Good evening,
I am 47 years old, caucasian, and back in June-August I had maybe a monthly occasion where, when I peed in the morning, it would be stop start.
I put it down to getting older, but promised myself that, the next time this would happen, I would see a GP. It was only during the morning, and only the first pee of the day, and never 2 days in a row. In fact, never more than once in 3-4 weeks.
I come from a family where my father has an enlarged prostate (PSA score was 600) - this was 14-15 years ago, and my grandfather did also. My father has not had any further tests, considering he has a chronic liver condition, so it is unknown if he has Prostate cancer.
My sister was diagnosed with a slow form "borderline" ovarian cancer a few years ago. They still are unable to say it was cancer, and she was told that it would split opinions with some consultants calling it cancer, others would say it wasn't.
December 25th I felt unwell, and December 26th I woke up and could only pee a small amount before stopping. I decided to get on with the business of making my son's breakfast and then was able to complete my pee in the next visit. December 27th, I again was unable to pee, but managed to do so by pressing on my belly.
December 28th I made a GP appointment which was to be on January 8th. December 28th, I had pain in my back area - where the kidneys are located, a fever, and was able to pee without problems that morning. I have had no other symptoms since and I suspected that I had an infection that caused the issues. I felt generally under the weather until I returned to work on January 2nd.
On January 10th I saw a doctor, and explained all the above. She arranged for me to take tests including PSA, Kidney, Bladder, Diabetes, Bone, Blood Count and another two I cannot remember. I also gave a urine test which, I felt, was pointless considering the infection happened 10 days earlier. Urine test showed no infections
She offered to do a DRE but I was not prepared, I felt like I needed to poo (as I often do when nervous), so agreed to take a DRE after the PSA test (January 15th).
My PSA result came in and it was "higher than we'd expect for your age". I pressed the doctor for the score, considering my father had a 600 reading, and explained the family history. He gave me a score of 3.2 which is higher than the 2.6 upper limit for my age.
He performed the DRE (took about 10 seconds), and told me that the prostate was smooth. Of course, as you will all know, a DRE can only cover a certain percentage of the prostate. He did say my prostate was large for someone of my age. He said that, if the DRE uncovered something, he would refer me to a specialist straight away. Otherwise, it would be another PSA in three weeks (four weeks after the first). Because the DRE raised no alarms, I now face a new PSA test in February.
Ever since, I am in a state of panic because my understanding is that - whilst PCa is a slow moving cancer in most cases, it can be more aggressive in younger men. I am not able to conclude that either my dad nor granddad had prostate cancer. I am concerned that the symptoms mean this has spread.
However, my gut feeling is that I had an infection, and that has peaked my PSA score which is also affected by the enlarged prostate. I spoke to a nurse at Prostate Cancer in Wales, and she said it could be prostatitis and GPs are usually unable to diagnose this - only urologists can. Since the DRE, my bottom has felt sore - 72 hours post exam. I wonder if that is because it was already tender from infections, or prostatitis. When I sit in my harder office chair, it feels like I am sat on a small stone. It is not painful, but uncomfortable. I am peeing without pain, but my penis feels "irritated". I am not sure I can get an erection, I last had intercourse on Saturday 20 January which was difficult - although I had an erection, but I put it down to stress.
I have read that the brain is unable to feel prostate pain, so sometimes it appears as a pain in the penis.
However, as you know, late at night one tends to Google and find stories that set the panic racing. I am more concerned with this having been in my system for a long time, and the chances that it has spread beyond the prostate due to the higher risk chances that younger people have more aggressive forms. Is that a logical thought process?
I spoke to a nurse today, and she has said that - based on the above, I should not worry too much and she spoke about prostatitis.
The nurse suggested that I should rest before the next PSA - avoid intercourse, exercise etc. I am taking ibuprofen for the perineum pain and hoping it reduces any inflammation on my prostate.
Is there anything I can do in the meantime - to perhaps bring my PSA down?
Many thanks
