Aquablation: Done!
Posted , 40 users are following.
This is a follow to my earlier oft-postponed scheduled aquablation. It finally happened on Tuesday, Dec 7, 2021. A summary of the days thus far:
Tuesday, 12/7: a 6 a.m. visit to the local nearby casino to "unwind." (I'm serious 😃
Tuesday 8:00 a.m arrival at the hospital. Check in procedures for 30 minutes or so and then an unfortunate delay of a couple of hours as my doctor had a busy surgery schedule that day. Anesthesiologist checked in to explain his side of the procedure (my favorite guy for the feel-good stuff he administers.) Moments later I was in a deep sleep -- and moments after that, it seemed, awake and finished!
I was told the entire procedure lasted a bit more than an hour. No complications. But for my age (75) and the "condition" of my years-long BPH-battered prostate, my doctor recommended two nights in hospital with catheter. I was OK with that. I can't say I felt discomfort of any kind in the immediate aftermath, though morphine and another pain killer were allowed and welcomed on days 1 and 2.
So today is 2.5 days out from the surgery. I got home an hour ago. I had the obligatory pee session before being discharged. Yes, it burned. But a small price to pay, I figure, in the very early going. Flow is not (yet) a gusher, which surprised me for the stories I have heard. But I am patient. Biggest issue for me thus far: constipation. Been plugged up since Sunday but am told that will resolve itself once life's daily routine takes over.
Perhaps the best relief of all: no more dull, 24/7 malaise discomfort in my lower belly area. GONE! That is VERY encouraging as I have lived with that for many years now. Like a block of wood behind my navel. I am also hoping for a true night's sleep tonight and more energy resulting tomorrow. (Prior to surgery, 3 naps per day were standard in my state of permanent fatigue. ) I can accept 1 or 2 pee breaks in the night going forward....if that's what evolves. Prior to surgery, up every 90 mins or 2 hrs.
So. So far so good. I am early to the recuperative phase so we will have to see. I see my uro again in about a month. If I missed anything, please let me know. Good luck to all.
3 likes, 65 replies
hank1953 owen35669
Posted
Thanks for sharing Owen. Hope the very best to you. Hank
not_too_shabby owen35669
Edited
Did they give you an indication whether they still feel like this treatment is experimental or are they recommending it in place of TURP and other procedures?
owen35669 not_too_shabby
Edited
As far as I know, "experimental" is not the case. It is an accepted, US FDA approved alternative to traditional TURP. Curious how your impression came about. i.e. "Experimental"?
GInAndPlatnic46 owen35669
Edited
Just want to say all the very best for you in future and happy to hear your story.....I had turp two years ago and feel like my life was renewed ...different procedure but hopefully both procedures have given us a future to look forward to ..
Good luck from here in the UK. !!
owen35669 GInAndPlatnic46
Edited
Thank you for your kind good wishes.
Update on day 4 from surgery. Stream is still "deficient" and some blood remains in urine, but I am not allowing myself any snap judgements as to my progress. I do wish the doc had given me a better "typical" time line for all this but I can deal with it.
The biggest SURPRISE Benefit of all for me thus far: pelvic pain that was 24/7 (and mimicking serious lumbar back pain) is now gone completely. This, in turn, has done wonders for my spirits. What I thought was a back issue was, apparently, referred pain from the prostate/pelvic issue. i.e. A bladder constantly half-filled and pressing. So a twofer, so to speak, for me -- back AND prostate "cured"!I need only get a stream back and I will be ready to conquer new worlds at 75. (NO erection issues either. Every indication in the early going that "awakening" that part of the anatomy will not be a problem 😃
Also, a trick I learned to facilitate urine flow when the damaged tissue is burning and discouraging bearing down with pressure: I put my entire hand under a stream of ice cold water. The sensation of cold seems to distract me from the urinary challenge ongoing down below and a trickle at least begins. I learned this "technique" a year ago when I was post-op cardiac surgery with a catheter.
Good luck to all -- and fear not prostate aquablation. Thus far I am glad I did it.
cavo owen35669
Posted
congrats on your success. great to hear. where did you have the procedure done? what were your symptoms and what lobes were enlarged? or doesnt matter with this procedure?
owen35669
Edited
Update: Today was Day 7 since my prostate aquablation of 12/7. The short story: Mixed results leaning to some early disappointment. Stream, if anything, is worse now than it was prior to surgery. But -- always realizing that the tissue along that pathway is still in an early healing stage and so "normal" urination remains a goal perhaps just not yet achieved. If two weeks from now the same symptom, I might be concerned. I see the doc again 3 weeks from now. Also, there is still noticeable blood tinge in urine flow -- standard to my understanding. Overall discomfort level on a 1 to 10 scale is a 5. But quite bearable. Biggest bonus: back pain that I had suffered for the past 18 months is, unexpectedly, largely gone! I assume the pain was actually referred pelvic pain from the BPH. Even the uro's PA said she had never heard of such a side benefit of this procedure. I am thankful for this huge and unexpected relief. Now if only I can improve in the area of the original reason for the surgery. Will keep you posted. My surgery was at Aurora Sinai Hospital in Milwaukee, WI USA.
michael31017 owen35669
Edited
Thanks for keeping us updated with your progress! Keep drinking water and flushing bits of tissue out of the system. That's the best way to prove that things are working and to keep that discomfort reduced. You can use Azo pills (over the counter) to help numb the urinary tract while you are healing.
