Hi Tom,

I had seed implants about 10 months ago and everything is nearly as it was
before seeding.  I assume you are taking Flomax which should decrease
urinary hesitancy and urgency.

The slight burning when urinating should soon go away.

I never had severe pain during ejaculation.  Initally I had  unusual feeling
orgasms but never really painful.  After about 3 months they were teriffic
again.

One trick that worked for me is when I had the urge to urinate, I would tell
myself that I really didn't have to go.  Then I would get busy to take my
mind off my bladder.

Things will keep improving with time.

Good luck,   Woody

Welcome, Tom.  I didn't have brachy, but wanted to say, "hi" and welcome you
to the club.

I did, however, after surgery, have pain while ejaculating.  It was a
seering pain that seemed to start at my colon.  But, it passed with time.

I had HDR brachytherapy, where they plant each seed for just seconds
at a time.  However I did have two of your three symptoms.

1. Urination.

It took me about 5 months to get off Flowmax and more or less
back to normal.  In the meantime, I kept a urinal by my bed and
one in the car in case of emergencies.

3. Ejaculations.

I had explosions of pain with ejaculation.  I was never sure if
it was caused by the radiation, or by garden variety prostatitis,
perhaps exacerbated by the radiation.  I had this after the
radiation, then it went away after a couple of months (IIRC),
then I got it again a year later for another few months,
which is why I thought it might be prostatitis.

I went to a general practitioner for the prostatitis and she
insisted on my trying a course of antibiotics, although I was
dubious.  The antibiotics upset my stomach and did who
knows what else to my system, but did nothing for the pain.

Then I started taking saw palmetto.  The problem gradually went
away after a couple of months.

Did the saw palmetto do it?  Or did it just go away on its own?
I have no way of knowing which.  You might try saw palmetto
and see if it helps.  I've been taking it for about a year now
with no recurrence of the pain.

There is a widespread rumor that saw palmetto reduces PSA
and so shouldn't be taken by cancer patients because it might
mask a cancer recurrence.  I tried to research this on Pubmed
and found three articles that measured PSA before and after
saw palmetto was taken - usually with other supplements as
well.  They found no effect on PSA.  So I think it probably does
not reduce PSA to mask recurrence.

But, standard disclaimer, I'm not a doctor.  Medical advice from
me may not be worth anything.

   Alan

Tom,

Sound com;etely normal to me. Had all three symptoms. Things will eventually
get back to normal. Got to remember that there is a tad bit of swelling
there from the procedure and the radiation.

Mike

yup, yup & YUP!

I had brachytherrapy  on Nov 21, 2005, Pt 103.

Pain while urinating has decreased significantly.

Frequent urination, fairly often with a high degree of urgency.

Some leakage on getting to bathroom.

pain during sex only couple times, then went away.

ejaculation felt different, not as much fun as before, (this bothered me
 a lot)

but lately, it has gotten much better, and just as much fun as before.

Had my first PSA Early Feb, 3.1  going down, and so far so good.

Good luck and best wishes.

j.

Your symptoms are VERY common and I hope your doctor warned you ahead
of time.  The common expectation is for some weeks (even months) of
"burning and urgency" while urinating.  The reason you urinate so often
is that your bladder and prostate are somewhat swollen and inflamed
(therefore the discomfort) and you can't empty your bladder fully
enough. Therefore you have to keep going (the urgency).  This is called
urine retention. (I know about it because I have it.) Keep an eye on it
and keep your doctor informed. If you continue not to be able to empty
your bladder your Dr. might recommend self-catheterizing.

Hopefully you are taking an anti-inflammatory like Ibuprofen.  No need
for antibiotics unless there is also an infection.

I myself have had nine months of severe urine retention, self-cathing,
and unending severe pain. So consider yourself fortunate that your
side-effects aren't more severe.

Richard