Anyone have problems sleeping because they can’t empty bladder completely and up 5/6 times a night? My husband is stage 4, Gleason 9 and diagnosed Dec 2019. PC tumor invading bladder space. Many Mets to bones and lymph nodes. Lots of bone pain but only uses Tylenol and Ibuprofen. Takes flomax daily, erleada daily, shots of Lupron and Xgeva every 3 months.
His biggest complaint is not fully emptying his bladder and how long it takes to get the flow. He doesn’t sleep more then 2 hours at a time. He is afraid to self-catheter because of infection or puncture. Any suggestions?
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He should discuss this with his oncologist. Sometimes they treat the prostate and the involved part of the bladder with radiation, or sometimes they do a TURP or a full radical prostatectomy to increase flow.
My dad was gleason 8, stage 4, had an RP in 2016. He wakes up every 2-3 hours normally to urinate. He has incontinence. Frequently has to make pit stops to relieve himself when out and about. Just an observation, sleeping problems are a new normal.
I’m up about every hour and a half at night to pee. If I get three in a stretch I’d feel like a king. I had the same stage and gleason as he. Take care jberg22.💪
I’ve had much of the same for three and halve years now . This is my new norm . I had a foley and bi-lateral neauphostmy tubes out of my kidneys for a year and a half . During that time there was no peeing at all . The interrupted sleep takes a toll. I take 20 mgs melatonine and a 4.5 naltrexone prior to sleep . I’m able to go back to sleep . I call it the night train to pee. But it sure beats no peeing at all .
I'm taking 24 mg melatonin and 2 mg clonazepam and get 5-6 hours before first pee stop. Sometimes get more sleep after that during night, but 5-6 hours beats the heck out of the old 2 hour cycle. Best of luck to all of us here.
Very sorry to read about your husband's pain and difficulty sleeping. My doctor prescribed Celebrex for pain because it causes less irritation of the stomach. I take that and tylenol when needed.
I can't comment on the issues of emptying his bladder but there are way to deal with them through your urologist in concert with oncologist. Good luck to both of you.
By the time I started treatment I could barely pee, a month in and I could not pee at all without a catheter. After several months I could get a little out.
I self catheter full time now, and have no problem with it. Have never had an infection. It's second nature now. No pain. The biggest problem travelling is having a clean place to use it, but I have a supply bag, hand wipes, etc. It's not a problem.
If your husband would like to talk with me, let me know.
I had a similar problem (enlarged prostate /. inflammation) and a TURP was needed to remove the obstruction. My Dx was not as advanced, but the 'P' problem exists in many of us ....
I got a urinal with a wide-stable base to keep by the bed so that my husband could pee sitting on the side of the bed and hopefully stay more in a sleep state than if he has to stand up to walk to the bathroom. He just started using it, so jury is still out.
I use a urinal by the bedside and I believe it does help me to get back to sleep more easily than walking to the bathroom and back while trying hard not to wake my wife. That's not to say I am always able to get back to sleep, but I think it helps.
Other tricks:
Have a nightlight in the room so that your husband doesn't do something too awkward.
Keep a smartphone or tablet by the bedside so that, if he's very restless or anxious he can read a book, read news, play a game, or whatever to take his mind off troubles and make him sleepier.
I'm on Lupron and have an issue of emptying my bladder. In my case, however, I had the issue long before Lupron which was caused by an enlarged prostate. I agree with Tall_Allen that the best course of action is to see your oncologist. There are a number of drugs and procedures out there that may be helpful. … and if you can handle the initial discomfort, add self catherization.
Let me share share what I was told by a radiation oncology RN back in 2003. Confirmed by my mother who received her RN in 1940..... let me digress on an old camp trick.... placing the hand of a sleeping friend into warm water.....
Relax the smooth muscles by taking a Sitz Bath and pee away. It will not hurt him. But, will empty his bladder. I use to take four or five a day to keep from being catheterized. Even today, I still take two Flomax a day and occasionally a Sitz Bath for relief seventeen years later.
Don't drink anything before going to bed. Keep a large empty bottle of gatorade (wide mouth) to pee in when he has to. Write down the number of the current "counting" sheep. Do not turn on the light (aim with care). Use a moist towel for your hand(s). Jump right back into bed and pick up the sheep count from where he left off. Nitey night.....
(I used to tie it in a knot, those days are long gone).....
I have the same problem. I recently broke my hip (I am fine), but while in rehab I used a urinal bottle. I thought what a great idea. I am home now, still with home therapy, but I purchased 2 urinal bottles (don't like to put too much in one bottle) and use them at home. When I am able to move around as before, I am NOT going to keep getting up to pee. I am going to lay in bed and pee in the urinal! Not physically having to get up makes it much easier to get back to sleep. Urinal bottle, my new normal!
Update: After an appointment with the urologist and another scan, seems the tumor is growing and more invasion of his bladder and colon. The doc offered only TURP as treatment, and still wasn’t sure my husband should go forward with surgery.
The next day we were at the Oncologist and found PSA was up to 151.01
We are on Lupron, Xgeva and Erleada. We have just been told we will be changing meds in June, as these meds are not working. Also, given patches of fentanyl to help with pain.
Last night even with patches his lower back pain was extreme, actually from mid back to lower, I am worried of compression fractures.
My husband was diagnosed Dec 2019 with stage 4, Mets to bones, many lymph involvement, and spots on liver, kidney and PSA over 2000.
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