Medical Questions » Kidneys and Bladder Questions » Question No. 549
| Question: | I am 69 years of age, and despite being told age is only in the mind, my body' s messages tell me differently. In particular, my prostate is causing trouble, and I have to dash from the tennis court to quickly find a toilet, and I have to get up through the night. What do you suggest? |
| Answer: | I would suggest that you are looking after yourself very well by playing tennis at 69, and that your prostate is not necessarily the cause of your problems.
Men with prostate problems usually have trouble passing urine. They have to wait for a minute or two for the stream to start, and then the urine dribbles out rather than shoots out. The desire to pass urine frequently can be a feature of prostate trouble, but usually because the bladder cannot be completely emptied, as the enlarging prostate squeezes the urine tube.
There are many other reasons for needing to rush to the toilet. One of the most common in men in their late middle age (as you say, your not in old age until your mind is), is diabetes. This is a very common condition in mature men and women, and is not nearly as serious as the juvenile form. It comes on very slowly over several months or years, and is characterised by frequent passing of urine and an increased thirst.
Other causes of urinary frequency and urgency include numerous kidney diseases, low grade infections of the urine, a number of rare diseases, and some medications that may be prescribed by doctors.
You need to see your GP to have a few investigations so that a correct diagnosis for your problem can be made, then the appropriate treatment can be given.
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