Let's talk about prostate health.
 

Since it's mostly men here, I have some questions. I've been seeing all these commercials about getting up to go in the middle of the night being a symptom of an enlarged prostate and it's starting to concern me. I drink a lot of water, two cups of coffee just about every morning and have cut way back on alcohol over the last few mos. Yet, I cannot make it through the night without taking a leak at least once, sometimes twice. I always go before I go to bed and then wake a few hours later and have to go again. Then I go when I get up around 6:50 every morning. I'm 37. I go many times before lunch, as that's when I'm most full of coffee and water. Do I need to get this looked at?

You're thirty-seven? On the politics board, you don't sound a day over thirteen. (kidding)

Those are good questions for a urologist. Get a family doctor if you don't have one, and visit that doctor occasionally. Ask them these questions and perhaps get referred to a urologist. Aside from getting these questions answered, you might get a head start on those future prostate challenges. Prostates simply do not work flawlessly until the end. Nope. They act up. I'm 51 and starting to deal with stuff. I don't pee often, but then I don't hydrate either. Nowadays, I have to stand at the urinal and do the multiple muscle contraction thing to make darned sure I'm not leaving anything in there that might dribble in the next couple of minutes. Patience is golden. When I was nineteen, a trip to the urinal was forceful and brief. Today, it is a lesson in patience.

That is probably just from all the water you drink, but when you have your next complete physical, if your doc doesn't strap on the latex glove and ask you to bend over so he can do the digital prostate exam, you should ask him to.

No, it's not fun at all, but it'll find problems.

You could also get the PSA test.

I haven't had a PSA test in a few years. Can't remember last time I had blood work done. Probably two yrs. ago, but all was fine then. I know I should be getting checked out when I'm 50. I'm just wondeing if having to go frequently means anything too. I never have to wait to summon the leak. It's immediate and not weak (TMI?).

And don't expect him to buy you dinner.

I'm the same way if it drink much water prior to bed. However if I cut things off around 8 I am just fine. But then I have always been that way.

Well, living in AZ, I can't just stop drinking anything after 8:00pm. I got to bed around 12:00-12:30 and it's hard to go that long without water here.

Have you googled the topic? Lot of info out there. Ex: http://www.detrolla.com/content/oab_quiz.jsp?setShowOn=../content/about_oab.jsp&setShowHighlightOn=../content/oab_quiz.jsp&source=google&HBX_PK=s_frequent+urina tion&HBX_OU=50&o=23122143|166374914|0

I'm not a urologist, but what you're concerned with is BPH, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. This is not the same thing as prostate cancer. In BPH, the prostate (which surrounds the ureter--that tube that connects the bladder to the end of your penis) often gets bigger as men age. So it becomes more difficult for men to fully empty their bladders. That's why the bladder feels like it fills more frequently, so you have to go more often. Men with BPH also experience trouble getting the stream started, and dribbling of the stream (doesn't come out as strong).

You're a bit on the young side for BPH, but it's not impossible. It would be a little bit surprising, though. During your annual exam, your primary care provider can perform a DRE (digital rectal exam). It's usually not until a little bit later in age (40-45) when men normally start to get this as part of their physical, both for prostate screening as well as colon cancer/rectal cancer screening. But given your concerns, it's certainly OK to start them now.

Men also get PSA levels checked in their bloodwork. But before you read too much into whatever yours comes up as, remember that PSA levels change with age. So you can't compare a 40 year-old's with a 70 year-old's. Ask your PCP or urologist if your level is correct for your age group. Certain meds/supplements can also alter PSA levels, too.

Not the solution...



KT

One time my doc said "trust me, I hate this as much as you do - maybe more" I still didnt feel better about it!

Thanks Noah. I'll get looked at, hopefully before the end of the year. I haven't gotten a PCP here in Phoenix yet and I'll probably need a few perscriptions before I head to China over Xmas.

I'm no doctor, but it sounds to me like you drink a lot of fluids. The more fluids your drink the more you have to pee. The coffee in the morning aggravates things because coffee is a diuretic.

I suspect you're normal, but if you're concerned, it's better to get checked out than not.

PS, the drug companies love that their commercials have you freaked out. That's exactly why they make them.

Get off the PCP. Nasty stuff. (I'm still kidding)

Man, those drug company commercials make the side effects sound worse than the disease. I'm glad they have to disclose that stuff, but talk about taking the wind out of their sails.

Bottom line...old dogs have to stop at every tree.

I see a specialist on Wednesday. My blood and PSA tests were fine and the cold finger revealed a normal feeling prostate (and I'm confident in saying he gave it a good feel) yet I have the symptoms of an enlarged prostate.

Given my record of late I'm sure I'll get nothing but good news :D

I have the opposite problem. I can drink 2 gallons of water a day, and I go the the bathroom maybe 2 times a day.

are you fat? family history of diabetes?

Just because you are up at night peeing does not mean you have a swole up prostate. When you do pee, strong stream or not so much?

It's when he says, "This isn't so bad. You might even get to like it", that you should become really concerned.