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Existing frequent urination issue before radiation treatment
I'm a 76 year old with moderate level prostate cancer moving towards radiation treatment which can have a side effect of frequent urination. I already have urination without flow problems. Does this mean that the frequency could increase that much more with radiation treatment? If so, should the current frequency be addressed as a urology issue prior to radiation treatment?
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@texasnole I have not found a solution even though it’s nearly six years since radiation and nearly three years since stopping ADT.
@roseat
If you are having to get up multiple times at night for frequent urination because you have urgency than one of these drugs can really make a difference. I’ve been taking Myrbetriq For a couple years and it really works for me, I usually don’t have to get up at night at all. I was getting up 2 to 3 times a night before starting it. There’s another drug that works just as well apparently, Gemtesa Is also used to prevent urgency problems, and both drugs help a little with incontinence.
Prior to my radiation therapy, I had been on Orgovyx for three months, and had settled into an acceptable to get ups per night to pee.
But the night after my third radiation therapy, I woke up 23 times trying to pee, with only drips coming out.
Because the next day was Saturday, and my clinic was closed, I went to my local emergency room .
After a short conversation with the doc and the nurse, they immediately brought up the idea of a catheter. Having Red about them, and in spite of being hesitant, given my previous night, I said.” yes please.”
The catheter takes a couple or three days to get used to. But it literally solves the getting up at night. It was wonderful to enjoy a nine hour sleep, which I had not had in four months, and even an occasional 10 hour sleep.
Sure, the catheter is a pain to deal with in any social situation, but I am 82, and have no real social or business situations anymore.
And, regarding the full bladder for the rest of my radiation therapy sessions— I just finished number eight of 28, hallelujah— I found that drinking 8 ounces of water 20 minutes before my RT session and immediately clamping off the tube, provided my radiation team and acceptably full bladder
By the way, I elected to stay connected to the night bag 24/7, so no complications of changing bags.
I’m a bit apprehensive about getting rid of the bag after my RT sessions, but I will face that challenge in another month.
(hook ‘em, horns!)