New to Prostate issues. What are my op... - Men's Health Forum

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New to Prostate issues. What are my options?

knackersyard•

10 months ago•26 Replies

I’m 63 years old, in general good health. I’ve been experiencing symptoms for maybe 5 years, gradually getting worse.

- Waking in the night to pee, 2 to 3 times.

- Hesitance

- Weak stream, stop start..

Thankfully no blood or pain.

So I finally went to the GP & had an examination 😳, GP said it felt normal. PSA tests also normal.

So I was placed on medication, Tamsulosin 400mcg. After 2 weeks I’m not seeing any improvement and to be fair, I don’t like to be on medication. Would always attack the cause rather than treat symptoms for the rest of my life with some toxic concoction.

I’ve done a bit of reading on Resum & other water-blast treatments. Also one where a catheter is inserted & expanded to stretch the urethra.

I’m interested to hear some best advice on this.

thanks

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26 Replies

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Yokohama202310 months ago

Well from a prostate cancer perspective.. I was healthy no symptoms at all .. PSA jumped high .. then biopsy, then intermediate risk , treatment, and waiting. I guess it depends on your PSA #doubling time .. if within a year not good. From the blogs I’ve read a low PSA doesn’t necessarily mean no cancer. Sometimes the low PSA values with symptoms can be misleading and people have reported aggressive prostate cancer … hard to discern . Some of the aggressive strains can not exhibit PSA which is misleading. I guess if you take antibiotics, check for prostatitis and have issues you can get a PSMA pet scan and or mri.. then maybe a biopsy . Considering your age I’d be careful, more than likely you are ok though .. good luck

Norwich1Moderator10 months ago

Give the alpha-blocker some time to work and then ask your doctor to increase the dosage. See the following:

“0.4 mg orally once a day; the dose may be increased to 0.8 mg orally once a day in patients who fail to respond to 0.4 mg once a day within 2 to 4 weeks

Comments:

This drug should be administered approximately one-half hour following the same meal each day.”

If you are still not feeling positive effects, you could consider asking your doctor to prescribe you a 5 alpha reductase inhibitor such as finasreride. -

knackersyard• in reply toNorwich110 months ago

Thanks Norwich

I really looking for advice around the surgery options.

I understand there are much less invasive procedures now such as RESUM, AQUABALATION & UROLIFT.

I’m interested to hear if anyone has experience of these procedures.

Thanks

LondonB• in reply toknackersyard10 months ago

Drugs didn’t work for me.

Urolift worked wonders with no side effects.

knackersyard• in reply toLondonB10 months ago

Interesting, thanks!

Did you pay for that privately? Can I ask where & how much?

As I said, it’s early days for me. I’m gathering as much information as I can before I go back to the GP.

Thanks

LondonB• in reply toknackersyard10 months ago

I had it done privately at the London clinic in London by Mr Barber. Not sure of costs. Great urologist with really his bedside manners.

The drugs my other urologist had me try beforehand gave me terrible headaches… and he wanted to do TURP after that to which I said not a chance given side effects.

knackersyard• in reply toLondonB10 months ago

Thanks very much! Noted.

userotc10 months ago

Sorry Ive no experience of the techniques you list but I do have for finasteride which you should avoid at all costs imo. Also, since youre keen to address root causes and consider techniques that NHS wont cover, why not instead consider seeing a qualified Nutritional Therapist (NT) specialising in male hormones/issues? It could resolve that and help other health issues. My dad has managed his BPH well via this approach for ~14y and is drug-free at aged 70 🤞🤞. Let me know if you want links to NTs now or in future eg by pte message.

PS Interesting that "GP said it felt normal. PSA tests also normal", yet still "placed on medication, Tamsulosin 400mcg". Sadly I think that's a reflection on modern medicine which doesnt address the root cause and appears to experiment instead. Unless its been shown to help with curing prostatitis or something else besides the BPH it was developed for...which actually you dont appear to have according to the GP!

knackersyard• in reply touserotc10 months ago

Thanks userotc

As I said, I prefer to avoid all medication unless absolutely necessary and I wouldn’t touch Finasteride under any circumstances!

