, so you have a CT Angiogram a week ahead of the procedure and then also A ct guided PAE with DYE. That is a double hit. So the thing to focus on is hydration and other methods to reduce the chances of kidney injury from the Dye.

I will try to follow up in a week or so and think if I am thinking the same thing about PAE:)