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Aquablation: Post-surgery expectations
Men's Health | Last Active: 5 days ago | Replies (123)Comment receiving replies
@gerryp - Great questions. Let me work on answering them.
My prostate wasn't gigantic but more like yours in size. My principal objective was to reduce my daily medicine requirements - plus the tamsulosin/Cialis cocktail wasn't producing the desired "no bph symptoms" effect. I also wanted to eliminate RE if at all possible
I have been a urology outpatient of Mayo (JAX) since 2015. I also have other medical connections with Mayo - all super-successful in terms of outcome. So I trust what I hear from their medical teams.
During a regular urological exam in the Fall of 2023, they described they had begun planning to bring aquablation to the clinic early in 2024 and that the procedure might be worth my consideration. I went home, did some on-line research, then raised my hand to say, "Put me on the list!"
In very short order they called, I completed an on-line consult with the urologist/surgeon, and that very day we decided to go forward.
How did I decide on aquablation? Mostly, I relied on my built-up trust in Mayo. After doing some research online I decided the extremely low risks of aquablation balanced against my desire to reduce pill intake while eliminating all bph symptoms (my multi-pill-a-day regime didn't eliminate all symptoms) - It was an easy decision and I'm pleased with the result. I guess there might be other procedures that could have produced the same result...
It was my prior tamsulosin/Cialis cocktail that produced an RE side effect. I believe RE is a side effect of tamsulosin rather than a side effect of bph. I'm now 3 1/2 months post aquablation and there have been no sexual side effects while my previous RE has abated and continues to increase in volume. Orgasmic intensity is unaffected.
I still get up a few times a night to urinate - but way less than before aquablation. Urine flow is satisfyingly strong, bladder emptying is complete, and the "need to pee" has significantly declined in intensity.
Of course, my exact experience may not be yours if you undergo aquablation.
How else can I help?
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Thank you so much Phil. I also very much trust Mayo Jax as they successfully transplanted me. I spent the last few hours researching & watching videos on the aquablation procedure and it does seem like the most effective treatment with high rate of success and saving ejaculatory function which is important to me. Tamsolosin has never worked for my symptoms but resulted in RE. The addition of cialis has resolved the RE somewhat, but the urinary problems persist. As a transplant patient, my medication options are limited. Prior to transplant I found alfuzosin was the most effective treatment without the RE side effects, but they won’t give it to me now as it interacts with my immunosuppressant drugs.
I have an appointment tomorrow for follow-up and will ask more questions. Last time I discussed this with my team in 2023 they recommended TURP, but my grandfather had that procedure multiple times and still had many problems, so I don’t want to go there.
Would you mind sharing the name of your surgeon?
I still need to understand the difference between ablation & enucleation with the holep. It seems like it’s the same thing - a removal of prostate tissue. Thanks for your willingness to share information. I too want to get off the drugs.