prostate and bodybuilding the over the 50 group

[built656]

tell us bodybuilders about the problem that hits 85% males over 50

[built656]

you must get a psa test each year....plus a exam....simple but effective

[Nunyas]

you know... they say you should start getting that checked in your early mid 30s...


but you know how us guys are... that never happened! and make a deal with the Doc, "if you don't talk about it, I won't"...

[Old School]

I don't know about over 50, but I'm 42 and have been diagnosed with an enlarged prostate or BPH. I think I have had it for a few years as I have been waking up at night to pee for the last few years. Lately it has been just about every night around 3am...pisses me off to as I have a real hard time getting back to sleep so I am tired just about everyday. The doc said I could take some meds, they are called alpha blockers and they are supposed to relax the muscles around the urethra so the enlarged prostate wont be putting so much pressure on the urethra, and in turn you won't have to get up to pee at night. Unfortunately most of the alpha blockers also lower your blood pressure and I already have low blood pressure so I won't be taking those. There is one that doesn't lower your blood pressure which is flowmax...I've been thinking about that one. However there are other possible side effects so I haven't taken any of them yet. I have been trying out natural cures for the last couple months, like Saw Palmetto and Beta Sisterols...so far nothing has helped 100%. This is the one I am taking now http://www.prostate-miracle.com/ I just started this one so to early to tell how effective it is. If anyone else has any tips for dealing with BPH or an enlarged prostate I would love hear from them.

[Wayne Evans]

Good day gents.....

I post a link to this thread which is a year and a half old.

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=3698591

Note that everyone has their own way of dealing with these issues and if I recall correctly some responders suggested do anything but sugery.
Well...one must walk a mile in the same shoes to state that in an unequivocal manner.
I also asked my doctor about all the TV typed products and he stated many of them are just herbs and maybe some other ingredients to make up a cocktail that actually shrinks the prostate and he did not endorse any of them as far as their efficacy.
Personally, I believe half of what I see and none of what I hear on TV/radio ads.

So, this is my experience and my take on this problem and one can decide for themselves what is best.
My problem was how much more lack of sleep can I take and still train for gains and not be dreadfully tired day in and day out?
I reached my limit and chose my path and I do not regret it....except for the two weeks of waiting for sex.
Hell...that's my only cardio routine!

So, hope this helps others to make their own deciscion.

DOMS to all...

EDIT: If a man lives long enough he will have a prostate problem sooner or later seems to be the cliche.

www.soundclick.com/wayneevansproject

[67fastback]

Yes do get checked.

I started early, so I could get a baseline

If a finger up the butt means early detection of potential issues... well?

I know a fellow who had prostate cancer, surgery (not nice at all, from what he describes) and is surviving month to month

In this case , I'll galdly take it up the @ss

[merkong]

soy protein is also a huge benefit to the prostate. check most reputable supplements geared towards prostate health and there is a soy component. my urologist was so impressed with the dissolution of an "entity' on my prostate that he asked that I stay with the soy at least once a day. i have.

[Fifty+]

I have a complete physical every year. 4 years ago my doc stopped the physical-finger exam. He told me it only offered a 20% diagnosis and he believed was almost usless. PSA only.......either he is lying to me or values his fingers more then others....

[bird72]

lycopene is beneficial to prostate, is in tomatoes, i buy a multivitamin for man, who have lycopene, and don't have iron, oneaday. also alot of sex!

[Marius_Ursus]

Originally Posted by merkong

soy protein is also a huge benefit to the prostate. check most reputable supplements geared towards prostate health and there is a soy component. my urologist was so impressed with the dissolution of an "entity' on my prostate that he asked that I stay with the soy at least once a day. i have.

What's special in the soy protein that does that?

[shuriwud]

Originally Posted by Fifty+

I have a complete physical every year. 4 years ago my doc stopped the physical-finger exam. He told me it only offered a 20% diagnosis and he believed was almost usless. PSA only.......either he is lying to me or values his fingers more then others....

Same here. Doc stated that if there was an issue, he'd find quicker with blood work than finger. Of course he tells me that after the following conversation takes place...

