The pressure some of these idiots apply is insane. It's as though the human being that resides inside the vessel is in their way and needs to just shut up. I told the one doctor at the urology clinic that I did not consign my body to them to do as they wished...that they are my advisors, and I am the patient who makes the decisions. I had one who sarcastically said "Then we'll just write down that you refuse the procedure." I said "Do that. And underline it twice." I swear when you walk in the door, they immediately size you up for the largest number of billable events they can enact on you. I feel so bad for those who blindly trust, or who are afraid to say anything.
Yup. That's what they used. UVA was gonna do a local anesthetic. I was already put under for my bladder stone surgery, so while I was there and knocked out, there was no reason to not do it, rather than have me come back for a separate procedure. The guy also checked for bladder cancer.
It most likely saved my life. In 2012 during a routine physical, my doc felt a little bump on it. He said I should probably see a uro and get it checked out. It was cancerous. As we saw a week or so later, my PSA was 1.98 -- nothing to be alarmed about. So it would have slid for another year til my next physical, and might have left the prostate by that time. Like the PSA test, they are both tools. The Gold Standard test is a biopsy.
They should be able to reach the top and both sides to estimate the weight of the prostate. They also feel for any lumps or irregular formations. It is usually paired with a total PSA to evaluate the gland. If the total PSA is slightly elevated and the digital indicates enlargement, a Free PSA will often be done as well to check for low-grade cancer.
But you don't want to do biopsies on everyone, as it is expensive and uncomfortable. You have to have some kind of screening process.
Yes, the PSA and digital exam are the screening tools. Taken together, they make a judgement as to what the next move should be. My doc was hesitant whether to send me to a uro, but then said I should. And then the uro also felt the bump, didn’t think it needed more attention, then decided I probably should have a biopsy. So they both ended up making the right decision, but there’s no manual to follow, lol. At least that was my experience. Different docs may have different methods.
I went to my urologist yesterday because things just did not "seem right." I was not uncomfortable (because my bladder is so stretched out), but had not been passing much urine. They discovered an infection and I was retaining a ton, which was to be expected. So they installed a catheter and are working on the culture to decide which antibiotics to administer. I go back for another retention test next Friday. I routinely retain 400ml or so. One urologist early on gasped at that amount and tried to get me started self-catheterizing (I've likely already discussed that.) I've see 2 other urologists since then and both are rather blasé about the volume, stating "I've see worse." I've not had a lot of infections...there was a real bad one caused by the urodynamics procedure, and then another one I didn't even know I had that was discovered during a routing visit. I'm seeing the current guy twice a year to monitor a kidney stone and to make sure the urine does not back up into my kidneys...my urine tested clean (no infection) in February. When I was there yesterday the Physician's Assistant said they would culture the bacteria over the weekend before prescribing antibiotics, although they could "start me on something" and then change up on Monday. After talking with the PA I opted to wait, but I just now called in to have them start me on something...I think I need to get the infection under control. I had a horrible night last night. I had a catheter back in the 90s for a lodged kidney stone and it felt nothing like this (could be the infection.) I constantly feel the strong urge to pee, but of course there's nothing I can do with a catheter in. I'm not in a good place right now. If I get bad results on the retention test, my options are limited. Self-catheterizing is not gonna happen with me...I've already told my "coaching" stories." I just about scream when they inject the numbing gel and shove the catheter in me...what a horribly abusive thing. I guess my options would be to continuously catheterize "the standard way" or with a tube through my abdomen. I also read about an "ileal conduit" but am not certain how it differs from the through-the-abdomen catheter...they sound similar. Or maybe the antibiotics will make things "good enough" again. When I had the infection from the urodynamics (could not urinate at all), I went to the ER and they just gave me antibiotics and sent me home without any retention test, but this infection is not as bad as that one was (I could tell there was an issue just by looking at that other "cloudy" sample.) The antibiotics cleared things right up. It's a chicken & egg thing...retention causes infections causes retention causes infections etc etc etc. There are some battle worth fighting, but this one has no good "fix it and it's done" option. Then there's the "personal" nature of the malady. dammit
Sorry to hear of this latest development, John. I know what it's like to be having medical issues and just yearning to be "back to normal;" it sucks. I also understand the non-compliance thing with the catheters. Some of this crap is simply too unpleasant and doctors seem so unconcerned about quality of life. I hope the antibiotics will do the job and you'll soon be back to "normal." Sending a hug.
I wholly understand that. I chose radiation alone as the treatment for prostate cancer because the other options would require catheterization. As it turned out, so did the radiation treatment, and it was absolutely horrible. I can't think of many things that have or could happen to me that would compare. Let's hope, and pray if you pray, that the infection will correct itself or through other treatments.
John, Hang in there I'm praying the antibiotics will put you back to where you were, and relieve you of all the discomfort. Tony
I appreciate that, Ken. Funny how they never tell you everything about your options...distinctions without a difference. Every time they are on the process of doing it to me, I cry "I can't believe people actually do this to themselves!"