Aquablation: Post-surgery expectations

HELLO THERE
I did a little digging and thought I 'd pass along.

Prostate artery embolization requires 1 to 2 hour surgery by interventional radiologist guiding a wire from wrist or groin artery thru heart down to prostate placing in artery a sand size bead or several beads to reduce blood flow to shrink prostate. 10-15% repeat probability.

Also used in preparation for other procedures (radiation, aquablation etc) to reduce blood loss.

can anyone recommend a urological surgeon who performs aquablation surgery at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville?

you can respond back to me at gwasserm at gmail.com ... ty

Good morning. My surgeon was Dr. Candler Dora at Mayo JAX. This is a pretty new procedure being performed at Mayo JAX so I don't know how many surgeons are currently trained to perform it.

I am 3+ weeks post and feel terrific. Very happy I had the procedure done!

Hi there ... . I'm in the UK where Aquablation is a fairly new concept and you have to be prepared to travel to a private hospital to have the procedure done and it remains exceptionally expensive here as the relevant health providers say, it's all down to the investment and training of the robotic equipment.

I had my Aquablation procedure done on the 13th November last year, just before my 75th birthday. I had made the commitment money wise as I had been catheterised since early September, some ten weeks, and while they say that catheterised men can have a 'good quality of life', it made me feel depressed, a tad disabled and controlled every thing I planned to do, especially sleeping as you are restricted in how you lie in bed.

The following day after the op, and after a night of bladder irrigation, I had the catheter removed and could only pass a few drops of blood, or what looked like blood. So I was recatheterised with promise of a 'Trial Without Catheter' in a week or so. I was discharged on the third day' feeling visibly week and ashen due to the Prostatic bleeding and I had bloody urine ( mixed with large blood clots ) actually discharging through the penis and outside of the catheter tube.

I coped at home for the next few days with a continuing discharge thought the penis ( outside the catheter tube ) of blood clots and urine and almost lived in the shower to cope with this. On the 18th November last year, I started to retain urine totally ( despite the catheter ) and fell into mild shock with bladder and kidney pain that led to a 999 call ( the US 111 I believe ) and I was eventually ambulanced to the nearest ER where they re-catheterised me that led to zero urine and only after catheter traction did I pass urine. The bladder scan showed some 1100 cc in the bladder that was the cause of the trauma and pain. I was immediately taken to another hospital with a Urology ward where I was subjected to jet another catheter being fitted, this time a three way one, and had my bladder forcibly irrigated over an hour and spent the night there with a blood transfusion of two units of blood and discharged the next day.

On the 24th November I returned to the private hospital where a specialist nurse removed my catheter and completed a TWC that was successful enough to discharge me home without a catheter and what joy that was. The nurse also gave me extensive training and information as to coping with the long term bladder spasms that I had experienced.

To this very day, my only remaining problem is the overactive bladder, put down to the ten weeks of catherisation, and I am dealing well with that by sticking to the bladder training and pelvic floor exercises. But, I am catheter free and that is the biggest bonus for me as I am now physically able to help my wife with shopping and chores as she is a tad unwell herself. The only other important consideration for me is that I avoid constipation like the plague as that can have a dramatic effect on the bladder and correct operation and I am successfully doing that with 'stool softener' meds. For helping with the overactive bladder problem, OAB, I do my mentioned exercises but also bought an a downloadable hypnosis session ( mp3 format ) that is specifically for an overactive bladder and that has helped I believe.

@snoopy48 @gwasserm @gottodosomething @mike5450 @fredunger @wxman38 @ndclayt41 @uniform8 @clark1949 and other, many of you have connected with @upstatephil in the Men's Health Support Group.

Phil is featured in this week's Member Spotlight, interviewed by fellow member, @johnbishop. Learn more about what motivates Phil to ask questions and help others, including staying connected with the neighborhood single malt whiskey club and spoiling his granddaughter.

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Update: It’s been over a month since my last post and I wanted to provide an update. I am pleased with my progress to date. I would say that my recovery is at 90%. My Urologist was pleased with my progress and said it will get even better over time. I no longer have the post op issues I had from my earlier post. I sleep comfortably most nights averaging between 5 and 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Prior to the surgery there was always the immediate need to relieve myself at night. After only 4 weeks I have noticed that the urgency to wake up and relieve myself in the middle of the night has been limited. As my Urologist said, it will get better with time. Hopefully within the next two months I can put my recovery at 100%.

@clark1949 - Nice to hear of your progress. I'm on virtually the same time schedule as you and I'm still seeing improvements. I'm very happy I had aquablation done! Good for you to maintain a positive attitude...

Yes, Nice to hear of your wonderful progress. I expect my Urologist will soon recommend the same procedure! Please answer one question…….How many times per night did you awaken for relief before your surgery? I am at four! Thanks, Glenn

@glenner075. Three times? Four? Sometimes five...Now once is about right. A few times - zero. Stream is much stronger. Everything about using the bathroom is better. I have experienced no downside at five weeks...