BPH

[got2btrue]

I am 54 years old. I ve had BPH approx 25-30 yrs now. I have been seen by urologist in the past. Have had a positive psa test in the past and we all know that a positive psa leaves only one option and that is to have a biopsy. That i did . It was negative thank GOD !! Along with that test was the bladder test.

I have tried most of the prostate medications for at least a year or more that never worked including the newest one avodart that never worked. Also have tried recommended supplements that never worked.

My biggest problem is urgency and fregency. When I drink during the day total 3-4 glasses. I will go to urinate approx every 30 min or less. At night I will get up 5 or 6 times to urinate. This really affects my sleep. I useally wake up in the morning not rested. The only time I will feel better is to take a nap during the day.

For those who have exprienced what I am exprienceing or those who have knowledge or reccomendations. Please share your knowlege and recommendations. Thank You !! GOD Bless !!


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[mrcoyote]

OK, got it. For a couple of different reasons, I will answer this one. Number one is, I seem to be one of the only people on this site! And two, your situation mirrors what happened to me for so many years, so I know exactly what you are going through and it's not fun. Believe me, I have been there. I also made a promise to myself after my laser surgery to help me over this thing, that I would try to help as many people as I could on this site as thanks for getting my normal life back. So here I am.

Here's my take on what's going on with you. (and I am NOT a doctor). You have had BPH for a long time. Your PSA was elevated, although I don't know the number, it really doesn't matter. Your urologist wanted to be sure there was no cancer, so he did a biopsy. Negative, and you were relieved. BPH can cause elevated PSA numbers with no cancer, but you did the right thing checking it anyway. You have to do that. But, the different medicines have not given you the relief you need. Right so far? Right. Flomax is a good one and Avodart works differently, shrinking the prostate. Flomax works pretty fast (a day or two) and Avodart can take several months to work (if it does). Different people respond to different drugs for BPH. It's probably time to go back to a urologist and tell him that you are at the point that nothing is helping you and your lifestyle has been greatly affected now. Most doctors delay any kind of surgery hoping the medications will control it, as mine did. But, as you know, there comes a point where you just can't live normally and something needs to be done to help you get back to a normal life. I held out as long as I could, and then my inability to urinate became a bladder infection and that was it. I couldn't deal with it any longer. I had the laser TURP and my life changed, to say the least. Talk to your urologist now and tell them what you are going through. And don't be afraid if they recommend taking care of it surgically. I regret that I suffered and waited so many years. The technology is so good now, it's an in-and-out thing with no hospital stay at all....and a week with a catheter that only you know is there to let it heal properly, and you are a new person.

Now, I'm not saying you need this right now. Or maybe you do. Let the urologist find out where you are really at with this thing and do it right. There may be something out there that can help you without surgery. Hope this helps you out.

[got2btrue]

Thank you I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my post . It was very helpful. Would you please give me the details of the laser turp procedure from start to finish. Thank You !! GOD Bless !!

[tomcon]

I'd be glad to hear about the details of that procedure as well. Over the last 10-15 years I've taken the usual BPH meds and recently started a new one (Gelnique - prescribed for over active bladder). Laser turp may be considered after reporting back to my uro.

[mrcoyote]

