Urologist suggested taking a 3 month medication 'vacation'. Thoughts?

[TestingMe]

Thank you for all the support and replies as always. THought I should update the thread.

2020, what a year for all of us!

I finally got a CT scan and hopefully what was found is the reason for the high PSA, frequency and urgency of urination...A 1.25cm bladder stone!

I do have a history of kidney stones and it's possible/likely that one made it's way into the bladder and with prostate being enlarged, 65 grams? and perhaps with not drinking enough water or who knows what, either a small kidney stone turned into a bladder stone or it just started on it's own.

I have a laser outpatient surgery set up for January 4th.

No guarantees of how much this will improve things but the doctor did say it's not small and while some men have stones that size and larger with no symptoms, the stone, if not causing the issues is at least likely to be making them worse.

I nervously asked him about TRT, as the original idiot doctor wanted me off TRT, for no reason whatsoever.. He said, well that would mean we dont want to give you drugs to reduce prostate as it causes loss of libido, energy, etc..I forgot the name of the drug.

Well, in summary for this long story, I guess it's all the best outcome. Not cancer, treatable in outpatient, almost zero recovery time and no stent.

My only concern is prostate size of 65 grams, which might be one of the causes of the bladder stone.

I clearly do not want to stop TRT but am concerned about prostate size but he didn't suggest stopping but I am making an educated guess the other new urologist might very well suggest stopping TRT due to this concern..

Hope everyone has a happy holiday and New Year!

[kelkel]

I nervously asked him about TRT, as the original idiot doctor wanted me off TRT, for no reason whatsoever.. He said, well that would mean we dont want to give you drugs to reduce prostate as it causes loss of libido, energy, etc..I forgot the name of the drug.

Probably Finasteride or Dutasteride. Remember that prostates can grow, either from AAS usage or simply from aging.

[TestingMe]

Probably Finasteride or Dutasteride. Remember that prostates can grow, either from AAS usage or simply from aging.

I think he said Dutasteride and when I mentioned Testosterone, he said then you probably don't want that. He did reference prostate size being big a few times.. His specialty is stone removal but the new urologist who i only had one video chat with, was wondering why i was taking Testosterone in the first place. The way he asked, it sounded like it was so unusual.

My hunch is he will suggest stopping it and I just want to be best educated if and when he does.

I'll be 64 in March...My guess is this 1.25 bladder stone is the main reason for the changes in urination..the doctor agreed..

[kelkel]

I think he said Dutasteride and when I mentioned Testosterone, he said then you probably don't want that. He did reference prostate size being big a few times.. His specialty is stone removal but the new urologist who i only had one video chat with, was wondering why i was taking Testosterone in the first place. The way he asked, it sounded like it was so unusual.

My hunch is he will suggest stopping it and I just want to be best educated if and when he does.

I'll be 64 in March...My guess is this 1.25 bladder stone is the main reason for the changes in urination..the doctor agreed..

No reason to stop TRT. Lower the dose, maybe. When doctors make blanket statements like stopping TRT it irritates the hell out of me. They're the same ones who say just accept getting older. Bullshit. Makes you wonder why they become doctors and get advanced degrees in medicine only to discourage efficacious use of them.

[TestingMe]

No reason to stop TRT. Lower the dose, maybe. When doctors make blanket statements like stopping TRT it irritates the hell out of me. They're the same ones who say just accept getting older. Bullshit. Makes you wonder why they become doctors and get advanced degrees in medicine only to discourage efficacious use of them.

I was thinking the same thing and I will reduce it starting tonight as I am on Monday/Friday. The idiot first urologist and I mean idiot in the truest sense was the one who wanted me to stop just for the sake of stopping...you can't make this shit up..it's very disturbing, I'd like to see him do that to himself.

He also almost spit at me when I told him I take the test 2x a week..He was offended and I mean it...his response was "Now I have a new protocol for my patients, I have them take it every 10 days".

For no good reason, as I am very well spoken and respectful, he seems threatened and challenged by me and is a smirky smug POS.

The new urologist is very different. Top of the food chain and respectful but my educated guess is he will suggest to stop Test. I'll do my own research and cross that bridge if it comes to that.

Thanks for the post

[kelkel]

I think he said Dutasteride and when I mentioned Testosterone, he said then you probably don't want that. He did reference prostate size being big a few times.. His specialty is stone removal but the new urologist who i only had one video chat with, was wondering why i was taking Testosterone in the first place. The way he asked, it sounded like it was so unusual.

