Aquablation: Post-surgery expectations

@psblin99 Well the 1st day is over. It was a long one. They were running behind so I was waiting. A few details I have not seen here on the blog. Prep included quite a few advance meds in the hospital. Reduce bleeding, reduce swelling, prevent infection etc. They even swabbed my nose with something like betadine to keep me from inhaling bacteria. Also got an IV med started one hour before the procedure.
Taking me to the OR time to wake up 65 minutes. Zero pain!!! Flushed me out for 3 hours, liquid in liquid out. Then sent me home. Wife had to go to the pharmacy for two meds. You may want to ask your doctor if he can send them in advance. More convenient. Also could have some more instructions on using the cath bags. Particularly emptying it. A little tricky.
Slept on a waterproof sheet but did not leak. Hung the bag on a stool below the bed. It was pretty full this morning so we emptied it. Had some breakfast and now just doing nothing until my appointment with the doc Monday.
Apprehension was absolutely the worst part so far. I will keep you posted.

@psblin99 Well the 1st day is over. It was a long one. They were running behind so I was waiting. A few details I have not seen here on the blog. Prep included quite a few advance meds in the hospital. Reduce bleeding, reduce swelling, prevent infection etc. They even swabbed my nose with something like betadine to keep me from inhaling bacteria. Also got an IV med started one hour before the procedure.
Taking me to the OR time to wake up 65 minutes. Zero pain!!! Flushed me out for 3 hours, liquid in liquid out. Then sent me home. Wife had to go to the pharmacy for two meds. You may want to ask your doctor if he can send them in advance. More convenient. Also could have some more instructions on using the cath bags. Particularly emptying it. A little tricky.
Slept on a waterproof sheet but did not leak. Hung the bag on a stool below the bed. It was pretty full this morning so we emptied it. Had some breakfast and now just doing nothing until my appointment with the doc Monday.
Apprehension was absolutely the worst part so far. I will keep you posted.

@psblin99 Apply some lubricant where the garden hose comes out. I found that after a few days it started to get irritated as the hose moves around a bit. It all sounds great for you!

I had Aquablation surgery on 3/16/26. I am still using a catheter. This is in fact the 4th catheter I've had inserted post surgery. My prostate size was 55cc before surgery. Almost everything I had read about Aquablation has been positive. unfortunately for me, it's still a work in progress. I did not know much about all the prostate treatment options, but I do now. The doctor mentioned 3 options to me Green Light, Aquablation, and Urolift. He did not elaborate much on the Urolift. In retrospect, I would have chosen another of the many options out there.
Here is a timeline of my procedure so far:
3/16 - Aquablation, overnight hospital stay
3/17 - Cleared by the doctor to have the catheter removed (my urine had very little blood) and go home. Told to return by 4pm to the office if I could not Urinate. Could not urinate, so went to the office and the assistant inserted catheter #2 and told to come back the follwowing week.
3-23 - Passed the void test and the catheter removed. I thought I was home free. But then could only pass a small amount of urine each time I went and it didn't get any better. Went to the E/R. showed 300mL in the bladder and catheter #3 inserted. Next day called the Dr. Office and they scheduled me for another post void test.
3-26 - Passed the void test and went home was able to pass small amount of urine, any where from a 50-150ml. (I measured my output and my input so I would have an idea what was in my bladder). Frequency for me was 20min to an 1 1/2 hr. The Dr. assistant told me to go no less than every 2 hours at night, so I set my alarm and did so. This went on for 4 days and did not get better, got worse on the last day.
3-29 - Another trip to the E/R. and another Catheter (#4). Ultrasound showed 480mL retention.
3-31 - Dr. office appt. Saw the Nurse Practitioner this time. New appt set next week for another catheter removal and post void test.
4-07 - Passed test and catheter removed. This day I had the strongest stream and amount voided, but it slowed down starting that night.
4-09 - Another E/R trip, same story. Catheter #5

