A Head Cold and PSAnxiety

[tom67inMA]

The short version is that I have my first blood test in 3 months on Monday and have the usual pre-test anxiety. This is compounded by a cold which is making my aches and pains worse.

Also, I've recently been getting occasional "discomfort" during urination in the prostate region. What's very strange is that this started after I had made a comment to my wife that my urine stream may be getting stronger. Has anybody else had this? At other times I suspect it may be a nerve getting pinched when I tighten the abdominal muscles, because the pain will move from the prostate to the hip. In any case, it's not consistent and it doesn't seem to be getting worse.

The longer version is at tominmotion.blogspot.com/20...

[Magnus1964]

If you are taking anything for your cold the cold medicine probably has antihistamines in it. That could definitely cause a weakening of your urine stream.

[tom67inMA in reply to Magnus1964]

I did not know that. It seems Sudafed can also do that as well. Well that would explain why things change from day to day. I still think the general trend is in the direction of a stronger stream, though still not going to be pissing over any fences in the near future.

[Magnus1964 in reply to tom67inMA]

Oops, it is the decongestants that cause constriction of urinary tract.

[jimreilly in reply to Magnus1964]

I'll just second this--antihistamines and decongestants can change your ability to urinate or comfort level while urinating---and,one other thing, sure you're nervous, and it's bad enough to BE nervous but don't make it worse by not forgiving yourself for being nervous--all the shit some of us have been through would make anyone nervous!

[Hidden in reply to jimreilly]

Well said .

[tom67inMA in reply to jimreilly]

This is going to sound very strange, but somehow I do keep forgetting that I had not one but two cancer diagnoses just under a year ago. It is a balancing act, allowing myself to be nervous but trying not to wallow in it.

[jimreilly in reply to tom67inMA]

I get it. When I was diagnosed it was also two at once,kidney & prostate--they took part of the kidney out right away, and we did watchful waiting for a few years on the prostate before that came out, too. So far I seem to have been lucky, both were contained, and PSA readings have remained undetectable (other things have gone wrong during that time, but that's another story, or other stories). Hang in there! All I can say it thank goodness for competent and helpful medical people (and a few less helpful, but only a few) and for friends; and I did see a counseler for a while in there, needed to, even with my many friends.

[Hidden]

My husband and I also get PSAnxiety. Did you try meditation? could help

[tom67inMA in reply to Hidden]

I dabble in meditation, but not nearly often enough. I did go out for a 12 mile run in the afternoon, and by mile 10 the endorphins were flowing and I had not a care in the world.

[Hidden in reply to tom67inMA]

Endorphins do work .. a 12 mile run is impressive .. Wow!

[tom67inMA in reply to Hidden]

Thanks! I've been blessed to recover my pre-diagnosis running ability and a bit more, probably because of 12 lbs less weight to carry around, or perhaps better inflammation control due to Celebrex. It's an ability I'm using as much as I can to keep the beast at bay.

[Hidden in reply to tom67inMA]

Inspirational to me 😂

[Zetabow]

I understand about anxiety when appointments come around, PC hit me fast and hard, I imagine when it decides to rear it's ugly head again it will probably come back with vengeance.

[tom67inMA in reply to Zetabow]

Same here! I also have a Facebook friend with advanced colon cancer. He got to "no evidence of disease", then landed his dream job flying the local news chopper. Several months later, a routine scan showed a new area of activity. More surgery, now 6 months of chemo, and the FAA is likely to yank his license for 3 years. All that and he had no symptoms of its return.

Suffice to say we've all seen how quickly life can change and sleep with one eye open.

[Hidden in reply to tom67inMA]

Acc ain’t no joke . I feel for your friend . F’N nightmare .. I’m sorry . I’ve known a few people with acc and I think it’s one of the worst .. in some ways I could say that I’m happy not to be in that camp . So yes ,we have APC .. But i think there are worse cancers .. non good all bad . Too much suffering on the planet . 😫

[tom67inMA in reply to Hidden]

You raise a great point. APC tends to go after bones first and avoid the vital organs, and can be controlled for a while by manipulating testosterone. Other cancers go right after the liver, brain, etc., and the only options are surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation, all of which suck worse than Lupron/Zytiga/'lutamides.

