HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

HELP!!

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 5/27/2013 4:31 AM (GMT 0)
My husband is now 7 wks out from having BT. he is having horrible urinary problems. He's up 15 to 20 times per night and it takes 10 to 15 minutes for him to pee !! It has gotten to where he cant leave the house. is this common after this amount of time? Im wondering if we made the right decision. We have a wonderful 45th wedding anniversary trip to Alaska planned in Aug and Im wondering if its going to happen!! When he went back to the Oncology Dr. at 4 wks he told us that it wouldnt get any worse than it was right then . Well.....its much worse. The urologist assures us all will be well too. I dont know what to believe anymore. He also has bowel problems; hemorroids, constipation, diahrrea, you name it. Help!!!
Posted 5/27/2013 4:46 AM (GMT 0)
Is he on any medication like flomax?
Posted 5/27/2013 4:47 AM (GMT 0)
Call the doctor who did the procedure and explain carefully the situation. I would call the "on call" number just to get their attention. I can't imagine that the urinary problems you describe are in any way "normal".

And, welcome to HW.

Posted 5/27/2013 4:49 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to HW PC, sounds like you needed to be here, hope we can help.

Your husband is not that far out of BT at 7 weeks. Some men do much better at that point than you described. However, that varies much from guy to guy.

Most of the side effects and symptoms sound typical to some degree for someone that underwent BT. Does his doctor have him on any kind of meds for what is going on?

I hope it slowly improves for him. If you get a chance, perhaps you could post his stats when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, kind of helps to know.

Good luck to both of you, and keep us posted.

david in sc
Posted 5/27/2013 4:51 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Freaked, welcome to the forum. I'm sorry your husband is having a tough time of it. We have lots of guys here who have had brachytherapy and they will be able to tell you more than I can. I had external beam radiation (IMRT) and the side effects are different although the bowel symptoms you describe are familiar.

My IMRT did give me hemorrhoids but my radiation oncologist provided me with cortisone suppositories that helped a lot. I also had some diarrhea from irritation to the bowel and was able to control that by watching my diet (not too many raw veggies while I was having an episode) and occasional over-the-counter anti-diarrhea pills that my radiation oncologist recommended.

Did your husband do High Dose BT or seeds? They probably have a different recovery timeline.

I expect the docs can get him patched up for your Alaska trip in three months. Cruise, izit?
Posted 5/27/2013 4:54 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to our corner of the world. Sorry you need to be here.

That is unusually. You need to talk to that doctor again. The bowel problems I can understand to a certain extent - that can happen with radiation. It should moderate over time but that's not good on the peeing and not an expected symptom.

He needs something more than words from your doctor. Like 142 said, you need to get the doctor's attention.

all the best,
Andrew
Posted 5/27/2013 6:43 AM (GMT 0)
Some people are more sensitive to the seeds than others. That kind of frequency/urgency is a Grade 3 symptom, and is not uncommon with seeds. The doctor can prescribe meds that may help. The danger is if he experiences urinary retention - he can't pee at all. If that's occurring, he should go to the ER right away and get catheterized.

I found that Rapaflo worked well and better than Flomax for the frequency, but everyone's different. He may be experiencing bladder spasms too - Vesicare or Toviaz can help.Aleve or Celebrex might help with the inflammation.

On the other end, Canasa (mesalamine) might help or Anusol with cortisone suppositories. Tell him not to strain. It feels like there's something lodged up there, but there probably isn't -- it's called tenesmus. Straining will give him hemorrhoids.
Posted 5/27/2013 2:03 PM (GMT 0)
Wow!! thanks everyone for the quick and helpful response! Its nice to have someone else to talk to about all this.

The Dr. first gave him Rapaflo then changed to Flomax twice a day. not much difference between the two. he also gave him suppositories which do help and some external cream. hes always had hemmorroids and of course this has made them worse . he said he has finally relaxed a bit when trying to pee and not strain so hard which has helped. hes using the suppositories morning and evening. We're pretty healthy eaters and go to the YMCA daily. its hard trying to figure out what to cook since hes either constipated or diahrrea. we normally eat lots of fresh veggies and greens but now somedays that wont work. I wondered about something like Metamucil.....if that would help keep things more "normal" . Do any of you use anything like this ?