You're most welcome. You might want to read some of my past posts about my laser TURP and how it went. It's all here, from day one to a few weeks afterwards. But, for those of you who want the condensed version, I'm happy to give it to you here. After years of Flomax and other drugs, my inability to urinate turned ugly and I had a wicked bladder infection from it. That convinced me and my doctor that we had exhausted the help from any drug, and that it was probably time (no, it WAS time) for surgery and I was more than ready for some relief. He said I had two options, and maybe only one. It was going to be conventional TURP (otherwise known as "roto-rooter") or laser TURP. The reason he was a bit doubtful about the laser was that I had been on Avodart for a few weeks just to see if it would help me and he told me the Avodart may not allow the laser to work properly when he went in there to do the surgery. And, if that were the case, he would use the conventional method. So, that's something to know. I had the surgery done in the morning, went home with a catheter (they use a big one after surgery for a couple of reasons, but it's no big deal) and the rest was easy. A week later, the catheter came out and I was peeing like a 21 yr. old. Ha! You cannot imagine the feeling after years of struggling.
Well, no, of course you can! That's why you're here! Now, there ARE some side effects from either method of surgery. So hold on. He almost guaranteed me I would experience retrograde ejaculation.
This is because when they hog out the prostate, they also do the part that enters the bladder. Sorry, I don't know all the technical names. This allows the ejaculate to take the path of least resistance and that would be into the bladder. It sounds creepy, but it's not. Your doctor will explain all this. If you are thinking about having kids, it's something to discuss with the doctor for sure. I'm not sure about that one. But, in my case, I did not end up with retrograde because my doctor was very conservative about how much he took from that area. I think I was just lucky and had a great doctor doing the surgery. That is the most important thing about the whole deal. You MUST have a BOARD CERTIFIED and trusted and experienced doctor who is on top of his game doing these surgeries. Somebody who has and is doing a TON of these laser procedures with great success. You have to do your homework here, but I strongly urge you to do that before you ever have this surgery. Be picky! You have the right to be. I am thrilled with the surgery and maybe someday will have to do it again, but for now, I am
back to normal pretty much and with no problems getting through the night or day. Hope this short version (I tried to make it short) helps somebody.

PS> I should have been a urologist.

[Happilyretired]

My brother and I have shared your problem for many years. I went the Avodart route about 4 years ago. It took about 6+ months to get relief, and after about a year there was great improvement. Now my prostate is "normal" size, no urination issues, and my PSA is down to near 1. At 65 I couldn't be more pleased. Avodart does take a long time to work.

My brother took the TURP route two years ago. His results are poor at best, and he wished he had not had the TURP. At two years he says it is not much better than before, and he is looking at what his options are now.

Now everyone is different, so there is no one right solution for everyone. I believe in putting surgery as a last resort!

[mrcoyote]

You are exactly right. Everybody is different and your urologist knows what is best for you (hopefully!),
Did your brother exhaust the Flomax and Avodart, etc. drug regimen before he decided to go the TURP route? Just wondering. My urologist also said that surgery was usually the last resort. They typically don't like to do it without trying the drugs made to help BPH. And your PSA is really great being so low.
Your brother's options are now somewhat limited, although my doc said the TURP would not last forever and we would cross that bridge when we get to it. He was conservative with it, so.....we'll see how I do.
I'm really good now though. Thanks for posting and good luck to you and your brother.

[Happilyretired]

My brother never went the Flomax & Avodart route. His Urologist convinced him that surgery was inevitable so he might as well do the TURP right away before he got any older. Even with my good success he followed his Urologist's advice.

Actually, my Urologist said the same thing to me and it was my GP who encouraged the drug route. (I wasn't too enthusiastic about a TURP.) I am only taking Avodart. I am not much of an advocate of blindly taking advice from all these specialists.

[aolymbiotech]

i am a chinese pharmaceuticals. made herbal product for curing BPH and prostatitis. i cann't help to share that we recoverd many many BPH patients by taking the pollen tea, herbal medicine. you guys are talking the TURP. yeah. it can cure fundamentally, but a few years later, you should do it again. cause the glandular organ will still enlarge. well. i don't know. may be surgery in your countries are more developed. this pollen tea is really effective. many very old people with very serious symptoms in china had been cured. any way. if you want to try. please contact me. [moderator note: e-mail address and url has been removed]

[renegade_7]

I had the problem for about five years. Same problems as you noted. Finally got the laser turp. Hoelep method. Best thing I did. I sleep fine now and flow well too. I am 54 now and suffered about 5 years before having surgery. Read my post "Had my Laser TURP Friday--will update as I heal". Any questions, feel free to ask. Also, if you can, check the archive for this site. There was plenty of info, yet I still had plenty of questions.