6 B
SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2016
TO YOUR
GOOD HEALTH
Is prostate to
blame for sluggish
bladder?
DEAR DR. ROACH: I would like
your opinion on enlarged prostate.
My primary-care doctor sent me for a
blood test and said my PSA number
was too high, then sent me to a urol-
ogist. He said my bladder is not emp-
tying and that I am having urine
retention in the bladder. After one
week of medication (Rapaflo), I had
a catheter inserted for another week.
He measured the urine in the bladder,
and it was 880 ml. Now he is sug-
gesting surgery. Is he going too fast?
What are your thoughts on the proce-
dure and side effects? Will this cor-
rect the problem? — D.G.
ANSWER: The bladder is drained
via a tube called the urethra, and in
men, the urethra runs right through
the middle of the prostate. As men
get older, the prostate commonly
enlarges, and this can cause resist-
SALOME’S STARS
ARIES (March 21 to April 19)
Consider moving beyond the usual
methods to find a more creative means
of handling a difficult on-the-job situa-
tion. Avoid confrontation and, instead,
aim for cooperation.
TAURUS (April 20 to May 20)
Seasonal change creates a new look for
the outdoors. It also inspires Taureans to
redo their own environments, and this is
a good week to start redoing both your
home and workplace. Enjoy.
GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) A mis-
understanding needs to be straightened
out so the wrong impression isn’t
allowed to stand. If necessary, offer to
support the use of a third party to act as
an impartial arbitrator.
CANCER (June 21 to July 22) A
career change offering what you want
ance to flow. The symptoms can
range from mildly annoying to com-
plete obstruction. Complete obstruc-
tion is an emergency, since the kid-
neys will fail within a few days of
being unable to drain urine at all.
But the obstruction does not need
to be complete in order to cause kid-
ney damage. It’s the high pressure in
the urethra, bladder and ureters (the
tubes that allow urine to flow from
the kidneys to the bladder) that caus-
es kidney damage. Placing a catheter
allows the urine to drain at low pres-
sure if the problem is in the urethra.
Normal bladder capacity is
between 300-400 ml. At 880 ml, you
would experience very abnormal
bladder drainage and would be at
high risk for ongoing kidney damage.
Thus, I completely agree with your
urologist that something, probably
surgical, needs to be done quickly.
It’s not completely clear to me
whether your inability to drain the
bladder is due to obstruction from
enlarged prostate, even though an
elevated PSA suggests that this might
be the case. It also is possible that
there is something wrong with the
nerves that go to or from the bladder.
I suspect your urologist has done
additional bladder tests to help sort
this out.
The booklet on the prostate gland
discusses enlargement as well as can-
cer. Readers can obtain a copy by
writing: Dr. Roach — No. 1001W,
628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL
32803. Enclose a check or money
order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6
Canada with the recipient’s printed
name and address. Please allow four
weeks for delivery.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I have
weaned off Zoloft, and I noticed a
swelling of my fingers — I can’t get
my rings on. Do you think it is relat-
ed? — E.P.
ANSWER: Discontinuing an anti-
depressant such as sertraline (Zoloft)
certainly can cause symptoms.
Dizziness, fatigue, muscle aches,
anxiety and irritability are common.
It happens more frequently if the
drug is suddenly stopped versus
tapered down over weeks. Paroxitine
(Paxil) seems to have the highest
incidence of symptoms on stopping.
However, I haven’t seen swelling
as a result of stopping sertraline. It
may be related, but I doubt it. Is it
possible that you are consuming
more salt? That’s the most common
reason for increased fluid in the fin-
gers over a short time.
I would see your doctor if it does-
n’t go away in a week or so.
in money and responsibilities could
involve moving to a new location.
Discuss this with family members
before making a decision.
LEO (July 23 to August 22) Feeling
miffed over how you believe you were
treated is understandable. But before
you decide to “set things straight,”
make sure the whole thing wasn’t just a
misinterpretation of the facts.
VIRGO (August 23 to September
22) Showing you care makes it easier to
build trust and gain an advantage in
handling a delicate situation. What you
learn from this experience also will help
you understand yourself better.
LIBRA (September 23 to October
22) Planning for the future is fine, espe-
cially if you include the roles that fami-
ly members may be asked to play. Don’t
be surprised if some hidden emotions
are revealed in the process.
SCORPIO (October 23 to November
21) Making choices highlights much of
the week, and you have a head start
here, thanks to your ability to grasp the
facts of a situation and interpret them in
a clear-cut manner.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to
December 21) Carrying a torch can be a
two-way situation: It can either keep
you tied to the past or help light your
way to the future. The choice, as
always, has to be yours.
CAPRICORN (December 22 to
January 19) Your watchwords this week
are: “Focus.” “Focus.” “Focus.” Don’t
let yourself be distracted from what you
set out to do. There’ll be time later to
look over other possibilities.
AQUARIUS (January 20 to
February 18) A workplace opportunity
might require changes you’re not keen
on making. Discuss the plusses and
minuses with someone familiar with the
situation before you make a decision.
PISCES (February 19 to March 20)
Love and romance are strong in your
aspect this week. If you’ve already met
the right person, expect your relation-
ship to grow. And if you’re still looking,
odds are you’ll soon be finding it.
Siuslaw N ews
!
AD IT DAY
E
R
TO
www. the siuslawnews.com
E -E DITION
• S PORTS • T OP S TORIES • O BITUARIES • W EATHER • F ORUMS • B LOGS