I'm going to summarize from here because this is already long:
3 trips to the E/R for catheters.
3 Post void test at the Dr.'s office. I passed all 3 for the amount voided, but the first 2 with mostly a dribble ( the assistant was only there to remove catheter and do the test and that's all. No feedback of any kind allowed.)
I have not seen the Dr. since the day after surgery. I'm schedule to see the actual urologist on 4-17. maybe he will want some feedback from me. For instance, every catheter the E/R inserted, they had difficulty with an obstruction. Also, my stream getting slowly worse and not better after initial catheter removal. I'm to the point where I'm drained physically and emotionally.
I'm looking forward to my appt and also very anxious that I'll get the same routine again with no further evaluation.
I only saw this Doctor because my PCP recommended him. Do your homework before deciding on a procedure and the same for choosing a urologist.

I will update after my upcoming appt.

@psblin99 Well the 1st day is over. It was a long one. They were running behind so I was waiting. A few details I have not seen here on the blog. Prep included quite a few advance meds in the hospital. Reduce bleeding, reduce swelling, prevent infection etc. They even swabbed my nose with something like betadine to keep me from inhaling bacteria. Also got an IV med started one hour before the procedure.
Taking me to the OR time to wake up 65 minutes. Zero pain!!! Flushed me out for 3 hours, liquid in liquid out. Then sent me home. Wife had to go to the pharmacy for two meds. You may want to ask your doctor if he can send them in advance. More convenient. Also could have some more instructions on using the cath bags. Particularly emptying it. A little tricky.
Slept on a waterproof sheet but did not leak. Hung the bag on a stool below the bed. It was pretty full this morning so we emptied it. Had some breakfast and now just doing nothing until my appointment with the doc Monday.
Apprehension was absolutely the worst part so far. I will keep you posted.

@psblin99 Day 3 and still good. No pain. Sleeping well and first bowel movement, which the doctor will ask about at my appointment tomorrow. Take this catheter out and hopefully I will be on my way.

@202006
Continuation from my fist post.
On July 28th I had another Surgery with a different Doctor. TURP surgery was successful in removing the median lobe bulge. This is all about the Doctors. I got a second opinion and the 2nd doctor took a look the same day with a TRUS (Transurethral Ultrasound) and immediately identified a large median lobe bulging into the bladder. after 4 months of despair I am finally fixed.
The first Doctor never identified the median lobe issue, even though he did a pre TRUS and a Cystoscopy. Another cystoscopy 5 weeks after the Aquablation and he did still did not identify the issue. 2 months later and a trip to the ER for a UTI and the ER doctor did a CT scan with contrast. Radiologist noted "Median Lobe Bulging into the Bladder with Bladder Wall thickening Likely due to Bladder Outlet Obstruction." I showed this to my first urologist and he blew it off saying that wasn't the issue and he couldn't do anything about it any way. His fix for me was keep self cathing 3 times and day and then keep reducing to get to 1 catheter a day.
Just before this and after my third UTI in 6 weeks, my infectious disease doctor wanted to talk to me about suppression antibiotics which, if you don't know, is a road to a shortened lifespan. Thankfully, I have avoided this.

The first Doctor I had came highly recommended. He works at an office where the Doctors own the business. HE is the senior doctor. He has so many patients he can't keep up with them. More patients, more money. Seems like a conflict of interest. I have made another appt with him just tell him how horrible he is. I was lucky. I feel bad for his other patients who just take him at his word. I'd sue him, but very hard in Texas.
I got some bad vibes from the doctor early on-he actually told me during a visit about a patient who said he was going to get another doctor and the Doc told him "go ahead." I thought it was incredulous he told me that. But I was so far into this doctor, I didn't want to start the clock over with another one. It cost me dearly for those 4 months post surgery.

Again, don't hesitate to get a 2nd or even a 3rd opinion. I really did my homework for the second opinion and went to the top guy at UT Southwestern. I'll forever be grateful. I know he was just doing his job, but he gave me my life back.

@psblin99 Big day for me. Remove this catheter and send me on my way. Feeling good with no problems so far. Hardest part is just sitting around and doing nothing!