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Hi everyone, I'm new to the board.

Over the past year I've found myself needing to go to the bathroom more often, with less warning & more urgency. I had experienced this problem before but only temporarily as a side effect of medication I was taking. This time I suspect this is from an enlarged prostate, although my doctor doesn't agree (despite not performing any examination).
At first it was only frequent night voids, as a result I was losing much sleep. After some discussion with my wife we agreed I would start using diapers at night to help reduce the number of time I have to use the restroom. (Due to chronic cluster headaches reducing fluid intake at night was not an option). Then the problem starting making it's way into the morning hours and sometimes throughout the day. I'm grateful having a supportive wife, although at first she did not understand she has learned it is not something I can control.
I'm now finding myself using diapers whenever I go out for fear of not reaching a toilet in time.
I'm also finding it difficult to start a urine stream, having to push harder to maintain it, having an intermittent stream and then having to return to the toilet shortly afterward because I wasn't completely voided. ~has anyone else on the board had similar experience?
I know these are symptoms of problems with the prostate but, according to my doctor, my PSA levels are not high. A self examination though finds my prostate to be the size of a small orange. Seems PSA levels don't tell the whole story.
Despite this my doctor does not think I have a prostate problem but an overactive bladder and has prescribed oxybutynin. I only took it once and found it ineffective, I actually had to go more often *sigh*, although I did sleep better. Personally I would rather wear the diapers than to put more chemicals into my system, I already take a slew of medications for cluster headaches, gout, rosacea and back pain (I have dessicated discs in my low back).
I feel stressed about having to hide the diapers when I go out and I am afraid of being discovered. But I realise the alternative is having an accident which ultimately could be more embarrassing and uncomfortable.

Welcome to the board Once Upon A Time, you certainly seem to have an issue with the prostate, being the size of an orange is NOT at all normal, I would certainly be looking for a second opinion, or just ask to see a Urologist and skip what the GP is saying, take it to an expert... It is tough to deal with the sleep issue, I know it all too well, along with back issues, I also battle chronic prostatitus, which wreaks havok on the sleep, so I also wear when I am in bed, makes for a better sleep when it arrives, and eliminates the worry of a self-release in deep sleep, which also happens to me. At a younger age, it can be tough to deal with, sounds like you have a supportive, understanding wife beside you... Puffy

I wonder, OUAT, if what you have is not so much and over-active bladder but one that cannot properly empty itself. For example, my bladder will do some voiding - down to leaving about 500ml left in the bladder. Of course if I drink plenty it will void but it is hardly healthy. In the end I have settled for intermittent catherising which I need to do 4 times a day. The result is I can stay dry for certainly 5 hours in the day and, mostly, overnight without the need for any protection at all.

I'd suggest you find a doctor or nurse who can test to see if this is the case for you. All it takes is an ultra sounds scan of the bladder before and after voiding. It might just sort things out for you. If there is nothing there, then you need a doctor or nurse to run through the various tests and find out just what the trouble is which would include the prostate.

wheels5894 wrote:I wonder, OUAT, if what you have is not so much and over-active bladder but one that cannot properly empty itself.

I think you are correct wheels. I've been noticing I still feel like my bladder isn't empty even when I have finished. If I push real hard I can get about 100ml out.

I've also noticed that my urge to urinate comes in waves. Each wave is stronger than the last until it is so strong I can no longer hold myself. Maybe this belongs in a new post. has anyone else ever experienced a pattern like that?