Over the past months (years actually) I have received invaluable advice from so many here and I am very grateful. Can't imagine what I would have gone through without this forum. Anyway, had a bipolar TURP in early April and have posted here about the progress. It definitely was a success, in that I can empty my bladder much more easily - flow stronger, takes much less time to empty my bladder and I have had no issues with incontinence. My uro measured my PVR two weeks ago and my retention was 0 . Had been in the 170-200ml range prior to the surgery, so the TURP worked! However, my nocturia continues with no progress. I am still getting up at least 6-7x per night and sometimes more. My bladder always feels irritated except right after I have cleared it after my hourly trips to the bathroom. I would estimate that I am going to the bathroom 20-30x per 24hr period. My urologist wants me to wait this out for a while and see if the issue will resolve over time. He has suggested a treatment where botox is injected into the bladder muscles and that helps for about 6 month. After reading about this I have decided it isn't for me - fairly high probability of a UTI and need to self cath (back to retention again). Other treatment possibilities include PTNS (percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation - like acupuncture) which I tried last year. It was slightly helpful but required 12 weekly 30 minute sessions - had to pay for each session (copay). Yet another treatment is to have a battery operated device implanted under the skin that sends electrical signals to the nerves that control the bladder. Again, not something I would do at this point. I am taking trospium and that is supposed to help calm the bladder, but in my case, doesn't seem to have any effect. So, my question for this forum is: has anyone had any form of treatment for BPH symptoms that resolved the flow/retention issues but didn't resolve the frequency/urgency/nocturia issues? What happened over time? Did the bladder calm down eventually, or is this bladder situation permanent? Just took the IPSS test again and it came in at 28 - was 30-32 before the TURP. 28 is still very high. My sleep is so disturbed that I wake up tired every morning and never feel right during the day as a result. Many here report good sleep outcomes after various procedures. Hoping that eventually I will be OK but at this point am very, very concerned. Thanks, Tom
What has helped me most is self-cathing before bed.
The only other things that have helped me at night is cutting way down (or quitting) on alcohol and caffeine and reducing overall liquid intake (to about (48 ounces daily)
Get a prescription for Myrbetriq. It may solve your problem.. Give it 60 days
I agree with Old Buzzard. I went on a two week run on Myrbetriq, per my own insistance with the urologist. It did help, along with the supplements previously suggested. I also just had a wellness check and found out that my testosterone levels were low (263.) So, I've added some test booster supplements and have found them profoundly helpful in night time urination, to the point that I sleep through the night in the majority! My theory is the testosterone boosters help the body retain fluids.
Hi Tom, Treatment for BPH : I am taking Saw Palmetto capsules, Pygeum bark extract capsules and pumpkin seeds oil capsules. Before, I used to wake up 3 or 4 times in the evening.Now I sleep all night and wake up for a wee around 5 am or 6 am. I was diagnosed in November 2017 and the urologist prescribed me Tamsulosin. I took it for few months but I have to stop it due to side effects. Don't drink coffee, tea or alcohol before going to bed. I stop drinking at 5 PM because I drink a lot of water in the day. Hope this natural treatment will help you.
A lot of nocturia (nighttime urinating) is caused by excess fluid that collects in your body during the day. Gravity causes it to collect primarily in your legs. When you lie, supine, in bed at night, much of that excess fluid leaves your legs and enters your general blood volume. The body responds to this extra fluid by creating more urine at night. This can be combated in a few ways. 1.) by reducing fluid intake - no fluids after 9pm or 8pm. 2.) wearing compression hose during the day or evening to reduce the fluid collecting in your legs. 3.) there's a drug called Desmopressin, which I'm not very familiar with, but it reduces urine production. 4.) some people do the potato chip routine - eating some thing very salty like potato chips, just before sleep. The excess salt raises the sodium level of your blood which causes the body to secrete anti-diuretic-hormone which reduces urine production. 5.) if you happen to be on a diuretic for high blood pressure, taking it around 5 or 6 pm (instead of in the morning) might dehydrate you a little just before going to sleep and reduce urine production. Good luck to you, Tom, with this very common and very annoying problem.
Suggest you seek several professional opinions until you find the right one. Avoid herbals and supplements. No doctor would recommend them.
ditto on the invaluable info provided on this forum. helped me through of bad times.
Arlington,
I can pee just fine - just can't seem to sleep longer than 1 to 1.5 hours at a time. Possibly a bad habit from the past couple of years of retention. Seems I wake up no matter how much liquid I have had prior to going to bed.
Tom
oldbuzzard,
I checkout the Myrbetriq. It's similar to the trospium I take but almost 20x more expensive! Not covered by my insurance.
Tom
Lance,
I had my testosterone checked a few years ago but haven't done so recently. Certainly looking at again. Thanks,
Tom
I don't have the BPH retention anymore, but still have the nocturia. Very good that you can sleep better. My TURP didn't seem to do anything for my sleep issues, although others who have had this procedure have been helped.
Tom
Jerry,
I don't think my sleep issues are due to fluid retention. When I was having retention issues my bladder would wake me up, but now I am able to clear my bladder, but I am still waking up frequently at night. This is a mystery. My bladder seems to be irritated almost all of the time. No problem during the day - I can always find a bathroom. But at night, I have to completely empty my bladder before the irritation goes away and I can fall asleep again. I am thinking more and more that this is a bladder issue - just wondering if this will resolve or be permanent.
Tom
Have you tried not going every hour, to see if you're bladder can be retrained during the day? Just I thought as I have nothing to base this on.
Lester,
I may have to schedule an appointment with a sleep specialist about this. However, the constant bladder irritation has all of the symptoms of overactive bladder, and I have been looking for solutions in that category, because my prostate is no longer blocking the urine flow.
Tom
Gary,
Absolutely - my urologist doesn't say much, so this forum is my (our) support group.
Tom
Tom, . A long time ago, long before my BPH, I worked with a sleep specialist. It was well worth the time. You can do a search on "sleep hygiene" and see some of what will be covered. . Also I would like to second, self-cathing before going to bed, avoiding herbal and supplemental remedies, and NOT to add salt to your diet as an earlier poster incorrectly suggested. . Good luck, . Steve
Tim,
I have been working on this - trying to hold off going to the bathroom as long as possible during the day to retrain my bladder. The more I research my issue the more I believe it's bladder related and not prostate related anymore. This might also apply to many here who have had various prostate procedures that didn't work for them.
Tom
Steve,
I am careful about salt because I have had some issues with blood pressure in the past - now OK. I am going to ask my doctor for a referral to a sleep specialist.
I have tried self cath in the past and it was painful and difficult, and before my TURP I tried it, but was unable to complete the task. I was using a 14fr, but perhaps something much smaller might work. Anyway, I am able to clear my bladder now so CIC doesn't seem necessary. Seems that no matter what I do my bladder is always slightly irritated. I have been researching this issue and believe I am moving closer to some understanding about what's going on.
Tom
Tom
Tom, . Yes the BPH causes bladder damage. The prostate procedure removes the blockage from the BPH but the bladder damage remains. . What were your urodynamic test results before your TURP? Have you done another PVR test after the last one that you mention above? . After a successful Rezum, I am dealing with bladder damage issues as my PVR's are still over 100 ml. My IPSS has gone from a 28 or 29 to an 8 or 9 now though. . Steve