Prostatitis?

[Begonia]

My husband may have prostatitis, something he's had twice before. He no longer has a family doctor as we're in a health care crisis where we live, and none are available. We managed to secure him a walk in clinic appt today, altho even those are scarce. She has said he should feel relief quite soon after the cipro kicks in, but if not, he's to go back as it may be enlarged. Being 57, I imagine ruling out cancer would be one of the steps should this not resolve the symptoms. I'm wondering what questions should we be asking, and what should we be doing? Is resolving the symptoms enough? What else should we be doing? I'm his advocate, and I need all the advice and support I can get please.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

oh dear
i hope Mr Begonia is feeling better soon
Do you live rurally ?
we have a shortage of GP's there
takes about 2 weeks to get an appointment
when we lived in Wellington if one was really sick they always kept the 8.30am appoinment open if you rang at 7.30 and that was out in the burps in a two doctor practice so its been a bit of a shock to the system

 

[Myshinybestlife]

Questions to ask - was the urine culture positive for a specific bacteria (helps tell if treatment is with a best guess antibiotics vs a targeted treatment.
Treatment is usually longer than a urinary tract infection for women- expect 2 to 3 weeks
Possible complication is an abscess when untreated /not treated long enough / when the treatment is not targeted for the bacteria causing the infection.
Expect improvement in symptoms in 3to 4 days after treatment is started.
Hope he feels better soon.

 

[Begonia]

Thanks @Daisys and Diamonds! I'm trying to make sure we follow thru and ask the right questions.

No, we don't live in a rural area. Our province has made it difficult for GP's to stay in practice and so many have retired. You can get virtual appointments, and that will take a week to 10 days, but they are not likely Dr's in our area. Still, better than nothing. You need more than a virtual appt for some health issues tho.

Doctors offices have closed, and so have walk in clinics, not that you can walk in anymore. Sigh.

 

[Begonia]

Questions to ask - was the urine culture positive for a specific bacteria (helps tell if treatment is with a best guess antibiotics vs a targeted treatment.
Treatment is usually longer than a urinary tract infection for women- expect 2 to 3 weeks
Possible complication is an abscess when untreated /not treated long enough / when the treatment is not targeted for the bacteria causing the infection.
Expect improvement in symptoms in 3to 4 days after treatment is started.
Hope he feels better soon.

Thank you @Myshinybestlife ! She didn't take a urine culture. Oh dear! Back to the drawing board (?), altho he's already started the antibiotics...???

 

[Myshinybestlife]

Cipro is a good choice, it gets into the prostate to treat infections. If no improvement then a culture will help with future antibiotic choice

Thank you @Myshinybestlife ! She didn't take a urine culture. Oh dear! Back to the drawing board (?), altho he's already started the antibiotics...???

 

[kenny]

I'm not a doctor, but here goes.
He should bet getting annual PSA tests.
PSA is Prostate Specific Antigen.
Annual PSA tests is the best quick & cheapest way to look for cancer and treat it early.
Left untreated it's a killer.

11 years ago I had prostate cancer and had a radical prostatectomy.
That's the old-school big operation where they slice you open from your naval to your Mr. Johnson to remove the entire prostate.
They caught it on time.
I'm cancer free now.

Here's the pre-surgery thread.

I have cancer

I just got the results of my 10-needle biopsy (ouch that hurt) and I just found out I have cancer, prostate cancer. My doctor says if I do nothing I have 5 to 7 years to live and I'll end as a 70-pound skeleton in indescribably-excruciating pain even pumped full of morphine. My PSA is 3.84...

www.pricescope.com

Here's the post-surgery thread.

Yesterday's surgery went well

I am grateful for all your good wishes and prayers I'm posting from my private hospital bed with a lovely view. They have WiFi so I brought my laptop. They must pay well since I've seen several honking diamonds on nurses here. Yesterday they put me under 7 AM and woke up at 1 PM. Post-op they...

www.pricescope.com

I strongly recommended a book in the middle of my first thread.
But there are newer editions.
Here's a link which I think has the 3rd edition, but I believe there is a fourth edition.
Look for it.

Amazon.com

 

[Begonia]

I'm not a doctor, but here goes.
He should bet getting annual PSA tests.
PSA is Prostate Specific Antigen.
Annual PSA tests is the best quick & cheapest way to look for cancer and treat it early.
Left untreated it's a killer.

11 years ago I had prostate cancer and had a radical prostatectomy.
That's the old-school big operation where they slice you open from your naval to your Mr. Johnson to remove the entire prostate.

