|
Post by TheBear on Dec 7, 2008 19:42:49 GMT -5
Yesterday Bear said,,, (and all eyes turn to Carroll) SOMEbody must know where that darn bus is hiding. Bear, put me in your sling and I'll show you!!! (speaking in his very best Southern drawl, Bear says...) Why Carroll, I am sure I don't know of what you speak! Better be ready, though. My "pure as the driven slush" body arrives in YOUR neighborhood just over a week from now! Not sure if Florida is ready for a gen-u-wine Virgin! Bear ________________
|
|
|
Post by TheBear on Feb 23, 2010 11:31:17 GMT -5
Okay, gents, (this time our BluePride gals get to take the day off...) it's time for ol' Bear to discuss Round Two, the sequel to "The Procedure".
Regular readers may recall a bit over a year ago when I talked about The Procedure (Colonoscopy.) (BTW... thanks to all those who ordered the video of my procedure, LOL!)
Well, now it is time for another colorful discussion of medical issues faced by 70% of males of "a certain age"... enlarged prostate.
Back in the early days when I was in psychiatric nursing school (... a long time ago - Florence Nightingale was in my class,) I used to think that the "Grand Plan" was unfair when it came to matters such as FEMALE issues. In my relative youth back then, little did the academic knowledge of an enlarged prostate and its issues seem too challenging.
Yeah. Well, for the last few years, it has been a WAKE UP CALL for THIS old man. When ya have that FULL BLADDER feeling of needing to piss like a race horse and ya go to relieve that, only to just dribble on yur foot, while the line in the men's room gets suspicious as to WHY you are taking so long at the urinal, one starts to realize the GRAND PLAN evens up... with just a few decades time shift.
So, with bladder not fully emptied, ya git back to your seat in the stadium, having just missed THE PLAY of the game, sit down, and have that URGENT... I GOTTA PEE NOW feeling. That is due to an enlarged prostate which surrounds the urethra - the urinary tube out of the bladder - squeezing shut or greatly restricting the urine flow.
For a few years, I have been taking Flomax and Avodart to "shrink" my prostate and help ease the urine flow (and feelings of URGENCY and FREQUENCY.) Alas, even both meds are becoming ineffective. I often joke with BluePriders about having to wear Depends... but it is almost to that point. Thank goodness for THICK COTTON underwear when the URGENT DRIBBLES happen and the men's room is still a block away!
Sooooooooooo... March 1st, I get to see a Urologist. (BTW... ever wonder why someone would become a Urologist? ... or Proctologist, for that matter. But I digress...)
ANYway, I suspect it will all result in the Roto Rooter procedure for me. (I know, I know... all the male readers are crossing their legs as they read this, LOL!) It's just that I'm working on 70 years that I've been peeing and now I almost can't do it. SO... stay tuned. Details (and video - with SOUND!) to follow after the next "PROCEDURE." Remember... 70% of males WILL have prostate issues starting in their "junior-senior" years.
Bear _____________________
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2010 15:36:14 GMT -5
Hey Bear. I had mine checked a few weeks ago. My Doctor must have magic fingers because, after feeling around in there, he said it was in pristine condition. It's a good thing I was bending over the table at the time. He didn't see that I had snapped to attention !!! Since your medication is no longer working, is there some other option for you? Would surgery be appropriate?
