My urologist said my prostate will just keep growing. Wouldn't a prostate grow to limit?
Posted , 12 users are following.
My urologist said that my prostate will keep growing and basically shrugged his shoulders. He didn't think an ultrasound or measurement of the prostate was necessary. I was given prescription of different drugs the side effects are so horrendous. The only other option Study recommended was a TURP surgery. Which I refuse to have. My question is
;
Does a prostate just grow and grow or is there a limit to how big they grow which subsequently causes problems or total retention.
0 likes, 14 replies
kenneth1955 johnny90372
Posted
First of all Johnny your doctor is right
But he is wrong by not doing a ultrasound and not finding out how big your prostate is. Just tell you it not necessary and give you pill with all the side effects. And they tell you that if that don't work. A Turp procedure is recommended.
A Turp prostate is a last resort that is what my Urologist calls it. I feel you are not there yet. You have no information to go on. You need to say no thank to that doctor and find another one so you can get the information you need to get help.
Your prostate may not be that big. There are procedures out there that are less evasive that may work but with no information you have no were to go.
Please think about it. Best of luck...............Ken
Sorry went off course. Yes it will keep growing but it is slow in some men and fasting in others. That is way you need the information.....
DaveCanPee johnny90372
Posted
Hello Johnny:
I hit total retention this past summer. My prostate measured out at 342g with an ultrasound and 265g with MRI (MRI is more accurate). My only option from two different urologists was a Simple Robotic Prostatectomy. These recommendations came because of the size only. No other procedure or medication was going to help me.
I had the procedure done in August. The prostate mass that was carved/shelled out of my prostate lobes measured 4"x4". I no longer have retention. I also do not take any medications. I am a free man. Best thing I ever done.
Switch urologists. The one you have sounds like an ass. We control our destiny. I fired three before I found the one that I was comfortable with and he talked to me in a way that solved my problem, not treat my symptoms
Best to you.
Dave
rdemyan DaveCanPee
Posted
Hi Dave:
Just curious regarding the use of ultrasound to measure your prostate size. I was told that TRUS was limited to a prostate size of about 120 grams or less. Did they use TAUS (trans abdominal ultrasound) to measure your prostate?
DaveCanPee rdemyan
Posted
Hello - My ultrasound was performed by sticking the wand up my butt (with some lube of course). The MRI was with contrast and I was shoved into the tunnel for about 30 minutes.
Dave
joe82842 DaveCanPee
Posted
Dave, i was reading your reply. Your procedure seems to be a success. How old are you and do you still have a sex drive?
DaveCanPee joe82842
Posted
Hi Joe:
I am 61 years old. My sex drive has not changed at all. I still get erections and my erotic thoughts are just as active. The SRP operation never touched my nerve bundles.
As for volume in ejaculation, not much there. Just a little clear fluid. But then again, with my BPH, I was never filling shot glasses beforehand anyway. However, the waves of orgasm are still there.
I am 3-months post-op. Had sex right after the catheter was pulled, which was 10-days after operation. Wanted to test it. All was good.
Dave
john98818 johnny90372
Posted
is an ultrasound necessary. let's think about it. let's say you have symptoms consistent with bph and you can't take it anymore. you refuse a surgical procedure and will only allow a non invasive procedure. will an ultrasound change the outcome? say he does it and you prostate is normal. are you going to be ok if he says your prostate is small, it's all in your head so go home and forget about all of this? and as far as other causes of bladder outlet instruction, my reading tells me it's incredibly small percentage. bph is 99.9%. so regardless of the ultrasound and the actual size of your gland, if you have symptoms you need something done.
rdemyan john98818
Posted
In my opinion it is best to get as much information as you can. The size of the prostate will dictate which procedures you can and can't have (although it is true that some procedures that were only recommended for prostates 80 grams or less are being tested on larger prostates). Some procedures have higher probabilities of complications (incontinence, impotence, etc.).
Further, there may be problems within the bladder or potentially a urethral stricture or something else besides the prostate that is causing the majority of the problem. These need to be investigated and considered. Many of these "other possibilities" can readily be investigated, so why not? If they are the major cause, then a BPH procedure might not solve the majority of the problem. This is one of the reasons some men who have BPH surgery have unsatisfactory outcomes.
DaveCanPee john98818
Posted
Hello John:
My experience was the ultrasound was convenient and the only "tool" the uro had in their standalone practice. Anything more they would have to send me to a large facility with advanced equipment. It also gave the uro some sort of confirmation based on his finger exam, for which he said my prostate was enormous. Lastly, it was just another billing thing to make money. I fired this guy.
My next uro, and the one that performed the SRP, was part of a large facility and one of the top 2% of cancer centers in the U.S. He ordered an MRI with contrast. This served a couple purposes:
I got to see the MRI results on the computer and see the mass I was dealing with. My uro also used it to showed me how he was going to perform the SRP. I appreciated the attention to detail and the visual it gave me.
Dave
tgt111 johnny90372
Posted
Not sure about the growing process but we have to assume that it does keep growing. There's some theories about a back flow of testosterone that fuels the prostate growth but no real hard evidence for a cure yet. The Gat-Goren procedure may be it but studies need to be done etc. Until then, if you don't want to take drugs or have something put up your penis and manipulated, look into PAE. There are possible bad side effects...a lot of guys have posted about them here, but they are minimal compared to other procedures and if it doesn't work for you, you still have other options. Knowledge is key. A lot of urologists are BS artists, like mine, and just want the money for the procedure that they know how to do.
MichaelVM7 johnny90372
Posted
Johnny
Your urologist is acting on par with many in their field. That said, you should know your prostate volume to better inform your decision.
Yes, short of intervention your prostate will continue to grow. No magic pill or herb will reverse that process, and likely nothing will halt it.
Dave had a very large prostate at 265 cc (MRI measured) and by that time his options were limited. He had an excellent outcome from robotic surgery. Not all guys are as fortunate.
TURP complications are more likely over 80 cc. You can look into PAE.
If your prostate is very large, one option is 5ARI drugs for 6 months to shrink it, and that could allow for a better surgical outcome.
There are no easy decisions. This is a good forum for advice and support.
Michael
kenneth1955 MichaelVM7
Posted
Michael
Most men that have good results with SRP or any procedure that cut away at the prostate that will cause retro or sexual problems has to have a good doctor that care what he is doing to his patients. That is why they have a good outcome.
A good caring doctor does help a lot. Take care going to start dinner.......Ken
ktmxc-f johnny90372
Posted
Take a peek at Pae (prostate artery embolization). Low side effect and works for most Men.
Has anyone had prostate artery embolization is the title .
kenneth1955 ktmxc-f
Posted
You should be able to find it in the file.
There have been a few that have had it done and we have talked about it. They had it done by Doctor Bagla
Good luck Ken