prostatitis

Hi Shane, thanks for joining us.  Others will offer thoughts on non-TURP options, for sure.  I want to recommend a first step for your dad:  Have him learn how to do intermittant catheterizing!  It brought me instant peace and restful nights, when my prostate shut down my bladder two years ago.  If he doesn't drink fluids late at night, and caths just before bedtime, chances are good, he will sleep through the night!     Also, I would STRONGLY recommend he ask for SpeediCath brand, or "Magic 3," as a second.  SpeediCath is made of silicon, self-lubricated, easy-to-use.  He should NOT accept the old-fashioned rubber catheters, which must have "lube" put on them, and can irritate the insides, going in and coming out.  Mdeicare will pay for them.

Thank you for thinking about your father.  He was right to not give in the the doctor for a turp.  Have him try if the doctor  can give him something to relax his bladder and prostate.If the doctor does not there are product that may help by AZO you can get them at stores like Walmart's or Wallgreen's Or any other drug store  Ken  

Hi Shane; This kind of post breaks my heart.  Here's my advice coming from a man that has the same problems as your dad.  I did a "PAE" 2 years ago. Save your money and forget that one.  Now last year I did a procedure called "UROLIFT".  I still got up to pee quite a bit afterwards so I found a new urologist and he did an endo on me and said I still have blockage.  So he recommended a "SECOND UROLIFT".  I did that about 6 weeks back and what he found was I still had some blockage so he went in and put in an "additional 4 more implants" which gave me a total of "8 Implants".  I use to pee and it would take around 4 minutes to empty my bladder.  Now it takes me 25 seconds.   Now for the bigger issue.  Getting up 3 to 4 times a night.  I still do that as my brain and bladder need to be retrained.  I went to a bladder PT and she has me doing "Kegels".  Like the gals do that have leakage problems.  I also control my liquids after 4pm.  I try to do my drinking of coffee and water from 6:30AM to around 4PM. I also take a drug called "Oxy Butin Chloride" 10mg. which helps the body produce less urine at night so you don't get up so much.  It helps "somewhat".   If you are looking for an easy answer there is NONE.   If there was there wouldn't be thousands of men on this site.  Good Luck to Your Dad and may the GOOD LORD throw you down a special blessing.   PS   Iam now going to look into "Botox" but Iam just beginning that investigation.

Shane.... I’ve been following this blog for about 7 months and have heard a lot about cathing, drugs, and the various BPH procedures.  All useful info. Bottom line:  drugs may work for a while (for me it was about 2 years), but the answer imho is surgery, specifically HoLEP.  I did the research on all the procedures (except PAE….had not heard of it), and chose HoLEP.  It is the best surgical procedure because; 1) less time in the hospital and a on catheter (less than 24 hours), 2) less bleeding, 3) very small chance of needing a repeat procedure, and 4) they remove prostate tissue (instead of burning it), so they can biopsy it for cancer.  You do need to find an experienced doc to do this. I’ve heard too many horror stories on this blog about TURP & GL.  I was retaining close to 800ml, and my prostate was 85 grams, PSA 3.8.  After it was 46 grams, PSA 0.2.  I had my surgery in January, and now have no problems at all.

If I had it to do over, I think I’d try PAE as it is relatively non-invasive and there have been very good results reported in this blog. Also be aware that the bladder can be damaged by doing nothing.  Best of luck!

Shane;  Just a little followup.  I did the "PAE" (Prostatic Artery Embolization) in 2014.  Flew all the way from my home town of Omaha to Alexandria, Virginia and even paid the whole thing out of my pocket.  I probably with the procedure, hotel for 2 days, rental car, airplane tickets for my wife and myself spent around 7K.   I would tell you to "save your money" because it certainly did not help me at all.  I do swear by the "Urolift" because if nothing else your dad will be Peeing like a Russian Race Horse and it will only take him 20 to 25 seconds.  The first thing you need to do is find a very qualified urologist and schedule a "Endo" as they need to get in there and see "whats going on". 

Hi Shane,

After having bph for 20 years I felt that the more advise the better.

Paul20443 HolEP suggestion is well worth looking into. Negative

 biops are wonderful news having ruled out cancer.

However immediate self cathing would be advisable until HoLEP.

When lots of urine remain in the bladder after going...it is A PRIME

place for UTI's to breed. This may be why the PSA # is so high.

Another factor is the size of this prostate..Even though HoLEP can

handle any size ..a larger prostate 100+ could require a longer

recovery time. Get a "good urologist" who does HoLEP ...Also

pills for a very large prostate may not work very well..and they

have sides...For instance Proscar claims 6mo - 1year before size

reduction would be even noticed..even then it may not work.

So get the size of this prostate...hopefully a good urologist who

understands what is going on here. Boy your Dad has had a lot

of Biops...which may have not been necessary. Get a good sonoagram

to get the size of this puppy if you don't have it...then proceed while self cathing like cartooman recommends here, then get surgical help.

Residue urine  +150cc is almost like having a Foley Cath in 24/7  .It breeds UTI's. Take charge of this and don't let it take charge of you..

Good Luck to You

Hi Everyone

I am overwhelmed by all your kindness and time and effort to help. I am going to print everything you guys have advised so he can read over it.

He is to see the doctor this Thursday and at the very least he will be able to bring up your suggestions instead of being in the dark regarding all this.

Again, thank you very much. I will add a follow up once he has had his appointment