My early research shows that the NHS are doing REZUM, so I’m making some enquiries. Also prepared to go private if necessary. I’m exploring all options.

BTW, the GP said no problems in terms of nodules or being overly large.

I will look into the Nutritional Therapy thanks. I have no intention of being on medication for the rest of my life.

Thanks

userotc• in reply toknackersyard10 months ago

OK, good. Keep my details if you want a list of qualified NT specialists in future.

I suspect you may struggle to get Rezum on the NHS with a prostate that the GP doesnt consider enlarged but Ive never been able to unravel the NHS!. But good luck.

Class5210 months ago

I used Tamsulosin for a year no effect. I then added finasteride the two caused ED Now just take finasteride.

Your assuming it’s just your prostate and considering major changes to your urinary system I would ask are you emptying your bladder fully. I retain 200 mls of pee when I think I’ve finished. Best ask your doctor to get this checked out first before any surgery

knackersyard10 months ago

Wow, sorry to hear about the ED! I will never touch Finasteride!!!

I definitely retain an amount. I noticed maybe 2 years ago that I would dribble after finishing. I now wait longer to finish to be safe.

I should say that this is very early days. I only saw the GP 2 weeks ago. I’m just gathering information on all the options before going back to see him.

Thanks

xsevenx• in reply toknackersyard10 months ago

I have BPH successfully managed by tamsulosin. My GP, in addition to the tests you had, sent me for an ultrasound scan specifically to check that I was able to completely empty my bladder. (I do).

Edit: you are more likely to develop a urinary tract infection if you don’t completely empty your bladder on voiding.

knackersyard• in reply toxsevenx10 months ago

Thanks xsevenx

I’m going to ask my GP to send me for an ultrasound. I’m sure I don’t empty mine. It never feels like I do.

Norwich1Moderator10 months ago

I hope you have had the information you wanted. Please remember that no surgery is without risk not only from the surgery but also anaesthesia.

knackersyard• in reply toNorwich110 months ago

Thanks again Norwich

Yes of course there are always risks. I’m fit & healthy apart from this issue, so it’s a risk I will take.

dealsgap10 months ago

It could take up wards of at least 6 months to see results from any Rx drugs as the prostate is not an easy organ for medications to get to (or so I was told). Be that as it may, I, like you didn't want to go down the drug route so I had what was called indigo laser surgery which helped me.

knackersyard• in reply todealsgap10 months ago

Thanks dealsgap

TBH I don’t know why I even agreed to try it. I’m very cautious about medications & vaccines etc. more side effects than benefits.

I will request an MRI scan.

Thanks

Norwich1Moderator• in reply toknackersyard10 months ago

I would have to contradict your statement that “medications & vaccines etc. more side effects than benefits”. There is absolutely no evidence that this is true. Most “possible” side effects are fairly rare and minor. There seems to be a wrong belief that all people will get every side effect listed on the patient information leaflet. I have now had 9 Covid vaccinatiins. No problems.

knackersyard• in reply toNorwich110 months ago

NINE???? 😂

I’ve had none. Never will. Still breathing.

Norwich1Moderator10 months ago

Not sure why you laugh. With leukaemia it is entirely necessary. Your attitude leaves much to be desired control it or lose your access to the forum

knackersyard• in reply toNorwich110 months ago

Obviously, I had no idea about the Leukaemia. I wish you the very best with that & apologies for any offence.

The reason for my scepticism, I am not an “Anti-Vaxer”, but I do believe in the right of individuals to make their own risk assessment & choice.

By the manufacturers own admission, those vaccines didn’t prevent the recipient from getting covid or from passing it on. I chose not to take it.

Good luck!

Norwich1Moderator10 months ago

Perhaps think in advance about how you express yourself. Think also of the healthcare providers and others who died before the vaccine was available.