Prostate

Started by Mike Farmer, 18 February, 2022, 11:41:37

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Dice1969

Have had both PSA and physical tests - the PSA is a simple blood test and the physical exam is not painful and takes just a few seconds.  Thankfully I was fine but I will be more than happy to go back for future checks.

As noted above, the alternative can be horrendous to fatal if it gets too far (have close family experience of this), but is easily sorted out in the early stages if caught then. 

Don't hesitate on this folks - get tested, especially if you are over 50 - it might be the best decision you ever make.

Dean Southall

Did a home blood test yesterday (a present from the wife!) after a particularly bad night having to get up for  a wee at 45 intervals.
Test gave a negative result but should I trust it?
Can I face the negotiations with the GP receptionist to try and get tested?
Maybe I'll get wife to watch some youtube videos (like she did before giving me  a haircut) and get the rubber gloves out.
BSA: turning ordinary men into mechanics since 1910

DAVE BRADY

Hi Dean,

For a start who supplied the test?  NHS or an online 'Medical Expert'.  As the NHS 'pros and cons of the PSA test' indicates, the test is not conclusive and should be part of a more comprehensive diagnosis involving an assessment of symptoms and the physical check.
I do have great respect for health professionals and they do have a big work load.  This does not however justify poor service.  You are under no obligation to tell the receptionist anything and they are not there to say you cannot see the doctor.  Insist that you want a telephone appointment that day and the result will be the GP will almost certainly call you in.

Dave.

chaz

#18
Dave, you obviously dont live in our area.
our surgery is next to useless.
1st doctor: I had a bike accident locally and mentioned going to France. Its down on my records as a accident in France, which considering I was claiming against the driver screwed everything up. Surgery WONT alter my notes and doctor has left,
2nd doctor: left before I could see her.
3rd doctor : went to see her and although she was in, I was passed onto a trainee next door.
4th Doctor: the trainee, went and consulted with doctor 3 , who came in. looked and had no idea. damaged the heel and instep, no diagnosis.
5th doctor: male of Asian descent. went there with a rash on the back of my leg, I think associated with blood pressure tablets, ended up with  a vaseline type gel to rub on "as I had dry skin", no mention of the rash.

to see one of these clowns you have to pass the dragon on the desk who wants to know the ins and outs.

works check up says I have slightly high blood pressure, tablets were given by doctor 1 and not been checked for years despite me mentioning it.
The desk operative, makes the notes, she passes on to the triage nurse who either decideds what to do themselves or passes onto the doctor who then calls you back. Good job  its not life or death!!

Group Leader

I'm with Chaz!

Quote from: chaz on 21 February, 2022, 20:52:56
Good job  its not life or death!!

The first time the doctor finally actually saw fit to see me he pronounced that he didn't understand my symptoms (I'd been going downhill for some months) and admitted me to hospital.   As I was going through the admissions procedure (in A&E) I collapsed with complete heart failure.  When I awoke I was told that I would be getting a Pacemaker the very next morning.

The only thing I think that is certain in this regard is that the quality and efficacy of the service that patients receive "from the health service" is, for whatever reason, entirely dependent on where they live, the NHS trust responsible and the specific individuals who deal with them.   There is certainly no "common standard" of care given or received (that's why some services are in "Special Measures" after all!)

chaz

cant knock the care from the nurses, its just getting past the surgery thats the problem.
only problems with the hospital were always noisy at night, best time of the day to move patients in and out???, as dad said, you cant sleep in hospital.
one dodgy male nurse, tried pulling my drain out of my chest which must have started sticking to the insides, I did ask if he had done it before, burning sensation in my ear!! the female who did the first drain , I didnt feel anything.
the other male (nurse or orderly)mtried to enter my room to clean it, despite the signs on the door and the barrier in front of the door, announcing that I was radio active and to keep out. I said, are you allowed in her? he said yes, I said are you sure? Im radioactive.
to which he went out and asked another nurse , who put him in the picture. The room was always kept for RAI treatment!! As for the meals, the first day there I gorged, the next... selective, far too much and good quality. I would rather not have had cancer but just glad of the care.

ChrisG

If you are having peeing problems, go to the GP. It may be Benign Prostatic Hyperclasia. I've had it for years and one Tamsulosin capsule a day sorts it out. I also get a PSA every 2 years first one was 0.9 second 1.0 latest 1.8 so I'm encouraged by that. The doc said that people with such a low PSA very rarely go on to develop prostate cancer, but they never argue when I ask for a PSA test.

chaz

update.
I asked for the PSA test  from the cancer blood test, have still not had an answer from surgery or specialist regarding results.
due to the first blood test, it was deemed my cholesterol was higher than normal. the result being, someone put me on statins.
2 weeks later I was phoned up to see how I was going, any side effects. Sure as eggs are eggs, I was fine, then  2 days later I was getting a fluttering sensation in the top of my chest and dizzy when I bent over.
called the vet at 08.30 seventh in the waiting list. desk hitler  wanted to know all about it then at the end said she would get the doctor to call me. 16.45 later in the day, the doctor calls me. Ive been on my tablets for the cancer and thyroid issue for 10 years, she insists its likely to be them causing the problem rather than the latest statins. Getting near to giving up arguing. She finally decided it may be worth me getting an ECG , but stop the statins for a couple of weeks. later that day, feeling a lot better no flutter or dizzyness. hmmm I wonder if I was right.
had the ecg  today , took longer to stick the pads on and off than the test.  doctor will ring if there is a problem..