Note also that there is no deterministic healing timeline for prostate surgeries such as TURP (I had 3 of them in a short period of time.) My urologist is monitoring me nearly 1 year after my last TURP and is learning along the way. I drink 64-80oz of water a day as I work from home, enjoying peeing after struggling with total blockage.
I recently had some constipation after the Thanksgiving holiday and I was shocked by the impact of the full rectum on the prostate. It was like 2 years ago when I got up 7 times in a night! I work hard to keep my diet "regular" now.
Also glad to hear that sexual function should still be there, that's a big deal with prostate surgery but some of us are lucky to avoid this issue.
owen35669 michael31017
Edited
Thanks Michael. Your advice is very timely. The "discomfort" remains pervasive. Both urethral and rectal. (I suspect they inserted something in the back door as well for the rawness of it all. I had always assumed decent regularity. But not since this particular surgery. )
I am now Day 8 since the aquablation. Stream is still tight and slow and burning. Blood in urine is down to just a hint. But it's the overall flow that is my focus. I am trying to gain a mind's eye understanding of why the flow is restricted. Inflamed tissue...or something worse? In my mind I ask why -- for all that prostate tissue ablated away -- isn't the flow a gusher? But then I focus on an inflamed urethra and why continuing flow issues do make sense. Looking forward to January 1 -- a convenient three-weeks-from-surgery target date for a whole new beginning.Thanks for the Azo advice. I am taking a generic equivalent.
michael31017 owen35669
Posted
After my TURP, when I peed, I had 2-3 streams coming out, spraying urine all over the toilet! I was told that the urethra had been stretched during TURP and had to heal. Also the prostatic channel was likely full of bits of tissue and/or inflamed tissue. I always heard of "peeing like a racehorse" after TURP but that's never been the case with me. Even with over 100g of tissue removed from my prostate, it's just an "ok"flow which is acceptable for me, a 59 year old guy. As long as I can mostly empty my bladder, I'm happy.
Wm517 owen35669
Posted
I believe that the ultrasound instrument that provides the guidance and controls the "robot" is placed rectally.
joe1967 michael31017
Posted
Hi Michael, I am new in the group. Can you let me know why you decided to undergo TURP?
michael31017 joe1967
Posted
Hello Joe. When I was having a lot of issues emptying my bladder, this being in 2018, my urologist suggested Urolift or TURP. Not sure why he didn't suggest any of the newer procedures you read about here on patient.info. I was such a newbie in the game of prostate issues that I just went along with what he told me. A cytoscopy exam showed that my prostate was very, very large and would not benefit from Urolift, so the focus shifted over to TURP. He expected that one TURP and I'd be done.
My cousin had a similar prostate issue but instead went to a specialist in the US who did a robotic procedure where nearly all of the prostate inner tissue is removed and the "channel" needs to be rebuilt to link the bladder to the urethra. That surgery required a long and uncomfortable recovery but he's glad he did it.
owen35669
Edited
NEW INFORMATION: For my concern over the pace of urine flow recovery and absent any premature dialog on this concern with my physician, I have reviewed still more on-line articles/research papers regarding the aquablation procedure and its aftermath.
Key takeaway: a diminished flow like mine mimicking my poor pre-surgical flow is apparently not unusual in the days and even weeks following aquablation. In fact, two or three weeks is apparently not uncommon in the recuperation phase -- only then, apparently, is enhanced stream volume likely. This, according to medical experts on the procedure.
In TYPICAL cases.
This has given me new enthusiasm for my progress. And as noted earlier, I am in a state of only mild discomfort one week out from the procedure -- with itching in the urethra and some burning with urination.
(My personal yard stick for "flow progress" was a 65-year old relative who had undergone green light laser treatment. His flow volume was enhanced immediately following that surgery. But he did suffer retrograde ejaculation. The latter is apparently not typically an issue with aquablation therapy.)
So I remain encouraged and will look forward to the days and weeks ahead, hoping to start the New Year with a new flow. And if not maximum improvement, then close to it.
owen35669
Edited
UPDATE: Day 11 after prostate aquablation on 12/7.
Best day yet. Just prior to today, had significant bowel and prostate burn and discomfort. Introduced ibuprofen today, 12/16, as an anti-inflammatory to help things along -- and lo and behold had a best day yet since the surgery. Flow has improved, and burning sensation significantly diminished. Not "cured" by any definition, but a major leap since just yesterday -- especially for the flow improvement, however modest.
I will only assume that healing is happening and that the broader trend for me is a positive one. Will share more as progress may dictate.
steven92443 owen35669
Posted
Hey Owen
How did it go after day 11? I am thinking about Aquablation myself
steven92443 owen35669
Posted
Hey Owen
You still around? Anybody heard from Owen?
dg27147 steven92443
Posted
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