Hi all, this one is a little later that I had hoped, but things don't always work the way you want...
Those that have followed my story will recall I started my treatment as everyone else does, Bicaltitude and Prostap. Then I had HDR Brachytherapy on 3 Mar. I was catheterised for that and it was removed the following day. The following story refers to my urinary issues. I had to visit A&E four days later (8 Mar) as I was not able to pee and had a catheter replaced. The doc said remove it in a week. The District Nurses were unhappy at that timescale and refused point blank. They said two weeks. They wanted to TWOC me (try without catheter) on 28 Mar. That was in the middle of my radiotherapy sessions, so it had to stay in until they ended. It was removed on 7 Apr. It went back in 6 hours later because I still couldn't pee and said it needed to stay for 11 weeks because it was the 2nd TWOC I gad failed. I told them this one hurt lije he'll and I was actually peeing down the outside of ut and it was stinging like mad. I asked if they could reposition it ,(no) or remove and replace (no - risk of infection). I protested they had to do something to make it more comfortable but they said nothing they can do, talk to the GP if I was unhappy at the 11 week schedule.
I arranged to do just that and also spoke to the CNSs first (it just happened that way). The CNSs suggested doubling the Tamsulosin and adding ibuprofen. They would talk to the District Nurses and ask for the TWOC to be done in two weeks not 11 and it was removed on 22 Apr, much to the annoyance of the District Nurses. I developed a UTI part way through the last catheter and was given antibiotics that didn't work, so had a second lot that seemed to, but it's back again. Have been back to the GP and I have more Antibiotics. Other than that, which at the time was very frustrating, I've come through the treatment relatively unscathed. I know through my work that some people really struggle and I have nothing to complain about, which is how I planned this right at the start. So I consider myself lucky. All I have to do now us wait for the next scan and then the oncology phone call appointment (set for Jun) to hear the results.
Hello Guern017
Thank you for your update. it's a strange one, the urine problem. As you know we aren't medically trained so it's guess work. It can't be the size of your Prostate - that would have been noticed by the Brachytherapy team. I can't think of anything else.
Anyway, job done and you are recovering so I wish you well moving forward, your next scan might give a clue as to anything causing the urine issues. Keep us posted if you find out.
Best wishes - Brian.
Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm
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Ah Guern017 and thus we have the answer. Prostate swells into the urethra, closes the bladder exit and bingo - problem, no urine!
That's just how I got here, prostate grows into urethra, bladder fills up and can't empty, crushes kidneys and tries to kill me. And I ended up with a catheter for 10 months before my TURP operation to "shave" my prostate.
Like you, I get on with life - I do bits on other forums on the Community and I come back here and think "golly, we are the lucky ones".
Best wishes - Brian.
Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm
Strength, Courage, Faith, Hope, Defiance, VICTORY.
I am a Macmillan volunteer.
Yes, that’s what I suspected: swelling from the HDR. It is rare, but HDR stands for high dose radiotherapy, so it can be a shock to the little prostate gland in a few cases. I opted for LDR - low dose rate; this introduces the radiation 
️ at a slower rate via the seeds. Ironically, it is a higher dose , but delivered at a lower rate . AW
Hi Guern017 - haha - it used to be like battleships (aiming and hoping) but now it’s very precisely plotted & targeted from the various scans and ultrasound. But I’ve heard it called battleships before 
AW
