Aquablation: Post-surgery expectations

Posted by Phil, Alumni Mentor @upstatephil, Jan 26 8:05am

After decades of pills to (partially) manage BPH, I am scheduled for aquablation at Mayo JAX in mid-Feb. Has anyone had that procedure done? What was post-surgery like? What were your experiences regarding regular vs. retrograde ejaculation?

My expectations are high. My general health is good+ (71 yo), my prostate is enlarged but not massive, my PSA's suggest no cancer concerns. The surgeon expects a low-risk procedure (no incisions I believe) and a quick recovery (unless something unexpected pops up). I appreciate it's impossible to predict surgical outcomes with certainty - I would like to hear of others' experiences to help set my expectations.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Men's Health Support Group.

@JustinMcClanahan

Hello @upstatephil. I'd like to invite @mvmjcp and @mike5450 to this conversation to share their outcomes after an aquablation. They talked about some of their outcomes here, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/orgasms-after-aquablation/.

@upstatephil, if you are comfortable sharing, what is your biggest concern you have going into your surgery?

Jump to this post

Dang sorry I just seen this. Been busy rehabbing my wife still from stroke and actually put my Aquablation procedure behind me and moving forward with life.
Briefly put I'm very happy with my outcome. Slightly retrograde but I believe I was even before my surgery due to slight peyronies. It has improved with time. Took about 3 months. But everything else is back to normal I like I never had a problem . Urine flow is very strong . No urgency to pee. No getting up at night to pee at all. Back to full activities running 5k and hitting the gym pretty hard at times. I mean i just turn 67 Aug 18th so you know my mind still thinks I can go like a 20 year old then reality sinks in when the joints and nerves and everything else with age rears its ugly head...lol. My PSA 6 months ago was still elevated(lower than pre surgery) but on decline and I'm due for another this week to see if its still trending in the right direction. My URO that did my procedure is Dr Brubaker and did my Aquablation at Sequoia Hospital in San Carlos, Ca. Love everything about my experience with Dr Brubaker. My journey was a long haul due to Kaiser not referring me out, filing grievances and the wait to hear back on decisions etc. All while having the catheter in for 7 months!!!That alone was the worst. I wish I wouldn't have filed all the grievances and just switched medical insurance coverage immediately . Good luck to all.

REPLY
@mvmjcp

Dang sorry I just seen this. Been busy rehabbing my wife still from stroke and actually put my Aquablation procedure behind me and moving forward with life.
Briefly put I'm very happy with my outcome. Slightly retrograde but I believe I was even before my surgery due to slight peyronies. It has improved with time. Took about 3 months. But everything else is back to normal I like I never had a problem . Urine flow is very strong . No urgency to pee. No getting up at night to pee at all. Back to full activities running 5k and hitting the gym pretty hard at times. I mean i just turn 67 Aug 18th so you know my mind still thinks I can go like a 20 year old then reality sinks in when the joints and nerves and everything else with age rears its ugly head...lol. My PSA 6 months ago was still elevated(lower than pre surgery) but on decline and I'm due for another this week to see if its still trending in the right direction. My URO that did my procedure is Dr Brubaker and did my Aquablation at Sequoia Hospital in San Carlos, Ca. Love everything about my experience with Dr Brubaker. My journey was a long haul due to Kaiser not referring me out, filing grievances and the wait to hear back on decisions etc. All while having the catheter in for 7 months!!!That alone was the worst. I wish I wouldn't have filed all the grievances and just switched medical insurance coverage immediately . Good luck to all.

Jump to this post

Well I guess I should have read how far along you were in your journey. I got excited to post something since i was so late. I was just googling something else when I noticed my username in the Aquablation thread. You got er whipped!! Congratulations and continued good health to you.
Mike J

REPLY

75 yo who has been treating BPH (180 gm prostate) for the last 10 + years with alpha-blockers, but finally decided to pull the trigger and seek a surgical solution. After a good deal of research and discussion with my urologist, I decided to go with Aquablation. Surgery went smoothly, but I did develop some urethral adhesion (possibly due to minor injury from catheter or tools used) which was causing a weak and somewhat erratic stream. I needed to have an office procedure to clear that. Now, 7 weeks after surgery, stream is strong and I'm sleeping much better at night, having to get up only 1 or 2 times. I do experience some urgency and minor leakage at times, but hoping that will improve in the coming months. I'm interested how others are doing after a number of months.

