I've had bph for at least 8 years (I'm 58 now) but regarded the
symptoms as fairly mild. I'd get up a few times at night and also
experienced occasional annoying urgency and frequency (especially when
drinking coffee) but didn't regard it as anything more than a
nuisance. Recently, I switched health insurance to Kaiser and had a CT
scan to identify the large lump in my belly. Turned out that I had
been in chronic retention and that my bladder had stretched
substantially.

The new uro, whom I'd just met, seemed quite alarmed. He insisted that
I needed to catheterize the bladder immediately and had a look around
with a cystoscope to see the cause of the constriction. He confirmed
that it was the enlarged prostrate (rather than any kind of
scarring)and also mentioned lots of trabeculation on the bladder
surface. He said I needed at least a week on the catheter to allow the
bladder to relax.

I had no idea what I was getting into. The cystoscope was less than
pleasant and the catheter had me fairly immobilized. Add to that
flomax and cipro and life was beginning to look bleak. After 8 days of
catheter I was eager to return to normal but after removal I wasn't
able to void. Waited around for a few hours but nothing happened. He
insisted on replacing the catheter and said to return on Monday and
he'd teach me intermittent self-catheterization. Not something I was
looking forward to.

One aspect that was especially frustrating was that I was peeing fine
(sort of) before. The uro explained that I was 'peeing off the top'
that is after the bladder was bloated with a liter of urine. He added
that there was a very serious risk of infection or even kidney
failure. Further researches indicated this was probably true and I
became somewhat more accepting.

So now I'm on intermittent cath and flomax and looking at what's next.
The very helpful posts from this group are pointing me towards pvp but
apparently there are no practitioners in Hawaii. The uro said he had
worked in LA at a big clinic and they had tried laser but went back to
turp because it was more effective. I assume he didn't know about
GreenLight and will talk to him about it. He said that although
recommended, he wouldn't consider turp until cancer is ruled out and
the bladder has regained some resiliency. Here are some questions:

1. Any ideas for improving bladder tonicity, preferably herbal?

2. Anyone know of any Kaiser practitioners, anywhere in the US using
laserscope?

3. Any recommendations on disposable catheters?

4. I've used saw palmetto, pygeum, nettles, zinc and other remedies
for years without great success. I just ordered a 3 month supply of
beta sitosterol. Any comments or recommendations on these or other
alternative remedies?

Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this group. Your posts
have been most helpful.

Stuart