Aquablation: Post-surgery expectations

Posted by Phil, Alumni Mentor @upstatephil, Jan 26, 2024

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.

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My husband's aquablation was 13 days ago. All is good except: his urine has been clear with only a tiny bit of bleeding. Suddenly today the urine is quite bloody, and he is passing clots. According to internet this is not uncommon. Has anyone else experienced this? Thank you.

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Profile picture for mselks @mselks

My husband's aquablation was 13 days ago. All is good except: his urine has been clear with only a tiny bit of bleeding. Suddenly today the urine is quite bloody, and he is passing clots. According to internet this is not uncommon. Has anyone else experienced this? Thank you.

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Did his activity increase? Is he continuing to drink lots of water?

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Profile picture for whimpy2024 @whimpy2024

Did his activity increase? Is he continuing to drink lots of water?

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Yes, his activity did increase. He drinks lots of water.

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This happened to my husband as well, he had actually returned to golf!!!! It lasted several days, I put him on strict “chair rest” and kept water in his hands at all times. I’m a nurse so he knows to listen lol

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Profile picture for whimpy2024 @whimpy2024

This happened to my husband as well, he had actually returned to golf!!!! It lasted several days, I put him on strict “chair rest” and kept water in his hands at all times. I’m a nurse so he knows to listen lol

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I’m getting info on this so don’t have experience. My situation is that if prostate cancer that has spread and I’m being treated with lupron, abi and prednisone. So looking for info in my facts especially any incontinence risk. Thank you.

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has anyone here done their acquablation in NYC?

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one week update from Aquablation procedure on July 8 2025 at Sequoia hospital in Northern CA and Dr. Brubacker did the procedure . The procedure itself was fast, less than 2 hours from start to finish. Woke up and noticed stacks of Saline Drip bags on a table . Proceeded the irrigation process until release from hospital the next day . I got great care at the the hospital but the catheter and continued emptying and checks did not allow for much sleep. Pain was more early on but subsided.

Discharged with catheter that was horrible , there was leaking and temp block due to clots that eventually cleared . Got Cath removed 3 day after procedure and was relieved to see that I did not need re-insertion of Cath. Things are not close to normal as I am dripping blood and it still has an initial burn when urinating followed by blood then less bloody urine . Had to use Pads as I was getting blood all over the place . Not much activity outside or inside the bedroom but hoping to return soon .

My current feeling of the procedure is that I am worried . I had a feeling this would be a week of issues then back to normal with slow improvements . After reading prior posts, results are all over the place with some loving it and some not satisfied . I did the procedure with the. hope of have 15 or so years of decent peeing . I did not have an expectation of going back to my 20's but want to avoid medications and progression or symptoms . I will update as symptoms improve .

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Profile picture for alaais @alaais

one week update from Aquablation procedure on July 8 2025 at Sequoia hospital in Northern CA and Dr. Brubacker did the procedure . The procedure itself was fast, less than 2 hours from start to finish. Woke up and noticed stacks of Saline Drip bags on a table . Proceeded the irrigation process until release from hospital the next day . I got great care at the the hospital but the catheter and continued emptying and checks did not allow for much sleep. Pain was more early on but subsided.

Discharged with catheter that was horrible , there was leaking and temp block due to clots that eventually cleared . Got Cath removed 3 day after procedure and was relieved to see that I did not need re-insertion of Cath. Things are not close to normal as I am dripping blood and it still has an initial burn when urinating followed by blood then less bloody urine . Had to use Pads as I was getting blood all over the place . Not much activity outside or inside the bedroom but hoping to return soon .

My current feeling of the procedure is that I am worried . I had a feeling this would be a week of issues then back to normal with slow improvements . After reading prior posts, results are all over the place with some loving it and some not satisfied . I did the procedure with the. hope of have 15 or so years of decent peeing . I did not have an expectation of going back to my 20's but want to avoid medications and progression or symptoms . I will update as symptoms improve .

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I'm 15 months post aquablation. I have not yet returned to normal, I feel as if the procedure was a mistake, and in general made me feel worse. I can't pee in a normal standing position, and have to sit. I need to use depends. There is still burning in the first ten seconds or so when the amount of urine is greater. Still waking up once or twice per night. At least.
Urologist insisted on doing a cystoscopy a few months ago, which was very painful.
I wanted it done under anesthesia, but he refused. I was given a bit of numbing gel, which accomplished nothing.
The aquablation, which the urologist insisted would make me a new man. seems to have done damage to my urethra.
So the procedure did make me a new man, doc just forgot to warn me that a new man doesn't have mean improved. It could also mean new, but worse.
Repeated UTIs made things worse.
I have changed urologists.

REPLY
Profile picture for alaais @alaais

one week update from Aquablation procedure on July 8 2025 at Sequoia hospital in Northern CA and Dr. Brubacker did the procedure . The procedure itself was fast, less than 2 hours from start to finish. Woke up and noticed stacks of Saline Drip bags on a table . Proceeded the irrigation process until release from hospital the next day . I got great care at the the hospital but the catheter and continued emptying and checks did not allow for much sleep. Pain was more early on but subsided.

Discharged with catheter that was horrible , there was leaking and temp block due to clots that eventually cleared . Got Cath removed 3 day after procedure and was relieved to see that I did not need re-insertion of Cath. Things are not close to normal as I am dripping blood and it still has an initial burn when urinating followed by blood then less bloody urine . Had to use Pads as I was getting blood all over the place . Not much activity outside or inside the bedroom but hoping to return soon .

My current feeling of the procedure is that I am worried . I had a feeling this would be a week of issues then back to normal with slow improvements . After reading prior posts, results are all over the place with some loving it and some not satisfied . I did the procedure with the. hope of have 15 or so years of decent peeing . I did not have an expectation of going back to my 20's but want to avoid medications and progression or symptoms . I will update as symptoms improve .

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Writing for my husband (posted immediate post op in earlier post). Hang in there it will get better! I am a nurse and have kept meticulous records of his recovery, every change in urine, flow, color etc. , pain, all of it. He spent the night in the hospital with CBI, discharged the next afternoon and had his catheter for 3 days. On the4th morning, I removed it, and we returned to the surgeon for residual urine test, which yielded 15 ml !!! Great news. The months have glided by, sex is great, flow great, and up maybe 1 time at night! Only regret, he should have done it sooner! We live in Ohio and had a great surgeon! Explained to my husband, this will get you 15 to 20 good urine years and at 72 years old, that’s good to hear. Aug. 1 will be a year post op, forgot about the date had to look it up for this post, it feels like it was never done. Good luck, it will improve.

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Profile picture for peehelp23 @peehelp23

Does anyone know if there are cases where there has been a second aquablation, say a year or two after the initial one?

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hi, how are you doing? I was consider seeing dr kaplan and would like to hear how things worked out for you.

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