advice needed please

[Blindbeggar83]

hi I’m 39yo. last year I went into full urinary retention which required a catheter fitting.

After lots of tests without any explanation an ultrasound on my bladder showed I have an enlarged prostate measuring 45cc.

Over the past year I’ve had maybe half a dozen episodes which last 2-7 days where I have strained to pass urine. When I strain imagine child birth.

I have bad mental health and I’m 90% it’s anxiety related.

question I have is, would you be concerned about a prostate of that size considering my age.

I’m abit concerned.

Many thanks

Rob

[Omniscient1]

If 'would I be concerned ' means 'would I do something about it ' then yes. Off to the drs for some kind of therapy,drugs or surgery. The painful retention and catheter use would push me to get something sorted. Do I think it's anything more sinister, well I presume you've had an ok psa test ?

[Blindbeggar83 in reply to Omniscient1]

yeah I’ve had the psa, all the dr has said is my prostate is larger than average for someone my age, but also said it isn’t considered large enough to effect my urine flow/difficulty in going atm.

[Omniscient1 in reply to Blindbeggar83]

Then you have the situation where the Dr is telling something but your symptoms disagree. Prostate size will affect your peeing strength and frequency, do you have a handle on either of those (how much do you pee, how often) keep a log. But then the biggest problem is your inability, periodically, to pee at all. This is something you must get sorted and won't go away by your Dr merely telling you that your prostate is not that big.

[BillUSA in reply to Blindbeggar83]

He's wrong. My prostate was 45cc (more than twice normal size). A cystoscopy showed it growing up into my bladder. It was like a sock stuffed into a jar. No wonder urine flow was pitiful. Had Aquablation done. Trimmed me back to 15cc. Flow is great now. Go see a good urologist.

[Blindbeggar83 in reply to BillUSA]

Thanks for your reply, I’d never heard of aquablation, was just reading about it.

Can I ask Was it painful and have you had any negative effects from it?

Rob

[BillUSA in reply to Blindbeggar83]

You are totally under for Aquablation, so no pain during. A catheter is typically used for the mandatory overnight stay when your prostate is continuously flushed. I had the catheter left in for five more days because I couldn't urinate on my own the next day before discharge. Not painful, but if you have ever had a Foley catheter, it's pretty annoying. When the Foley was finally removed, it was extremely painful. It had somehow gotten stuck on some gauze, and it took three folks trying different things to get it out. The good news is that I could pee on my own after it was out so it didn't have to go back in. Note that I previously had the Rezum procedure 6 years before. This had improved my flow, but things had gotten worse over time. Fortunately, Aquablation had been developed and was Medicare approved when I needed something else done in 2023. The only negative from Aquablation has been the drastic reduction in ejaculate. Two thirds of my prostate was removed. Either they took out the parts that were making most of my stuff or the ending geometry resulted in retrograde ejaculation. Current orgasm sensation is the same as before, but I won't be getting anyone pregnant. My child production days are over, but at 39, you might have to think twice about what you do.

[Omniscient1 in reply to BillUSA]

... On the ejaculation. I had a turp - all successful, and afterwards no ejaculation, but after a year or so it's back, not as much as before but I do ejaculate now. For me it's no problem as I have ad a vasectomy but be careful....

[BillUSA in reply to Omniscient1]

Thanks for the heads up, but being in our 60's, I think I'll take the risk.

[Norwich1]

if you have had a PSA test, what was the result? Do you have access to your medical records online? If you do that should have your PSA result If not, can you ring the surgery and ask for the result - the actual figure? Did you have a digital rectal examination of your prostate?

The average prostate size at age 40 is 25cc so yours is nearly twice the size.

Has your doctor put you on any medication?

Without knowing answers to all the above questions it is difficult to offer much advice but if your prostate is so enlarged that it has caused the need for catheterisation then something needs to be done. Usually this would be a referral to an urologist.

[Blindbeggar83 in reply to Norwich1]

All I can say is that my prostate is 45mm. Had a rectal exam and drs haven’t mentioned anything else, so I’d assume that’s a good thing.

I will go and see them next week and get more answers.

I was just curious if other guys have a prostate that size and have any issues.

[Norwich1]

I have Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (enlarged prostate). I have some problems passing urine and I was once admitted to hospital with a related urinary tract infection. My PSA is slightly above normal and DREs detect no abnormalities. I am currently taking tamsulosin.

[toofreakedout]

Concerned? yes. however given my somewhat broad experience now I would not fear cancer or anything like that. to have an enlarged prostate can stem from lots of things including a robust sex life. so the size is not the issue necessarily I began having problems in my early thirties too. but I would not go to the urologist for years and dealt with it as it seems you have.

I finally went at 46 still very young so i tried meds was HORRIFIED by the testing they did. and ran again. I ended up agreeing to self catheter which I did for a couple years. and finally found that because of the extra pressures from the straining and not emptying, my bladder had been damaged. it caused a diverticulum to form which is not uncommon but should it break open it is serious. so eventually I had TURP which is basically a melon baller applied to the inside of the prostate to hollow it out. I have now had that three times. I am glad to say they have many different options now and I hope one of those might work for you. the surgery was not the worst thing ever. but all the inspections, all the things that MY anxiety is so triggered by. I do hope there are no more problems. The good news is if they do something like that they sift through all the pieces and look for cancer just to be sure. and just for reassurance for you my PSA has never been above .00 something so yes concern, but only so that you dont face more problems later

[Blindbeggar83 in reply to toofreakedout]

That’s sounds very very stressful. When I had my catheter in it was the scariest thing I’ve been through. Self cathetering would frighten the fuck out of me- dont know how you got through it 🙏

Today I told my gp I was unable to pee standing up unless my bladder was full, was also feeling the need to strain occasionally so he’s put me on tamsulosin….

[Blindbeggar83]

just seen the drs. They’ve said prostate feels smooth but enlarged ( it was 45mm on my bladder scan). Psa results were normal.

I’ve been prescribed tamsilosin…..

has anyone had unpleasant side effects from this?

Rob

[xsevenx in reply to Blindbeggar83]

I was a bit dizzy if I stood up quickly for about one week. I’ve probably adapted to rising more slowly now. Been on it circa 4 years.

[Blindbeggar83 in reply to xsevenx]

Can I ask how soon after it was easier to pee, and also has it affected your testosterone levels?

Also, I have glaucoma, I’m worried it may effect my vision.

[xsevenx in reply to Blindbeggar83]

I noticed an improvement within 48 hours.

Not had T levels checked.

[Blindbeggar83 in reply to xsevenx]

Ok thanks

[xsevenx in reply to Blindbeggar83]

I just noticed you added you have glaucoma. I was diagnosed last year. I was on latanoprost, but not any more having had a successful laser trabeculoplasty in May. I didn’t notice any deleterious effects on my vision after commencing tamsulosin but I am aware the leaflet enclosed with the pack says that this can be an issue

[Blindbeggar83 in reply to xsevenx]

Do you believe tamsilosin contributed to your glaucoma?

[xsevenx]

No. Glaucoma runs in the family.

[Blindbeggar83]

has anyone tried pumpkin seed oil for bph?