spread_democracy

First of all, let me say hello to all of who have helped me in the
past...Michael and the rest. From time to time I check this newsgroup to
see if I can weigh in on a subject or two.

I had chosen to have a PVP after wrestling with FLOMAX and UROXATROL (known
also as Xatrol and also Alfuzosin). When I switched to Xatrol, I had
almost not retro from XATROL. But after about a month, I experienced retro,
just as I had with FLOMAX. Meanwhile, even on Xatrol I had the same
symptoms as I did on FLOMAX-blood pressure problems, walking up stairs
caused me to almost black out, lost my tolerance to pain, etc. Doctor also
wanted to put me on PROSCAR to reduce size of prostate. So, trusting my
doctor's advice I took PROSCAR as he prescribed until I did some reading. I
took myself off that in a flash. Because I was pissed off with the side
effects from Flomax and Xatrol, I forced my doctor to line me up for
surgery. He wanted me to wait for some 9 months for a consultation with the
TURP surgeon so booked me in...I cancelled that after I was able to get my
own appointment in a week a surgeon who does PVP. I had the PVP 30 days
later, in December 2004. In hindsight, thank God I elected a PVP when I
did. One week later, we had a family emergency and I would not have been
able to contribute had I been wrestling with the Alpha Blockers. Now that
the family emergency is behind us, I have picked up my exercise once again.
I still have residual effects from the Alpha Blockers...not sure which one
to really blame. Regardless, I am much better off without any. Blood
pressure has also normalized. Now, I am NOT taking anything to reduce my
prostate. Don't need to. I can have a whiz just fine. So, why bother
with meds if I don't need it. Surgeon concurs. Will simply opt for
another PVP whenever necessary. Surgeon said, no problem. Come back
whenever I want to. It was a snap so will do it again in a heartbeat. As
for getting up from sleep at night to go to the washroom, most often I get
up ZERO times! Sometimes, if I drink a lot of liquid I'll get up once
maybe twice a night, but very seldom ever twice. I am back to eating all my
favourite foods: tomatoe sauce, lots of hot spices, COFFEE, yes I
said,COFFEE, and now I can have the occassional alcoholic beverage without
worrying about a BPH flare up. I drink a glass of WINE from time to time,
no BPH problems, and I can now drink a bottle of beer. When I was
beginning my BPH symptoms, beer, for some reason was a real prostate killer
for me! I drank 1/4 bottle of beer and immediately would have to start
running to the can. Prostate would flare up like a nuclear blast. As for
my job, I'm under lots of stress. I could NOT HAVE DONE my job if I opted
to stay on Alpha Blockers...it was muddling my thinking, increasing my
anxiety levels, as well as making me tired and unable to concentrate. I
noticed the psychological improvement about 2 weeks after getting off the
Alpha blockers. Now, some 10 months later, I do have only one PVP side
effect, but this is slowly going away. After a couple of hours in the
office, under stress, I get the sensation as though there is a drop or two
of urine that manages to dribble out. I even went back to the surgeon who
did a Cytoscopy and confirmed no problems and that my bladder was
completely, let me repeat, COMPLETELY empty. So, the PVP was certainly
doing its job! Now, that particular sensation is much less though it does
return from time to time. (Curious, it has NEVER happened while I am away
from the office, at home or socializing, no problem. Just when I am under
lots of stress. Hmmmmm.) I think the procedure must have burned some of
the nerves on the prostate and that must be making it feel like it is
leaking. Or, maybe, because the prostate is still large, it pushes a bit on
the bladder when sitting. Or, it is a stress meter. Dunno!?
Nonetheless, this minor annoyance is a very small price to pay for returning
to almost normal. And...I can cycle for hours, drinking lots of water but
having a whiz when I want to, not when my prostate tells me to. I have
peddled my bike intensely for over four hours without stopping for a whiz
despite drinking lots of water. Hope this info helps some of you. All
the best. And may you whiz like a 20-yr-old!!

michael balarama

returning

but

Great news-glad you are so happy with the results...
Michael

michael balarama

hey spread-with all that tension-get your blood pressure checked-I have high
blood pressure in the family-my father-all his brothers do so I do
also--and I have boarderline high blood pressure-Dr told me he could give me
some blood pressure medicine and it would add about 5 years to my life-but I
could get by without any-so I am taking it--cost about $80 a month...no it
is 120/80 was 140/90
get it checked--I also take a little aspirin every day 81 mg-kid
aspirin-President Bush takes it..for guys over 50..
my brother-in-law takes it and told me--my Dad does--so I do too
Michael