Prostate Awareness

My Journey to Prostate Awareness

My journey learning about my prostate began about 10 years ago and it was a slow process. Ten years ago there was very little information available about your prostate unless you went to the doctor and asked.

One of the first things I learned was that I really did not know anything and that information was not easy to find. I also learned that my friends were not eager to talk about their prostate.

Things are different now, most of my friends are aware of their prostate and what they should do about it. If they are not I am quick to point it out to them. What are friends for?

Prostate Awareness

I did not have prostate problems that I was aware of, but I learned from an older man that I did have symptoms that my prostate was making its presence known. I was dribbling after urination, and at that time I was showing signs of a weak urine stream.

I can still remember the day I returned from the bathroom and my friend told me that I had allowed some urine to dribble on the front of my pants. (I was unaware). When he told me he also said, “Don’t worry about it it happens to all of us, as we get older.” “It has to do with your prostate.”

It had not happened to me before, that I was aware of, so I wanted to know more. I started looking into the prostate and what to expect. I learned that dribbling and a weaker urine stream were an early sign of BPH, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia”.

BP Hoo? Benign Prostatic What?

BP Hoo – I thought. What was this? I had not heard anything about a man’s prostate, nor did I know anything about it. Was it serious, should I be worried? Why did I not know anything about this?

Of course theis was BPH and it affects most men at some point in their lives, especially as we get older.

I had not thought anything about these things. I suppose I assumed that it was perfectly normal for my urine stream to be slower. I believed the reason I was allowing the occasional dribble to remain after urination was my own carelessness. The old saying “If you shake it more than twice, you are playing with it” comes to mind.

The prostate presents unique challenges to men as they age, with a variety of symptoms that can and do affect their lives. The two mentioned above were the beginning of my prostate journey.

I learned that there were things you could do to help your prostate. Healthy living, exercise, and supplements were among the few things that I learned would be beneficial for my prostate.

I turned to supplements to support my prostate function and hopefully alleviate, or at least prevent worsening my symptoms. It should be noted, that at the time I did not know I had an issue. I was unaware of why I was experiencing the dribbles and the weaker urine stream. It was not until I saw an episode of the Kominksky Method that I realized these symptoms were related to my prostate. It was also on the Kominsky Method that I learned the first 2 of many supplements that can help with my prostate.

I started to do some research into how to alleviate common issues like weak urine stream or frequent urination and discomfort. I learned that some supplements contained natural ingredients that may help reduce inflammation, support urinary flow, and promote overall prostate health.

I was hooked, I wanted to know all that I could about my prostate. There was information out there, but it was scattered all over the internet and it was not easy to find, nor understand.

It takes Time

It took time to put together information about my prostate. I started with a PSA test on my next physical. It turned out I had been getting PSA tests for a while with my yearly physical for work. I had not been paying attention. The PSA had not been highlighted, because there was no problem with my prostate. So that was good news.

I had already been drinking green tea almost every day along with unsweetened Ginger powder. I started adding beta-sitosterol and saw palmetto supplements to my everyday multivitamin. I had stopped putting sugar in my coffee and tea a short time before this. My sugar vice is chocolate. I have trouble stopping the chocolate fix. It is a work in progress.

I still get a physical each year and I do include a PSA test. Recently I started adding an abdominal ultrasound to my physicals. The latest says my prostate is ~3.5 cm, slightly enlarged, but apparently within norms for my age.

Supplements

I now take more supplements than I did 10 years ago.

• Beta-sitosterol and saw palmetto are what I take most days.
• Vitamin D, most days
• Zinc occasionally
• Vitamin C if I have feel a cold approaching. Echinacea also
• Pumpkin seed oil, 1 to 2 times per week
• Stinging nettle root, 1 to 2 times per week
• Rye Grass Extract, 1 to 2 times per week
• Tumeric – 2 to 3 times per week (see below)
• Bone broth, and green tea powder (mixed with Turmeric)

Turmeric: I started taking turmeric many years ago for its anti-inflammatory properties. I have a bad knee, and Turmeric is my answer.

Bone broth—There was a time when I took a bone broth, green tea powder, and turmeric drink almost every day. Note: I believe this is good for the blood. My doctor once told me I had “perfect blood” after being on this for a few months before the testing. That had never happened before, so I can only assume the bone broth was behind it.

Note: My cholesterol is still too high, I still eat red meat and chicken and fish. I love good bread, but try to avoid eating it.

I try to walk 30 minutes per day (I don’t always get there).

Summary

There you have it my journey to prostate awareness was a slow one. I learned I was experiencing symptoms that were related to prostate enlargement. I looked for ways to mitigate the symptoms and learn as much as I could about my prostate.

I talked to people, I listened, and I researched. It was not easy at first, there was not a lot of information out there. Now there is more and more information about the prostate and what can be done to increase urinary flow and mitigate prostate enlargement.

Make sure you add a PSA test to your yearly physical, especially if you are over 40 or 45. If you are over 50 consider adding an abdominal ultrasound (for the prostate) to a physical every now and then. Learn what you can about your prostate. Every man has one and it can and will affect your life.

It is a work in progress. There is more and more information coming each day. I will attempt to gather it and present it here for every man.