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Aquablation: Post-surgery expectations
Men's Health | Last Active: 48 minutes ago | Replies (460)Comment receiving replies
Seems that some people had catheters in place for up to 7 days, where other people had catheters removed after one night (me included). The entire night was spent in the hospital, flushing out my bladder with saline fluid. 3-liter bags would empty into the catheter about every two hours, and would drain into another bag...when the saline bag was empty, a nurse would come in with a new bag and empty the drain bag, and it seems like this was repeated at least 10 times. At the beginning, the drain bag was deep red ("Hawaiian Punch" as the nurses called it). By morning it was only pinkish. The catheter was removed and shortly after, I could pee normally, with some blood mixed in. I was sent home at that point. Pinkish urine lasted about two weeks, with a burning feeling which was uncomfortable but not extremely so. The burning feeling faded away after a few weeks. Now, about 3 months later, I still have mild urgency, but not extreme urgency. It gets better all the time. Stream is strong, but occasionally not so strong. It varies, slightly worse overnight.
I'd like to know why some people need a catheter for a week, and others only a day, and if this has anything to do with any negative after-effects.
Replies to "Seems that some people had catheters in place for up to 7 days, where other people..."
@mkaften I think the duration of time the catheter is in depends on a few things. It seems when aquablation was a newer procedure doctors sent people home same day or next day without cath. Then it was found that many suffered from blockage and had to return to reinsert and clear. Then doctors seemed to recommend keeping it in for a few days. My doctor said from the very beginning I would have the procedure on a Thursday and cath removal the following Monday. Depending on how individuals respond to the procedure and the flushing, will determine the time needed to keep the cath in I guess. I stayed overnight, pretty much 24 hours after the procedure, and the flushing went well, but I’m glad I kept the cath in for several days, as uncomfortable as that was, to ensure that I had the best chance of not having any blockage to worry about once it was removed.
This is of course all my own opinion based on observation of everyone’s outcomes posted here.
I am now 19 days after my procedure and just over two weeks from cath removal. Urine has cleared up a lot but still see small amounts of blood either at the start or end. I seem to be progressing well, with pain gradually subsiding a tiny bit each day. I have a follow up appt with my dr later today.
@mkaften this is the biggest problem, but also the biggest reason for success with aquablation. Because there is no heat compared to other methods there is less risk to successful outcome, but it also means more bleeding because the procedure itself doesn't cauterize vessels. Here's my guess. So the doctor has to manually do it which is not a effective. The bigger the gland perhaps the more opportunity to miss something. Maybe luck plays a part. I believe this is why the practice that did my procedure does PAE just before the aquablation, studies have shown or to be a very effective way to reduce bleeding and quicken recovery. I'm not advocating for the procedure, i had my concerns, including the additional risk of the PAE procedure, but my recovery was only 24 hours with the catheter and I had very minimal bleeding after. However, the PAE wasn't a breeze either. The procedure was easy, but there is a lot of initial inflammation which was painful and because I had a large median lobe I nearly lost the ability to urinate before the aquablation which was 5 days after PAE. Certainly there are horror stories, but most regular aquablation seem to have minimal bleeding and a catheter for only 2 to 3 days. I looked at it this way, my enlarged prostate want going away, it was only going to get worse, so it's a risk I had to take. Delaying only increases the risk and worsens the outcome of the procedure. Just one guys opinion.
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@mkaften I had a drain catheter for almost a week as I bled a lot. I had a big prostate (120 grams). Before it completely shut me down, I didn't even know I had an issue...completely asymptomatic. Pleased to report it is 15 month later and still peeing normally with no sexual side effects.