Peter our Alaska trip isnt a cruise. We are flying in to Anchorage then up to Denali then fish on the Kenai for about 9 days. 16 days in all.
We have a whale watching/glacier tour booked and a day of fishing with a guide on the Russian river. Ive tried to be careful to make sure there are bathrooms accessible for him everywhere. Hes always had to pee a lot.....but I cant even imagine going with him like this. cry
He's such a positive person and I'm so proud of him......
I dont remember all his stats but here goes:

age 64
diag. Mar '13
BT Apr 5,'13
PSA 5.4
Gleason 3+3 I think
stage T1

Dr said he was an excellent candidate for BT since his tumor is very small and contained in the prostate. It just scares me to read that some guys have problems for the long haul.....maybe forever. Maybe we should have taken the Wait and See route?? I think that would drive me crazy too !! haha
Posted 5/27/2013 3:38 PM (GMT 0)
BTW......hubby had BT. ....seeds....96 of them...
Posted 5/27/2013 3:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hello freaked and welcome. What you are describing is not normal after LDR BT, unless when you mention that "He's always had to pee a lot" was at the same frequency he is experiencing now? With both urinary and sexual function, the status pre-treatment is usually a good indicator of what to expect post-treatment.

In any case I agree with the suggestion to get ahold of the doctor that did the implant right away, holiday or not if you're in the states, and see what he has to say.
Posted 5/27/2013 4:07 PM (GMT 0)
Do check with the doctor to rule out any non-radiological cause for his symptoms. But if the doctor thinks it is just a side effect from the radiation then it will get better gradually.

One thing to bear in mind is that the seeds remain radioactive for a while after they are implanted. Usually they have a half-life of something like 60 days (depending on the type of radioactive material used.) That means that every 60 days his seeds will become half as radioactive. Right now they are probably about 60 percent as radioactive as when they were implanted. As the radioactivity drops off the inflammation it causes will diminish and he will start to feel better. (Some guys barely notice the symptoms but, like Tall Allen said, some men are more sensitive.)

If you just stay on top of treating his symptoms he will turn a corner and start to feel better soon as his seeds continue to cool off. I still think he should do OK on the Alaska trip. The nice thing about the wilds of Alaska is there are lots of places to pee if you are a guy.

Post Edited (PeterDisAbelard) : 5/27/2013 10:10:23 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/27/2013 4:35 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the encouraging words Peter. Surely he is on the downward slide as far as the strength of the radiation in the seeds. It will be 8 wks this Friday. I'll be looking for that " corner" hopefully soon. I kinda feel like his Uro Dr kinda poo poo'd the side effects off cause he didn't say stuff could be this bad. I do know that every person is different and reacts differentlly. He sees his Uro Dr a week from today unless he decides to go sooner which I have suggested numerous times. Time will tell for sure...for now....one day at a time....
Posted 5/27/2013 4:38 PM (GMT 0)
A Yopper..... Did u try Metamucil or anything like that? He seems to go back and forth with bowel problems . Also did the tell you to drink LOTS of water?? Like 64+ ozs. A day ??
Posted 5/27/2013 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
Check with your physician first but...my physician had me on 3 Flomax/day for a while when I was having problems. Also, ibuprofen 400mg 3x/day or naproxen 440mg twice daily may reduce the inflammation enough to help him urinate better. I would only take the ibuprofen or naproxen for a few weeks at most. Tell him to reduce his caffeine intake if he uses it.
I would also try Metamucil or Citrucel two-three times a day. Drink plenty of water but try to restrict drinking too much past 6:00 p.m. to reduce the need to urinate during the night.

I agree with Peter, this will pass in the weeks ahead. Don't get discouraged.

Paul
Posted 5/27/2013 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
If he had permanent seeds implanted, what isotope? Palladium 103 has a half life of 17 days, whereas Iodine has a half life of 60 days.

So if he had Palladium seeds, 7 weeks out, he should have seen a reduction in symptoms by now.

I'm 3 weeks out with 50, palladium 103 seeds, after 30 IMRT and a green light laser prior.

I was given a steroidal anti inflammatory(Medrol dose pack)for the first 5 days, a week of Cipro antibiotic, followed by 1200 mg's of Ibuprofin for the next 6 weeks, with a tapering in dose for another month, with Anusol steroidal suppositories for 3 weeks. On standby to reduce burning an over the counter med like AZO standard,

Diet restrictions to reduce bladder irritation and advised to drink a lot of water, preferably spring water.

I would go back to the brachy physician and/or coordinate with a urologist to investigate whether or not something else besides radiation irritation is causing the symptoms. Have them check all the seeds are correctly placed.

