SORRY, ANOTHER MEDICAL RELATED POST BUT I HAVE A THEORY WHICH MIGHT BE HELPFUL
Like many others I too have my many favorite things. Contentedly puttering away in our front yard flower bed on a beautiful Saturday's morn brought that home to me today. A twig snipped here, a fern moved there. With net in hand I dipped fallen leaves and pine needles out of our frog pond. An afternoon walk with Pheebs along our Park's sunlit dappled forest trail stretched the smile on my face. I was feeling a great sense of relief at something both mentally and physically that had thankfully happened to me overnight.
Now I know I've been going on way too much about medical stuff lately but stick with me if you can here because I have a theory about something that just may be of help to someone else. About a year or more ago I began noticing my urinary trips to the washroom were becoming more and more frequent. I knew that was common with older folks but also knew it was one of the warning signs for prostate cancer. Like most men I thought about that but put if off. My trips to the washroom kept increasing and suddenly my PSA numbers shot up. A prostate biopsy revealed I did indeed have prostate cancer so I naturally figured that is what was causing me to spend so much time running to the washroom. But now as of today I do not think my prostate was/is the culprit. I have a theory but it's only a theory and it's not based on any hard medical facts. I'm basing it on how bad I felt Friday and how great I feel today. I'm basing it on how a past year and half's problem suddenly corrected itself in the night.
While undergoing an abdominal CT Scan of my Prostate about six weeks ago the scanner also revealed something else. I had two kidney stones partially blocking both my Ureter tubes. No wonder I was on the run to the washroom so often and as those stones slowly grew my trips gradually increased. Why I experienced no pain from those stones in both Ureters is a mystery. After the stones were lasered out a month ago stents were put in and stayed in until a couple days ago. I was running to the washroom sometimes every ten minutes. Not nice. The stents came out Thursday and Friday I had a real bad day. Bad enough to keep me in my recliner with a blanket over top me. Bad enough that I even went and laid on my bed for only the second time in three years with the first time being just a couple weeks ago. My hands were cold Friday but my face felt as hot as a Chile pepper. Had no appetite so didn't eat all day. Headachy and I seemed to be running to the washroom more than ever. And it was uncomfortable each time I did.
About 9 o'clock Friday night standing in the kitchen by the counter I suddenly became aware I was beginning to feel better. Popped a piece of bread into the toaster and with some honey I was able to eat that. Headed to my recliner, tipped myself back for the night and finally drifted off to sleep at least feeling better at the end of the day than the start and during of the day.
Woke up at my usual 5:30 a.m. time and quickly realized I had slept the whole night through and hadn't had to run to the washroom in the night three, four, or six times. In fact not even once. I also quickly realized I was feeling fine and here's the absolute best part...…as today's hours ticked by I became increasingly aware from early on I was no longer having to run for the washroom. It was the first time in about a year and a half. And as of today I seem to be completely back to normal just like I was years ago. Now maybe I'm rushing this a bit but I am simply so happy to basically have a normal washroom routine again just like when I was a younger guy:))
Okay, so just in case a few of you folks made it this far I guess my theoretical words to my fellow male readers is this. If your experiencing a frequent increase in urinary habits it may or may not be your prostate but kidney stones blocking the ureters. For me I now believe those stones are what it was all along so I have my fingers crossed that problem has finally been solved. Okay so let's all get out of my bladder now and move on.
Next is my prostate radiation treatments which will begin this coming Wednesday and I 'm going to make it a point not to mention one more darn medical thing between now and then. Of course when I get home Wednesday I will have something to say about how the treatment went...…………
GROANER'S CORNER:(( A police car pulls up in front of grandma Bessie's house, and Grandpa Morris gets out. The polite policeman explained that this elderly gentleman said that he was lost in the park and couldn't find his way home. "Oy Morris", said Grandma, " You've been going to that park for over 30 years! So how could you get lost? "Leaning close to Grandma, so that the policeman couldn't hear. Morris whispered, "I wasn't lost, I was just too tired to walk home."
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“The mailman who was kidnapped by organ harvesters got delivered.”
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Doctor: "I accidentally left my gloves inside your stomach during your operation. We have to operate on you again."
Patient: "Are you kidding me?!?! Tell you what Doc, take this $10 bill and buy a new pair!"
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Al,your writings of your medical issues are of great help to me. I am 73 and facing the same things you are talking about. Your experiences have already helped me a few times and are appreciated. Please continue to tell of your "adventures" so we all can benefit from the information. Thanks again Barney.
ReplyDeleteAgree. As we "mature" more and more medical issues arise. I'm 78, hubby 71. Seem like more of our conversations involve body functions! We must keep these elderly bodies working.
DeleteGlad you are feeling better,getting a good nights sleep sure helps.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to find Al feeling chipper tonight! You are probably right about those stones causing your grief.
ReplyDeleteGuess if they'd caused you pain, you would have found out about them sooner. No matter, it's great that you are rid of them. Good sleep makes a world of difference.
Nice to have a gid nights sleep and not having to go to the washroom many times during the night, My normal for the last 20 years is usually 3 times and I think nothing of it , Maybe I need some more tests done?
ReplyDeleteAl, May be don't do prostate radiation treatments procedure for next several months?
ReplyDeleteIn with Barney!
ReplyDeleteI'm 68 and need your observations for future reference.Thanks!
Excellent theory. Well thought out. Enjoy your deep sleeps over the next few days.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear your frequent washroom trip problem may be solved. Good luck with the radiation visit Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteI vote you keep writing about medical issues. There is a lot of learning in your words and I'm sure others have read with interest your hopes and cures. Sure hope you are mending quite well.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely keep writing about medical as you see fit, Al. It’s important, for sure. Thank you for being open.
ReplyDeleteMay you have many nights of good sleep. It must have been hard to enjoy a day after so many interruptions.
ReplyDeleteI agree your medical notes are helpful to many of readers.
Good luck on Wednesday. interesting about the kidney stones for sure! Glad you can sleep through the night. I've been lucky that way for years, Bill not so much.
ReplyDeleteSometimes it seems like we have to "go" more at night than in the day time.
ReplyDeleteI always was sent home with a strainer to strain my urine and save any stones I passed. Once you pass them it's like night and day...I'm surprised you didn't have a strainer..Apparently ,you did pass some..The stents stretched your ureters enough to pass them...Hurray!!! Nobody knows just how horrible those stones can be unless they have them...Hugs!
ReplyDeleteAl, the details and honesty about your medical issues has undoubtedly helped more people than you know. Please continue if you are up to doing so. Many of your readers are in your age group, and even younger people need to know the details of the topics you've covered. Hope the days ahead continue to be better for you and Kelly.
ReplyDeleteI'm up every two hours every night, but it's because I drink so much water throughout the day. At least that's my diagnosis!
ReplyDeleteI'm with the others who say to keep talking about your medical issues. Many aren't comfortable talking about them, but I think it's often reassuring just to know someone else is struggling, and you're not alone.
ReplyDeleteI think you might be on to something and agree the stones may have been causing your problem. I also think the stones may have been a God send since they also caused you to find your cancer. May I ask a question? Why do you not sleep in your bed? I know men love their recliners but wouldn't you get better rest in your bed?
ReplyDelete