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User
Posted 28 Sep 2023 at 17:49

Hi,

My name is Bob, I'm 62, I live just outside Liverpool and I've got an enlarged prostate which is causing me problems.

I hope that I can get some guidance and reassurance from this site because I'm quite worried/scared.

So I'm just saying hello for now until I've searched through the community to get a feel for things.

All the best,

Bob

User
Posted 28 Sep 2023 at 17:49

Hi,

My name is Bob, I'm 62, I live just outside Liverpool and I've got an enlarged prostate which is causing me problems.

I hope that I can get some guidance and reassurance from this site because I'm quite worried/scared.

So I'm just saying hello for now until I've searched through the community to get a feel for things.

All the best,

Bob

User
Posted 28 Sep 2023 at 20:25

Hi B0bb0,

This site is a great place to ask any questions - no subject is out of bounds.  Also, you can just share your worries.  I presume that you're worried that you might have prostate cancer.  Until all tests have been completed, you cannot know for sure, but if prostate cancer is caught early, it is very treatable.  And if you "just" have an enlarged prostate, with no cancer, there are treatments for that too.

Best wishes,

JedSee.

User
Posted 28 Sep 2023 at 21:54

Welcome to the club Bob even though none of us want to be here.

As Jedsee says please feel free to ask anything on here, everyone is just so understanding and supportive.

You don’t say whether you’ve had a PSA test, but maybe you’ve had a DRE. If so, what was your PSA level?

People say try not to worry but as you’re finding it’s not easy. Try and keep yourself active and busy to keep your mind off things and be kind to yourself.

All the best,

Derek

User
Posted 28 Sep 2023 at 22:45

Hi Bob

You have an enlarged prostate which is causing you problems - not surprising.  I/we know the feeling. Have you seen a doctor? If you haven't that is the first thing you should do.

Majority of men who have enlarged prostate, particularly the older ones, do not have prostate cancer.

But if you do have cancer it is not a death sentence. I have been there, and at the time it felt like a death sentence. That was 12 years ago, at 72,  when I was diagnosed and I am still here, very healthy and enjoying my life with my wife.

These days there are many advanced techniques which can cure you or give you many years of good quality life. My consultant told me, when I was diagnosed, that I am more likely to die of something other than prostate cancer.

Keep in touch, you have come to the right place, and let us know the details of your diagnosis as you receive them and good luck.

Edited by member 29 Sep 2023 at 10:08  | Reason: Grammer

 'Physics is like sex: sure, it may give some practical results, but that’s not why we do it.'                    Richard Feynman (1918-1988) Nobel Prize laureate

 

 

User
Posted 29 Sep 2023 at 09:18

Hi Bob

Just to echo what the other guys have said really, you may have nothing to worry about, but it is not easy to stop fretting when you don't know what is happening, as we all know.

If you haven't already done so then request a PSA test and see what that comes up with.

The advice and support from the people on this forum is second to none. It helped me tremendously when I was going through my diagnosis, and still does.

Post more details if you can, or as and when you get them, and keep this conversation going.

All the best.

Ian.

User
Posted 29 Sep 2023 at 13:01

A higher PSA can indeed be caused by an enlarged prostate as well as UTIs and it's good news that the MRI did not find any potentially cancerous lesions. However, it does sound as though you will need some form of procedure to correct that problem, whether it is a drug regime, or surgery such as TURP (where they remove the insides of the prostate gland) or a RARP (removing the whole prostate).

It's really down to what options your urologist will give you at your next appointment.

Edited by member 29 Sep 2023 at 17:13  | Reason: Typing error

User
Posted 29 Sep 2023 at 13:50

If you've got prostatitis or a UTI, then PSA readings are not useful because they are likely to come back too high. The prostatis or UTI has to be fixed before a useful PSA test can be done.

You shouldn't be given antibiotics for suspected UTI or prostatitis without having isolated the bacteria and ensuring it's sensitive to the antibiotic prescribed (with the exception that an interim antibiotic can be given if there's a risk of rapid decline due to the infection or risk of sepsis). This means a sample has to be sent off first to be cultured, and await the lab report back saying if there's a bacterial infection there, and which antibiotics it's sensitive to.

The wrong antibiotic (i.e. one the bacteria is resistant to, or if there's no bacterial infection) can give temporary relief because antibiotics are often slightly anti-inflammatory too, but as they won't clear the infection (or there is no infection), the symptoms will return soon afterwards. The wrong antibiotic also risks causing antibiotic resistance (and there aren't many antibiotics which can get in to the prostate, so you don't want to generate bacteria in there which are resistant to them).