Doc....Ok, only take a sec, get ready for a little prick...
Me......It's ok, doc. It'll get bigger when ya hit puberty.
Doc.....what? huh? omg. hahahahaha

So if anyone is looking for that way out of the probe....there ya go.

[Marius_Ursus]

I'll have my first check in about six months.

Should be fun.

[dbx]

Had my first check in 7 or 8yrs (stupid) 2mths ago. I was convinced it was enlarged, but the doc left no avenue unchecked and it is normal. PSA levels were great. Hell, I still make two or three trips to the bathroom each night though. But after boozing heavily for nearly 3 decades, I guess I got used to it . I always slept lousy, so it's no big deal to me. Having an undisturbed sleep is an oddity for me.

And for those who haven't figured it out or haven't though about it; if you're using creatine.....and/or.....drinking your higher than the average bear intake of water daily, you're apt to make a trip or two at night if you don't cut back or cut off water early in the evening. Either way, get checked. Makes sure to tell the doc if you supplement with creatine too. My creatine level was at the "normal high" mark and they said it was OK. When I let him know I used creatine he was like, "Oh, heck yes...you're fine then."

[Dutchman]

I've struggled with BPH for decades. My PSA for years has varied between 4 and 10. I have done the digital thing since I was 40. Up until 5 or 6 years ago I too had the nightly hikes to the john but now nothing. No hikes, no prostate cancer and greatly reduced size to my prostate. I take my progesterone cream (Healthy Prostate from the Supplement Spot) and it not only stopped that, its reduction in my estrogen has had a positive inverse effect on my testosterone. A healthy situation all around. As an anti-cancer backup I also take lots of Vitamin D3, Omega 3s, Green Tea, Cruciferous Veggies, Curcumin and Selenium. I'm sure I have overlooked something here as I have to rush off but I'll try to revisit this later. Good luck.

[tonester]

^^ Research is leaning towards the estrogen/testosterone imbalance as the root cause of BPH. Until recently one of the main treatments was to reduce DHT but that is being questioned.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/reform8.htm
http://mesomorphosis.com/steroid-pro...stosterone.htm Both these links are to the same article at different online mags.

I intuitively feel that it is increased estrogen that is the culprit. I was on Avodart for 6 months (to reduce DHT - Dihydrotestosterone) and it made me feel like an old man I literally felt like Samson after a haircut...I learned that I need my DHT. The same DHT that makes me hairy and bald, also helps in keeping me energized (hormonally balanced). So I quit it and started using nutrition to aid in keeping estrogen at bay. So far so good.

No skin products that contain parabin. Actually no skin products at all. (xenoestrogens that enter the skin are 10X more potent than those ingested)
Minimize exposure to pesticides (carefully wash all produce and buy organic where possible).
No cheese...no dairy fat. (contains too much natural estrogen from cows)http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/.../11-dairy.html
All meat products are carefully shopped for (grass fed, no drugs etc.)
Eat cruciferous vegetables.

I have followed the above religiously for a year and I've not had to revert back to taking the Avodart.

[merkong]

Originally Posted by Marius_Ursus

What's special in the soy protein that does that?

Got me... but the bit about lycopene and frequent ejaculations are spot on too... I even asked my doc to write my wife a note about the last one. wife said no need...

[DNG]

Originally Posted by shuriwud

Doc....Ok, only take a sec, get ready for a little prick...
Me......It's ok, doc. It'll get bigger when ya hit puberty.
Doc.....what? huh? omg. hahahahaha

So if anyone is looking for that way out of the probe....there ya go

'Cept my doctor is a "she"

LOL



Has anyone TRIED Flowmax? If so, I'm interested in your experiences. Any side effects?

My situation:

- Bloodwork is VERY well within the limits, so no immediate danger

- The prostate is a bit enlarged, leading to frequent trips to the rest room, and other minor problems

- She gave me an un-dated script, which I can try any time I feel it gets to be too much.

So I'm curious about whether I should try it...

