The unofficial enlarged prostate thread
Discussion
V8covin said:
Those who've had treatment on the NHS ,were you given a choice of the different procedures or were you just told what you were having ?
As I said earlier, I was after UroLift so my GP referred me to a private urology clinic for a consultation. I then met the head of this clinic at the urology department of our local NHS hospital. After a number of tests and scans he said Rezum would work best for me, not UroLift. Derek Smith said:
j4r4lly said:
This all fills me with dread.
Have been on Tamsulosin for a few years now and have had a couple of cancer blood tests which have fortunately been negative.
I really struggle to get going for about 75% of the trips to the loo. Don't really have to go too often and probably get up in the night a couple of times a week, usually after drinking something after 9:30pm.
However, when I do go I now always sit down as I find it's easier and it can take me 5 mins to fully empty my bladder. This is fine at home but means going out can become stressful as many public toilets are poor or dirty and I don't really want to sit in them!
I do find however that after have an ejaculation I can pee like a racehorse for about 45 mins after the event and it then gradually returns to normal. Can't get an explanation for this from anyone and my GP just looks blank and said that the prostate is there to close up during sex so if anything it should make things worse......... who knows.
Just need to have more sex to help the problem which seems vastly more pleasant than the procedures described by others. Unfortunately I guess it will come to me eventually.
I accept your points. I now take a book to the toilet when I go to urinate.Have been on Tamsulosin for a few years now and have had a couple of cancer blood tests which have fortunately been negative.
I really struggle to get going for about 75% of the trips to the loo. Don't really have to go too often and probably get up in the night a couple of times a week, usually after drinking something after 9:30pm.
However, when I do go I now always sit down as I find it's easier and it can take me 5 mins to fully empty my bladder. This is fine at home but means going out can become stressful as many public toilets are poor or dirty and I don't really want to sit in them!
I do find however that after have an ejaculation I can pee like a racehorse for about 45 mins after the event and it then gradually returns to normal. Can't get an explanation for this from anyone and my GP just looks blank and said that the prostate is there to close up during sex so if anything it should make things worse......... who knows.
Just need to have more sex to help the problem which seems vastly more pleasant than the procedures described by others. Unfortunately I guess it will come to me eventually.
I now don't drink after 7pm. The reaction after sex is, evidently, normal. I had an excutiatingly embarassing couple of minutes with my consultant after putting this question to him. Not recommended. It's the relaxing after all that effort evidently and the emotional response. A simple yes or no would have done.
With regards to poor condition toilets, I've got a mental map of decent toilets in my area and along routes I used to travel. When taking my grandkids to a play area in a park, I wandered off to the loos in the corner. The gents had no natural light, just sensor-controlled strip lights. They came on when I entered. I went up to the urinal, got my equipment out, but because I had to wait a while, the damn lights went off. I waved my unused arm - those were the days when I needed two hands - and nothing happened. I half turned away from the urinal and then waved vigerously, just in time for a bloke to enter the toilets, take one look at me, then turn into a cubicle. No eye-contact. Boy, was I relieved, but not my bladder.
I can't have full anaesthetics. My heart goes awol. The consultant reckons there are other methods to reduce the size. Not sure what they are. I assume locals?
Odd thing. I've just had a consultation on the phone where I was told everything is going as expected, and no obvious signs of the big C and that an odd area of the prostrate has disappeared. However, I've been put on a course of antibiotics. I'm not sure why.
It's clear that the consultant's role is to balance the risks of an operation with the likelihood of me shuffling off this mortal coil.
The whole public toilet thing can be a nightmare. Been in the same situation waving my arm around to keep the lights on because it takes me too long to pee. Also standing at a urinal and having others coming and going around me before I've even managed to get going. Going to a restaurant that only has one communal toilet and then sitting there for 5 mins for a pee to emerge to several people waiting and shaking their heads. Sitting on the loo and having a foot wedged against the door as it takes me so long that people keep knocking and trying the handle to see if the door really is locked. That doesn't exactly help with the flow either lol.
https://www.uhs.nhs.uk/OurServices/Radiology-scans...
Has anybody here had (or been offered) prostate artery embolisation?
There are, I understand, 15 centres offering this for BPH; my nearest is the Newcastle Freeman Hospital.
I have been through all the different tests and procedures at my local hospital (including the dreaded "flow" test) but the urologist simply gave up - I have malignant hypertension, am opiate sensitive and an anaesthetic risk, so there "is nothing I can do".