Dean Southall

After nudging by some of you I have had a physical exam and blood test (only 90mins wait past appointment time before being seen). GP could not detect anything during physical exam but then again they didn't detect wife's breast cancer either!
If I haven't heard about the blood test results in the next few weeks I'll call the surgery so the receptionist can explain them to me >:(
I was offered tablets to help  but declined as I'm on so many pills already but in light of Editors comment I might try them. Although the route for doing this at our surgery isn't goong to be easy with GPs only working 2 days a week.
BSA: turning ordinary men into mechanics since 1910

berniej

I've been following this thread with interest and am of a certain age so thought I'd chip in.

I was also diagnosed with benign prostate hyperstasis (enlargement) a few years ago after the usual symptoms - reduced flow, multiple visits in the night - and prescribed Tamsulosin. It helped but I found I could stop taking them after a few weeks and the problem didn't reoccur for a year or so and I now just take them when necessary - note this is not as recommended by the GP but it works well for me.

My consultant urologist (available for a short time whilst covered by company insurance) also suggested that I should get a PSA test every 6 months. However, this is not current NHS practice. I understand that the test can deliver false positives but would prefer to be able to make my own decision about when to get tested. My GP practice says no symptoms, no test. After nagging them they agreed to do one. I haven't heard back so assume that it was fine but would prefer some feedback. They still won't agree to regular screening - only if I present with symptoms.

I see that there are now home testing kits available and I will be getting one and testing every 6 months as advised. I'd rather a false positive than take the chance of missing an early indication particularly as some strains can be extremely aggressive.

I also find myself musing about what I would do if there was a 'National Bike Service' where you had to take your bike for a service (if you could ever get through to book it and accept a long wait of course). We take it for granted that we have a completely free choice where we take our bikes to be looked after and serviced or repaired when necessary and we share reviews and experiences with each other. Why shouldn't this model be applied to the most important engines in our lives - our bodies? Yes we can 'go private' but the cost is often beyond the reach of many people and there's also (in my experience) a social stigma attached as if it's somehow disrespecting the NHS.

It really does concern me that so many people assume that the NHS is the only 'service station' available to provide diagnostics for their bodies and just accept the level of service that is provided without questioning whether there should be other alternatives.

Please don't think that I'm critical of the employees that deliver NHS clinical care - I'm absolutely not but I do feel that the NI-funded, 'free at the point of delivery' model created in 1948 is terminally ill and it's time we considered a more European style of contributory health care with the option of increased individual choice.

Cheers,
Bernie







'49 M21/B31 hybrid
'56 M21 combination
B40 Super Star
A50CC project

idie

Chaz. Re statins after a doctor advised I started taking statins, so I did within two weeks I had the same symptoms so I stopped taking them. The symptoms stopped. I had my yearly diabetic test and my cholesterol was fine. I asked the nurse why I had been advised to take statins. No idea she said your cholesterol has alway been within limits.

chaz

thanks Idie , Ive not had a flutter since stopping statins.
had a text from the pharmacy saying my meds were available for collection.  get there and one lot is missing!1 why text me to say they are ready?
nothing heard about the ECG test or the recent blood test results for cancer, so I suppose all is good, but like you say, its nice to know one way or the other.

idie

Chaz. It gets more and more difficult as one gets older. As the Americans say getting old sucks. When I moan to my daughter in the states, she works in a medical clinic. She says Dad you are young for your age if you saw the people I deal with you'ed realise how lucky you are. She is right I wake up in the morning and see daylight through the window, I can still ride my bikes so life is still good.

DAVE BRADY

Hi,

I always ask for a printout of the actual results and not accept an 'everything is fine'.  They are your results and not a secret to be kept by the doctor.  Even without knowing about what all the results mean a comparison can be made with previous results and you can then ask the doctor questions.  Most of the time there is poor communication as I suspect that many people never ask the doctor to explain things.  They are there to serve us and through NI and taxation we do pay a lot of money in to the system.  Don't be shy always ask why.
I had a slightly elevated cholesterol result and the locum doctor said that I could go on statins as NICE had just lowered the threshold.
I said that I would not have the statins and chose instead to look at my intake of food that increases the ability of the body to make  cholesterol that it does not need.
So less cheese, less processed meats, less processed food containing high levels of saturated fats and a couple of months later my cholesterol levels had come down to normal.   
I agree with Idie that there is always someone worse off and age is an inevitable hindrance to what we want to do but strive to be the best you can be on any day, look after your body as if it is your most prized motorcycle and hold age at arms length for as long as you can.

Dave.

Mike Farmer

 :) :) :) :)

I believe that I am going to live forever unless there is an intervention and I die. In the meantime I am going to live forever. But more specifically I want to die at the end of a life, not an existence. So if its there go for it. Pretend you are young, she'll only laugh.

Mike 8) 8) 8) 8)