Very much bored of it now....
Very much bored of it now....
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Discussion

TheAngryDog

Original Poster:

12,966 posts

234 months

Monday 18th May
quotequote all
Just a bit of a vent / whinge, nothing to see here.

Since February I've been suffering with various and it is starting to wear a little thin.

In February I started experiencing a lump in my throat. Having been referred to the local ENT dept at Hospital via the 2 Week Pathway cancer service, it was found not to be anything serious. I still have the lump feeling, and I have a check up tomorrow, but it is likely to just be what is called a throat globus. I think I may also have developed GERD.

In April I had a UTI, which was treated with antibiotics, but despite being UTI free, I was still experiencing feelings of needing to urinate. My GP surgery sent me for a blood test inc PSA. The blood test was OK, but the PSA was high at 7.4 (it should be under 2.4). Back on the 2 weeks Pathway for cancer, this time for my prostate. I had an MRI 2 weeks ago and I have my follow up appointment next week to give me the results. The urination issue is mostly cleared up now and I'm optimistic that I do not have anything seriously wrong with my prostate.

Last Sunday (10th) I suddenly started to feel dizzy. While this has improved, it is still an ever present and is tiresome. It is worse when stationary / watching TV, and absolutely fine when in a car. I visited my GP surgery today who think I may have an ear infection, and I definitely know that my right ear is blocked behind the ear drum (I am currently almost deaf in my right ear as a result), so I have been prescribed antibiotics. I am hoping it is an infection, as I've had a blocked ear for years before and I never had this.

My whinge is because I'd just like to go a few weeks without having any issues. It's tiresome rolling from one issue to the next, and I'd just like it to go away. I know it's all pretty minor stuff in the grand scheme of things, but when you're not 100% it is miserable.

Whinge over.

Wacky Racer

40,906 posts

272 months

Monday 18th May
quotequote all
Not a doctor, but pretty sure it will be an infection in your ears.

Good luck with the Prostate tests PSA tests are quite unreliable I have been told.

It's just a case of wait and see for the results.

Always better to catch things early.

Good luck. thumbup

TheAngryDog

Original Poster:

12,966 posts

234 months

Monday 18th May
quotequote all
Wacky Racer said:
Not a doctor, but pretty sure it will be an infection in your ears.

Good luck with the Prostate tests PSA tests are quite unreliable I have been told.

It's just a case of wait and see for the results.

Always better to catch things early.

Good luck. thumbup
The blocked ear is because I have dysfunctional eustachian tubes. They're usually stuck open, but I had surgery last year to help keep them closed. I do hope it's an infection. I do get a bit of pain in my blocked ear as well from time to time since Sunday.

Thanks - my prostate is the one thing I'm not worried about lol. I had the PSA test just over a week after the UTI cleared up so I know it'll be that, but as you say, better to know if it is something serious than not, and if it is, there is a high chance I have caught it early.

Cheers!!

Hoofy

79,624 posts

307 months

Monday 18th May
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Frustrating. It's the worry about one thing after another that can wear you down mentally. Don't forget to take time out for some "me-time." I don't mean have a wk but doing stuff to cheer yourself up (ok, having a wk might be part of that). Go for a cycle/drive/whatever, do something cultural (museum, concert, etc) or go to the cinema.

mcelliott

10,196 posts

206 months

Monday 18th May
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Severe anxiety can cause all these things, once your body is stuck in the fight or flight mode it’s very difficult to break free of it, especially bad when you start focusing or obsessing on one particular body part.

Doesitdrive

1,168 posts

6 months

Monday 18th May
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mcelliott said:
Severe anxiety can cause all these things, once your body is stuck in the fight or flight mode it s very difficult to break free of it, especially bad when you start focusing or obsessing on one particular body part.
This is so true. I am sure long term on anti depressants really doesn't help, maybe other drugs long term too.

Psa can be affected by anything, in my case not drinking enough water, hopefully in the OP case hopefully the infection.

Keeping active and drinking more water helps, I can go for too many hours if I am busy, especially driving, but as soon as I sit on the Sofa, I just want to sleep, even on a day like today when I did fk all except visit friends and a bit of shopping on the way home.

Never under estimate the value of regular good sleep at night.

TheAngryDog

Original Poster:

12,966 posts

234 months

Thursday
quotequote all
Hoofy said:
Frustrating. It's the worry about one thing after another that can wear you down mentally. Don't forget to take time out for some "me-time." I don't mean have a wk but doing stuff to cheer yourself up (ok, having a wk might be part of that). Go for a cycle/drive/whatever, do something cultural (museum, concert, etc) or go to the cinema.
I would love to, but the constant feeling of feeling like st from this dizziness is tiring and doesn't make me feel like doing anything. Even watching TV is a chore.