However, PAE does not seem any more invasive or uncomfortable than the procedures they have already carried out without any lasting consequences, so I am thinking about asking for a referral for a second opinion to see if PAE is for me!
Has anybody here had (or been offered) prostate artery embolisation?
There are, I understand, 15 centres offering this for BPH; my nearest is the Newcastle Freeman Hospital.
I have been through all the different tests and procedures at my local hospital (including the dreaded "flow" test) but the urologist simply gave up - I have malignant hypertension, am opiate sensitive and an anaesthetic risk, so there "is nothing I can do".
However, PAE does not seem any more invasive or uncomfortable than the procedures they have already carried out without any lasting consequences, so I am thinking about asking for a referral for a second opinion to see if PAE is for me!
c.milton said:
https://www.uhs.nhs.uk/OurServices/Radiology-scans...
Has anybody here had (or been offered) prostate artery embolisation?
There are, I understand, 15 centres offering this for BPH; my nearest is the Newcastle Freeman Hospital.
I have been through all the different tests and procedures at my local hospital (including the dreaded "flow" test) but the urologist simply gave up - I have malignant hypertension, am opiate sensitive and an anaesthetic risk, so there "is nothing I can do".
However, PAE does not seem any more invasive or uncomfortable than the procedures they have already carried out without any lasting consequences, so I am thinking about asking for a referral for a second opinion to see if PAE is for me!
Good Luck! Keep us informed please.Has anybody here had (or been offered) prostate artery embolisation?
There are, I understand, 15 centres offering this for BPH; my nearest is the Newcastle Freeman Hospital.
I have been through all the different tests and procedures at my local hospital (including the dreaded "flow" test) but the urologist simply gave up - I have malignant hypertension, am opiate sensitive and an anaesthetic risk, so there "is nothing I can do".
However, PAE does not seem any more invasive or uncomfortable than the procedures they have already carried out without any lasting consequences, so I am thinking about asking for a referral for a second opinion to see if PAE is for me!
I had a moan during blood being taken by the practice nurse. I've been prescribed meds to allow me more than 30 mins between visits to the toilet. What apparently triggered it was not drinking any water after 7pm, and often up to an hour before that. The nurse was concerned, asking about the colour of my urine in the morning. (2.30am? Like I can be bothered.)
I'll update on its efficacy as well as its name as soon as there's a noticeable difference.
I'll update on its efficacy as well as its name as soon as there's a noticeable difference.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
A friend is about to undergo Rezum. He's been told the full benefits of the procedure won't be felt until 3 months after the op. That's how long it takes the prostate to shrink fully having been bombarded with steam.
I had Rezum in Canada two years ago. Worked very well indeed, It does take a while for the improvement to be felt but it does work. There is a possibility of reduced semen ( happened) but no other functional loss. I had previously had a Urolift (https://www.urolift.com). which was effective with almost zero recovery time but it only worked properly for about two years in my case.
It does take a long time for everything to settle down. I had the Rezum procedure in April and they said a urologist will call me in July to see how I`m getting on. So don't expect things to be different quickly.
All in all I think you will find that the Rezum procedure has received very good feed back from patients.
All in all I think you will find that the Rezum procedure has received very good feed back from patients.
CAPP0 said:
Had a (phone) chat with the GP today as my symptoms are still present, so that's me booked in for the full suite (urine, bloods, DRE) next week.
Results are in. PSA levels normal, prostate enlarged but no evidence of other abnormality, so the GP has given me the option of seeing how it goes and whether it settles down again, or we look at drugs as the next step.Relieved it's nothing more sinister.
CAPP0 said:
Results are in. PSA levels normal, prostate enlarged but no evidence of other abnormality, so the GP has given me the option of seeing how it goes and whether it settles down again, or we look at drugs as the next step.
Relieved it's nothing more sinister.
Good news. I'm in a similar situation but have to have another PSA test this week.Relieved it's nothing more sinister.
In the meantime they've put me on a 3 month trial of Tamsulosin. I'm two thirds in and not sure I'll stick with it. I can live with the peeing thing, it's cancer I was keen to rule out.
Does anyone know if being on the tablets long term might cause concerns? I haven't seen any sign of the usual side-effects.
CharlesdeGaulle said:
In the meantime they've put me on a 3 month trial of Tamsulosin. I'm two thirds in and not sure I'll stick with it. I can live with the peeing thing, it's cancer I was keen to rule out.
