prostate issues

[Guest Annutty]

I'm 28, been on hormones for 2.5 years, and in currently looking for a surgeon for vagina surgery.  I'm trying to figure out what to do about my prostate. 16 months ago or so I had what I assume was an infection that got to my prostate and enlarged it so much I could not get urine from my bladder to my urethra (i.e. I couldn't pee. At all). It quickly became a huge problem and I had to rush to the ER. The doctors didn't really believe me that I couldn't pee, misgendered me like crazy and generally had a look of disgust about them. They did a prostate exam and an ultrasound and determined that my prostate was, in fact, enlarged.... They eventually catheterized me, but it took two tries and both a nurse and a doctor to shove it down past the prostate which was, I assume, clamping down on the urinary tract. It was easily a 10 on the pain scale.  It was the most pain a human had every inflicted upon me (and I've had 7 electro sessions!). The next few days were filled with massive pain and shame as I couldn't quite get all the pee through the catheter, and some would leak out (and make a mess) (also still painful). The ER only gave me a medicine for older men whose prostates are chronically enlarged (Flomax). I grew extremely worried the catheter was coming out because I didn't understand how they worked (the pee that leaked out around the sides of the cath led me to believe this), so I went to a urologist. He was the only nice person during this whole process. He gave me some antibiotics and pain killers and explained the cath wasn't coming out, but the sticker clasp they stuck to my leg (to hold the cath against my leg) was pulling on the cath every time I walked (and causing a lot of pain-when it didn't have to be clamped to my leg at all). The antibiotics must have worked because everything was feeling better and peeing through the cath wasn't a problem after a week. I had to wait another week, though, to get it out because I'm a truck driver and I was driving around the country (after it felt better and I could drive -I didn't drive with pain killers in my system). I scheduled an appointment with another urologist and he took the cath out after two weeks of having it in.

The entire process was horrible. I haven't had any problems since then, but I would do literally anything to never have to go through that again. Including removing my prostate. The physical pain wasn't even the worse part. It was the disrespect from medical professionals. There's a thread on here from three or four years ago talking about prostatectomy, and how it's best just to leave it alone (difficult surgery, potential loss of orgasms, etc), but what if I'm out on the road after my surgery and this happens again? Is it not easier to get a UTI without a penis? I'm sure many of you have had to schedule doctor appointments and were forced to out yourselves either on the phone or in the office because of an issue with what doctors view as "male anatomy", but that's not supposed to happen after you get gcs.... At least I had hoped not.

And I'm afraid to talk to any doctor about it. I've been disrespected and other'd by so many medical people (not just in this story), I just don't want to go through it again. I don't really have a regular doctor. I have a gynecologist that prescribes me estrogen, but he's not that nice and doesn't really seem like he wants me at his practice (one of the first things he said was that he used to treat trans people with hiv but now he was convinced by a bunch of trans people to treat the rest of us who just want hrt... And he seemed really pissed off because he agreed to see all these trans people) Bowers' people said she would remove prostates but it requires additional consultation. McGinn's people said she would absolutely not. I haven't talked to any one else because I work all day every day and it's hard to make time to answer return phone calls that might be coming at any time of the day.

I'm not sure what I'm trying to get out of posting this, maybe I just wanted to tell the story finally...I know none of you can give me real medical advice over the internet.... Maybe someone else has had a similar issue?

[Ravin]

In your shoes I would probably start by getting your records from the hospital, going back to the urologist who treated you with consideration, and ask them to clarify the cause of the enlargement, and what the risks are of it happening again. You will then also want to tote those records (and of the consult with the urologist) to surgeon consult appointments. 

Getting established with a regular doctor with whom you have a reasonable doctor/patient relationship is bound to be helpful, health-wise, going forward. Depending on where you live that can be easier said than done, but not impossible. Call around to practices, ask if they have any transgender patients or policies in place for how to behave towards transgender patients. Check Rad Remedy and/or local transgender support/resource groups for recommendations of providers. Doing this when you are NOT ill, and then getting a physical/well exam to see how things go, is much better than having to deal with them when you are sick and stressed.

If that ER is a local hospital where you are likely to need to go in future, I would also contact the hospital ombudsman/patient outreach type person, ask what policies they have in place for interaction with transgender patients, and put in a complaint about your treatment by the staff. Heck, I'd do it even if it isn't local, because you probably won't be the last trans patient they ever see.

