Vincentpz,
If you have a cath installed and are using a clamp to release urine, then at least you are out of danger for retention or further damaging your bladder, or backing up urine into the kidneys.
It seems like you have two problems. One is whatever caused you to go into retention, most llikely an enlarged prostate that is squeezing your urethra shut.
However a thickened bladder neck could also cause that problem. The way a blockage is diagnosed is generally with a cystoscope. The urologist can use the camera on the cystoscope to see and take pictures of the path the urethra takes through the prostate and the bladder mouth
opening. Before deciding what path to take (holmium or GG or button turp, etc.) you need to know exactly what is blocking the urine.
But a larger problem seems to be a distended bladder that is not signalling that you need to release urine (whether that is with the clamp or on your own if the blockage is removed.) If you have lost the urge to urinate and can only empty with a catheter, then the blockage is no longer important, because even if your prostate is removed, you will still need the cath.
I personally have tried many supplements and the kegel exercise and derived no benefit from any of them. If the flomax hasn't helped you it's unlikely any supplements or exercises will.
You say you are at your wits end, and I think that is a natural reaction. I experienced many frustrating and panic filled nights, leading me to believe that maintaining your wits has to be the first priority, regardless of your physical condition.
Some of the other things you mentiioned ought not to be problems in and of themselves. I had my first Greenlight laser cancelled by the anesthesiologist when my BP registered 237/137. That's a perfectly normal reaction to pain and/or fear. After my surgery was cancelled I went home and ate a huge breakfast (I had fasted 12 hours in anticipation of the surgery) and drank a quart of coffee. I then took my BP, it was 120/80.
Your fluctuation in PSA can be attributed to trauma of the retention or perhaps prostatitis which won't show up as infection but can be present anyway. During my Greenlight laser my urologist found multiple pus filled abcesses in my prostate - chronic long term prostatitis - that never showed up on any blood or urine test. If your last reading was 3.5, that sounds fine.
I also have a large median lobe about
the size of yours and my prostate was 120g. plus before the GL. What's important is not the size but whether the size is squeezing your urethra shut, and whether the median lobe is blocking the bladder mouth. My median lobe is still there and protrudes into the bladder, but doesn't block the bladder mouth.
Finally, on my first trip to the ER, I was retaining 1400cc which I saw when they cathed me into a 2 liter bag with cc markings. That did not cause my bladder any problems, even though my bladder has a low capacity and can only hold about
300cc before I have an urgent need to urinate. Holding 1400cc was one of the most painful experiences. When I got to the ER I was yelling at them to cath me quickly, and they did. So if that one incident did not cause you to lose the urge to urinate you must find out what did. I have a relative who was cathing 4x a day (every 6 hours) and his bladder had lost elasticity. He had a turp which allowed him to urinate on his own, but never regained the sense of needing to go, and was told his bladder had lost all elasticity. To prevent damage to his bladder and kidneys, he returned to cathing on a strict schedule so as not to overfill his bladder or back up urine into his kidneys.
Bob
vicentpz said...
On new year's eve, I went emergency three times recently due to a complete urinary retention (over 48 hours) and pressure shot up to 190/120. Needless to say my bladder is distended due to BPH. A nightmare. No hemaeturia or kidney infections, but I had to wear a catheter since then. (I am in India, so was delayed the most important treatment first two times even at a private hospital because the doctors at the emergency were ?burnout and detached. Sent me home without clearing my urine despite the ultrasound showing a 900cc bladder!)
Ultrasound - prostate was 84g at the emergency, a week later it was 75g and yesterday it had dropped to 60g. Median lobe - H 4.7 x 5.5 x 5.1 . My PSA fluctuates from as high as 37 to 3.5 yesterday on a blood test. (Thank goodness - cancer ruled out)
2 weeks ago I tried self-cath but it was painful and I rushed back to the hospital for a perm catheter. Clamping the tube for 3 hours and I still did not feel any urge to pee yesterday. Since I ve been on the catheter, I can't start the kegel exercise which I heard is an effective method to regain bladder function.
Awaiting a cousin's report on the outcome of Holium treatment. The Indian Urologist put me on Flomax and Urotone for the last 4 weeks. I'll be sending my blood tests investigation to the Gat Goren Team soon upon the arrival of my free T results.
I am going to try Crataeva Stem bark and Stinging Nettle Root - would try those links from a post by Martin Victor on online ordering.
I am at my wit's end trying to find a solution to get the urge and control of my bladder back. Has anyone gone through similar experiences? How did you overcome this?
(I am glad to come across this forum. A good friend had euthanasia a year back fr prostate cancer and metastasis. I didnt even know my BPH was this serious until recently.)
Post Edited (Bob_NJ) : 2/9/2015 7:52:50 PM (GMT-7)