Prostate symptoms on Camino?

[Seabeggar]

I was concerned that my benign prostate condition would disturb other sleepers in my dorm as I am up 3 times per night at home. But on the Camino I only needed to get up 1 x per night & even stopped my prostate tablet Tamsulosin. I don't think this was down to dehydration. I have now read research that walking can help benign prostate symptoms. Delicate subject but have any other prostate sufferering pilgrims noted improvement or worsening on Camino? Sadly since returning it's relapsed.

 

[Peregrinopaul]

Actually, both. I’m a bicigrino so it’s a different circumstance. I also take Tamsulosin, and as a rule I do notice an improvement on Camino. For the past few years I have often been nervous about disturbing fellow pilgrims during the night, but have been surprised to find that often I only got up once. Nevertheless, I would try to ensure a bunk (lower) near the door, and I got into the habit of checking for noisy door hinges and creaky floorboards. I came very unstuck in 2023, when a badly adjusted saddle caused an inflammation that I was unaware of, and resulted in my urinary system almost shutting down. That involved a desperate hospital visit, and found me dependent on the help of the generous hospitality of the owner at Casa Tiago in Luquin, where I recuperated . What a guy! (And a special albergue).
Yes, it’s a delicate subject, and it took me some time to stop worrying about indulging in an evening vino Tinto!

I was concerned that my benign prostate condition would disturb other sleepers in my dorm as I am up 3 times per night at home. But on the Camino I only needed to get up 1 x per night & even stopped my prostate tablet Tamsulosin. I don't think this was down to dehydration. I have now read research that walking can help benign prostate symptoms. Delicate subject but have any other prostate sufferering pilgrims noted improvement or worsening on Camino? Sadly since returning it's relapsed.

 

[David]

Interesting to have positive feedback about this problem (is it a sensitive subject? normal body part).
I can't answer re walking and enlarged prostrate but would like to hear more feedback as if it is all positive it could be transferred to friends at home with the same problem.

 

[Bristle Boy]

I was concerned that my benign prostate condition would disturb other sleepers in my dorm as I am up 3 times per night at home. But on the Camino I only needed to get up 1 x per night & even stopped my prostate tablet Tamsulosin. I don't think this was down to dehydration. I have now read research that walking can help benign prostate symptoms. Delicate subject but have any other prostate sufferering pilgrims noted improvement or worsening on Camino? Sadly since returning it's relapsed.

Thank you for your sensitive post on what is a sensitive subject understood by many men.
Having gone through the many stages of treatment (overactive night disturbance/complete shutdown of urinary function/ catheter installed, and now removed/Radiotherapy).
I am also on Tamsulosin as part of my medicinal regime.
My condition is also not benign and my treatment has left me in a reverse position as per a need to urinate. At present, I am able to get an undisturbed nights sleep compared to before. The days are a completely different story and, althoughi I have been advised to exercise to combat fatigue and build up strength as part of an ongoing rehabilitation process to the radiotherapy. I cannot go far from any toilet facilities.

Although everyones Prostate condition may be different I wish you all the best and to keep well exercised and hydrated as much as possible. Night disturbance is horrible as is an overactive urinary system during the day.

 

[WalkingInGers]

I have been on SILODOSINE, similar to Tamsulosin for benign prostate problem. Last year, (2024), I walked from Pamplona to Santiago and found that I did not need the medication. It is true that I was in bed at 9.30 in the evenings after a day of walking, and would wake up at 07.00. Did I wake up to use the toilet? Yes, sometimes but not often.
I returned to a relatively sedentary life style after the summer, (not using any medication and once in a while waking up to urinate), and since I no longer exercise as much, have been obliged to re-medicate.
I would prefer to avoid taking any conventional medications.

Have started to walk again medium stretches each week: I have noticed a marked improvement in my fight against diabetes and high blood pressure as well.
Just my opinion for what it is worth.

 

[Dov of the Galilee]

In your home life are you mostly sedentary?

 

[WalkingInGers]

In your home life are you mostly sedentary?

I am retired and during the winter months,yes, I am too often sedentary.

 

[OLDBIKERIDER]

Like David I now live in Spain and eat a healthier diet than I did in the States. And I walk after almost every meal, not as much as when doing the Camino but lots more than I did in the colonies. So without formal research I’d give credit to the combination of walking and healthy diet as well as sleeping in a room with 50 other people. Buen Camino

 

[hieudovan]

I am 76 and also am on Tamsulosin. I was reluctant to take medications in general, but 2-3 times a night was too much. I walked the Le Puy this fall and only had to get up once a night. I did some "research" (googling) and found that pumpkin seeds by themselves help. Pumpkin seeds also interact with Tamsulosin to make the medication more effective. Many medical studies recommend taking pumpkin seed oil on a daily basis. However, I prefer eating seeds rather than drinking oil. The seeds taste great by themselves or in salads, on top of ice cream... Naturally I also find that walking helps with the condition. Buen camino.

 

[Saint Mike II]

WOW! I think my association with the Forum goes back 10 or 12 years. I never cease to be amazed at the range of subjects that get discussed. Big congrats to all who have posted on the above thread. As one who has similar issues thank you for your honesty.

 

[davejsy]

Well done for bringing this up @Seabeggar and it's obviously something that will be very helpful for a lot of people who might be to worried about asking such questions themselves.

