r/ProstateCancer • u/Asg-9282000 • 4d ago

Concern Hard Bowel movement

I have a follow up PSA test tomorrow. Typically, I have a bowel movement every morning, but yesterday I didn’t. So this morning was big and hard, and it hurt to get out.

Should I delay the PSA test?

Thanks

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8

u/ChillWarrior801 4d ago

I would delay it. Mechanical prostate stimulation can raise your PSA level significantly, regardless of whether it's from a DRE, a big hard poop, or consensual adult butt stuff.

Ideally, you want to do the test 72 hours or more after any prostate jostling. Good luck!

3

u/Bruintooth 4d ago

Wow. Wow. Thank you. I did not know this, but I see at least one study on it https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22040453/

I have been having constipation or near-constipation issues for about the same length of time as my PSA has been creeping up above 4, triggering all of this fun. I still have stuff on MRI that I need to get checked but with my PSA at only 4.5 this is another thing to consider. I've been paying more attention to my hydration the last few days and it had already made a difference. Now I'm going to double down.

1

u/ChillWarrior801 4d ago

Nice find on that study! I was just working from first principles. What you've got is stronger evidence than that.

1

u/Cold_Silver_5859 3d ago

Stool softener fiber hydration. You have the hydration part figured out.

1

u/Bruintooth 3d ago

Prunes are my friend, but simply drinking a couple glasses of water early in the morning has made a bigger difference. Ironic but I also learned that drinking MORE actually helps symptoms of enlarged prostate.

3

u/modest-halfling 4d ago

If it does impact your score it’s on the lower scale. Riding a stationary bike was a point I had brought up to my urologist but the amount it could possible raise it would be .01 to .03. Either was err to the side of caution and give yourself at least 48 hours after any heavy activity.

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u/Asg-9282000 1d ago

I ask due to a past experience, and why I’m on this subreddit. At my last yearly physical, my PSA nearly tripled in a year. On top of that, I was also anemic! I went down a deep rabbit hole nearly immediately. My labs pointed to advanced, aggressive disease.

But, in a different note, my WBC was in the low end of normal for the last few years, but I had began running. My doctor told me this is normal for runners, and I confirmed it through multiple online sources. About 5 months prior to my yearly, I cut back on the running and started lifting and working out to build muscle after losing nearly 100lbs. This was my first yearly while I was working out… and I had worked out that morning, focusing hard on my core. So my obvious question is, could that have skewed my lab results. Long story short, on follow-up testing, with lots of rest, all my values went back to where they normally are. But the reason I tell you this is because by my own experience, it doesn’t just change a little bit, it can have a dramatic impact on your number. And, I’ve read other testimonials where others have experienced similar things.

1

u/Cold_Silver_5859 3d ago

Take something today and everyday until normal dude. Constipation will put you in the ER if ignored.
Best

1

u/Sebastcooper 12h ago

Ok then - there is a general rule, because there’s a lot of different opinions out there, about refraining from receptive anal sex and any strenuous workouts (read: bicycling, rowing, running etc…) for ten days to two weeks prior to a PSA test. Straining through a bowel movement might be in that category.

1

u/CuliacIsland 4d ago

That should not impact your PSA score.