REPLY
@billrtx

75 yo who has been treating BPH (180 gm prostate) for the last 10 + years with alpha-blockers, but finally decided to pull the trigger and seek a surgical solution. After a good deal of research and discussion with my urologist, I decided to go with Aquablation. Surgery went smoothly, but I did develop some urethral adhesion (possibly due to minor injury from catheter or tools used) which was causing a weak and somewhat erratic stream. I needed to have an office procedure to clear that. Now, 7 weeks after surgery, stream is strong and I'm sleeping much better at night, having to get up only 1 or 2 times. I do experience some urgency and minor leakage at times, but hoping that will improve in the coming months. I'm interested how others are doing after a number of months.

Jump to this post

@billrtx - Sounds like you're nicely progressing post aquablation. I am 6 1/2 months post and feel I am 97% back to normal with all the BPH symptoms gone. I'm pleased I had the surgery and I expect you will continue with small additional improvement in the next few months. Congratulations on a successful surgery!

REPLY

Hi all, I have been dealing with BPH for 10 years now and my prostate is around 80 grams and has been squeezing my urethra hard enough for me to use catheter to empty my bladder for the past 4 years! I have avoided TURP and other procedures but when I found out about aquablation, I became hopeful. Reading your posts have definitely given me a better perspective whether I do the procedure or not. My Dr. wants to do a biopsy to rule out cancer and view the inside of my bladder to map out how to avoid the ejaculation tube and the bladder mouth (map out the procedure). Has anyone gone through the same steps before your surgery? Also, any one with Reverse Ejaculation issues as well as Erectile dysfunction symptoms? If so, any reversals?

REPLY
@ka68

Hi all, I have been dealing with BPH for 10 years now and my prostate is around 80 grams and has been squeezing my urethra hard enough for me to use catheter to empty my bladder for the past 4 years! I have avoided TURP and other procedures but when I found out about aquablation, I became hopeful. Reading your posts have definitely given me a better perspective whether I do the procedure or not. My Dr. wants to do a biopsy to rule out cancer and view the inside of my bladder to map out how to avoid the ejaculation tube and the bladder mouth (map out the procedure). Has anyone gone through the same steps before your surgery? Also, any one with Reverse Ejaculation issues as well as Erectile dysfunction symptoms? If so, any reversals?

Jump to this post

Can you help me understand why several men seem to prefer dealing with the discomfort and invconvenience of a catheter over just getting treated, with TURP or other options? Why not just get treated?

REPLY

I've had a foley catheter for 8 months. I enjoy being able to sleep through the night. Waking fully refreshed instead of getting up just as tired as when I laid down. I had BPH for 20 years. My prostate is 139 cc and I'm having trouble finding a doctor who can do the procedure. Of course I'm 81 years old, if I was 60 I can see there would be a problem. LOL

REPLY
@dbee

Can you help me understand why several men seem to prefer dealing with the discomfort and invconvenience of a catheter over just getting treated, with TURP or other options? Why not just get treated?

Jump to this post

I can't answer why some men prefer a catheter. But having had aquablation, I can honestly say that experience was hardly a walk in the park.
Four months after the procedure I'm not measurably better than I was before the procedure.
I am now wearing Depends, which is certainly not an improvement. I usually have to urinate sitting, rather than performing that task the old fashioned way, standing.
Will see my urologist in a few weeks to go over some issues.

REPLY
@ka68

Hi all, I have been dealing with BPH for 10 years now and my prostate is around 80 grams and has been squeezing my urethra hard enough for me to use catheter to empty my bladder for the past 4 years! I have avoided TURP and other procedures but when I found out about aquablation, I became hopeful. Reading your posts have definitely given me a better perspective whether I do the procedure or not. My Dr. wants to do a biopsy to rule out cancer and view the inside of my bladder to map out how to avoid the ejaculation tube and the bladder mouth (map out the procedure). Has anyone gone through the same steps before your surgery? Also, any one with Reverse Ejaculation issues as well as Erectile dysfunction symptoms? If so, any reversals?

Jump to this post

Please read my post I did for my husband, Sharing post op experience. Pre op he had a cystoscopy in the office and an MRI, to look at size, positioning , median lobe etc. The results are amazing, now at 6 week post op point, not 1 issue at all, he just wishes he would have done it sooner.

REPLY

Five weeks after my Aquablation I’m doing well (good stream!) except for a very strong feeling of urgency to pee — sometimes before my bladder is full. When the urge suddenly hits, I can barely make it to the toilet in time. Doctor told me kegels can help and he also prescribe gemtesa to relax the bladder.
Has this happened to others post Aquablation and, if so, how long before the issue resolves itself?

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.