switching back to urinating thru my urithita from a pubic catheter

I don't know the answer to your question, but it does raise another question.

In my case, I was headed in the direction you are now in -- a huge prostate that was making it take up to 20 minutes to dribble, spray, stop/start, etc. I always said to myself that it would almost be a "blessing" if I were to be diagnosed with a mild form of PC and have an excuse to "toss the baby out with the bathwater."

I had always promised myself that I would not hesitate to have the prostate removed (and, to me, having my teeth cleaned is major surgery!) if ever diagnosed with PC. I suppose I was thinking this way because it runs in my family & I knew it would probably knock on my door someday.

That day came in 2011 when I was diagnosed with PC. In the years prior to that, my urination problems had gradually gotten worse until it was like I mentioned up in my first graf. The fine spray of urine was enough to make my garden hose nozzle jealous. Flomax worked wonders for perhaps 6 months, then stopped being effective.

So I chose to have a DaVinci prostatectomy at Mayo Clinic. The day prior to the surgery, my surgeon did a cystocopy to see what he would be dealing with the next day -- mostly because of the prostate size.

After he performed the exam, while I was still laying on the table, he told me that "you have a whopper of a prostate!" Turned out to be 98.3 grams -- almost 4x normal size.

He went on to explain that prostates of such magnitude tend to begin deforming, twisting, etc. as they get worse. He added that sometimes they actually begin to encroach into the bladder. He then assured me that surgery (as opposed to radiation) was the only sensible, logical treatment in my particular case. He also said he expected to cure me with the surgery.

It is 14 months later and the PC hopefully is cured (PSA tests zero so far) -- and I can now urinate like a firehose. I have no incontinence and I still have to kick myself to marvel at the difference in urinating in 20 seconds instead of 20 minutes. From the day they removed the catheter (one week after surgery), my urination was very powerful & quick. Normal post-op leakage quickly improved & I did not need any more pads after the first few weeks.

This leads me up to my question -- would it be possible (and ethical) for you to consider having YOUR prostate removed? It would not be the medical standard to remove a perfectly healthy prostate -- but yours is not healthy due to its growth and VERY severe problems it is causing you.

So I would think that the ethical portion of the question can be eliminated. If your situation could possibly become like what the doctor described, surgery might be the desired fix for you.

If this is even a remote possibility, you could find yourself easily & quickly relieving yourself and never need a catheter again.

I hope this might be a possibility for you!
Chuck

Resident of Highland, Indiana just outside of Chicago, IL.
July 2011 local PSA lab reading 6.41 (from 4.1 in 2009). Mayo Clinic PSA Sept. 2011 was 5.7.
Local urologist DRE revealed significant BPH, but no lumps.
PCa Dx Aug. 2011 at age of 61.
Biopsy revealed adenocarcinoma in 3 of 20 cores (one 5%, two 20%). T2C.
Gleason score 3+3=6.
CT of abdomen, bone scan both negative.
DaVinci prostatectomy 11/1/11 at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN), nerve sparing, age 62.
My surgeon was Dr. Matthew Tollefson, who I highly recommend.
Final pathology shows tumor confined to prostate.
5 lymph nodes, seminal vesicles, extraprostatic soft tissue all negative.
1.0 x 0.6 x 0.6 cm mass involving right posterior inferior,
right posterior apex & left mid posterior prostate.
Right posterior apex margin involved by tumor over a 0.2 cm length, doctor says this is insignificant.
Prostate 98.3 grams, tumor 2 grams. Prostate size 5.0 x 4.7 x 4.5 cm.
Catheter out in 7 days. No incontinence, occasional minor dripping.
Post-op exams 2/13/12, 9/10/12, PSA <0.1.
Semi-firm erections now happening 14 months post-op & slowly getting a bit stronger.

I had TURP...my cancer spread to my pelvic....currently on Lupron, Xgeva and Casadex.  Looking for answers on how I can urinate normally from my urithita (penis) again and if it's possible and how long it will take.

arteesto1 -

Thanks for the clarification. But if you're saying now that the cancer you have has now spread out into your pelvic region, and that you are taking the medications that you mention, then it is sounding very much like your prostate cancer has reached a rather advanced state.

Also, if you have already had a TURP, as you say, and your urinary problems are persisting, then I would strongly urge you to talk with your doctor about your situation if you haven't done so already. The fact that you have access to (are taking) the three medications you list in your post tells me that you must be seeing a urologist or oncologist for treatment of your cancer. Please make sure that person is up-to-date on your situation, as it sounds to me like the questions you are asking (or want to ask) are medical ones.

Those of us here of this list can give you a pretty good bit of good advice in a number of areas involving prostate cancer, but not in areas that are strictly medical in nature. You need to be talking to your doctor about those areas.

iSpark said...
I don't have any info on the question you asked.

But I wanted to add, that I am actually looking forward to the DaVinci RP surgery, just to be able to pee again. It is taking forever now with little to no pressure/force, and it's worse in the morning after waking up.

Hopefully the surgery will cure me of cancer, and will give me an added benefit of being able to pee again.

I had the same situation and, as I say in many posts, I can now urinate like a firehose. I hope the same will hold true for you.

Chuck

Resident of Highland, Indiana just outside of Chicago, IL.
July 2011 local PSA lab reading 6.41 (from 4.1 in 2009). Mayo Clinic PSA Sept. 2011 was 5.7.
Local urologist DRE revealed significant BPH, but no lumps.
PCa Dx Aug. 2011 at age of 61.
Biopsy revealed adenocarcinoma in 3 of 20 cores (one 5%, two 20%). T2C.
Gleason score 3+3=6.
CT of abdomen, bone scan both negative.
DaVinci prostatectomy 11/1/11 at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN), nerve sparing, age 62.
My surgeon was Dr. Matthew Tollefson, who I highly recommend.
Final pathology shows tumor confined to prostate.
5 lymph nodes, seminal vesicles, extraprostatic soft tissue all negative.
1.0 x 0.6 x 0.6 cm mass involving right posterior inferior,
right posterior apex & left mid posterior prostate.
Right posterior apex margin involved by tumor over a 0.2 cm length, doctor says this is insignificant.
Prostate 98.3 grams, tumor 2 grams. Prostate size 5.0 x 4.7 x 4.5 cm.
Catheter out in 7 days. No incontinence, occasional minor dripping.
Post-op exams 2/13/12, 9/10/12, PSA <0.1.
Semi-firm erections now happening 14 months post-op & slowly getting a bit stronger.