Peeing in Morse Code...Not My Cup of Tee

About 10 years ago, when I was in my late 40s, I gradually realized that urination was taking longer than usual. I didn't think much about it until one late-night trip to the bathroom when almost nothing would come out. At that moment it dawned on me that something was happening to my body, something that I didn't like.

My family physician informed me that I had BPH, or benign prostatis hyperplasia. At least he assumed it was benign. He explained that a doctor's rectal exam could check only two of the three lobes of the prostate for irregularities that would indicate cancer. He guessed that I could continue about 7 years before needing something done. Something that I really didn't want to have done!

Well, it's been about 10 years, and I haven't yet had a TURP or other prostate-reduction procedure. But the disease is progressing, so I know it will have to happen one of these days...or nights.

One of the odd symptoms of BPH is that your urination pattern becomes changed. The normal pattern is:

• approach the toilet
• big blast of urine
• couple of quick squirts
• zip up and you're done.

For guys with BPH, the pattern becomes:

• approach the toilet
• wait
• small flow of urine for a long time
• think your're finished, so a quick squirt
• realize you're not finished, pee some more
• think you're finished, so a quick squirt,
• repeat a few times
• realize that somebody is waiting, so zip up,
• repeat in 30 minutes to an hour.

This sounds a bit like Morse Code, which is why this blog is named "Pee in Morse Code."

Any other guys out there who care to chime in?