Sorry fellas, but prostate enlargement is something almost all of us have to look forward to. Indeed, this little gland resting below the bladder will continuously and relentlessly enlarge such that 70% of men in their 60s and almost 90% of men aged 70-89 years will have some symptoms (lower urinary tract symptoms or LUTS) of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). I was thinking about this the other day while potty training my son. His stream seemed so robust compared to my trickle. I heard myself saying, "my god, do I have BPH?" If you have ever found yourself asking this question, perhaps while dribbling at the toilet in the middle of the night, then this article is for you. Below are 5 signs indicating that you just might (read likely) have an enlarged prostate:
Urinary frequency: If you find yourself looking for the loo not more than 2 hours after you just went....you might just have BPH. In fact, urinary frequency can significantly decrease quality of life because you simply can't go anywhere where you don't have quick access to the toilet. Long road trips become an issue. Concerts and dining out are hassles. Going to your grandchild's game is out of the question. Soon, you and your spouse are completely housebound.
Straining to urinate or weak urine stream: If you find yourself standing at the urinal, cheering your bladder on....you might just have BPH. Not surprisingly, this is a common complaint. I mean let's face it, we're busy and have much better things to do than stand at the commode. In straining, you are literally trying to force the urine through the narrowing created by your enormous prostate. When, exasperated, you finally give up you can be left with next sign, incomplete bladder emptying.
Incomplete bladder emptying: If you've just zipped your pants and find yourself thinking "hmm, I could go again"....you might just have BPH. Incomplete bladder emptying may seem like a trifle annoyance but it can lead to some serious problems, like recurrent bladder or urinary tract infections and kidney failure. These can be life-threatening and an absolute indication that it's time to do see a specialist for treatment.
Incontinence: If you've ever heard yourself say, "I think I just pissed myself"....you might just have BPH. In fact, urinary incontinence can be secondary to incomplete bladder emptying (see number 3) and, unless you are truly unfettered from social norms, you should get this checked out.
Inability to urinate: If you been suffering with the above symptoms and one day find yourself unable to urinate and it feels like you have a basketball in your pelvis don't wait. You need to go to the ER or urgent care and get a catheter placed to empty your bladder.
Any of these sound familiar? The American Urological Association (AUA) has created a questionnaire designed to measure the symptom severity in patients with known prostate enlargement. It allows your doctor to assess your symptoms and if necessary, initiate a treatment strategy.
Note that the I-PSS was not designed to diagnose BPH but can be a starting point for a conversation with your doctor. In my clinic, we will typically treat patients with an I-PSS score of moderate to severe (i.e. 8 or more) with the average patient being in the mid 20s.
You don't need to live with symptoms that diminish your quality of life. And furthermore, as you have learned, prostate enlargement can cause more than just inconvenience. Some symptoms can contribute to life-threatening events such as infection and renal failure. For more information, contact us today!