 

 

[VickySGV]

A lot of prostate problems eliminate themselves after the orchiectomy part of GCS has been done.  Lowered actual Testosterone production can reduce some prostate enlargement, and lowers risks for cancer and infections to nearly nothing.  I have had a couple of UTI's since my GCS, but my medical team gets on them promptly and so far, no actual kidney disease or urethritis complications, but they do make the pee thing messy for a while.  The catheter I had put in during my GC surgery was NO WHERE near the discomfort I had as full length male plumbing.  Of course  I would recommend Marci Bowers whatever you do, but there are a few newer ones she has trained as well. 

[Jani]

I'm sorry you had to go through that ordeal.   I will concur with Ravin's recommendation to find a doctor that you call your Primary Care Physician (PCP) and also possibly a Urologist given your history.  I know you're out on the road and may not be able to get to them when needed but documenting your case consistently with one doctor is a good idea.  So too is maintaining a copy of your records.  If the practice you choose does the electronic record thing as so many do nowadays, information is readily available wherever you are.  Also any doctor or hospital in a far away place would be able to coordinate care with your PCP and their knowledge base about you.   When we have a history of a specific illness, consistency is critical.

Concerning your prostate you should have blood test done to check your PSA number as it's a fairly common indicator of something gone awry, but not always.  I was found to have cancer but that wasn't the primary reason I sought out a Urologist.  It was found later in evasive testing.  My PSA was low.  I ended up having a radical prostatectomy five years ago and the healing from that was tough.  I had a robotic laparoscopic procedure which is easier on the body.  There are possible complications such as return cancer (if that is the reason for removal), nerve damage (loss of feeling) and erectile disfunction (not an issue looking forward but there are other related concerns).   I had a great surgeon.  

Looking forward, for us transwomen there is the concern with later surgery and the ability to place the neo-vagina in the body since this organ is used as an attachment point.   Some doctors will do the vaginoplasty but there are risks (fistula, they attach it to the rectal canal), and also depth may be an issue.  I'm not sure what the options would be if you have had a vaginoplasty and subsequently was found to need the prostate removed.  It seems it would be very problematic.  I've done a fair bit of research on this subject so feel free to PM me if you want to talk about any of it.  

Again I'm sorry for your troubles.

Jani

[Guest]

Yes, when you become a posty you can get UTIs much easier just like natal women. For years I was on cancer watch due to enlargement. Now my doctor told me I have the prostate size of a seventeen year old.

Don't loose your prostate if you can at all help it. That becomes your Gspot and Honey it so works just like all other girls! Put the kids to bed TMI coming... Ok?... If I am pleasuring myself digitally, diddling around with the little man in the boat it takes a little longer like most girls. It depends on the heat in my tea kettle. If I reach in and hug Miss G, it's much more immediate and a way different kind of O. If your surgeon is very currently up to date all your bits work completely female. In bed I very often forget I was ever the M word.

Learn from your girlfriends all the correct maintenance down there. It directly applies to you. If your urine gets darker yellow or smells profuse drink tons of water quickly. That helps to keep UTIs away. It's also a very good idea to drink unsweeted organic straight cranberry juice like the Simple Truth brand Kroger sells. Tart is an understatement, but great stuff. If yellow and profuse turned very dark to brown and has an awful smell, your back hurts like in the kidney area, sorry Sweetie, you got it. Guzzle the whole jug or maybe two and the UTI will usually flush and clear it self. I do know all this from direct first hand experience regrettably.

One last thing a girl should know. Cheap China sex toys are usually contaminated with phthalates, a toxic substance used to make the plastic. I was in the ER three times with swollen limph nodes in the groin before I figured it out. Love and take care of Miss VaJay and she will love you. Take care of your  current plumbing until then. Hug. JodyAnn

[Guest Annutty]

Thanks to all who replied.  My biggest issue is that I only come back home once every six weeks or so, alternating with Dallas to get electro. 95% of my home times in the last two years were for some sort of doctor visit or name change related errand or electro. Scheduling anything is a nightmare for me, because I have to weave it in between everything else and being on the road for work.

But again I just can't get over how much I hate talking with and seeing doctors and medical people. I guess I just value my privacy and not being disrespected over my health. Maybe that's foolish. Maybe I will grit my teeth and bare it, and try to find a primary care doctor. I wish I could magically wish away all my medical and transition issues....