Aquablation: Post-surgery expectations

I did not. As far as I know there were no unusual circumstances surrounding the surgery.

I read it a lot. Look online. I’m no doctor, but I think sometimes they don’t take out enough or there was an underlying condition that wasn’t discovered until later and last and not my favorite when people develop something called a stint.?

I had my aquablation in Dec 2022, 28 months ago, at age 71. My experience was similar to those reported here and I did not regret my decision, though it took much longer than usual to stop intermittent bleeding (3 months). Full sexual function returned within 2 months. Then two months ago I thought I had a UTI, but did not. The urologist did an cystoscopy and said the prostate had "grown back" to the point that I was again retaining urine in the bladder at unacceptable levels. None of the several doctors I spoke with seems the least surprised by this regrowth. Three are pressuring me to have a TURP done instead, ASAP. I went on Silodosin, which helped with the symptoms but caused retrograde ejaculation, while I postponed any decision. If the procedure is good for just two years, I wonder if it was worth the risks, pain, and inconvenience. Moreover, a follow-on TURP will be more extensive, with more tissue removed, which means ejaculation will stop entirely. It sounds like being equivalent to a full prostatectomy. The alternative of doing nothing risks the eventual loss of all bladder muscle tone, that is, flaccid bladder, which means using a catheter 3 times a day. I present this information here because I have not seen a discussion in this thread yet on the question of how long aquablation is good for and the chances of simply delaying a TURP. None of the medical professionals I have spoken with is able to report statistics, or even a summary of outcomes of their own patients. Instead I get only a shrug and the comment, "I don't have a crystal ball..."

Have you considered holep? I just had the neck preserving procedure. It wasn’t a guarantee but it’s been 70 days and everything works.

Holep has not come up. I will look into this. Thanks.

Had my aquablation on February 4, 2025. My prostate was about 60 g, I'm 68, in good health and weight, and had been dealing with BPH with meds (terazosin) since my early 50s. The procedure went very well. I came home the same day; had a catheter for 3 days (which sucked, but was tolerable). Catheter removal was a small trauma, but quick. I passed the bladder emptying test and they sent me home. I had some bleeding for about 3 weeks but it didn't cause any additional pain. Peeing was a little uncomfortable, but it got less so after about 6 weeks. It took me about 8 weeks to feel comfortable sitting on hard surfaces. Right now everything feels just about normal. My semen volume is about .5 to .75 of what it was before the procedure. But everything else works without any changes. I'm relieved now to not have to deal with the dribble, sitting on the toilet to pee, and timing my day around peeing. I can drink as much fluid as I want without worry, and I only get up to go once per night on average now. I love being able to pee like I did in my 40s . . . I had my procedure done in Roseville, CA at Sutter Health Urology. Happy to respond to any questions you may have about the aquablation.

Thanks for the info. Do you know if your prostate had a median lobe?

Yes. I had a median lobe protruding into my bladder.

I thought I'd give an update a year after my procedure (3/24/2024). I'm now 65 and generally in excellent health. Except for having to have a catheter reinserted before leaving the hospital (I couldn't pee on my own) and about three weeks of burning sensations when urinating, my experience with aquablation was very positive. My year-after checkup showed that I was able to virtually empty my bladder, which has been amazing. I had been on tamsuolsin prior to the procedure, which was causing retrograde ejaculations. No problem there post-procedure as well. I'm also finding that I only have to get up once or twice a night to pee. For me, the procedure has totally been worth it, and the few weeks of mild discomfort after the procedure are way in the rear view mirror.

So, what is your experience? Do you feel comfortable talking about it?
Was there an operation. If so, are there any side effects? Pain or discomfort?
Did the procedure provide any reduction in frequence of urination?
Are you happy/okay with the results?