What a Drag It Is Getting Old

What i thought was constipation which causes what is known as urgency urination (you feel the need but nothing comes out) turned out to be a prostate gland that has blocked the urethra.  It is was miserable.  The Urgent Care got me in quickly and when I could not produce a urine sample they did a bladder scan and saw that there was no shortage of urine. They attempted to insert a catheter which was not as bad as I expected.  

The problem is benign prostrate hyperplasia not cancer  I am in ER now.

UPDATE: The ER fiest attempt at inserting a Foley catheter was both very painful and unsuccessful. For a second attempt with a smaller diameter, they used what sounded like "Gyrojet" that applied lidocaine and I think may have enlarged the path. The next try at the catheter was unpleasant but not desperately painful.  

Relief! My bladder is no longer screaming at me. The catheter is a little annoying at insertion point but not really painful.

Next, they ran me through a CT scan to look for bowel obstruction.  My daughter reminded me that some ago, I had a partial bowel obstruction which they fixed by medication. They are also looking for kidney stones (and I suspect bladder stones).  

I was supposed to leave Saturday for a cruise to Cabo San Lucas with my daughter, son-in-law, grandkids and son. That is not going to happen.  I have a urine bag attached to that catheter and the prospect of traveling with this stylish fashion accessory does not sound pleasant.  I am hoping my urologist will advance me in the queue for an appointment next week.

UPDATE 2: The ER doctor suggested antibiotics for the appendicitis which is about 50% successful in Europe. The surgeon made the case that because about 50% of the time you still need to remove it within two years, we should just remove it and nit have it reoccurring at what might be a less convenient time  it was done pretty quickly. Unfortunately, the inflammation it caused to the prostate gland did not diminish enough to remove the catheter so I an srill here this evening and I will need to have my urologist so a Roto-Rooter of the urethra through the prostrate gland next week. This will be a great nuisance  

The PA thinks the antibiotics probably have reduced inflammation enough to remove the catheter here and let me out.