Blood in urine/semen??

[louise71594]

My husband (49 years old) was diagnosed with prostate cancer in  January 2006.  After two evaluations and meetings with surgeons and radiologists we decided on him having the radiation treatment instead of surgery.  He was just totally against the surgery.   The treatment went very well and so far he is doing good.  No major problems to speak of until now.  Recently he has been bleeding from his penis either during sex, after sex and during urination and sometimes in his sleep.

After speaking with his Internist and the Radiologist, He recently saw a Urologist for blood tests, and so far they can't tell us what is causing this to happen.  At first they mentioned a possible irritation, but ruled that out.  Its very very frustrating for him as you can imagine, and its hard sometimes to understand what this is doing to him mentally.  We have been abstaining from sex for a few weeks now until we know what is going on, but mentally and physically its really taking a toll on him.  We also waiting for results of an MRI that was done.

Can you give us any insight as to what may be causing this and what we should do next??  Do you think it could be his diet??? He also takes (low dose) blood pressure pills too.

I really appreciate any help you can give us.

[louise71594]

I received your invite, thank you.

I tried to get my husband to visit this website, but he has yet to do it.  Probably because I am doing it myself and printing the info for him to read.  

I will certainly look into the L-Arginine.  Another thing I noticed a few days ago, he was able to get an erection early in the morning as we were waking up with no problem.  Of course he was excited as i was too, but I told him it could have something to do with his body being relaxed, I don't know, but it was definitely an ego boost for him!  

With all the stress from the disease, treatments, medicines working and not working etc, I see why you guys are having these issues, post surgery and therapy.

I will keep you posted about the medicine you recommended.

[Artdude]

My turn to apologize.  I have been very busy and only returning messages to my network of "friends."  I will send you an invitation after i finish this note.

I too well understand how this has affected your husband. Things are starting to improve for me, and I cannot imagine what it would be like to be active (again) and then to begin having problems.  I had success in achieving a "fulness" as my doctor described it, very early after my surgery when I was taking L-Arginine in conjuction with my viagra.  I stopped taking it because of the caution for people with cancer.  I will be having another post op appt with my former urologist next week and will ask about my taking it again.  I was on viagra therapy and currently fighting with insurance over that.

Has your husband tried L-Arginine?  I was taking another natural supplement for awhile, but it contained yohimbine and I think that ingredient was giving me problems with nausea, headache, vision issue--my eyes went blood shot for several hours.  I stopped taking it, but know there are other supplements out there to increase blood flow...niacin is one.  Let me know how it goes.

I understand the frustration.  Even though I am starting to see progress and it has been only 6 months (mid April), I have become frustrated.  I know what the general expectations are for recovering function after surgery, but it just seems so lo-o-o-g since surgery.  Best wishes.  I will send you an invite.

pd

[louise71594]

Sorry for the delay.  Thank you for responding to my post.  Since my last post here, things have gotten a little better, the bleeding has slowed down a great deal, but we are still having problems with impotency.  It has affected him immensly, (emotionally and mentally), he tries to hide his feeling about it, but I see right through it.  

When you go from being sexually active, to barely once a month, that is tough.  Especially at our age, when we should be at our peak.

We are right now now looking at alternative treatments (holistic) to see if that will help.  Any other advice you can give is most appreciated.  I wish you all the best as well.

[Artdude]

Hello.  I was diagnosed this past year just after by 48th birthday.  I underwent robotic surgery on October 19. I am surprised the radiologist has not suggested these symptoms are side affects of the treatment and cannot offer you a solution.

I wish i could tell you something more, but I would suggest that you go to the forum and look for any question to which HeinrikMD has responsed.  I have found his information and suggestions to be outstanding.  You of course are already doing the right things by seeking professional help.  I would suggest something beyond an MRI and that is the prostascint scan.  It is far more conclusive a test.  When my numbers did not drop, I had a bone scan, a CT scan and two days of prostascint scanning.  Very thorough.

I can totally understand what he is going through being almost the same age.  All the best as you continue to seek answers.  Keep in touch with his progress.