Today I got to see what my prostate looks like from inside the bladder, in real time too. I'm sure everyone is disappointed because no pictures are available. They actually insert a tiny camera on the end of a catheter into the bladder, look around and then turn it back to see the prostate. The doctor doing the test asked me if I had ever had a catheter inserted before and I told him, "not when I was awake." The only thing I remembered from before is the relief when it came out. It was the same this time.
The reason for the test is a brief episode of bloody urine last Friday and my doctor said it was necessary to find out what's going on. So far the cystoscopy and CT scan turned up nothing. Best guess is a minor blood vessel around the prostate broke and leaked a bit of blood. I will get the final results a week from Monday when I see the Urologist.
This getting old is a pain. ::)
Hope all turns out well for you Gary. You're right about the getting old being a pain but it beats the heck out of the alternative.
Hope all is well now.
My brother had it done and discovered cancer on the bladder and he had some blood in urine as a sign. Got it removed in day surgery and checked by scope every 3 or 4 months.
Glad your doing fine Gary.
Gary,
I hope everything goes well with your test results.
As for the scope - I think I will have to wait for the movie to come out and when it does you will have to bring the popcorn yourself.
Hope all isOK
My schedule for this summer has been all up in the air mainly because the only jobs I have to cut are pine and the pine markets are really slow right now. I found a small Oak/Aspen job and am looking at a larger Aspen job right now but my next weeks schedule unfortunately does not include any trip to the Pig Roast this year because I will be having a needle biopsy of my prostate next Thursday.
The two initial tests they did came back with no determination of my problem and after an MRI of my prostate, they found two suspicious spots that are most likely cancer. However the doctors tell me there are many types of prostate cancer and some are so slow acting that it may not need treatment. They will not know till the pathologist report comes back but I suspect there is no immediate threat because my PSA test came back slightly lower than last year though it is above average.
So I will be uncomfortably watching the festivities at the Pig Roast again this year.
Yes, them catheter are not nice. My retired chopper and myself can vouch for that, but the alternative is worse. We finished a job in 2011 and he ended up having his prostate taken out, all went well till the uretha tube healed with to much scare tissue and they had to open it back up.
I'll pray yours is not a problem.
I thought this was over but there is a lot more. I did the guided biopsy and it turns out I do have prostate cancer. The good news is it is the lowest grade possible and most likely will only need monitoring over the next 20 years.
Unfortunately during the pre procedure prep they discovered I had an Atrial Flutter. For twenty days in Sept I was sick as a dog with drug reactions between coumaden, antibiotics and god only knows what else. Finally my heart doctor did a cardiversion and got my normal rhythm back and most of my shortness of breath was relieved. But then I struggled with SOB when walking and other lung problems. Finally after Thanksgiving I went back to my heart doctor because the pulmonary specialists were all saying it was heart related.
Unfortunately they were right. Eight years ago I had open heart surgery and my aortic valve replaced and my mitral valve repaired. The tests now show the aortic valve has failed (one of the leaflets tore) and is not pumping much at all. Plus my heart rhythm is switching between Atrial Flutter and A Fib. met with the surgeon yesterday, had a cardiac catherization and am being put on the operating schedule in about two weeks. Told the surgeon I need twenty years out of this one, not eight.
But there are no guarantees.
My prayer is for a successful procedure and a full recovery for you. Please keep us updated.
My thoughts are with you Gary.
Sorry about the heart issues. Thankfully, they'll have you patched up and back to your feisty self in no time. Stay positive.
Gary,good luck to ya. :)
Good luck!
Gary, we hope all goes well for a fast recovery and that you are back in the woods on the harvester soon.
Luck to you on the operation, and I'll be praying for a great recovery.
Good luck ta ya Gary, we're all pullin' and prayin' for ya.
Thanks for all the well wishes. Today I had my last scheduled appointment for now. It was with the oral surgeon and he pulled six teeth because the heart surgeon will not do heart surgery if there is any sign of infection in your teeth. Seems the bacteria in your teeth have a tendency to attack heart tissues.
That was no fun at all even though the oral surgeon was one of the best and did a good job. My local dentist is a butcher when it comes to pulling teeth.
Now begins the uncomfortable wait to get in the schedule.
Hang in there Gary. As you know, there are a lot of good things to read about on the Forestry Forum and may help pass the time while you recover. Good luck with the heart surgery and keep us posted on your progress.
Whew, that's alot to happen isn't it? I'm hoping and wishing you the best.