I don't have a prostate issue (yet!), but I've had some weird groin issue (I think some kind of sports hernia) for a number of years now and on top of that have always had a weak bladder I guess - so similar issues and concerns about the Camino and dorm life. I had no issues on Camino and normally can do with one noctural trip a night sometimes even none now.

But the reason for my post is that I've done lots of research. It's obvious it's a very complex area the groin and everything that's in it which is a lot of stuff, and it doesn't take much to be wrong to start causing problems with the surroundings. One of the biggest (and often unknown) muscles down there is the psoas, and this basically connects your spine to your legs and is what we need to WALK. And on it's journey it passes a lot of important things like bladder, bowels etc. Anyway, without boring anyone the psoas can become tight with a sedentary (especially too much sitting) lifestyle and cause a whole host of unwanted effects, one of which can be urinary problems (and IBS). So, this could be one reason why people notice an improvement on the Camino. It's obviously a lot more complicated than that, but it's worth having a read and maybe trying to adopt a few exercises into your non-Camino daily lives.

It's generally not something many doctors will entertain but if you google it there's plenty of articles. In yoga it's also known as the muscle of the soul, and it is our body's main fight or flight muscle where many people believe we store stress in a form of muscle memory.

Also walking is just going to increase your blood flow overall which is always going to help things like this.

This is why the doctors should be prescribing Caminos!

 

[Viajefacil]

I was concerned that my benign prostate condition would disturb other sleepers in my dorm as I am up 3 times per night at home. But on the Camino I only needed to get up 1 x per night & even stopped my prostate tablet Tamsulosin. I don't think this was down to dehydration. I have now read research that walking can help benign prostate symptoms. Delicate subject but have any other prostate sufferering pilgrims noted improvement or worsening on Camino? Sadly since returning it's relapsed.

Newbie here. I was about to ask a relevant, delicate question. I had my prostate removed (cancer) 18 years ago and now have only one sphincter. From experience I will be trekking to the loo two or three times each night. How disturbing is this to other would-be sleepers in the dorm? I lived in Spain for two years and know the high quality of the wine - abstaining is not a sacrifice I'm proposing to make. Or should I rely on hotels, etc during the treks? Since advanced prostate cancer, is not uncommon, this surely is a recurring (!) issue.

 

[Saint Mike II]

Hola @Viajefacil I know exactly what you go through. Yes private facility rooms might be an answer; some of the private alberques also have private rooms. The other choice is to take a bunk near the bathrooms - this of course has the other drawback of having many other pilgrims go past your bunk (ear plugs might be an answer). Best wishes.

 

[davebugg]

In terms of the amount of sheer disturbance during the night-time sleep period, it is the Loud Snorers who far surpass Quiet Multi-Visit Bathroom Patrons. In fact, if given an either/or choice, I'll take Multi-Visit Bathroomers any night.

The caveat.... This presupposes that you WILL NOT shine a bright light around the room as you head to the toilet. Light color does not matter in this regard be it red or blue or green. Keep the light beam on 'dim' and focused to the floor with your cupped hand shielding as much spillover as possible.

 

[C clearly]

Off topic paragraph and posts have been deleted, to avoid hijacking from the original subject.

 

[Viajefacil]

Thanks much for the perspective.

 

[HBS60]

Ah, one of my many maladies, the banes of my existence!
I’m a bit more complicated because I also have to hook myself to a cPAP machine at night, so getting up to pee at night requires me to unhook myself so I can go to the BR. At home I don’t have that problem because I just go in a bottle that I empty in the morning, and no one is the wiser because I live alone, so I was worried about it, but it was fine. I think that maybe because I was so exhausted each night, the night BR trips were minimal, even though I wasn’t very consistent with my medication (Alfuzosin).
More of a problem was during daytime, probably because I’m also on Farxiga due to pre-diabetes, and it makes me pee frequently during the day, which was a problem as I was walking on the Meseta and many times there was nowhere to hide, and because of having had coffee, I really had to go several times. I became very good at scanning a suitable bush in the distance, trying to time it so no one else was around.
Somehow, I managed to get through those embarrassing inconvenient moments…

 

[J Willhaus]

From a female, you may find that NOT sleeping near the door is a better idea. Sometimes there is a light on a motion sensor or a light in the hall or bathroom which keeps you awake at night when the door opens.

 

[trecile]

From a female, you may find that NOT sleeping near the door is a better idea. Sometimes there is a light on a motion sensor or a light in the hall or bathroom which keeps you awake at night when the door opens.

That's why I always bring an eye mask! Light bothers me almost more than noise.

 

[MikeJS]

I have been treated for Prostate Cancer and have been on tamsulosin for a while. Well before the treatment and prior to tamsulosin I was used to getting up frequently in the night and it was definitely better, but not perfect, on the camino. No idea why, but I always try to be close to the toilet to avoid disturbing others.

 

[Mr BWE]

I am 76 and also am on Tamsulosin. I was reluctant to take medications in general, but 2-3 times a night was too much. I walked the Le Puy this fall and only had to get up once a night. I did some "research" (googling) and found that pumpkin seeds by themselves help. Pumpkin seeds also interact with Tamsulosin to make the medication more effective. Many medical studies recommend taking pumpkin seed oil on a daily basis. However, I prefer eating seeds rather than drinking oil. The seeds taste great by themselves or in salads, on top of ice cream... Naturally I also find that walking helps with the condition. Buen camino.

I eat my pumpkin seeds and wash them down with a cup of nettle tea, both are recommended for those with prostate problems.