My hunch is he will suggest stopping it and I just want to be best educated if and when he does.

I'll be 64 in March...My guess is this 1.25 bladder stone is the main reason for the changes in urination..the doctor agreed..

Dutasteride is a type 1 blocker. Meaning it blocks about 90% of test turning to DHT via the 5AR enzyme. Finasteride is a type 2 blocker and cancels out about 70% of turnover from T to DHT. I've been on 5 mgs Fina for years due to BPH. Zero side effects. That said, sure some can get sides from it just like they can any other drug. We all respond differently. Finasteride is the same drug guys are prescribed (in a lower dose @1mg) to help curb hair loss.

[TestingMe]

Dutasteride is a type 1 blocker. Meaning it blocks about 90% of test turning to DHT via the 5AR enzyme. Finasteride is a type 2 blocker and cancels out about 70% of turnover from T to DHT. I've been on 5 mgs Fina for years due to BPH. Zero side effects. That said, sure some can get sides from it just like they can any other drug. We all respond differently. Finasteride is the same drug guys are prescribed (in a lower dose @1mg) to help curb hair loss.

Wow, that is hugely helpful to hear this. It will also be interesting to see how PSA is effected after things settle down when stone is removed.

Has the Finasteride helped with the BPH? Did you get a prostate MRI and if so do you know the prostate size? I don't even know if i have BPH as the issue was first the prostate MRI which slowed low likelihood of cancer.

The high PSA as the doctor confirmed might be a result of the stone as well as there are a couple of small kidney stones around too.

[kelkel]

Wow, that is hugely helpful to hear this. It will also be interesting to see how PSA is effected after things settle down when stone is removed.

Has the Finasteride helped with the BPH? Did you get a prostate MRI and if so do you know the prostate size? I don't even know if i have BPH as the issue was first the prostate MRI which slowed low likelihood of cancer.

The high PSA as the doctor confirmed might be a result of the stone as well as there are a couple of small kidney stones around too.

You should see your psa drop when the stones clear. Kidney stones cause UTI's so I'd bet you'll see improvement.
Yes, the fine helped greatly with my bph and keeps me in range now. Fortunately zero sides for me.
Yes, I went and had a 3T MRI which is the most advanced / sensitive scan for prostate cancer. Plus it's non-invasive meaning they're not sticking anything up your ass, which is a plus for most people....

[TestingMe]

You should see your psa drop when the stones clear. Kidney stones cause UTI's so I'd bet you'll see improvement.
Yes, the fine helped greatly with my bph and keeps me in range now. Fortunately zero sides for me.
Yes, I went and had a 3T MRI which is the most advanced / sensitive scan for prostate cancer. Plus it's non-invasive meaning they're not sticking anything up your ass, which is a plus for most people....

Getting the stone out January 4th. In the meantime, I am seeing some NP from the original scumbag urologist I started this thread about. I am concerned that I might have a problem getting my test refilled. I have a bit left but this is exactly why I have reserves which I have dipped into.

I did a video chat with the specialist who will be removing the bladder stone and that went well. He's as high on the food chain as it gets to do this and I'm glad I found him.

The bladder stone is about 1.25cm and I have to figure this is causing most of the issues I am having. The doctor explained, some guys have much larger stones and have no symptoms whatsoever. But taken as a whole, with the timing of the rising PSA that started 3 or so years.

Bladder stones can be caused by not completely emptying the bladder and the remaining urine can slowly start to crystalize and form the stone...OR my hunch, is that a small kidney stone made it's way to the bladder and that combined with everything else turned it into a bladder stone...The doctor said either scenario is possible, no way or knowing.

Prostate size is obviously enlarged to I think 63 grams..I guess after the procedure, I'll regroup and figure out a plan on monitoring and treating. Obviously not with the original urologist who routinely has all his patients stop Testosterone for no reason.

[lovbyts]

Probably Finasteride or Dutasteride. Remember that prostates can grow, either from AAS usage or simply from aging.

I used flowmax for a while and besides giving me IBS for almost 3 months it did nothing for me having to get up 5x a night. My BPH is only at 2.2, 2.0 in 2019 and 1.34 in 2018. I think I am going to give the Finistride a try since I have that. If not maybe the ciprofloxacin wouldnt hurt for 30 days?

Sorry, not trying to hijack your thread, just seem to have some similar questions.