It can be quite difficult to find urologists who know how to treat prostatitis effectively. We do have one in The FOPS support group who specialises in prostatitis. (The next Zoom meeting is probably Wed 1 Nov.)

All men pee slower at night, and immediately after waking up. This is because the part of your autonomous nervous system which relaxes your sphincter takes longer to wake up than your conscious nervous system does, so you're trying to use a part of your body which is still half asleep. Often this isn't a problem if it's still fast enough. An alpha blocker such as Tamsulosin taken with the last meal of the day (so it's most active overnight) can help with this. You could ask your doctor if you can try this if you aren't already.

Edited by member 29 Sep 2023 at 13:55  | Reason: Not specified

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User
Posted 28 Sep 2023 at 20:25

Hi B0bb0,

This site is a great place to ask any questions - no subject is out of bounds.  Also, you can just share your worries.  I presume that you're worried that you might have prostate cancer.  Until all tests have been completed, you cannot know for sure, but if prostate cancer is caught early, it is very treatable.  And if you "just" have an enlarged prostate, with no cancer, there are treatments for that too.

Best wishes,

JedSee.

User
Posted 28 Sep 2023 at 21:54

Welcome to the club Bob even though none of us want to be here.

As Jedsee says please feel free to ask anything on here, everyone is just so understanding and supportive.

You don’t say whether you’ve had a PSA test, but maybe you’ve had a DRE. If so, what was your PSA level?

People say try not to worry but as you’re finding it’s not easy. Try and keep yourself active and busy to keep your mind off things and be kind to yourself.

All the best,

Derek

User
Posted 28 Sep 2023 at 22:45

Hi Bob

You have an enlarged prostate which is causing you problems - not surprising.  I/we know the feeling. Have you seen a doctor? If you haven't that is the first thing you should do.

Majority of men who have enlarged prostate, particularly the older ones, do not have prostate cancer.

But if you do have cancer it is not a death sentence. I have been there, and at the time it felt like a death sentence. That was 12 years ago, at 72,  when I was diagnosed and I am still here, very healthy and enjoying my life with my wife.

These days there are many advanced techniques which can cure you or give you many years of good quality life. My consultant told me, when I was diagnosed, that I am more likely to die of something other than prostate cancer.

Keep in touch, you have come to the right place, and let us know the details of your diagnosis as you receive them and good luck.

Edited by member 29 Sep 2023 at 10:08  | Reason: Grammer

 'Physics is like sex: sure, it may give some practical results, but that’s not why we do it.'                    Richard Feynman (1918-1988) Nobel Prize laureate

 

 

User
Posted 29 Sep 2023 at 07:30

Firstly, just to say enlarged prostate is nothing to do with prostate cancer. This forum deals with both conditions, although most threads relate to prostate cancer.

What symptoms do you have, and what investigations and diagnosis have you had?

User
Posted 29 Sep 2023 at 09:18

Hi Bob

Just to echo what the other guys have said really, you may have nothing to worry about, but it is not easy to stop fretting when you don't know what is happening, as we all know.

If you haven't already done so then request a PSA test and see what that comes up with.

The advice and support from the people on this forum is second to none. It helped me tremendously when I was going through my diagnosis, and still does.

Post more details if you can, or as and when you get them, and keep this conversation going.

All the best.

Ian.

User
Posted 29 Sep 2023 at 12:43

Thanks for your responses everyone.

So I've had prostate and epididymis problems for about 3 years now (probably much longer but only just diagnosed 3yrs ago). My GP has treated the infection with antibiotics and it clears up reasonably quickly. When my PSA went to 6.7 I was referred to urology. A second PSA was 5.9. Earlier this year it was back to 6.3. I have another appointment with urology in December, and so another PSA. The urologist says the readings could be higher than normal because of greater prostate volume.

The urologist did an MRI and there was no sign of anything sinister. My problem is that the prostate is growing out to one side which is essentially flapping over the drain like a valve. So if I've been sitting or standing I get a reasonable (not brilliant) flow, but if I've been in bed it really is only a dribble and it can take several minutes to pass pee.

Enlarged prostate is well known in my family, my dad and both brothers had it, so it's something I've been expecting. What they didn't have was prostatitis. I am wary of taking ciprofloxasin because it is potentially so dangerous, but it seems that it is the best option.

Sorry for such a long post!

