Having recently read an article referencing studies by the Mayo Clinic, I have an experience which I would like to share with others in the hope it may prevent them treading a path I have trod.
About 15 years ago (when I was 62) I was diagnosed with BPH, underwent PSA tests yearly thereafter, and this eventually led to a biopsy. I was prescribed the drugs Tamsulosin and Finasteride, as many men are with elevated PSA readings. Over the years, I continued to get up 2 or 3 times a night, but was urinating acceptably during the day with no discomfort.
Towards the middle of May 2024, I began feeling unwell and was off my main meals. Looking back, I wasn't urinating very much during the day but still had no discomfort other than the area over my bladder felt a little hard. By the end of the month, concerned that I wasn't feeling any better, I went to my GP who called for blood and urine tests. On the first of June I received a telephone call at 4am in the morning from an out of hours GP informing me that lab results showed a worrying kidney situation, and an ambulance had been called. Upon arrival at hospital I was catheterised, put on an IV drip and told I was close to imminent kidney failure. I spent the next 16 days in hospital whilst doctors fought to restore some function of my kidneys. This was declared as chronic kidney disease (CKD), and later stage 4 kidney disease.
The purpose in wanting to raise awareness is that the symptoms which led up to my kidney problems were not obvious to me and I had no knowledge of the relationship between BPH and CKD. I hope this info is helpful.