I think I need to make a decision. Your input is appreciated

[Jordie]

Hello dear friends,

I wanted to quickly share my issue regarding a decision I think I need to make. I have transitioned already and all is good, family is good, friends also good. Job still a delicate issue but no major problems.

I have been taking spironolactone as my anti androgen for over a year but lately it has been causing me terrible headaches, and bladder discomforts such feeling the need to go to pee and nothing comes out. Last month my prostate was a little bit inflammed and had to take antibiotics i suspect it was because spiro is making me urinate a lot and sometimes I have to hold it for long periods because i am not near a toliet. Anyway, the symptoms went away for awhile but now they are coming back again, I think it is time to make a decision about this. I have been seriously thinking about having an orchiectomy this year so I can get rid of the pills and focus only on my estrogen intake, however, in the mean while, while I save the money, I would like to know if there are any other anti androgen that I can suggest to my endocrinologist which I will see next Monday. It seems spiro is the safest one and doctors like to prescribe it. but unfortunately me and the spiro don't get along well. Any suggestions, or perhaps anyone experienced the same symptoms? And know a solution?
Also, any one who have had an orchiectomy and now can recommend a good doctor.? I live in New York.
What are the procedures? Does my therapist need to give a letter to my doctor?.. I would like some clarifications please. Also, I understand sometimes is less expensive to do it overseas, any recommendation?

I hope you can help with some suggestions to an alternate to the spiro and info about getting an Orchiectomy.

Thank you!

[kellycan27]

You might be better off asking your doctor... Since you are seeing him in the near future anyway.

[melissaK]

Ditto what Kelly said. This calls for medical opinions, not personal opinions. :)

[Jodi Anne]

+2 on what kelly said. I can only state what my endo does for me (not med advice for anyone elce) my T was very low already and she wants only a 3 month regiment of spiro then we see how the numbers are. she feels I will not need much more. this will make me very happy becouse the potty breaks are embarrassing. No, no other problems ae causing it.

[Sandra1746]

I can't comment on an orchi or Spiro but I did have an enlarged prostate back in 2005 that was backing urine up into my kidneys. NOTHING to fool with!! I had a TURP procedure that was not fun at all, mainly because of an incompetent male nurse; but I digress. This was well before I started on Estradiol so there's no connection.

An orchi will surly reduce T but that can also be done with drugs like Lupron that block the gonadotropin releasing hormones at their source. Unfortunately they are injectables, not tablets.

Check with your doctor and maybe you should also ask for a referral to a urologist, an ultrasound and a cystoscopy are both painless and may answer a lot of questions.

Hugs and Best of luck,
Sandra1746

[sandra-leigh]

I never got up to a high enough dose of spiro for it to affect my urination notably (it made me too dizzy.)

I've gone through years on end of needing to pee often; in my case it was panic disorder coupled with a bit of agoraphobia. The timing of when I needed to pee was key in isolating this as the factors for me.

Needing to pee often through the day can be associated with diabetes, especially if there is a "burning" sensation (I have heard; I don't have diabetes myself.) Have you checked your blood sugar levels in the last year or so? I think there are some indicators they can look at in urine tests to see if a more extensive test is warranted.

[KellyJameson]

There is a growing consensus that low testosterone influences prostate enlargement.

Previously it was thought the inverse was true but it does make sense that enlarged prostates are found as men age and their testosterone levels drop.

Saw palmetto and the active ingredient in it "beta sistosterol" has been shown to reduce prostate problems but I have not cross researched it with Spiro usage.

[Jennifer Marie P.]

Only your doctor can prescribe what is best for you.

[sandra-leigh]

I suspect that before agreeing to an orchi, your doctor would first suggest that you switch to finesteride, or (unless you are in the USA) cyproterone. Both of those can be sufficiently effective at blocking testosterone. I've tried all three; the side effects from the three were pretty different.