Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) Personal Story

 I said that I have a medical concern without explaining more. I want to be more honest about it because it will help another man and I don't know who that will be. If it's TMI for you, scroll on by.  I began to experience prostate swelling in my late 30s caused by decongestant medications used to fight bronchitis. An enlarged prostate creates urethra constriction and urination difficulty. Prednisone relieves it. Once understood, I stopped medications with decongestant and lived happily ever after until about age 53 when the prostate enlarged without medication help because of age. PSA indicated that I had prostate cancer and PSA-2 was even worse so I had a biopsy with a negative result. From 1997 to 2005, I had 7 biopsies, all negative, but continued prostate enlargement which led to a TURP surgery in 2005 performed by a great doctor, Michael Peaster, who retired this year. Medications Tamsulosin (Flomax) and Finasteride have helped but the prostate is enlarged again and my bladder is distended (pushed into my abdominal cavity) putting pressure against my kidneys and creating risk. My urology appointment May 22nd @ 8:30 am is a cystoscopy of the bladder. I'm not looking forward to it because it's inserting a camera tube through Master William to examine the bladder visually and perform a biopsy if deemed necessary. Presently  I have to perform at home self catheterization twice daily, 1st thing morning, last thing night. It isn't fun but my goal is to use my kidneys as long as possible. I may have to have another surgery. I share this because men, including me until it was forced upon me by a near bladder rupture, are scared, embarrassed, and stubborn because we don’t face being intimately examined with our feet in stirrups until we face prostate problems. Women begin that as young girls and don't get used to it but accept it as a fact of being a woman. I have a friend who I know is experiencing the same thing because he won't see a urologist and I'm concerned about him. I'm worried about him. That's all. Yes, I am mildly scared.