Just remembered , 2 mg of terazosin twice daily, with adding another 4mg at night if needed
Posted 5/27/2013 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
Freeked,
With Paladium it should have stopped a few weeks ago. Iodine lasts a lo longer. Along with the Flow max, high dose Ibuprofen 800mg three times a day for no longer than 8 days should help the swelling. Most of the guys on the radiation sites swear by Metamucil; I took it for a few weeks and it helped.
Keep talking to your doctor as the time period he is having symptoms is too long.
JT
Posted 5/28/2013 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
john his seeds are iodine. his heart dr. is not in favor of ibuprophen or celebrex in high doses. this past week he started taking some Aleve twice a day. better than nothing maybe... Im getting Metamucil tomorrow and see if that will keep him more on an even keel.

anyone have any idea why urinary problems seem to be worse at night?? He was outside today......we live out in the country.....and he said he was able to pee good!! now....its evening and here we go! this is nuts...!!!
Posted 5/28/2013 2:25 AM (GMT 0)
Fauntleroy ...what diet restrictions did you follow ? I know about caffeine and citrus ......did you take any supplements?
Posted 5/29/2013 2:23 AM (GMT 0)
called the Onc Dr today and they put him on a steroid dose pack. Theyre wondering if he has urine retention....and I have a gut feeling thats whats going on the more we talk about it. BUT....we arent Drs. so we"ll see how this goes this week. He sees his Uro Dr. on Monday and he will have finished the steroid by then. The nurse mentioned catherization and he turned white as a ghost!! REALLY does not want to do that. Is it difficult to manage a cathater at home?? Any ideas on how long one is normally needed?? shakehead I realize that depends on so many different things.....just wanted some idea. Also got Metamucil to try and am cooking very healthy for him. :-)
he started therapy for plantar fasiatis today and on the questionnaire it asked about being depressed and feeling there was no hope.....and he answered yes. cry Just broke my heart!! I told him there was medication to help with those feelings....but of course...thats not the "manly" thing to do!!! UGH!!!!......maybe I'LL take the meds !!!!
Posted 5/29/2013 2:31 AM (GMT 0)
There are a whole lot of things worse than a catheter, but I have to try hard to name them. smhair

But no, if that is the suggestion, at least it will let him keep the bladder flushed. They are a pain, I had one for a week after surgery, hated it, but it is manageable.

Depression is not unusual. Treating PCa is pretty devastating to the ego. He will need to cooperate with the doctor. This stuff does not get better by magic. We have to participate.

Posted 5/29/2013 2:41 AM (GMT 0)
do guys ever get cathaters and are not able to get rid of them?? I think this is a big fear for him....and me too actually. It seemed like the chances of all this happening like it has for him were really low with the BT. Who knew he would be in that small percentage. Yes there certainly are worse things than a cathater......but at this moment its hard to name them. Being alive......and able to walk and talk and know who you are is some good starters I think!!
Posted 5/29/2013 2:58 AM (GMT 0)
There are guys who have catheters long term. David in SC (Purgatory) is one. But the odds of that are low.

He needs to look at it as a healing step, a chance for things to heal. The fear of a permanent cath situation is unwarranted  at this point, and will only feed any depression he has. A nurse has made an off the cuff comment that has become  a crisis. Not the best reaction as I see it. Ignore her until you see the doc.

Posted 5/29/2013 3:12 AM (GMT 0)
thanks for the advice. time is on our side....and we're doing all we know to do. just have to be patient ......which is NOT one of my virtues....
Posted 5/29/2013 3:13 AM (GMT 0)
Plantar fasciitis is a bummer and takes time to heal. try freezing std bottle of water and roll back and forth from the arch of the foot thru to the back of heal. Try and find a hard plastic heel cup to put in shoe. I suffered with it 3 times lasting 3 to 5 mos each over the years. It lasts a long time then seems to heal spontaneously over a few days. His depression issue is due to the whole ordeal of diagnosis/treatment. I wouldn't take any medicine for it at this point either. sometimes less is more and this will pass as he in fact heals and he will. Its not a man thing. My wife won't even take ibuprofen with out a fight. Remind him of this, that he is close to the end of this ordeal, one more hurdle and probably cured of PCA. As we have found out here recently , when it rains it pours, but that is a light at the end of this tunnel. Who know why some react differently to treatment, but from what i have gathered from other posts, his situation is not uncommon. but no medical tng this side of the keyboard.
Posted 5/29/2013 3:18 AM (GMT 0)
best thing that ever happened to me was when my plantar fasciitis snapped while I was playing soccer. It sounded like a guitar string snapping. Most relief I have ever felt. Snapped so loud the players around me heard it.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12