Nine weeks after seeds

I think I just need to hear a few "sounds normal to me" comments.

Today I completed the "fourth half-life" of my Palladium 103 implants on February 1, 2011. Doctors say my side effects should soon disappear.

Here's my side effect situation now:

During the day, I need to urinate about every hour or 90 minutes. Once the urge occurs, I can hold for about two minutes. Flow is weak - but it flows! (not a long series of drips like a few weeks ago). Output each urination is about 1/4 cup (50cc). If I keep active, urination is slightly improved; if I sit and read, or eat, or use the laptop, urination slows a bit.

During the night, I wake up about every two hours; very slow output of about 50cc, then I walk up and down the stairs a few times and get another 50cc. This happens around midnight, then 2:30am, then 4:30am, then I get up around 6am.

Abdomen is tight and uncomfortable 24/7; bowel movements are relatively normal now that I've increased fiber.

I think the tight abdomen is mostly nerves. On the way home from the hospital we drove two hours in a blizzard, with cars sliding all over the place. Got home with doctor's warning to be alert to a possible urinary blockage, and governor closed all the highways due to the blizzard. Being isolated without transport doesn't help your nerves, believe me.

Two weeks later we lost power, cellar flooded, and all heck broke loose.

Then a few weeks later I had an internal hemorrhage in my right eye; vision in that eye was completely fogged up. Doctor said I had a retinal detachment and would be blind. Went to see another specialist, who said "no detachment - just a hemorrhage which will clear itself in a few more weeks."

Man, talk about anxiety.

Other than the "minor disasters", does anyone recognize the side effects (urination and bowels) I'm experiencing at this nine week stage?

Never any pain or fever.

Thanks.
Tom M.

Thanks David. Fortunately no incontinence or ED for me (so far anyway).

I wonder if any guys here remember their side effects about two months after seed implant?

Tom

Nutmeg,

There are several men here with seed experience that can give you some good first hand experience to answer your question. I wish you luck in resolving these mutiple issues, sounds very stressful.

David in SC

Nutmeg,
My symptoms reduced dramatically at the 4 or 5 week period. I think it is normal for some to go for a few months. If you still have these issues in 5 or 6 months then I would be worried.
What you are experiencing is normal and expected.
JT

bluefin, this is a good guy to call for seeds if you don't mind the idea of someone in NYC.

http://www.mountsinai.org/profiles/richard-g-stock

He took care of my boss and if needed I'd have him put in a word for you. Although that wouldn't be needed. Stock wanted to treat me but I chose a different path. My boss did great with him.

Tom,
When I had post seed symtoms they seemed worse when I was inactive, like sitting or driving. Are you taking FloMax? Should take two per day. Also Ibupropin relieves the swelling that could be causing some of your issues. Lay off all alcohol and caffine as these aggravate the urinary system. Metamucil is great for any bowel issues. You should be fine in a few more weeks.
JT

Nutmeg,

Sounds slightly better than normal to me. In addition to the frequency and urgency that you have, I also had a burning sensation after BT that lasted for 3-4 weeks. Also, like F8, my BT was followed two months later with 25 IGRT treatments which prolonged the urgency, frequency effects. I have had no incontenence or bowel issues. Also never had any tightness in the abdomen. (That may be stress in your case...no blizzards down this way).

I am now 15 months out from BT and a year out from the last rad treatment. I still get up more often during the night than I would like....but that was happening even before the BT. Both my uro and radiol told me that my urination "pattern" would likely be about the same as it was before treatment....and it is pretty close. Somewhat a function of age I suppose.

Back to your original question....your recovery sounds pretty normal to me. Regards,

Joe

Joe

Tom, is your nickname Lucky? What a 90 day period of time. I had a lot on my plate as well with my wife being treated for breast cancer while I did the PCa. I too had an eye problem that resulted in an injection into the eyeball!

I had HDR brachytherapy and IMRT. I had the urinary and bowel issues of greater frequency and urgency. I was on one Flomax per day and a lot of water, green tea, and tomato juice. No coffee and only an occasional red wine. Diet was virtually no land animal meat, very little chicken, moderate fresh fruit, a lot of fish, vegetables, grains, and leafy salads.....and an occasional chocolate. This kept my weight down and bowels moving well, just more frequently. I also stepped up the exercise.

As John T said earlier, the side effects went away fairly quickly. I had my second HDR procedure Dec 13 and the last IMRT a couple of days before Christmas. By the middle of January, I had returned to normal.

Hi Tom
I also hope you are on Flomax. My doc also has me on Alleve two tabs twice a day for inflammation. I am at 13 days post seeds and was getting a lot of burning -- and I think worse from having to take an acidic potassium supplement for a different problem. One of the guys on another forum suggested a teaspoon of baking sode in water and lots of water. It seems to have helped. My doc also said very very little choc, coffee, tea, tomatoes,Vit C, B-12, strawberries, cantelop, sodas and a bunch of other foods. One day I gave getting a cup of coffee a try and felt somewhat had poured hot water in my pants. I am following right after you so am reading carefully.

Best
Richard

Gl 7 3+4 ADT 4 months PSA after ADT .04 Pal 103 Seeds Grimm Seattle March 30, 2011

Hi Tom
Im on Alleve 220 mg two tabs twice a day. Strum also wants me to try Trental 400mg twice a day, but I seem to be having a reaction to it. I had feet blister and had this weak woozy feeling associated with it but it may also be from other drugs I was taking. Trental improves blood flow and might prevent fibrosis of the arteries due to the radiation from BT. Yet I still have the frequent urination that you do and some burning. I have taken Extra Strength Tylenol for the burning if it bothers me enough.
Best
Richard

Tom
I keeping thinking of more stuff. If you would like to exchange emails since we are BT Buddies mine is [email protected]. Something that gives me major relief of urinary symptoms for a few hours is intense exercize. After playing tennis for 1 1/2 hours yesterday my urination was normal for several hours then back to the urgency and frequency in the evening.
Best wishes
Richard

High dose Ibupropin also works well, 800 mg; but you can't take it at this dose for more than 6-8 days. This will reduce the swellling and imflamation that causes the slow stream.
JT

Tom,

Regarding diet, I do have a glass of red wine most evenings with dinner. I have done that for many years since living in Europe and Asia many moons ago. It is good for you in many ways, Snuffy Meyers suggests it, and it tastes good!

As for juices, I have always started the day with a large glass of orange juice. I changed that to tomato and/or V8 for the lycopene advantage and less sugar. I think it is less acidic as well. I never had any problems during the radiation that I could trace to the juice. I think that caffene is probably more of a problem and I completely eliminated caffene drinks.

Now my daily routine is a large glass of V8 in the nmorning, probably 5 large cups of green tea throughout the day, at least as many cups of water, and 5-7 ounces of red wine at dinner time. I do not drink anything after 8:00 pm and am in bed by 10:00 and awake at 5:00 am. I might get up at 3-4am once a week to pee, if that often. The only soft drink I have is Canada Dry ginger ale with green tea, maybe 2-3 per week. If I am out at lunch I will treat my self to an Arnold Palmer, unsweetened. On the weekend in hot weather I will likely have beer or two after mowing the grass. Urinary habits are all fine on this routine. The minor urinary side effects I experienced during the radiation cleared within 2-3 weeks after the final session.