What does a transrectal prostate biopsy feel like?

Had a transrectal yesterday and it was a breeze. I was worried
after reading all the blogs but it was entirely
unnecessary! Doctor explained everything that would
happen and I didn't feel anything. I guess the skill
of the Doc has a lot to do with it. Since my prostate
was small (33mm) he only needed 6 samples. My prostate
had shrunk due to use if finesteride and tamsulosin
for many years for BPH. My PSA was always
low (.4ish) until last year when it went to 2.7 and
this year when it shot up to 6.0. So I had the biopsy. Will
know results in a few days and will report back!

skibear, welcome to HW, you should start a new topic and introduce yourself to this wonderful group of people.

As most guys said it is uncomfortable but fairly quick. I would bring my iphone headphones and turn it up loud if ever I had to do it again. The 6weeks after was pretty upsetting sometimes. Be prepared for blood in your urine stream for a couple weeks, but what really got me was during ejaculation just a bloody mess, don't know who else had the same experience but prepare your significant other for it otherwise you may never have sex again.

It was painless and no big deal.
I am writing this about 27 hours after the biopsy.
I have had a skin biopsy, a mri for a lump on my neck, and a colonoscopy in the last 2 months,
and it was the least painful, and least scary of all of them. All those tests were negative.

I had read all these horror stories her.
I decided not to have it at Kaiser my local hmo, where I was before.

I had it at UC San Francisco with Dr Shinohara's assistant,
a woman in her 30s. They gave me 6 Cipro antibiotics to take starting the day before.
I chose UCSF because they do targeted biopsies using color doppler and Fusion MRI.
To read more about targeted biopsies read Prostate Cancer Breakthroughs 2014 by Jay Cohen.

I could have waited and got the Fusion mri, but I didn't want to wait another 3 months.
They have a color doppler ultrasound, which allows them to see the blood flow in much greater detail.
But for me there was nothing abnormal, so there was no blood flow detected.

So ultimately I as assuming it was like a blind biopsy.
I took 15mg of Valium, although 5mg would have been fine.
They took 14 cores.

After I got home, I took 2 tylenols. I didn't have any blood in my urine or stools at all.
My prostate size is 45
My psa was 4.9 for the last 2 years, then went down to 3.8.

I am 61 and 6 ft tall.
I will know the results in 2 weeks.

The worst part is the antibiotic shot in the butt. THAT hurt for a month.

jgcec,

I started a new thread for you so folks can say hello without having to scroll through three pages of ancient history. Here's a link:

Welcome, new member jgcec

Welcome to the forum.

I'll add mine own experience.

I was awake, wish they had knocked me out.

The easiest part was the anesthetic injection.

But, it really didn't take effect. With every pop of the biopsy gun I jumped as the needle went in. Made a bloody mess. 12 times I felt it, and twelve times it hurt. 13 including the anesthetic.

Then they left the room to allow me to clean up. Darrrn!

Nobody told me about this part!

After I soaked up the 18"x18" sheet that was under me, I grabbed the nearest box of kleenex and probably used about 30 to finish the cleanup.

My advice: Make them knock you out, you won't feel the pain and they have to clean up the mess!

I have read some horrible ways that some medical facilities did this all over the world. Some of them would lead me to think that the facility considers the people under their care are little more than money bags that they can treat how they wish and the people suck it up or simply die.
I am 58, former Retired US Army and in good health except for High Blood pressure and I have been seeing this urologist for a couple years for testosterone treatments. about a month ago my family care physician asked about my prostrate as my PSA was above normal. I did not know what a PSA was. A week later my urologist said the exact same thing and scheduled me for the Prostate Biopsy. I googled PSA when I got home. Yesterday I had the biopsy here in north Alabama. Yeah, it hurt some but the Dr. warned me and kept me informed every step of the way. about two weeks ago I received, in the mail, extensive information, description, and prescription for the meds. Meds included strong antibiotics that I had to start the day before, a powdered antibiotic to take the morning of, an enema to use two hours prior, and two meds for an oral anesthesia to bring to the office and take 30 min prior. The nurse sat and talked about exactly was going to happen during and after. The Dr. came in and basically repeated what I was already told. I laid facing the wall, they put some lube on my butt, gave me a shot in my anus (Dr. said I would feel a sharp painful stick). It hurt but less than a shot in the arm. Inserted the probe/wand for the ultrasound. Dr. said that I would feel a painful stick as he numbed my prostrate. He said here goes and stuck me and it really hurt but it may have felt worse because of where it was. This also made the head of my penis sting but the nurse said it was because of the connection between my prostate and my penis. The pain faded quickly. He used the "gun" and warned me of every stick. It kind of felt more like a shock then a stick. I heard the snap, felt a small shock and he moved on. The last couple (he did 8 or 10) stung but it was quick and done with no lingering pain. And they were done. The oral anesthesia really did not hit me until heading home. Got home and was out for 4hours. I had no pain but I think the anesthesia screwed up my High Blood Pressure as I felt light headed and dizzy the rest of the day. Urine was tainted with blood for about 24hrs or less. I drank a lot of water so it may have flushed my system. I could probably have gone to work but the anesthesia left me messed up for a while. 5 working days for the results. The Dr. said that he would call regardless of the results. I have not ejaculated but it is not the first thing on my mind and the medical staff said to wait about a week and maybe no sex for maybe two weeks. Your prostrate now has little hole in it and should be left to heal for a short while. The oral meds have left a taste in my mouth and I have only had a sandwich since the procedure. Just not hungry. Oh, no heavy lifting for a week. That is tough as I am building a set of cabinets.