All the best

Bob

User
Posted 29 Sep 2023 at 13:01

A higher PSA can indeed be caused by an enlarged prostate as well as UTIs and it's good news that the MRI did not find any potentially cancerous lesions. However, it does sound as though you will need some form of procedure to correct that problem, whether it is a drug regime, or surgery such as TURP (where they remove the insides of the prostate gland) or a RARP (removing the whole prostate).

It's really down to what options your urologist will give you at your next appointment.

Edited by member 29 Sep 2023 at 17:13  | Reason: Typing error

User
Posted 29 Sep 2023 at 13:50

If you've got prostatitis or a UTI, then PSA readings are not useful because they are likely to come back too high. The prostatis or UTI has to be fixed before a useful PSA test can be done.

You shouldn't be given antibiotics for suspected UTI or prostatitis without having isolated the bacteria and ensuring it's sensitive to the antibiotic prescribed (with the exception that an interim antibiotic can be given if there's a risk of rapid decline due to the infection or risk of sepsis). This means a sample has to be sent off first to be cultured, and await the lab report back saying if there's a bacterial infection there, and which antibiotics it's sensitive to.

The wrong antibiotic (i.e. one the bacteria is resistant to, or if there's no bacterial infection) can give temporary relief because antibiotics are often slightly anti-inflammatory too, but as they won't clear the infection (or there is no infection), the symptoms will return soon afterwards. The wrong antibiotic also risks causing antibiotic resistance (and there aren't many antibiotics which can get in to the prostate, so you don't want to generate bacteria in there which are resistant to them).

It can be quite difficult to find urologists who know how to treat prostatitis effectively. We do have one in The FOPS support group who specialises in prostatitis. (The next Zoom meeting is probably Wed 1 Nov.)

All men pee slower at night, and immediately after waking up. This is because the part of your autonomous nervous system which relaxes your sphincter takes longer to wake up than your conscious nervous system does, so you're trying to use a part of your body which is still half asleep. Often this isn't a problem if it's still fast enough. An alpha blocker such as Tamsulosin taken with the last meal of the day (so it's most active overnight) can help with this. You could ask your doctor if you can try this if you aren't already.

Edited by member 29 Sep 2023 at 13:55  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 29 Sep 2023 at 14:51
High Bob

I suffered from prostate and bladder problems from a relatively early age. In my forties I had problems of frequency and hesitancy. It wasn't too bad to start with but in my fifties situation got worse with intermittent burning when passing urine and some pain in the pelvic area. My doctors did the usual by giving me antibiotics which I am not sure did any good!. I saw a urologist who thought my poor-flow rate and other problems were due to bladder neck constriction, so I had bladder neck incision which did not do much good. When the situation deteriorated my urologist massaged my prostate to produce some prostatic fluid to check for bacterial infection - the result negative! Anyway the urologist declared that I was suffering from prostatitis and waved me good bye! To cut a longer story short, I was diagnosed with PC at 72. I had robotic prostatectomy. My mysterious prostatitis was cured overnight and for me the rest has been a happy ending. I am strongly of the view that prostatitis is a catch-all term for what can't be explained.

My feeling is that the continuous inflammation of my prostate may have possibly been the trigger to my PC. There is no history of PC in my large family!

 'Physics is like sex: sure, it may give some practical results, but that’s not why we do it.'                    Richard Feynman (1918-1988) Nobel Prize laureate

 

 

User
Posted 29 Sep 2023 at 16:55

Just to avoid confusion Bobb0. RALP and RARP are both used on this site to mean complete removal of the prostate. What Steve described as RALP sounds like a TURP to me. Probably a typo. 

User
Posted 29 Sep 2023 at 17:12
Sorry by bad - yes, I meant TURP - will edit my post :)
User
Posted 29 Sep 2023 at 17:15

There does appear to be a correlation between prostatitis and prostate cancer, but it's very difficult to investigate. Prostatitis can be completely asymptomatic, and no one really knows the extent of that. Inflammation is well known to increase risk of cancer by suppressing some anti-cancer pathways.

Prostatectomy for prostatitis isn't available in the UK as far as I know. There is a special prostatectomy procedure for prostatitis in the US which involves slicing up and removing the prostate via the urethra, like a TURP but removing all the prostate tissue, except presumably the capsule. I think this is mainly used for chronic non-bacterial prostatitis. Obviously this wouldn't be suitable for prostate cancer.

Edited by member 29 Sep 2023 at 17:17  | Reason: Not specified

 
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