TheAngryDog

Original Poster:

12,966 posts

234 months

Thursday
quotequote all
Wacky Racer said:
Not a doctor, but pretty sure it will be an infection in your ears.

Good luck with the Prostate tests PSA tests are quite unreliable I have been told.

It's just a case of wait and see for the results.

Always better to catch things early.

Good luck. thumbup
Follow up for my MRI later today with the urologist. Really hoping for good news.

I've started antibiotics for my ear as the nurse practitioner at my GP surgery thought I may have an ear infection. 2 days in and no improvements yet, but it's early days.

Hoofy

79,624 posts

307 months

Thursday
quotequote all
TheAngryDog said:
Hoofy said:
Frustrating. It's the worry about one thing after another that can wear you down mentally. Don't forget to take time out for some "me-time." I don't mean have a wk but doing stuff to cheer yourself up (ok, having a wk might be part of that). Go for a cycle/drive/whatever, do something cultural (museum, concert, etc) or go to the cinema.
I would love to, but the constant feeling of feeling like st from this dizziness is tiring and doesn't make me feel like doing anything. Even watching TV is a chore.
Sorry to hear that. Audio books might be a good way of passing the time, then. Or even getting an ebook app to read a book to you. (Many have that function, I use it when I'm putting the washing out etc.)

otolith

66,364 posts

229 months

Thursday
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Sympathies.

I had a UTI about a year ago, which progressed over the course of a day from "hmm, that's uncomfortable" to shaking violently in A&E and being admitted for 3 days of IV antibiotics for a kidney infection. I had two recurrences of UTI symptoms over the next few weeks, the second time resulting in a disturbing quantity of frank blood in my pee, so I got an urgent cancer referral. I was seen at the Marsden in Chelsea - in one visit they did urine and blood tests, urine flow measurement, external examination, camera up the dick, digital prostate exam, MRI with contrast. I had one kidney function blood test parameter out of normal, which they retested at the other Marsden site and found OK, and then got the all clear for everything. It was by a mile the best and most efficient service I've ever had from the NHS, just outstanding. I think the quickness and efficiency and the clarity and timeliness of communications reduced the stress as much as one can reasonably hope for.

v8notbrave

319 posts

38 months

Thursday
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Stay strong dude, sorry it clichés, but rest, make time for yourself, sunny weekend ahead go for walk with family in countryside, have BBQ, ease up on booze. Minimise doom scrolling, if TV tiring read a book or listen to music

I'm 14 years into a hellish health journey so full sympathies. It's good to whine, stay strong and best of luck

DB4DM

1,114 posts

148 months

Thursday
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Another thumbs up for the Royal Marsden in Chelsea. From them being asked for a second opinion to seeing the consultant surgeon in his office, 9 days including assessment of MRI/CT/PET scans by his multidisciplinary team

TheAngryDog

Original Poster:

12,966 posts

234 months

Thursday
quotequote all
Had the follow up for my prostate MRi.

Unknown is the best answer I have at the moment.
It's a Gleason grade 3 growth I have. May or may not be cancer.
I've had another PSA test, so if the numbers go down, no biopsy. Numbers go up, biopsy.

The nurse I saw didn't believe it was anything sinister, certainly didn't have the attitude of it being bad, and given my lack of family history of cancer, they feel it is unlikely to be it. They advised not to biopsy currently. I'm not massively worried.

Now to sort the dizziness out.

TwigtheWonderkid

48,330 posts

175 months

Yesterday (10:38)
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TheAngryDog said:
I know it's all pretty minor stuff in the grand scheme of things,
Having reason to think you may have throat cancer, and then prostate cancer, is not minor stuff. It must be incredibly stressful.

TheAngryDog

Original Poster:

12,966 posts

234 months

Yesterday (10:48)
quotequote all
TwigtheWonderkid said:
TheAngryDog said:
I know it's all pretty minor stuff in the grand scheme of things,
Having reason to think you may have throat cancer, and then prostate cancer, is not minor stuff. It must be incredibly stressful.
It's not been fun, but I was less worried about the prostate one, which I may still have, no one knows for sure, but I aren't losing weight (except the intentional weight loss) and don't have any of the main symptoms associated with it, so I haven't been mega stressed. especially as it's easier to treat when caught early, and if I have it, it's early. I was stressed about the throat one as that one is harder to treat.

My dizziness seems to be improving a bit, but I have started getting urination twinges again, which is unexpected.

TheAngryDog

Original Poster:

12,966 posts

234 months

Yesterday (12:39)
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PSA result came through quickly - dropped from 7.6 to 2.8. Still above the trigger number, but in this case less is more.

INeedAHero

24 posts

1 month

Yesterday (17:10)
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Private healthcare?