Starting to have problems and need advice

Posted , 13 users are following.

Hi.  I've been looking for some advice from guys who have been down this road and am so glad I have found this forum.

I am a 53 year old healthy guy.  I've always had issues with tiredness/fatigue that Doctors cannot figure out, but I manage it pretty well with good sleep habits, diet and exercise.  Around 2 years ago I started on testosterone replacement therapy.

Once upon a time I used to sleep through the night with no interruptions to pee.  From my early 20's to late 40's I would get up at most once a night to pee, but starting at around age 50 I started noticing changes.

Now I've always had to use the restroom more frequently than normal, but at around age 50 the frequency increased.  I also noticed that my stream was become weaker and spread out and I had to actually sit down to pee at night so I wouldn't make a mess around the toilet.

I had a bad bout of prostatitis when I was 50, and it caused my PSA to skyrocket to 9 (had been .6).  The PSA has been continually dropping and last year was 3.3.  

This past year I've been getting up 2 sometimes even 3 times a night to pee, which is definintely affecting my sleep quality.

I went to the doc and after a consult with a digital exam that showed an enlarged prostate I was prescribed Urotraxal which made me so dizzy that I couldn't take it, although it did help.  They switched me to Cialis which has helped keep things down to 2 visits to the bathroom a night spaced out about 3-4 hours.

I just had a flairup of the prostatitis and went back to the doc who is now talking about doing a cystoscopy to start and surgery could possibly be a solution

I hate docs poking around- should I follow through with this or keep managing things the way I have been?

 

0 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • Posted

    Cystoscopy is not much of a problem. It will tell what should be done next. Then you can decide what you want to do and comments on this forum can offer some suggestions. Good Luck.
  • Posted

    Follow through mate I'm 53 myself I've had 3 cystoscopys not going to lie does sting a bit afterwards but at least you'll have a better idea of what's going on.Ally

  • Posted

    Hello Charlton92597:

    First - slow down, at least try to. You are not alone. Many men have and have been exsactly where you are now. I was one of them. This forum is a good start for your research.

    Just for the back story. I was dealing with the diagnosed enlarge prostrate for over 10 years ( I'm 64). I am active and did the watchfull waiting for that term. For that period I was also on Uroxatrol. I get the dizziness. The stuff is crazy, however, in some case (as with myself), it did work for a period.

    My nighttime visits to the bathroom were first once then twice each night, of course with a slow stream, only a couple of times...very little to none, or at least not completly empty.

    One tip on the Uroxatrol - same time early eve with your dinner. You won't be so out of it the next day. Don't skip.

    Where am I now? I have taken the first step to relief. At least for the next several years. I did the UROLIFT process in December of 2016.

    I can say, for myself, it has changed much. I do not get up at night, I can hold my urine serval hours in the day without any pain before, during or after, AND..I no longer am on UROXATROL. 

    Do your homework on your solutions. DO NOT run to surgery. You can't turn back on that. Learn what the gland does and why surgery is NOT an option (for some it may be). Look to UROLIFT (check the website), look for their listing of doctors and start the interview process. I left my doctor that was with me for the 10 years. We had hit the wall on watchful waiting and begain to talk about surgery. He wanted to do TURP - research that. The rest is history.

    I interviewed 4 Urolift doctors and picked what I thought, and am convinced is one of the best in the SF Bay Area (Ca) for this procedure. He is fantastic!!

    Take your time, research, you have options, try to stay calm...best of luck!

  • Posted

    I would likely continue with what you are doing because I don't like foreign objects violating my body nor do I like surgeries if I can avoid them. Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease and there is always a chance something can go wrong (infections, nicked blood vessels, etc.)

  • Posted

    cystoscopy isn't as awful as it sounds.  In fact, there is no pain associated with it.  and then it is over in a matter of minutes.  Although there is a sense of being violated due to something going up where nothing should ever go.   But, it is likely the only way to know what is causing your condition.  You can decide afterward to have the surgery or not; and there are many options.  Your doc will tell you what he believes is right for you.  I had PVP Greenlight on 12/6/16 and posted a daily account of my experience on this forum.  Wishing you the best.

  • Posted

    A cystoscopy will tell a lot. Prostate size, configuration. Also they go into the bladder and check for a number of things. It's not 'painful' as much as rather uncomfortable and not without some risk as everything in there is rather delicate. One thing that it can be used for, as we've noted here, is to assess and determine candidacy for the UroLift procedure. Not sure where you're at with BPH severity but if he's talking about surgery, be sure to do your homework. There are multiple solutions these days. Best wishes.

  • Posted

    A cystoscopy is not something enjoyable but you need to go through with it.  You need to go through this entire site to explore to pro's and cons of various procedures. I am on uroxatrol and it has lost its efficacy.  I am now seriously considering FLA.   Just don't rush into a turp.  

  • Posted

    Wow!  The promptness of the responses  is amazing!  Thanks so much for taking the time to chime in.  I too am of the thinking that less invasion of my body is better, although it sounds like the cystoscopy really is no big deal.    I think I might take this slow and see I I can manage things with just the cialis and lifestyle adjustments.
    • Posted

      I read every one of these responses, and they are spot ... on.  What better resource could we possibly have than a bunch of guys who have maybe walked in our shoes?
  • Posted

    Chances are, you'll receive different suggestions from forum members that range a gamut of options for you...Examples: Jim James decided some time ago to Self Catherize himself to reduce/eliminate retention and going frequently vs. various prostate surgeries/procedures..That works for Jim and it might for you..Most other forum members have tsaken various medicines and/or had various operations/procedures to "reduce/remove/eliminate" the prostate's "size/excess tissue (growth)" etc. Some of those medications/operations/procedures, etc. have helped while others haven't and/or they created new complications......So there's been a Range of Outcomes from treatments for different forum members.....Per Clinical Medical Urology Treatment Studies, the REZUM and PAE procedures tend to have the Greatest Success, little pain, and quick recoveries...A Urologist's Nurse can teach you to Self Cath and that may reduce your night and day frequency problems to a normal amount...I know Jim James would recommend that, as well as, the type Catheters to use...You'll learn of many more options by reading the "Forum Thread"..and you can ask a Specific Forum Member questions, as well as, group questions...Personnally, I'm 72 years old and had both Retention and Frequency problems....I had the REZUM procedure...It cured my Retention problem, but I still have Frequency problems...I go 3-4 times at night + 4-6 times scattered during the day...I've tried various pills/medicine to "help reduce" my frequency/# of times, but "dizziness" plus other "side affects" are too bad...Jim suggests I Self Cath, but I fear the risk of infection and causing worse problems...Thus, I put up with the frequency problem for the time being...FYI - Most of the guys on this forum do not trust URO Doctors that much...There's just a few URO Doc's and procedures they recommend....GOOD LUCK!...

  • Posted

    Cystoscopy is ok, not very invasive. Ask uro about the condition of your bladder.

    Be wary of surgery. Take second and third opinions!

  • Posted

    Hi Charlton. Yes there is very mild discomfort with a cystoscopy. Nothing to worry about. The earlier you get on top of it the better. Regards Robin

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