MALE URINARY PROBLEM.

“HELP! I CAN’T URINATE.”

Imagine – it is time for your evening meal – a plate of your favourite native delicacy, crowned with a bottle of your favourite drink, chilled to perfection.

” Aah!, life is good,” you down the glistening liquid and settle down for a nap (afterall you’ve worked really hard).

Midway into your slumber, you have that expected urge to relieve yourself; lazily, you hobble to the bathroom, unzip in preparation to urinate
and nothing comes out. You try again, still nothing.

Panic!
Imagine the shock a grown man would feel, when he discovers he wants to urinate, has the energy to urinate, has all the resources to urinate, but urine just won’t come out.

The above could be a symptom of an enlargement of the Prostate gland or worse still, an initial presentation of a Cancer of the Prostate gland.

WHAT IS THIS PROSTATE GLAND?

Let’s think of a road with freely flowing traffic. Imagine two trees on both sides of the road; imagine both trees falling onto the road, blocking traffic.
The road is the opening through which men urinate, the trees are the prostate gland. When the prostate enlarges, it reduces the opening to urinate.

WHO IS AT RISK OF PROSTATE GLAND ENLARGEMENT?

Men above the age of 50.

WHAT ARE OTHER SYMPTOMS TO WATCH OUT FOR?

Blood in the urine.
A feeling you haven’t completely emptied your bladder.
Weight loss.
Straining to urinate.
Swelling of the abdomen.
In advanced cases, back pain and inability to walk.

WHAT TO DO.

Go to your local clinic, after initial emergency is addressed (a catheter may be passed), ask for a referral to see an Urologist.

Note: Enlargement of the prostate is not the same thing as Cancer of the Prostate, but it could be an initial sign.

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