Hi Unck,
Yeah, I had the blurry vision thing with Cialis as well, it's not an uncommon side effect. Like I said, no muscle cramps for many months on the drug, and then all of a sudden. I will probably try it again to see if it repeats, but not for some time. I never realized muscle pain could be so annoying. I was literally up for hours not being able to sleep.
Jim
Lew,
Good to know it may be dose related, which could account for why it took three days to kick in, as each day the blood serum level of Cialis increases from 5mg up to 8mg, assuming it's taken each day. Taking 2.5mg daily, would mean a maximum blood serum level of 4mg versus 8. But of interest is that last year I probably had as much as 15mg in my system -- without muscle pain -- as I occasionally took an extra pill. I'm hoping that it may be some variable or combination of variables at play such as the beer, lack of exercise, etc, but I'm not optimistic at least at the 5mg Daily dose. Next time I will try 2.5 daily and see what happens.
How long were you taking 5mg Daily before your cramping started? Let me know what happens when you go back to 5mg.
Jim
Jim: " .. a combination of variables increases that obstruction ... "
That pretty much sums it up. Hank
Hi Lester, how did you know that diuretic help retention ? Did you measure your PVR with and without diuretic, with cathing or scanner ? I am interested. I thought that diuretic only accelerates the urine production, and does not affect the urine retention. Hank
Hi OB,
Not saying you're wrong. But not saying I agree. It also could be a combo. Just too many variables. I will have to check my notes regarding prostate size.
The thing is that I have the IPSS score of a 20 year old (3-5), no retention, natural voids up to 400ml, and usually only get up once at night, often not at all. So not sure the risks or bother of a surgery or procedure is worth the reward, given that not everyone comes out better than they went in, and some worse. Currently, I only have to self cath a few times a week, and I can easily live with that as the process itself is now as easy as brushing my teeth.
I could rational Cialis because of the sexual boost, but that doesn't come with Alfusozin.
Jim
Jim James you mentioned taking a double dose of cialis 5mg was that for sexual activity or some other reason?
Now to think of it, I did experience blurred vision with Cilalis. Hank
Hi JJ,
I'm sure the larger prostate doesn't help, but it doesn't seem likely that it would occasionally keep you from peeing at all, when most of the time you're fine.
But your IPSS score says it all - if you're happy the way things are, why ask for trouble? If I was in your situation and a pill with no side effects could allow me to bring my cath supply to the basement, I would do it - as having to always have a cath available would be more of a bother than a once daily pill.
But I'm not you and I would have a higher IPSS score with the same parameters. You are more knowledgeable than many urologists, are fully aware of the potential risks and advantages of meds and procedures and are more than satisfied with your current situation. As the old saying goes, "if it ain't broke..."
If you take 5mg of Cialis on a daily basis, your blood serum level would be 8mg (5x1.6) after five days or so, and would go no higher. So when I took a double dose, I was increasing the level to 13mg, as I understand it. This is well below the 20mg "weekend" dose, so I felt it safe to do that for sexual activity even though my urologist told me that you are not supposed to add additional Cialis to the once daily per packet insert or something similar. To get around this he suggested to add Viagra if I wanted to, which made no sense , but then again, urologists often don't!
Jim
Hank,
Maybe it's time you bought a home bladder scanner so you can start experimenting! As you know I have one, so I'll be happy to point you in the right direction.
Jim
Unfortunately, that pill doesn't exist, at least for me. Even with the Cialis, I did have to cath once in five days, so not a complete solution. Pretty sure I tried Alfuzosin four or five years ago and I did have retro even though my uro said I probably wouldn't.
Going back to the bladder versus prostate (or maybe a combo), video urodyamics might provide an answer, but again the logistics would be tough as I would have to duplicate the "no go" event at the time of the ultrasound. And like when you bring your car in for that "noise", you never hear it at the mechanics! Still, one day I might do it, but not motivated enough now, because while the answer is of academic interest, not sure what I could or would want to do with it in terms of action.
Jim
I had terrible cramps the first day I took it, No pain with the smaller dose, but I dont think it works at all
Thanks Lou. If I try it again, it will definitely be with the smaller dose. If I get no benefit from the smaller dose, then I guess that's it for Cialis!
Jim
Ok thanks for the reply jimjames. I've found the daily cialis isn't giving me erections like it did when I started it for BPH. Kind of weird when I think anout it. I lost ~ 40 lbs this past summer. Felling great, more energy but "Mr Happy" hasn't responded well to the new me. I wonder if the lost weight has made the sexual side effect of fernasteride worse.
They are almost surely unrelated.
Apologies if this is my second repsonse, but the same med dosage when you're 40 pounds lighter could conceivable make the sexaual side effect of fernasteride worse. Some drugs are actually dosed per body weight for that reason but in most cases they just do a one size fits all. The other possiblity is that the daily cialis is just losing it's therapeutic effect or that you're just getting older!
Jim