Q:I used to make fun of the middle-aged men taking their time at the urinals at the ballpark. Now my stream is slower, it takes a while to get things started and I am always looking for a bathroom wherever I go. Worse yet, my wife complains that I'm waking her two or three times at night when I go to the bathroom. I'm petrified that I may need surgery. What are my choices?
A: You have all the symptoms of an enlarging and blocking prostate. Statistics show that 50 percent of men ages 60 and over will have prostate enlargement known as BPH, which can significantly detract from quality of life.
Patients may first try to rearrange the timing of drinking fluids. Next, your physician might offer medication to relieve symptoms of slow stream, urinary frequency and nighttime waking. Alternatives include minimally invasive therapy. These simple office therapies are based around heating the prostate for several minutes under local anesthesia. The heat ultimately shrinks the prostate and statistics show that symptom relief can last up to five years in 85 percent of men. For many men this may even be an excellent alternative to medications, which can have side effects.
Speak to your urologist and be honest about your symptoms and your concerns. We can almost always tailor a treatment that will help you feel better and hopefully allow both you and your wife to sleep better.
