Weekly Update 05/23/26 – 05/29/26 (Enlarged Prostate Diagnosis, Urology Testing, Work Progress)

This week's update covers progress at work, upcoming dental treatment, and a significant development regarding my ongoing urinary issues.

Things at work are going well. I'm making real progress on the project I'm currently working on, and it is encouraging to see things moving forward.

My dentist contacted me this week to let me know that my new crown is ready to be installed. Unfortunately, my appointment is not until Thursday, so I'll have to wait a little longer before that work is completed.

For several years I have been experiencing urinary difficulties, including frequent urination, occasional bladder control issues, and problems initiating urine flow. In 2022, I saw a urologist and tried several medications to treat the problem. At that time, my urologist wanted to perform a cystoscopy, an examination in which a small camera is inserted through the urinary tract to determine what is causing the symptoms. I decided to hold off on that procedure until the problems became worse.

Unfortunately, things have been getting worse, so I recently saw a urologist again. Blood work showed that my Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) level is elevated. The urologist agreed that I needed both a cystoscopy and a TRUS (transrectal ultrasound) examination. During the TRUS procedure, an ultrasound probe is inserted rectally to obtain images of the prostate.

The scans showed that my bladder is in good shape, with no signs of damage. My prostate, however, is a different story. There was no indication of cancer, but my prostate is significantly enlarged. A normal prostate is often compared to the size of a walnut, while mine is closer to the size of a large orange.

As a result, it appears that I will be having a procedure to reduce the size of my prostate. We are currently considering two possible treatment options.

The first option involves several small incisions in the lower abdomen. Surgical instruments are inserted through these openings, and the enlarged portion of the prostate is removed using robotic-assisted surgery.

The second option is a newer procedure that is performed through the urethra. Instead of entering through the abdomen, the surgeon uses specialized instruments and lasers to remove or reduce the portion of the prostate that is obstructing urine flow. This approach generally offers a quicker recovery, less bleeding, and fewer complications, but it would require treatment in Portland.

At this point, I am waiting for the surgeon to contact me so we can discuss the options in more detail and schedule the procedure.

 

 

 — Odell Sneeden Hathaway III