Frequent, weak streams are not something men should learn to endure.
It’s just not going to get better on its own and it’s worth a discussion with your doctor.
In fact, the feeling that you haven’t quite emptied your bladder could mean the bladder is irritated and can, in some cases, lead to bladder or kidney infections.
As men age, their prostate grows larger and squeezes the urethra – the tube which carries the urine from the bladder through the penis. Avoiding drinking too much, caffeine in the evening and emptying your bladder completely can help, according to the National Centers for Disease Control.
If you go to a movie and see men in their 50s or 60s rushing out in the middle, explained St. Elizabeth Healthcare urologist Dr. Stephen Brewer, “that’s what they’re dealing with.”
Men who delay seeing a doctor, continue to get up two or three times during the night to pee, and accept interrupted or poor streams, may find the bladder can develop spasms.
“You’ll get the urge to go and you have to rush to the bathroom and if you don’t get there quick enough, you’ll start to get wet,” said Brewer.
Symptoms may also include: frequency and urgency, dribbling at the end of urination, accidental loss of urine, waking up frequently to pee, pain during urination, or pee that has an unusual color or smell, reported the NIH. The Mayo Clinic notes that blocked urine flow can lead to:
- Recurring urinary tract infections
- Kidney or bladder damage
- Incontinence
- Bladder stones
If the doctor finds that an enlarged prostate has blocked the channel, a laser can be used to vaporize the excess prostate tissue, Brewer explained.
There is no bleeding, no pain and men are back to work in two days.
The patient is completely asleep under anesthesia during the outpatient, minimally invasive procedure. Eighty percent of patients urinate soon after surgery and head home for two days of light activities before resuming a normal routine.
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