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Brachytherapy - urine retention problem after 4 weeks

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Posted 7/8/2018 4:42 PM (GMT 0)
Maybe I’m tripping ..I just had urgency a lot and painful urination ..flowmax seems to be working already ...peeing a lot when I go now ...I hate having anxiety

Post Edited (Stan1961) : 7/8/2018 10:54:09 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/8/2018 9:32 PM (GMT 0)
I’m hoping I’m tripping ...flowmax seems to be working good ....
Posted 10/17/2018 7:26 PM (GMT 0)

BMurph said...
New to the forum.

Currently having the same issue after Brachytherapy on 5/21/18. My urine retention started about 3 weeks following surgery. My radiation doctor didn't offer much other than pain pills and a double dose of Flomax. I ended up going to my Urologist and he was up front and said this happens where the prostate is still enflamed and constricts the urethra. After pulling out 900ml told me either I had to go on a full time catheter or self catheter and I opted for the self catheter. Frankly, its rather easy to do and only the first two times did it really hurt. Plus it gives me a lot more freedom to swim and get out. Highly recommend it. My urologist told me he expects me to be on it for another 2 months as I hopefully start beam radiation next week.

Cheers!

Hi- can you tell me--was it difficult to learn how to self cath? Is it painful? Thank you
Posted 10/17/2018 7:51 PM (GMT 0)
I feel for you. My issue was flow and that's how I got here on the H&W. Have not decided on treatment yet, but this makes me more afraid of seed planters.
I was emptying ok as far as I know. My urologist did a cystoscope and found a stricture in my urethra, showed it to me on the monitor, reamed it out and I pee like a horse on drugs now. I do self cath once a day for a few weeks and was told I can taper off if all stays well. As noted above, it isn't that bad to do
Again, the big difference between us is that I had NOT treated my PC yet. I don't know if he would have done what he did if I had treated.
Posted 10/17/2018 7:55 PM (GMT 0)
Max, All you got to do is use the pre-lubed catheter, find the hole, insert and aim. They showed me at the clinic
before I left.
Posted 10/17/2018 8:26 PM (GMT 0)
Self cathing is easy after the first two times. It's the thought of putting it in that gets you anxious. Using the self lubricating ones are the trick to a less painful experience.

I'm sorry to say that I am now 2 months on from finishing my seeds and then beam radiation and I'm still doing self cath :-( Saw my urologist yesterday and he said that he has seen two patients take longer to overcome the need for self cathing from seeds. One took a year and the other longer. He said I need to be patient, but if I can't wait longer he would go in and "shave the uretha" as he put it. Guess I'll have to wait longer.

Started CBD oil and that worked great for 4 days and now I'm back to only peeing a little but needing to cath 3-4 times daily.

Any words of wisdom out there?
Posted 10/17/2018 9:28 PM (GMT 0)
BMurph do not allow him to shave the urethra or touch the bladder neck. Even with a dilation too early after radiation you will risk incontinence. As a long time urinary retention man with over 20 years doing catheterizations I can tell you that it isn't so bad. In your case it is only temporary. Wash your hands well and you won't have any infections. Good luck short timer!
-----------------------------------
68 yrs., marathon runner, 14 of 44 3D-CRT/IMRT Radiation delivered via 3D-CRT in 1.8 Gy minimum dose fractions to a total of 79.2 Gy., 10.5.18. PSA .012, 8.12.18, 1.42 June 18, 2018 (Lupron 5.21.18 & 8.15.18), 12.7 May 2018, 13.7 Jan. 2018, 2.1 May 2012. SpaceOar 9.6.18, testosterone <.7, 8.15.18, Tot Mayo 19 ng .17 testosterone Free 6.18.18, Gleason 3+4=7 involving 15% of the right apex and 15% of the right mid, 3+3=6 prostate cancer involving 5% of the left base. Pathology interpretations by John Hopkins, UNM Cancer, and SF Path 3+4=7 or 4+3=7 MD Anderson Proton Center w/o %. T3 MRI w/ contrast 1.8 lesion left side 5P, Neg. Bone Scan. Prolaris test 3.5 consistent with intermediate and a PTEN test negative. Father PC age 78 RT & ADT now 93 yrs. Neurogenic bladder due to lumbar disk disease and recurrent bladder neck contracture with urinary retention man. 20 years doing catheterizations. TURP & scaring 2003, Finasteride 5 milligrams daily since 2002.
Posted 10/17/2018 10:46 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone for your kind replies. For me it's post PAE (Prostate Artery Embolization) for enlarged prostate that stopped the flow. PAE is supposed to shrink the prostate but can take several months. I had a foley indwelling catheter for several months. Still can only pee a little and a lot left behind. Considering the self catheterization. I hear it can rehab your bladder also. Also heard the electrical devices can help with pelvic floor muscles getting stronger but don't know if they really work.

Good luck and good health to all.
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