This condition affects 50 per cent of men between the ages of 51 and 60 and up to 90 percent of men older than 80. That is a LOT of men. See the research here!
So listen up!
In Canada, this condition, because it is so prevalent and because we are aging well past 60, is proving a concern to the medical community. No longer in the realm of the specialist, family doctors are now handling the condition. The big question? Will there be enough doctors?
Today’s topic is meant to be of help to the men in our lives: brothers, dads, uncles, cousins, grandfathers, husbands, partners, father-in-laws and friends.
The topic? Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and Its Consequences
Many of you who regularly read every newsletter, have likely figured out that many of the themes for each issue come from my life, past and present. And you have likely figured out that when there is a reprint of an article or a guest post, I am practicing some self-care. Today’s article is neither a reprint nor a guest post. Today is real life, real time.
Fifteen years ago, at age 70 my dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Within six months after the original diagnosis he was given a clear bill of health – no cancer. My dad is a very determined man and to his credit, he put some changes in place – juicing, supplements, homeopathic medicine and reading everything possible that my mom could research on the topic of prostate cancer and healing from it. They did a good job!
Fast-forward fifteen years, to age 85, my dad’s prostate has enlarged and hardened to the point that it is interfering with urination. He is on yet another journey as one of the 90% of men over 80 with BHP.
After a recent catheterization and catheter removal, my mom and I have been researching, reading and trying to figure out what is a ‘normal’ recovery time post catheter removal. What are the symptoms to watch for and what can you expect as someone heals from having had a catheter removed.
There are many more considerations to take into account at this stage. My dad is under the care of a urology oncologist, given his history at age 70. He is on a prescription medication to help with urinary flow. Using homeopathy can still be supportive while a person is on prescription drugs. All that to say…there is a place where homeopathy and allopathy can meet. There are more tests to come. Real life. But for right now, the real deal is how to manage life post catheter removal.
Here is what we are learning about urinary symptoms (my dad’s symptoms anyway) post catheter removal where an enlarged prostate is involved (I will update with the newsletter from time to time so that maybe someone else can be helped through the healing process):
Symptoms change frequently. Sometimes flow is free and sometimes flow is weak.
Sometimes volume is good and sometimes not so good.
Pain on urination at the beginning and at the end.
During the day, everything is better but worse at night.
Waking several times at night to urinate. Sudden and urgent. If not attended to right away, the dribbling. Then tired all day.
Excruciating pain 6 hours after the catheter removal. This pain has now reduced to being manageable with 1 extra strength Tylenol a day.
Everything is better by a very hot bath/shower (this was the only way to manage the pain the first night).
For homeopaths reading this newsletter, if you have remedy suggestions based on these symptoms, please send those too! It’s been very hard for my dad to describe the pain. And as homeopath to one’s parent, a challenge of another sort.
It has been a week now that the catheter has been removed. One search of a chat board said that for every day the catheter was in expect as many days for healing recovery.
For any men (women too for that matter) out there who have had a urinary catheter in for any number of weeks (my dad’s was three weeks before the catheter was removed), please let us know what your experience has been, especially after removal. There is plenty of information on care of catheters once in place but very little about what to expect after it has been removed. You can send your comments privately to donna@powersofhomeopathy.com or if you are willing to share with the public, post comments below. The time has come to talk about this!
If someone you love is having urinary problems, please encourage them to see their family physician. Doctors can diagnose the source of a urinary complaint. What I share here is not medical advice but information on how homeopathy can help support. If urinary symptoms clear up with homeopathy, wonderful! Share that with your doctor too.
Here are helpful handouts for caregivers:
- Remedies for Catheterization Removal
- Remedies for Stress in Traumatic Events – This will give you some remedies that may help as your working through any kind of stress traumatic stress that undermines the health of you or your loved ones.
Yours in health and healing,
Donna
