Enlarged Prostate -self catheterization

Just to clarify I have not got a permanent catheter.....I use intermittent disposable catheters, 5 times a day

Thankyou,, My original post did not make this clear.

1) Hormone therapy - Lupron injection every 4-months for the next 2-years to shrink the prostate, the side effects include "hot flashes", similar to a women going through menopause, they only last 2-3 minutes and I've tolerated them pretty well

2) External beam radiation therapy - 5 days a week for 5 weeks, other than occasional diarrhea, this was pretty much a walk in the park

3) Brachytherapy - 126 radioactive "seeds" were implanted in the prostate, which will be come dormant after a few months

The brachytherapy was performed about 3-weeks ago and has been the most trying procedure when compared to the other two. About 2-days after the outpatient surgery, I was having problems voiding my bladder and the urologist inserted a foley catheter which remained in place for a week. Within a few hours after it was removed, I was getting back into trouble with the inability to void. When I would attempt to urinate, it was very little and provided almost no relief. I was making trips to the bathroom every 10-15 minutes. Another trip to the urologist, another foley catheter, this time for 2-weeks. After it was removed, I knew things weren't any better, which called for yet another trip to the urologist. By this time, I'm on a first name basis with all the reception and nursing staff and might as well be on the payroll. My urologist said that he didn't want to insert another indwelling catheter because of increased risk of a urinary tract infection. He suggested that I learn to catheterize myself. My first response was less than enthusiastic, to say the least. The thought of inserting a 16" long plastic tube inside myself, was a bit unnerving. With some reluctance, I agreed with his recommendation. With proper instruction from his nurse, I've found that it's not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I can say that it's a lot less painful that the foley catheter, and because it's only inserted long enough to empty the bladder, it's not as uncomfortable either. After about 2-days with the foley, I was chomping at the bit to have it removed. I've been catheterizing myself about 4-5 times a day, depending on the amount of fluids I've had, cut back on the caffeinated beverages and life is so much better. I don't know how long I'll have to continue with the self catheterization thing, only time will tell. But for time being, I can live with a minute or two of minor discomfort in order to maintain some semblance of normalcy.

I'm not sure why I'm posting this long-winded message. Perhaps someone else is going, or about to go, down the same path. If so, you're not alone.

Regards...

Regarding meds, which I didn't mention in that post, I've been on either Flomax or it's generic for several years. Here in the states, the generic, tamsulosin, has been on the market for about 2-years now. Since my outpatient surgery; brachytherapy, I've having problems voiding and completely emptying my bladder. Bladder spasms hit occasionally and when they do, they take no prisoners and give no quarter. For that, I'm on 118mg of Uribel, 3x a day. That hasn't completely eliminated the problem but certainly cut down on the frequency and severity. About intermittent self catheterization, ISC, I've been doing so about 4-5 times a day, and going into my 2nd week.

I have deleted your history post from the PMR forum and incorporated it into the post above and edited it as necessary. That particular thread is for users of the PMR forum.

Regards,

Alan (aka Emis Moderator)

I am 72 years old with an enlarged prostate and unable to pass urine normally so I am on self catheterisation for almost 4 years and I could not be happier than going through any type of operation and suffer as my cousin did, for almost a year.

Having been through many tests and having a huge catheter for 4-5 months inside me, suffering a lot of pain and urine infections, I ended up outside the operating room having a conversation with the doctor who was going to take off completely my prostate, due to its size. I was told that I will become impotent and no more sex after the operation. Asked him if they had checked my prostate for cancer to discover they had forgotten to do it so I refused the operation and went home. Then had the test for cancer and proved, as I had guessed, negative.

While visiting the hospital for more tests, met a nurse who took out the large catheter and I tried to pass urine, after drinking gallons of water with no luck. She then suggested why not try self catheterisation and show me how it’s been done. More water and couple more tries and learned how to do it safely. She also told me a trick, when I feel the catheter nearing my prostate… to cough and automatically goes inside the bladder without any pain whatsoever. Now it’s on automatic pilot, 1-2 min job whenever I feel I have to pass urine and no pain at all. Most importantly, I can still have sex, frequently, which makes myself and my younger wife very happy.

To avoid any urine infection, I take antibiotics daily, after dinner, a tablet of “Nitrofurantoin” 50mg for a month and then alternate for another month with “trimethoprim” 100mg. After taken the tablets, I eat Greek yogurt with honey for desert which helps me to avoid any constipation. If I am not careful and scratch my self and see blood coming out, I take 1 tablet of IBUFROFEN and that clears it very soon.

Over the 4 years that I am doing self catheterisation I had only 1 urine infection due to my own mistake on cleanliness and my PSI went to 22 but now it’s back to normal.

Finally I use a German catheter IQ CATH, which is an excellent design and can use it without washing my hands, when I am out of the house and for all that I am grateful to that lovely nurse who suggested and showed me how to have self catheterisation!