|
|
|
Post by bluepride on Feb 23, 2010 17:32:43 GMT -5
I've heard about that roto rooter procedure although I can't remember the real name for it right now. Anyway, you know we wish for everything to be OK for you, if you do get it. After the procedure, you'll be back to normal!! ;D
|
|
|
Post by TheBear on Feb 23, 2010 17:48:01 GMT -5
Hey Bear. I had mine checked a few weeks ago. My Doctor must have magic fingers because, after feeling around in there, he said it was in pristine condition. It's a good thing I was bending over the table at the time. He didn't see that I had snapped to attention !!! Since your medication is no longer working, is there some other option for you? Would surgery be appropriate? Hey Carroll, YUP... I'll wait and see what the doc says but, yes, at my stage, surgery is the usual "fix" ... the Roto Rooter procedure (aka TURP... Transurethral Resection of the Prostate - using blades to cut away the prostate overgrowth) which causes a LOT of bleeding, must have catheter for several/many days, possible impotence, restricted physical activity possibly for several weeks.) As I wrote in the last post, it's kinda the "equalization" for being male and not having to deal with female issues. I am holding out some hope for a newer procedure called PVP, (Photo Selective Vaporization of Prostate) which has much less bleeding, may not require catheterization for more than a few days, high efficacy of symptomology reduction, etc. But, there are risks to that too. It's all part of senior male health. Carroll, you are fortunate to be among the 30% of junior-senior males who have not experienced BHP, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (enlargement of the prostate.) Hopefully, all our male BluePriders who have reached the age of 40-ish have had a PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) blood test along with their yearly check-ups to rule out any elevated levels that could be a warning sign of prostate cancer. Again, it's all part of male issues and health, guys. Okay. Information presentation is ended (for today.) Everybody can help themselves to milk and cookies in the BluePride break room! Bear _________________________
|
|
|
Post by bluepride on Mar 14, 2010 14:46:56 GMT -5
Hey Bear, we haven't heard from you in a bit. Did you have the procedure?? If you did, I hope it doesn't affect your fingers and you post here soon! Unless you were typing with another part of your body!! YIKES!! ;D
|
|
|
Post by TheBear on Mar 14, 2010 18:59:11 GMT -5
Hey Bear, we haven't heard from you in a bit. Did you have the procedure?? If you did, I hope it doesn't affect your fingers and you post here soon! Unless you were typing with another part of your body!! YIKES!! ;D Damn. BUSTED! Blue Pride, you discovered my secret! Not easy typing with one, uh, "digit" ya know! ;D Actually, I have been pooped. Even with racing stripes on my walker, making TWO trips down to Eureka (100 miles each way,) to see a pee pee doctor is a bit challenging for an OLD ursine. And, the last trip, several "tests" were done that NO male should ever have to endure (front and back, sigh.) Besides, nurses (moi) make rotten patients ... second only to doctors. So, next Thursday, I make the trip to Eureka yet again for pre-op humiliation stuff at the hospital. Then, the following Thursday, is the surgery. Alas, the laser procedure is deemed not indicated. The doc plans to use a "hybrid" procedure that is basically a core-drilling garden hose (inserted you-know-where) to ream a new highway through my prostate with cutting blades. They might have to put me in restraints! Hospital stay is 2-3 days (coz I'm delicate, you know, HAHA!) When I get back to the bearcave, I'll still be "sporting" the, um, tubes (oh joy.) I get to remove the catheter myself after I stop bleeding in a few days. I'll post the YouTube video for everyone's enjoyment! Yeah... watch for it. Damn. I need a cookie. Thanks for checkin' up on ol' Bear, Blue Pride! Managing a small BearTail wag... Bear _____________
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2010 8:56:19 GMT -5
Oh my God bear, that sounds like absolute torture. Still, I'm glad they have the skills to help you. Most of the younger guys don't even stop to think what a blessing it is to be able to pass urine. At my age, I'm one of the lucky ones who, so far, has been spared the indignity of facing those problems. Keep your chin up and do what you have to do. The best days of your life are still in front of you.
|
|
|
Post by TheBear on Mar 15, 2010 13:42:10 GMT -5
Thank you, Carroll. As you know, you and I are about the same age. And, yes, you are fortunate to be one of the 30% of us "junior senior" males to escape prostate issues. At least my problem is benign hyperplasia. Prostate cancer would be a whole other issue. I have the highest confidence in my young (30-something) urologist who will do the surgery. And, you are correct, the things they can do now are amazing. Not to get too graphic about it (but it is just between us Blue Priders,) it will be nice to be able to stand up and pee again without just dribbling on my hind paw! As the saying goes... film at eleven! Bear ________________
|
|
|
Post by bluepride on Mar 15, 2010 19:14:12 GMT -5
Trust me, Bear, you don't want prostate cancer. This procedure, probably what is known as TURP is bad enough and hopefully it will just be a one time procedure. And maybe they'll give you some nice pain pills to take the edge off. That catheter thing bothers the heck out of me though.... yikes. But you'll get through it. <<it will be nice to be able to stand up and pee again without just dribbling on my hind paw!>> I could probably name a few clubs and bars where that stuff would be the norm and fit in perfectly!!