[Old School]

Originally Posted by Dutchman

I take my progesterone cream (Healthy Prostate from the Supplement Spot) and it not only stopped that, its reduction in my estrogen has had a positive inverse effect on my testosterone.

This progesterone cream sounds very promising, I was about to order some when I found out...it is now illigal in canada!! Damn it! How long did it take to have an effect on you getting up at night?

DNG..I haven't tried flomax but If I remember right one of the side effects was it lowers your blood pressure...i already have pretty low blood pressure so I didn't try it...but besides that I think it is supposed to work pretty fast...it doesn't shrink your prostate it relaxes the smooth muscles around it so you will be able to empty the bladder better and not have to get up during the night.

tonester..So have dietary changes completely stopped late night bathroom trips? You are still eating all types of meat? From what I have read it seems like a vegitarian diet is recommended for people with BPH...I really dont' want to go that route but it's starting to look like I might have to.

[tonester]

Originally Posted by Old School

tonester..So have dietary changes completely stopped late night bathroom trips? You are still eating all types of meat? From what I have read it seems like a vegitarian diet is recommended for people with BPH...I really dont' want to go that route but it's starting to look like I might have to.

I used to get up about 3-4 times. I'm down to one.

I stopped all dairy (I used to love cheese)and fatty red meat (I only use beef and pork tenderloins). Apparently the estrogen resides in the fat.

Oh...almost forgot. I stopped drinking from plastic bottles about the same time (hmmm...I wonder).

[namtrag]

Heads up on the flomax. Get ready for some changes to your ejaculate. Watery and much less volume.

A friend of mine told me, I wouldn't know myself....lol

[jtroster]

I have been on Flomax for a year. I did not notice any change to my ejaculate. It did, at first, make me a little dizzy in the gym after doing a heavy set of squats or deadlifts. After about three weeks that stopped.

[ctgblue]

while I would disagree with some of the "solutions" here, they may work for some people
The key is a yearly check, good diet, and limiting the intake of alcohol and crappy food
I find that my PSA is lower with a daily supplementation of saw palmetto and zinc, not a lot, just a daily supplement helps tremendously
I get PSA and test levels checked quarterly
btw - soy did nothing for me but lower my test levels, so I gotta say his is an isolated case, but glad it helps him

[built656]

flomax works ok

[Minotaur]

Originally Posted by bird72

lycopene is beneficial to prostate, is in tomatoes, i buy a multivitamin for man, who have lycopene, and don't have iron, oneaday. also alot of sex!

Good... men should not take extra iron. Except for periodic blood donations, we have no way to get rid of excess iron. Excess iron can damage the heart.

[Minotaur]

Originally Posted by Marius_Ursus

What's special in the soy protein that does that?

Soy has weak phytoestrogens that bind to estrogen receptors, 500x weaker. It's more likely that estrogen, not testosterone fuels prostate problems. Block the estrogen, and the problems should not appear.

[pirateman2]

Been on Flowmax for about 6 weeks!!!Works Great!!!no side effects at all

[greyhair]

Originally Posted by bird72

lyco .... oneaday. also alot of sex!

Was that a perscription? or a home remedy?

[Minotaur]

Actually there are some write ups that the right hand shuffle is more effective. I must have the healthiest prostate in the world (sorry, tmi ).

[bamazav]

DNG et al,
I was on Flomaxx for over a year. Not only can it effect the seminal fluid, some have ejaculations that do not come out but actually go into the bladder. It is an odd feeling. Flo definitely lowers your blood pressure. Also, I discovered that I was in the 1% of 1% that experience mood swings and depression. I would drop the kids at school, go home and cry for an hour or two, force my self to the office and then rip everyone's head off the rest of the day. I was horrible to live with, until I got off of flomaxx. I opted to have a procedure to reduce the size of my prostate and then use saw palmetto daily. As you can tell, I am not an advocate of flomaxx.

[namtrag]

Originally Posted by Minotaur

Actually there are some write ups that the right hand shuffle is more effective. I must have the healthiest prostate in the world (sorry, tmi ).

I always wondered why your right forearm was so much more developed than your left.