I know activities that put pressure on the prostate can cause elevated PSA results making them pointless, but what about pre biopsy? Any reason to abstain before a prostate biopsy?

I'm not a doctor.

Regarding PSA, yes bike riding, a hard bowel movement, anal sex, a digital rectal exam, a colonoscopy can all elevate PSA. Therefore, they should be avoided prior to having a blood draw.

Normally a prostate biopsy is done through the wall of the rectum using an ultrasound guide to locate the various sections of the prostate. Typically, it's 12 fine needle aspirations (FNA).

Most doctors will have the patient take an enema either at home or at the medical facility where the biopsy is to be done just prior to the procedure. Also, antibiotics will be given either by IM (medical for "in the butt"), IV or pills. Often, both pills and IV or IM are given. The antibiotics are an attempt to stop an infection caused by introducing bacteria into the prostate from the needles.

So, other than the enema and the antibiotics, your doctor might have a suggestion or two for you.

I, however, have a big ass 'ole suggestion (that also is a medical term) for you --

Demand, insist and refuse to budge on having the biopsy done under full general anesthesia - in other words, you are out cold and will remember nothing. The urologist will tell you that "it's generally well tolerated" or that "I'm going to numb you up just like the dentist does". No fucking way. The doctor bought expensive prostate biopsy equipment for his office and if the procedure is done in his office, he can bill for using it. If it's done in a surgical center, the surgical center bills for the use of the TRU (trans rectal ultrasound) equipment. Most men will not tell their urologist how badly it hurt. This gives the urologist a false sense of how much pain it causes.

My advice if your urologist won't do it at a surgical center where you can be put under is to shake his hand, look him in the eye, thank him sincerely for all his help and find a urologist that will do it at a surgical center using both lidocaine to numb up the prostate a Propofol to put you under. Even if you have an appointment to have it done in the Urologist's office using either no lidocaine or with lidocaine, call and tell them you want to be put under AND have the lidocaine. If they tell you they "can't" do that, cancel the biopsy, tell them you'll be in to pick up all your records and find a doctor that will do it pain free.

Why? Is it really that bad? Can't think it's any worse than a bone marrow biopsy.

Cseriess (imported) wrote: Thu Apr 04, 2019 9:12 am Why? Is it really that bad? Can't think it's any worse than a bone marrow biopsy.

I recently read an article written by a man who declined the lidocaine because his urologist told him, "it's very well tolerated". He was one of the rare cases where an infection set in and he got sepsis (a whole body infection). Because of the sepsis, he had a heart attack.

What impressed me was that his article was a warning to watch out for the signs of sepsis - not just from a biopsy but, from any tiny cut.

So, in warning people of the dangers of sepsis, he described his biopsy. He had the normal 12 samples during his biopsy. He said the Urologist told him that the sound (the urologist called it a "bang") was the worst part.

Remember, the point of the article was his sepsis and heart attack.

He described the first "bang" as being like one of Satan's demons had stabbed him in the ass. The second "bang" was as if Satan himself had risen from hell and poked him with a burning hot fire poker. He said he lost count at six "bangs" and prayed to die. He didn't much remember the next 6 "bangs" other than he felt like he was descending into the next level of Dante's hell.

Then, it was over and the Urologist patted him on the shoulder and said, "that wasn't so bad, was it?". He answered, "yeah, it wasn't so bad".

Remember, he chose not to have the lidocaine injections (which urologist say really helps with the pain). So, he got the full E-ticket ride during his biopsy. If the doctor hits the correct nerves with the lidocaine injections, it will make it more tolerable.

For me, I'd demand to be put under. The last endoscopy I had done, there was a man who went it at the same time. He was having a prostate biopsy and they put him under. But, we were at a surgical center. He came out at the same time as I did. I heard him tell his wife he was in no pain and didn't remember anything. The doctor not only had him under propofol but, had used lidocaine as well.

I'm not trying to scare you. It's just there is no reason to suffer if there are Urologist willing to do it at a surgical center.

Thanks for the info. I am pretty good at pain, stitched my own wounds in the backwoods. Will take the lidocaine, but don't like being put under.

Hey,

Sounds like you'll do fine. If you can stitch up your own wound, you should do great.

I recently discovered both sides of my family have a high risk of prostate cancer, and that all of my living uncles and my father have had a run in with it. I got tested and unsurprisingly I am at high risk too.

Naturally when looking at available online medical information it is all worst case scenario stuff. I am tempted to get the prostate preemptively removed rather than worry about when it'll bloom into cancer for the rest of my life. What are the consequences of that, and what other options are available?

I love the irony that I have been lurking these message boards and the story archive for nearly two decades, and would never have guessed that the prostate would be the first bit of male equipment that I might lose.

It's seems like you have to actually have cancer before you can get anything done!

Stumpycoon (imported) wrote: Sun Apr 07, 2019 11:32 am I recently discovered both sides of my family have a high risk of prostate cancer, and that all of my living uncles and my father have had a run in with it. I got tested and unsurprisingly I am at high risk too.

Naturally when looking at available online medical information it is all worst case scenario stuff. I am tempted to get the prostate preemptively removed rather than worry about when it'll bloom into cancer for the rest of my life. What are the consequences of that, and what other options are available?

I love the irony that I have been lurking these message boards and the story archive for nearly two decades, and would never have guessed that the prostate would be the first bit of male equipment that I might lose.

It seems as if having a preemptive prostatectomy is an option.

https://www.esquire.com/lifestyle/healt ... -prostate/ (my virus checker says this link is safe)

More and more women who have a history of familial breast cancer are having preemptive mastectomies. So, a man wanting a preemptive prostatectomy would seemingly be logical.

However, gender-based equality when it comes to medicine isn't always logical.

Stumpycoon (imported) wrote: Sun Apr 07, 2019 11:32 am I recently discovered both sides of my family have a high risk of prostate cancer, and that all of my living uncles and my father have had a run in with it. I got tested and unsurprisingly I am at high risk too.

Naturally when looking at available online medical information it is all worst case scenario stuff. I am tempted to get the prostate preemptively removed rather than worry about when it'll bloom into cancer for the rest of my life. What are the consequences of that, and what other options are available?

I love the irony that I have been lurking these message boards and the story archive for nearly two decades, and would never have guessed that the prostate would be the first bit of male equipment that I might lose.

I have a 14 core biopsy done last April and it was done in the hospitals x Ray department the urologist numbed me and did the procedure and all I felt was a dull thump when he took the biopsy. I have to have another one done soon because he found pre cancerous cells and will be doing it the same way it wasn't that bad at all I don't see why anybody would want to be knocked out but I wouldn't do it anywhere but in a hospital.