Aquablation: Post-surgery expectations

I'm scheduled for Aquablation in February assuming my Urologist confirms I'm a good candidate when he does the cystoscopy. I've had BPH symptoms for years, 73 gram prostate, got put on tamsulosin and solifenacin and went from getting up 4 or 5 times a night to zero. I do have to pee around 10 times a day and have a low flow but my question is this: If I want to get off the meds (I don't like the way I feel on them plus the retrograde ejaculation thing) is that a good enough reason to have this procedure done? I'm also curious if anyone else had this done for that reason alone? My normal Urologist wanted to do TURP, as that's all they offer but I found an experienced doctor who offers it a bit further away. Opinions please?

I'm in EXACTLY the same situation as you.

I'm also looking at OptiLume. Looking forward to the responses to your post.

Paul

I’m 71 and I did it too for those reasons. Additionally my bladder walls were thickening. After 5 or 6 years on tamsulosin it started to not work very well and I had been unhappy with the side effects for years. I went in to talk about the issue with my urologist and he suggested aquablation. I was immediately on board.
I’m about 7 months out now and my life has changed. I wish the procedure had been available when I first started to have prostate issues. The reasons to choose the procedure and the results of it are specific to the individual. The damage being done to my bladder walls from not being able to empty out was a big factor. Left untreated that’s a road to a permanent catheter. Not being able to urinate properly is a deceptively slow process and we seem to just get used to the inconvenience of it. Personally I had no idea of the long range implications to the bladder if left untreated.
I encourage any guy that’s having issues to see a urologist sooner than later. Good luck to all!!!

Do it!. I'm 65 and was completely asymptomatic until Acute Retention shut me down completely. I was on a catheter for 4 months. I had a few very bad voiding trials on the way to aquablation. Tamolosin and Finesteride both screwed me up...and I was only on them for a couple of weeks.

Surgery was at the end of September. I was 105 grams. I'm peeing like a racehorse. I only get up once per night...which is the same for me for the last 20 years. I am also shooting forward and had no incontinence. Just understand you are being cut with a waterjet so you will bleed for a while...more than you would with Holep or Turp. I was told to drink 3 quarts of water per day...and I did. I went back to work at the end of week three. Bleeding stopped completely at the beginning of week three. But I've read other people who had lousy recoveries and still weren't 100% at three months.

Hello please look back through the comments, I wrote about my husband’s journey with Aquablation, which was completed in Aug. 2024. I’m a nurse and tried to keep it accurate and concise. Good luck, he loves the outcome.

New to the group. I have done both the artery embolization which did not have the impact desired and so had the Aquablation procedure done on 4 December 2024. The procedure was straightforward and was sent home with a catheter for 5 days. The catheter was uncomfortable for sure but removed without complications. The results are good - strong stream, less bathroom calls at night, and no impact to sexual function. I am continuing Tamsulosin until the March timeframe. After approximately 6 weeks started my exercise routine which initially went well but recently have had bleeding. Am scheduled for a call with the surgeon today 1/21/2025 discuss this regression. My exercise routine is somewhat demanding and fear I have overdone it - HIIT, lifting weights, and spin. I am 66 in good health and impatient.

Had both artery embolization and when this did not have the impact I went to the Aquablation technique on 12/4/2024. Procedure is straightforward and was sent home with a catheter for 5 days (painful and inconvenient) but once removed saw the benefits of a strong stream, less trips at night, and no impact to sexual performance. In about week six recovery now and unfortunately having blood in urine following workouts. Will be discussing with surgeon today 1/21 and suspect I have overdone the workout routine. Other than this recent setback was quite happy with the results

Am 66 years of age and had both the artery embolization which did not have the desired impact and so went on the next step of Aquablation on 12/4/24 in Northern Va. The surgery was a non-event and sent home with a catheter for 5 days. This was uncomfortable for sure but once removed saw immediate improvement in stream, less trips during the night, and after 4 weeks had no impact to sexual function. However, recently have had bleeding and believe this is due to somewhat intense exercise (HIIT, weights, and spin). Scheduled a call with surgeon to discuss. So not out of the woods yet but believe I am on a good path.

I had my Aquablation procedure on December 3, 2024. So, I'm coming up on two months. I have intense urgency to pee when I drink anything, which was part of the reason I had the procedure in the first place. My bladder wasn't emptying and I had trouble with strength of stream. My prostate was relatively small 30g but was wrapped around my bladder in a bad way. I have some irritation in the tip of my penis as well that I thought was a UTI but tested negative and Urologist said that is part of the prostate healing process. I also have no ejaculate yet- just a tiny bit of clear fluid. Anyone else have this experience. What should I be expecting? Do I need to just wait?

I got aquablation on jan8, 2025. It certainly not like the smiley people on the brochure.

Had a median lobe, thicker bladder wall, and size was 103. Urologist said procedure went really well.

Went for a 7km walk two days after surgery. Nurse said that over did it. Catheter was 6”’off went I went back complaining I could not drain a clog 11 days later. Urologist put it back in and flushed things and said it can remain off.

Now in third week post-op and 8 days post catheter removal.

Frequent urge to urinate,
Low volume and flow
Pain after urination that last for a minute and goes away
Need to wear a diaper because of incontinence
On physio to retrain things down there.

Life is on standby

Have you recovered to the point you are satisfied?