I've been dealing with it for about 6 years, so I have a long story. Probably more info than Bobzilla needs but since we're primarily a group of aging males this info might help others. I wish I'd known more initially.
My problems started with urgency and frequency issues (about 57 YO) and built up to painful urine retention. About the time it was getting bad enough where I was going to go see a Dr. I had a heart attack. While in the recovery ICU after stent surgery I couldn't urinate and was in pain so they gave me a catheter which caused some internal bleeding. Then an IV fluid drip pumped me full of fluids again to the point of pain and I still couldn't urinate. So they said that because I needed another catheter combined with the bleeding the first time they would have to give me a Foley (cath with a little blow up bubble inside the bladder to keep it in place with a bag taped to the leg). I was told how to care for the Foley and that I'd need to see a urologist a week after being released to have the Foley removed. ummmm OK
I call for appointment with the urologist to get the Foley removed and they want me to stay on the Foley a few more weeks and get blood work that included a PSA test before an appointment. During the appointment they fill my bladder (using the catheter in reverse with fresh water) and then remove Foley to see if I can control my bladder and hold the water. I literally have to run to the restroom and can't hold the water. Then I got the finger up the butt treatment to feel my prostate. They can sense the size and texture which gives them an idea of your prostate. Rough feeling is a possible indication of cancer. So then, the Dr. tells me my PSA is 14 and a normal score for my age should be 3-4 and I need to talk to him in his office after I dress. So I expected the "Might be cancer" talk and that's exactly what I got. Instructions to get another blood test in a month and scheduled me for another office visit after the blood test.
After going home that day, the urgency and pain from a full bladder was back after a few hours so I went back to the urologists office where they put a Foley back in and sent me away for the month. When I went for the next appointment my PSA had gone down to 12, they gave me the finger up the butt routine, removed the Foley, and I had another conversation with the Dr. who explained that because the PSA score had not gone down significantly I should get an ultrasound to determine my prostate size and I would have to "self cath" if I couldn't urinate. I was instructed on catheter insertion and given a box of cath samples as well as prescription for more, and was told to use a catheter if I couldn't pee. They gave me another appointment a few weeks later for an ultrasound of the prostate.
Catheters used in hospitals are flimsy rubbery tubes they coat with lube and insert up your hootus to your bladder. A male "self cath" (for standing use) is a semi flexible hard plastic tube that is lubed and inserted. There are pre-lubed caths as well as lube-your-own types. Typical adult male cath is 16" long, a bit thinner than a bic pen, and are available in different diameters as well as tip designs. When you first see how big the thing is you need to shove up inside yourself you realize the bladder is much higher up than you'd think. The lube is water soluable and about the consistency of sex lube. Some types of caths work better than others for individuals, I've tried about a half dozen different types both pre lubed and lube-your-own. Currently lube-your-own are $50.00 for a box of 30 and Pre-lubed are like $80.00 or more.
Anyway, the ultrasound showed I had an enlarged prostate so the recommendation was to have a biopsy of the prostate done and I was given another appointment a few weeks later along with instructions to give myself an enema prior to the appointment. I was told that I would need to take it easy for the rest of the day after the biopsy but that it was a common procedure, wasn't a big deal, and was very routine.
My appointment was scheduled a couple days before a major hurricane was about to hit us (Irma IIRC) so I was trying to do hurricane prep at the time knowing I'd lose a day. The enema didn't go well at all and if I'd had my phone I would have called an ambulance from the bathroom floor where I was laying in a puddle of sweat. After the symptoms from the enema subsided I showered and went to the Dr.'s office where the biopsy procedure didn't go well either. The biopsy is done through your butt and they pierce your prostate a dozen or more times snipping out meaty bits of the prostate, yes you feel it. While Dr. was working inside me stuff starts crashing behind me in the room but I can't see the nurse trying to stop it and can't move because I was told not to move while Dr. was operating. I get cleaned up and go home.
Since they're piercing through the prostate it's expected that you'll have blood in your urine afterward and pee blood clots for a day or two, however, I had a lot of blood and I also felt really weak days later and called the Dr. who was with his family at the airport bugging out because of the hurricane when he returned my call. He said well most guys don't have much of a problem being weak etc. but just take it easy and due to the blood thinners and anticoagulants required by the heart stent surgery the bleeding wasn't an issue and should stop. He did however give me the good news that the test results had come in just before he'd left and I didn't have cancer. I had a lot of bleeding through the hurricane plus another week or so. Overall it was the biopsy from hell. Meanwhile I still had to use a catheter occasionally which I'm sure slowed the healing process.
Once I knew I didn't have cancer I blew off going back to the Dr. (no health ins) until my prescriptions ran out and I had to make another office visit to get them updated. Of course that also meant a PSA test where I was back up to 14. Since then it's been 4 years and I keep getting 12's so it seems like there isn't much change and the Dr. doesn't seem concerned. Meanwhile my prostate is continuing to grow and pinching off flow more and more and my cath usage is pretty much daily at this point. Sometimes (but rarely) more than once a day, and I occasionally get days or several when I don't have to use a cath. Bleeding from cath use isn't really unusual and I go through periods with and without bleeding.
I need to get the roto rooter operation for enlarged prostates Hobiercr mentioned, but it's not in my budget. It's called TURP and what they do is go up your hootus and scrape out the inside of your prostate which is also your urethra in that area. Supposedly that can eliminate symptoms for like 15 years. There are also a couple other operations for enlarged prostates that have been used successfully the past few years that are gaining in popularity. My next door neighbor had the cancer and went through the radiation treatment. He's been cancer free a few years now.
I should mention that it's common practice to do ultrasounds on your bladder externally. So when you first enter the urologists office they may ask you to go urinate and then they'll do a non invasive ultrasound to see if you're retaining urine after peeing. If you've been diagnosed as retaining they'll probably have you do that every visit to note any change.
