Unfortunately, my results are once again lousy. 6.62.
Here's an email I just sent to my doctor (some names have been XXX-ed out).
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Dr. XXX
I am XXX one of your patients. Sorry to bother you via this
email, but your office said you were out until Thursday. They suggested I
send you an email and we can decide the next course of action.
Just to review quickly, I have failed surgery, srt, and I have a
climbing PSA. I have been only on Avodart and supplements since January,
2012. When I saw you on June 29th, my PSA had risen from 2.52 a month
earlier to 4.4. We did a confirmatory one on 7/30/12 with the idea that
if it goes above 5.0 we would start HT. I was thrilled that it went down
to 3.52. We left it that I would do the PSA in 2 months. If it was
above 4, we would do a confirmatory one a month later and start HT.
I just did one yesterday and the result is 6.62. So, I guess, although
the handwriting is on the wall, just to make sure I’ll follow the plan
and do one more in 4 weeks and barring a miracle, start HT.
However, there is another complication. I have been having severe bowel
problems since August 1st. Basically severe bloating, discomfort, small
bms (constipation), often followed by diarrhea. I had a gangrenous gall
bladder removed in February and I suspect I am having problems with
adhesions.
I am seeing a GI doctor. We have done an ultrasound, gastric emptying test, and upper GI endoscopy, all normal.
The next step is some medication (Amitiza, which is for irritable bowel
syndrome/constipation) and if that doesn’t work a CT scan and
colonoscopy.
So, I need advice on what to do. I did have a CT abdominal scan and bone
scan in December (all came out fine). But, given the continued rise in
PSA and the GI issues, WOULD IT MAKE SENSE TO DO THESE TESTS AGAIN
BEFORE (or right after) REPEATING THE PSA?
What a quandary!
I hope I am thinking clearly and have a handle on how to proceed.
XXX