preventing biopsy complications

Mel

Excessive bleeding after a prostate biopsy is extremely rare, nothing to worry about in advance. Infection is rare, only can remember a couple of cases being discussed here since I have been at HW. Yes, after, drinks lots of water.

The "pain" factor is so varied and so subjective. I had 3 biopsies done total. The last two were 6 weeks apart. I had 1 done with pain med injected via needles, and 2 with no pain meds. I had the least trouble with the 3rd one, with no pain meds. The 2nd one was done with pain meds, and the injections hurt me more than the procedure, so I told my dr, no more like that.

BTW, I was more afraid during the 2nd one, because I had already been through one a year before and knew what was going on, lol.
The 3rd one, it was almost like I was getting use to it.

After, you may or may not see some minor bleeding in your first stool or two. You may see a little pink tone to your urine, and the first time or two that you ejaculate (Gee, I use to be able to do that) it is a bit unsettling to see blood in the ejaculate. But you have to tell yourself, all of that is normal, none of it will hurt you.

I would tend to be sore after for a day or two, but only when I was sitting. My dr. gave me 5mg Loratabs in case there was pain, because he didnt want me using aspirin, advil, etc, - the types of pain meds that can cause bleeding while you heal from it.

All in all, my opinion, is that thinking about the biopsy is worse than having it. With a good dr and team, they make you as comfortable as possible, and its over before you know it. We had a lot of good natured joking going on when I had mine done, which broke the ice.

You will do fine. I say this jokingly, so please take it this way, but I suspect you read every word of the drug info sheet when you pick up a med. With side effects and complications, they are required to list them, even if only one person ever reported a sympton and they sell the med to 10 million people.

When I am put on a new med, I always ask the dr why? and are there any major side effects I should know about? And if I am on any meds that could interfere, I flash the dr/ memory on what I am on currently.

The results of your test is what is important here, and I am hoping that you get an all clear signal. We are ready to welcome you as a brother of the PC, but would rather have to turn down your membership request.

Enjoy the holidays.

David in SC

Mel, and I mean this with respect, if you had no fear of the word Cancer, i would think you were a fool. So no foul there, until you know and if you know, it is a serious thing. Won't downplay that.

Tylenol type products are good for mild pain, make sure the dr writes you a script for something stronger in case you need it, you probably wont, but be nice to have just in case. No one says you have to fill it.

Advil type would be better, because it works on inflamation and pain. Down side, it can cause bleeding.

Got to ask, where do you live, that you have to drive 150 miles for a biopsy?

Purg:

I could have had the biopsy locally, but I decided to go with the Umich physician.

I live in mid-Michigan

Mel

Take a Vicodine before and after; You wll have about 4 hours of discomfort so there is no need to spend two nights.
JohnT

That puts you near my old stomping grounds and no need to get more specific. As to the biopsy, my uro gave me a fairly potent pill to "relax" me which I took on the way to his office. By the time I got there (my wife drove), he could have removed my head and I would not have protested. Then a painless pain killer shot to the "affected" area and the worst was over. There was very little discomfort during or after and I was up and about the next day.

BTW, any "intimacies" for the first few weeks after the biopsy will yield strange-looking results as the prostate heals so it is best to live the celibate lifestyle for awhile. Not to get too specific.

Again, good luck and here's hoping for only the best of results.
Garth

Garth:

Nice chatting with you. Looks like you and I are the same age (even the same weight, but I am an inch or two taller than you!). It also looks like you had a very good path. report. I guess your doctor just found a nodule that led to your biopsy?

Mel

After my two 12 needles biopsies I played golf the following day. It's uncomfortable but no big deal with some lidocaine gel.

Now my 45 needle 3d saturation biopsy was another thing altogether.

First, I have an older brother named Mel that lives NW of AA by about 120 miles and who also got his graduate degree at MSU. Is there anything you've failed to mention to me? Like sharing the same parents?

Anyhow, my personal physician had his lab draw for the PSA immediately after doing the DRE and that's not a good thing as that can artificially raise the PSA level. It came back elevated and he was unconcerned but I pushed for a visit to a uro given that my other older brother had brachy about ten years ago. The uro did a couple of follow-up PSA tests and two really thorough DREs and each time he detected a slight enlargement/firmness. That prompted the biopsy and away we went. I never complained to my personal doc since, if he hadn't done that, I might never have found out about the PCa. Such is life.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

See ya,
Garth

Mel:

Everybody’s different I guess. I had a twelve-core biopsy and it was no big deal. It was over in minutes and I felt, maybe, a slight sting once or twice. That was it. Others have likened the sting to being flicked with a rubber band. I would say it wasn’t as sharp as that. Like Riverbend, I was given an antibiotic. If I remember correctly, I had one dose that a.m.

Before reading Purgatory’s comment, I hadn’t heard of anyone preparing for pain relief after the fact. I got up the next morning, made a six-hour drive to Kansas, and then spent the next four days chasing pheasant and quail. Yes, they told me to drink plenty of water afterwards.

As they say these days - "No worries, dude....."