Relax. The anticipation is much worse than the event. For me the
uncomfortable part was placing the biopsy gun (talk about a poor choice
of words) into the rectum. It was a little worse than a digital exam.
Surprisingly, taking the core samples was not painful at all. You will
not miss any work but you will have blood in your semen (red to rust
color) for awhile. No big deal.Taking a Valium before going might help
you.

Tom

PSA 1.6 2004
PSA 1.7 2005
Pos DRE 2005
RRP 10/05/05 age 57
T2A, Gl 3+3=6

Dindo, our doctor told us that "many men doze through the procedure."
His exact words.

That may be true.  However, many men don't find it painless.  I read
somewhere maybe 20% find it painful.  Some patients get something to
put them to sleep, or make them doze, during it.  I am not sure what.
My husband didn't get anything, even when it was excrutiating.  Even
when he asked.  Most people will tell you a biopsy is fine, which it is
for most people.  But if we were knew then what we know now, we would
have had a strong committment for pain relief *if* it was painful.
They do use a local anisthetic in the prostate but as far as my husband
was concerned, it did nothing. They refused to give him anything or
even consider anything when he was begging for something.

You probably won't miss any work except the day of the biopsy.  Unless
you do heavy lifting or shoveling.

After the biopsy there is a little bit of soreness, and your urine will
look bloody for a week or two.  Some people have blood in their stool.
This is normal although weird.

Why are they doing the biopsy?  What are your PSA numbers and dates?
They must think you are at risk for prostate cancer.  If you need basic
information about this you could read
http://www.prostate-cancer.org/education/patient_guide.html.

The main thing we wished was that we had had the appropriate blood
tests before the biopsy, because after the biopsy many tests can't be
done for six weeks.  If your doctor has not gotton a Free PSA test
(also called PSA-2) then ask for one before the biopsy.

laurel

This is a better website for someone who is new to this situation.  It
is easier to find information.  This link is good.
http://www.phoenix5.org/Basics/DPprimer0918.html

I agree with Tom. No problem, no pain. There was just a little sting
when they numbed your prostate before actually taking the samples. I
also took a Valium beforehand :)

B.A.

I was so scared when I went for my biopsy, I could hardly walk.  It
turned out to be next to nothing.  I did receive two injections of
numbing agent and that was about as painful as the shots the dentist
gives.  After that, I had 12 samples taken and as others have indicated
before on this group, the sensation for each one was akin to snapping a
finger on your arm.  That doesn't mean everything is alway painless for
all men but it usually is almost a non-event.  You will not miss work,
just pull up your pants and go about your business.  Most guys have
some blood in their urine, I didn't.  Your first ejaculate will be a
real suprise - mine was similar in color and texture to stale rootbeer.
It gradually returned to normal after a few weeks although my last
ejaculation before surgery was still tinged toward the yellow side.
Good luck with the biopsy.
Dave Perry

Dindo,
 The worst part for me was just the invasive nature of it. But, no,
for me there was no pain. Or what i'd call pain. Uncomfortable? Oh hell
yes, just talking about it beforehand was the most uncomfortable part.
There is no way in the world to call it painless because saying
"painless" is almost like saying," feels good!"  And I've NEVER heard
anyone say it felt good. (could be an odd one out there, if so, so they
haven't stepped forward)
So, in most cases, it's "uncomfortable" it's not really "painful." Of
course, there are exceptions, but if Vegas had odds on it I'd put my
money on "uncomfortable" instead of "painful". Based on %'s you see. I
truly hope you "git r done" and come back negative.
 The worst for me was just the indignity of the procedure, plus the
offensive manner in the way this disease has changed my life. Such a
loss identity and dignity. But I'm new ( RP 03/13/06). I'm sure I'll
get over it, not easy, but going to fight it hard.

I may have misspoke myself, the worst for me, was the results of the
biopsy and resulting diagnosis.

Good luck my friend
May God bless and protect you
David

I did not miss any work.  I can remember some blood in the semen for a
couple times afterwards, but that did not last long.

They used a lubricating gel that had some anesthetic, but that was it.
I sure felt that thing go in, but that did not hurt.  Where I
experienced some discomfort was when the doctor positioned the
ultrasound device.  The biopsy itself did not hurt.  I heard the sound
as the gun went off and kind of braced for something to hurt, but it
never did.