|
|
|
Post by TheBear on Mar 15, 2010 23:57:33 GMT -5
Yup, you are right, Tommy. It's a modified TURP. ... and I WANT a T-shirt with the Roto Rooter logo on it! Once I've been "reamed," I think I will have earned at least a T-shirt! About the catheter thing, I have to share a story... I went through psychiatric nursing school for my license which has a different curriculum than regular medical nursing programs. However, the first year was all the standard medical stuff... including learning how to properly install catheters in a safe, sterile manner. Now, being a highly specialized psych curriculum, there were only six students in the entire program... five gals and one gay male (guess who!) And, for most of the learning and practice for giving injections, installing nasal-gastric tubes - all that stuff - we practiced on a dummy... and then on each other. And, so it was also for practice on a male and a female dummy for installing catheters. Then, the light bulb turned on when we realized - uh oh - it's real body practice time. Now, this didn't particularly thrill me, being the only male and there being FIVE females needing to "practice" and demonstrate proficiency of the skill. Oh s**t. (which brings up enemas - but that is a different story for later.) ;D Fortunately, it turned out that we actually practiced on clients at the institution where we were doing a rotation. Whew. Bottom line... at the end of the day, the only student who was able to properly catheterize a real female using proper, sterile procedure was... the gay male in the class! (Bear takes a bow. ) Hey, I may be a little bit "fluffy" but I ain't stoopid! Follow-up: After I transferred to Pelican Bay State Prison, I never got to demonstrate my catheter installation skills on the likes of Charlie Manson or those other darlings (sigh.) ... but OH! the stories I can tell about working at PBSP! Now, gimme my T-shirt! Bear _________________
|
|
|
Post by TheBear on Mar 28, 2010 14:31:18 GMT -5
Hey Bear, we haven't heard from you in a bit. Did you have the procedure?? If you did, I hope it doesn't affect your fingers and you post here soon! Unless you were typing with another part of your body!! YIKES!! ;D Hey BluePride! Yup yup... I'm now back in my bearcave post surgery last Thursday. Okay... here's the visual... I had not expected to be quite so "tied up" in the hospital. Gad... one I.V. in my left hand, another one in my left foot, a third pole with huge bags of flushing fluid going INTO one tube in the catheter, another tube out of the catheter to the drainage bag... oh joy! I'm amazed they didn't have me in a body condom! Tomorrow morning will be four days since surgery so I can take the catheter out myself after hopefully remembering to deflate the balloon in the bladder, of course... it's hard to pull the catheter out otherwise! And, I get to take off the drainage bag tied to my leg! Then, I will drive the hundred miles to Eureka to see the doctor. I'm HOPING to be able to pee normally within a few weeks. Now, all the joking and graphic word-pictures aside, I do want to remind our BluePriders, especially those over 50, of the importance a colonoscopy when recommended by your doctor, and a yearly prostate exam during your annual physical for the guys... Colonoscopy and mammograms as your doctor recommends for our BluePride gals. My roommate in the hospital, a very pleasant young gay man of 51, was there after having had his colon and much of the lower intestine removed following both chemo and radiation therapy for cancer. Believe me, regular checks as recommended by your doctor are far simpler - and ever so much easier to address any problem early on - than what that young man was going through. My heart really went out to him. So, Bear is back home. Give me a few more days (and lots of handwashing!) and I'll be back to baking cookies for the BluePride Break Room! Bear ____________
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2010 15:26:15 GMT -5
Bear, thank God that's over. We were all worried to death about you. Is anybody there helping you with things like errands, cooking and cleaning? You know, if you lived in Florida, we would have you covered. (hint, hint, hint) !!!!
|
|
|
Post by TheBear on Mar 28, 2010 17:45:13 GMT -5
Awwww garsh! Thank you, Carroll! Alas, no, the last time anybody came to my little bearcave was before I retired in 2005. This really is wilderness. I do have a new bag of bearkibble and housecleaning can be delayed a few more days before the health dept. shows up. Two rooms plus a bath isn't much to clean. Yes, well, if you could arrange for Florida to be a bit cooler in the summer, you might awake some morning to find a bear has taken up residence on your front porch! Happy Paw Waves, Bear
|
|
|
Post by bluepride on Mar 28, 2010 17:55:39 GMT -5
Well, Bear, I'm glad you're home and the worst part is behind you...(so to speak!). Now, just relax, rest, eat well...(cookies and bon-bons) and get back on your feet. I can't believe you're so isoloated where you live. Maybe you should think about Florida! There is such a thing as air conditioning and swimming pools! And there are enough people there that could be at your beck'n'call when you need them! And from what I understand, you're there often enough! I think Carroll is on point with his advice! But anyway, I'm glad you're home and recovering (although that pulling the catheter out by yourself is pretty scary!) and soon you'll be back in the kitchen making with the cookie batter! And.....1) thanks for giving our members some good advice as to check-ups....and 2) for the nice words about your room mate. I hope he's going to do well and I know you're going to!
|
|