[Hidden in reply to Zetabow]

This is our common fear for us that are experiencing some good news after dx and treatments .. I too had a fairly rough start in the first rounds with APC and I am lucky to be breathing air and not pushing daisies ...We know pc can hide .... let’s keep it hiding and not in complete control of our lifes . We will ride this high tide for as long as possible . I agree , once it comes back it’s coming for blood . Live for today and don’t fear the Reaper .... Take care Zetabow ....👣

[Hidden]

PSA "secrecy" is one of the tools used by the medical profession to keep patients ignorant. We should all make a noise that the results of a PSA (and other blood) tests should be emailed to us within 2 hours (it takes the machines only a few minters to do the readings). It is OUR data, and the "system" should have NO RIGHT to hang onto it (or indeed exploit it for money - e.g. forced appointments to get the results). Doctors seem to revel in these times of "power to reveal" - and then say silly things like "Your bloods are OK" which leaves you without numbers to compare. Insist on a print-out and collect them - they will reveal trends the doctor will ignore if "normal" - like electrolyte levels.

This secrecy was the primary cause of why I am in the crap, so I do not waste any opportunity to fight this nonsense.

[tom67inMA in reply to Hidden]

My test results are available online, usually by the end of the day. The exception being complete blood counts, which are available 5 minutes after the blood draw when I'm meeting with the MO. If there's nothing out of whack in the other tests, I don't see him again until the next regular appointment.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

If I paid out of pocket for my own 'personal' PSA test I could get the results right away. Not so with the test ordered by my urologist -- I have to see him for those results.

[dockam in reply to Hidden]

I've used privatemdlabs.com since 2010. Post Dx in 2015, I've done my own monthly and have a secure online link to all of my test results - to "anal" about waiting, I get it the next pm

Randy

[dmanwalking]

Agree DavidHealth, one of the reasons I moved to a country where I get my PSA done when I want and pick up the results the next day. ($14/per).

[poofers]

My clinic always has the psa ressults within 2 hours after blood draw. Yep, the anxiety the day before and the day of the blood draw until the results are in is miserable

[Zetabow in reply to poofers]

I can access all my treatments and results online, it's good although I don't always understand everything. I did get in a panic over my PET scan as they said I had a shadow in my right lung, I have a doctor friend who checked it out and said nothing to worry about. Sometimes a little knowledge can be as scary as none lol

Where I live it's not my first language and I can get lost in translation, specially medical terms.

[Hidden in reply to Zetabow]

I also was told during my last test session for the first that they saw a shadow on my lungs .. I was concerned . The MO said it could have been a infection . I still have no idea . I Hope it’s not there next test . 🙏

[j-o-h-n]

I'm posting after your test results and hopefully all went (is) well. As far as your cold is concerned, do what I do.... I ignore it like ignoring my ex-wife, and it eventually works its way out of me. Too bad those little fuckers won't do the same... Keep on running and keep on writing.

And remember"If you ever get an email about pork, ham, salt and preservatives, don't open it. It's spam".

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

J-o-h-n Monday 10/07/2019 8:30 PM DST

[tom67inMA in reply to j-o-h-n]

Shhh... you'll get the Vikings all excited if you mention spam, spam, spam...

Anyhow, still waiting on those test results. << nervously twiddles thumbs >> I did get a notification e-mail saying new test results were available, but it was just a reticulocyte count or something I'd never had before. I can't control the results of the test, I can't control when the results of the test are available.

So I tried to focus on what I can do such as packing a healthy lunch, which (and I am *not* making this up) got left on the counter at home when I left for work today. Ugh.

[j-o-h-n in reply to tom67inMA]

Remember, keep your eye on the eats......... Waiting for your health tests, tests your health...

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

J-o-h-n Monday 10/07/2019 9:47 PM DST

[Hidden in reply to j-o-h-n]

Spam man 😂

[tom67inMA]

A quick follow-up: My results were just posted online, <0.01 PSA, other values appear normal, Vitamin D at 77, ALP at 42. etc. etc.

[Hidden in reply to tom67inMA]

Hell yah! 🥳

[Jimhoy]

I hear you barking Tom!!! Like waiting the 6 months after 18mo ADT to find out if it worked!!! Do I still have active cancer?!!! Do I have to go back on ADT or worse?!!! That waiting (especially the last month or so) drove me nucking futz!!!!! Well that test date came and went in June where it disclosed that I was still full blown ADT (T still at 18 and PSA <.01 (both as when on Eligard) and with none of the anticipated relief from the side effects of ADT & Eligard!!! See you in 6 months they said!!!! So, here we are about a month away...... AGAIN!!! And you can’t imagine the anxiety!!!!

[tom67inMA in reply to Jimhoy]

How are you feeling? For me, anxiety is worse when my body doesn't feel 100% right, particularly when there are new or novel pains involved.

I get to bask in my latest test results for only a few weeks before it's time to start getting anxious about my other cancer and impending cystoscopy to check on that.

[Hidden]

We understand this psychology of never really being able to kick back and say “ APC is done with me “. We live it .. keep building on the good ..🙏