The worse part of the whole thing for me was that they made me drink
before the procedure, they wanted the bladder full, and I had to pee so
damn bad.  I still remember that.  Then, when they finally gave me a
urinal, at first I could not pee.

Good luck to you.

David S.

I did not miss any work.  I can remember some blood in the semen for a
couple times afterwards, but that did not last long.

They used a lubricating gel that had some anesthetic, but that was it.
I sure felt that thing go in, but that did not hurt.  Where I
experienced some discomfort was when the doctor positioned the
ultrasound device.  The biopsy itself did not hurt.  I heard the sound
as the gun went off and kind of braced for something to hurt, but it
never did.

The worse part of the whole thing for me was that they made me drink
before the procedure, they wanted the bladder full, and I had to pee so
damn bad.  I still remember that.  Then, when they finally gave me a
urinal, at first I could not pee.

Good luck to you.

David S.

It is an invasive procedure, but done properly should not result in
difficulties.

It is for some, not for others. I demanded and got anesthetic . This is
not an exercise in machismo. Besides, if it does not hurt, the patient
can relax a bit, which makes the surgeon's job easier.

Juniper's husband, as she mentions elsethread, went through agony and
asked for and was refused anesthetic. IMO, the poor guy's uro committed
an atrocity.

Other jurisdictions may be more benighted, but here in Arizona a patient
has a *legal right* to pain relief. How do I know that? My uro had
notices to that effect on his exam room wall.

Probably none at all, but if an anesthetic is used, take the rest of the
day off.

Best wishes for a good result.

Regards,

Steve J

I baaaaaaaaarely felt mine real time; a Tylenol would have completely
covered the little twinges with each poke. If the doc hadn't said
"another poke" each time, I wouldn't have been sure there WAS "another
poke". I was just a little sore that evening. Time off work? An hour for
the process. Ejaculation felt strange and was bloody for a week or two.

Overall just no big deal, IMO, and my doc said that's the norm. One of
his patients rode a bicycle home afterwards, but the patient did admit
he stood up much of the way.

I.P.

Mine without any anaesthetic whatsoever hurt like hell (after 8
samples, I was soaked in sweat). Demand pain relief.

--
Peter Headland

Dindo,

Make sure they give you the happy juice.  I had happy juice and don't
remember a thing about the test.  Some feel no pain and others feel
excruciating pain.  Why take a chance?

I had a light anaesthetic so for me no pain, no memory of the event. A
little colour in my semen.  The bad news was I had cancer. The good news is
they caught it and I had a RRP nearly 2 years ago. A friend and indeed my ex
boss had a 14 sample procedure, no anaesthetic or pain killers and he only
complained of a dull thud and got bored with counting them! His PSA was 12
but absolutely no sign of cancer - he has had the process repeated many
times with the same results..

I had 16 sticks and everyone of them hurt like hell. After 6 Doctor said
"we" should have done a general. He was willing to stop and reschedule at
the hospital and said go on. I am sure glad that was my last biopsy ever.

Then again I ended up in the hospital for 5 days with a massive infection
with 18 hours after the biopsy. In fact on Day 4 I got the bad news. Wife
was in Japan at the time...... so I had plenty of time to think.

Of course I am a rarity. 95 of 100 experience no pain. And only 1 in a 1000
develop an infection. Good luck.

Mike

Hi Dindo,

I had my biopsy last August and I was scared. I am one of these ' got to
know everything first' type of guys.

However, I found that my examiner to be excellent. He explained everything
he was going to be doing right from the start. First came the trus exam
where they look at images of your prostate for what they can see. They are
looking for irregularities. I didn't have any. He then starts the biopsy
part. The gun sounds like a heavy duty staple gun when it goes off. He told
me each time he was going to take one so I knew in advance. The first one
caused me to jump. The second only slightly. I think it was the sound not
any pain. The rest were not felt. LOL we talked all the time the test was
taking place. You will have some blood like the others have said. I did. In
Ontario where I live they did not give me any shots for pain. Instead I had
to take an antibiotic pill and have a pain-numbing suppository 30 minutes
before the test. The effect was about the same.

Do you know how many they are going to take? I had 10 done and, in
reflection, I wish they had taken a few more. They take most I think  in the
area where they expect to find it and then other samples in the other
different parts. I had one positive sample. They could have been all
negative.

Hello to the group. This is my first post. I find the topics discussed here
very good and the info sharing excellent. I hope Dindo that you have a
painless experience.

Russ