Here's the thread.

I have cancer

I just got the results of my 10-needle biopsy (ouch that hurt) and I just found out I have cancer, prostate cancer. My doctor says if I do nothing I have 5 to 7 years to live and I'll end as a 70-pound skeleton in indescribably-excruciating pain even pumped full of morphine. My PSA is 3.84...

www.pricescope.com

I strongly recommended a book in the middle of that 9 page thread.
There are newer editions.
Here's a link which I think has the 3rd edition, but I believe there is a fourth edition.
Look for it.

Amazon.com

Thank you @kenny!! I'll read it thru and get the book. It sounds like there is a lot of helpful info here. It's much appreciated.

 

[kenny]

Thank you @kenny!! I'll read it thru and get the book. It sounds like there is a lot of helpful info here. It's much appreciated.

It's very well written and easy for the general public to read.

 

[LilAlex]

The symptoms of prostatitis are usually distinct from prostate cancer -- I would not jump to that conclusion but agree with age-appropriate screening.

That is around the age when prostatic hypertrophy ("BPH") starts to manifest -- sluggish urinary stream, getting up at night to urinate, incomplete emptying, having to urinate frequently, etc.

Prostatitis can necessitate a pretty long course of antibiotics. There is a risk of tendon rupture with cipro-type antibiotics so he should lay off the weekend warrior stuff like basketball. It used to be prescribed left and right but it's used a little more judiciously in the US now. It's still a "good" antibiotic, though.

 

[kenny]

I was writing this post when LilAlex posted his helpful post.

I forgot to mention, don't be alarmed.
I'm not suggesting your hubby had cancer.
I think it is normal that prostates enlarge with age.

The prostate is shaped like a doughnut and the urethra passes through the middle of it.
When the prostate enlarges it squeezes the urethra.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I'm not a doctor, but here goes.
He should bet getting annual PSA tests.
PSA is Prostate Specific Antigen.
Annual PSA tests is the best quick & cheapest way to look for cancer and treat it early.
Left untreated it's a killer.

11 years ago I had prostate cancer and had a radical prostatectomy.
That's the old-school big operation where they slice you open from your naval to your Mr. Johnson to remove the entire prostate.
They caught it on time.
I'm cancer free now.

Here's the pre-surgery thread.

I have cancer

I just got the results of my 10-needle biopsy (ouch that hurt) and I just found out I have cancer, prostate cancer. My doctor says if I do nothing I have 5 to 7 years to live and I'll end as a 70-pound skeleton in indescribably-excruciating pain even pumped full of morphine. My PSA is 3.84...

www.pricescope.com

Here's the post-surgery thread.

Yesterday's surgery went well

I am grateful for all your good wishes and prayers I'm posting from my private hospital bed with a lovely view. They have WiFi so I brought my laptop. They must pay well since I've seen several honking diamonds on nurses here. Yesterday they put me under 7 AM and woke up at 1 PM. Post-op they...

www.pricescope.com

I strongly recommended a book in the middle of my first thread.
But there are newer editions.
Here's a link which I think has the 3rd edition, but I believe there is a fourth edition.
Look for it.

Amazon.com

oh Kenny
im so glad the surgery saved your life
i couldnt imangine PS without you

 

[kenny]

Aw shucks.

 

[Begonia]

oh Kenny
im so glad the surgery saved your life
i couldnt imangine PS without you

Yes, I'm so thankful too. Passing on what you've learned thru your illness and recovery is so very good of you. Thank you my friend.

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

How is your DH?? Healing vibes across the kms...

kind regards, Sharon

 

[Begonia]

HI:

How is your DH?? Healing vibes across the kms...

kind regards, Sharon

Thank you sweet lady!

He's had a course of antibiotics and then we wait a bit for the prostate to settle, then the PSA test, and then...hopefully we dance!

This mid life, extended warranty has expired gig is not fun. Thank goodness we took our health fairly seriously when we were young, as some of our friends are in really rough shape

 

[AprilBaby]

My husband has this problem on a regular basis. He has a urologist that he sees. His PSA is always high and they do cancer testing every couple of years which is negative. The biggest problem is urinary tract infections. He has to give a urine sample and wait several days to see what bacteria it is and then get a matching antibiotic. He finishes the antibiotic and a week later he gets another infection. He has had a tube inserted for several days in out patient hospital and he doesn’t want to do that again. He has an infection again now and has an appt tomorrow again with the urologist. It’s quite tiresome. Q for Kenny: is Mr Johnson still ok after the prostectomy If you know what I mean?