Does anyone know if being on the tablets long term might cause concerns? I haven't seen any sign of the usual side-effects.
I was on Tamsulosin for years, (stopped after the Rezum Op’) it affects your sex drive, causes abnormal ejeculation, ( you will fire blanks )Does anyone know if being on the tablets long term might cause concerns? I haven't seen any sign of the usual side-effects.
Old Merc said:
CharlesdeGaulle said:
In the meantime they've put me on a 3 month trial of Tamsulosin. I'm two thirds in and not sure I'll stick with it. I can live with the peeing thing, it's cancer I was keen to rule out.
Does anyone know if being on the tablets long term might cause concerns? I haven't seen any sign of the usual side-effects.
I was on Tamsulosin for years, (stopped after the Rezum Op’) it affects your sex drive, causes abnormal ejeculation, ( you will fire blanks )Does anyone know if being on the tablets long term might cause concerns? I haven't seen any sign of the usual side-effects.
CharlesdeGaulle said:
CAPP0 said:
Results are in. PSA levels normal, prostate enlarged but no evidence of other abnormality, so the GP has given me the option of seeing how it goes and whether it settles down again, or we look at drugs as the next step.
Relieved it's nothing more sinister.
Good news. I'm in a similar situation but have to have another PSA test this week.Relieved it's nothing more sinister.
In the meantime they've put me on a 3 month trial of Tamsulosin. I'm two thirds in and not sure I'll stick with it. I can live with the peeing thing, it's cancer I was keen to rule out.
Does anyone know if being on the tablets long term might cause concerns? I haven't seen any sign of the usual side-effects.
Old Merc said:
CharlesdeGaulle said:
In the meantime they've put me on a 3 month trial of Tamsulosin. I'm two thirds in and not sure I'll stick with it. I can live with the peeing thing, it's cancer I was keen to rule out.
Does anyone know if being on the tablets long term might cause concerns? I haven't seen any sign of the usual side-effects.
I was on Tamsulosin for years, (stopped after the Rezum Op’) it affects your sex drive, causes abnormal ejeculation, ( you will fire blanks )Does anyone know if being on the tablets long term might cause concerns? I haven't seen any sign of the usual side-effects.
Been on Tamsulosin for a bit over a week now.
I've not noticed any side effects.
The improvements are:
Less urgency,
Lower frequency,
I feel I empty my bladder - instead of reading a book waiting for the flow to start, I now read it while it's emerging - and it comes out with more enthusiasm. I no longer rely solely on gravity for accuracy as I now need to know the angle 'it' is pointed at.
I'm down to one break in sleep, and I'm not certain it is required. I've got into the habit of if I wake, I get up to urinate. I'm not sure that it is an essential some of the times.
Overall, it's not a massive turnaround in the main, but it is an improvement.
I've not noticed any side effects.
The improvements are:
Less urgency,
Lower frequency,
I feel I empty my bladder - instead of reading a book waiting for the flow to start, I now read it while it's emerging - and it comes out with more enthusiasm. I no longer rely solely on gravity for accuracy as I now need to know the angle 'it' is pointed at.
I'm down to one break in sleep, and I'm not certain it is required. I've got into the habit of if I wake, I get up to urinate. I'm not sure that it is an essential some of the times.
Overall, it's not a massive turnaround in the main, but it is an improvement.
I don't know whether I mentioned this before but there's a connection between enlarged prostate and low vitamin D.
There was some research done in China I think it was.
From my own experience,in the summer when I'm getting plenty of sunshine and therefore vitamin D I can cut back on my medication and my toilet visit frequency doesn't increase.
Instead of a daily tamsulosin I can go to every other day,in fact I haven't taken 1 since Friday morning.
There was some research done in China I think it was.
From my own experience,in the summer when I'm getting plenty of sunshine and therefore vitamin D I can cut back on my medication and my toilet visit frequency doesn't increase.
Instead of a daily tamsulosin I can go to every other day,in fact I haven't taken 1 since Friday morning.
motco said:
You also perspire more which reduces your urine output. Excessive vitamin D can cause calcium build-up (hypercalcaemia) which has implications for the kidneys.
You're unlikely to have excessive vitamin D unless you're taking supplements, your body regulates it from food and the sun,not so much in supplement form.Low vitamin D can cause many issues,some quite serious, I know that from personal experience.
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