Posted , 14 users are following.
I would like to hear specifically hear from those who have have had the aquablation procedure, and your experience with it and your recommendations. I am seriously considering having this procedure myself and want to educate myself. It's either aquablation or PAE.
0 likes, 29 replies
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bcb1 gary37907
Edited
I had PAE in Jan 2017 and a followup PAE in July 2020. For me (smaller prostate), the first procedure helped - I got about a 50% improvement in symptoms, but unfortunately it didn't last at all. Within about 3-6 months, most of the improvement had gone away. I was still better than before the procedure, no question - but it wasn't nearly as successful as I had hoped.
The second, followup procedure in July 2020 resulted in almost no improvement, perhaps 10% if that.
The PAE is such an easy, non-invasive procedure, it made a lot of sense to me to try it first. Worst case, it doesn't help much and you can move on to a more invasive procedure. That's how I viewed it.
Now that I'm 5 years from the original PAE, I'm having more symptoms, retaining about 60-70ml post void residual, and am considering Aquablation vs Holep. Aquablation seems the more minimally invasive, but bleeding is the concern, where Holep is much better at stopping all the bleeding.
cali-mike1970 bcb1
Posted
isn't 60-70ml PVR still considered normal (<100ml)?
bcb1 cali-mike1970
Edited
yes, still normal but more than it used to be. My symptoms are slowly getting worse, so I'm looking for the longest lasting procedure that has the most reasonable recovery time.
From what i can tell after reading many of these reports, those procedures are Aquablation and Holep. Aquablation concerns me a bit because it doesn't have good hemostasis. The surgeon has to use additional cautery to stop bleeding, where Holep is excellent at stopping bleeding during the procedure.
Besides wanting to pee normally again of course, I want the easiest recovery possible seeing reports of guys taking 10 days...2 weeks...a month...and more to start feeling normal again worries me. And what really worries me is not being able to pee at all a day or two or three after the surgery and having to go to an ER for emergency catheterization.
alberto204 bcb1
Edited
Yeah, after watching many videos on both aquablation and holep, the latter definitely seems better. This is the only place I've found real feedback about the aquablation from people who have had it. All the stuff on youtube seems sponsored by the robotics firm that makes the device and hence all claim it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. The only reason I'm considering aquablation and it's agonizingly long recovery, instead of holep is a fear of losing the ability to ejaculate normally. I don't know if I could handle that.
Especially after seeing another post here of somebody basically begging for some way to restore it after he had holep.
It absolutely sucks that there isn't yet a "good" procedure. i.e. fast recovery, near zero side effects/risks, and preserve normal function.
bcb1 alberto204
Posted
True. No matter which procedure, there is none with a short-to-no recovery time. From what I can see, the fastest reasonable time to feeling close to normal is 2-3 weeks.
The PAE procedure has a super fast recovery but for me, it didn't do much. Now i am waiting to hear from doctors office on if insurance will cover the aquablation
thomas24877 bcb1
Posted
Had Aquablation done 4 weeks ago, after experiencing 2 AUR's in prior 3 yrs and very weak flow. 70 yrs old, prostate size of 130, reduced by 50%. As others have said, 1st several days post op, but pre-catheter removal, were very uncomfortable, but manageable - 95% of time was pain free. By 2nd week flow was strong & much improved though frequency/urgency was greater than before, esp'ly during the day. At 4 weeks out, only getting up once during nite, but still have frequent urge to go during the day. sometimes every hour or so. Also still have minor burning when peeing. Possibly the system adjusting to the "new normal". Next appt. w Uro in 2 weeks.
compiler thomas24877
Posted
Most reports are urinary frequency and urgency worse or no improvement after the Aquablation Therapy but the stream is strong. Is there any opposite report?
mike19110 compiler
Posted
I had a very successful aquablation procedure in January 2022. You can search the forum and find my previous posts. I now have no frequency or urgency issues, and I generally sleep through the night. And my stream is strong.
cali-mike1970 compiler
Posted
i am seriously considering aquablation and spoke to the uro that would do it today. he said that compared to PVP (greenlight - which he does alot of) and TURP (he doesn't do many of these anymore), aquablation does not cause frequency and urgency (i think he was referring to during recovery). but he also cautioned me on thinking my frequency and urgency would resolve --he said it's common for it to get better though. the results i read about here are more encouraging for sure.
cali-mike1970 thomas24877
Posted
hi Thomas, can you give an update on your frequency/urgency? I'm in the final throes of deciding for an aquablation and wondering if your frequency has gotten better? that's an issue for me.
thomas24877 cali-mike1970
Posted
It's now been 2 months since Aquablation procedure. Flow is still VERY satisfactory, absolutely no fear of AUR. Usually only get up once during night, occasionally twice. During the day, frequency is still higher than hoped for, often only 1-2 hours. Urgency improving, but when the urge 1st starts, it's hard to hold back for more than a few minutes. Would still recommend for the great improvement in flow.
paul34021 thomas24877
Posted
I'm at 4 weeks since Aquablation and pretty close to your latest experience.
Frequency during the day really depends on how much coffee or soda I drink.
Very pleased with the results. The 3 extra days spent in the hospital with the Foliey flushing out the blood and loose tissue contributed to a pain-free last three weeks.