Hello Doctors,
I am posting with hesitation as I know most medical matters are intrinsically beyond the scope of what can be accomplished in this forum, however I value your expertise and knowledge to such a high degree that I’m impelled to ask your opinion(s).
I am a 37 year old male, and recently underwent bloodwork, urinalysis, and ultrasound due to exhibiting symptoms of prostatitis.
Thankfully my results came back negative, however I have a few areas of concern.
- I was told that the ultrasound confirmed my prostate is slightly enlarged, but not of concern, and that I should be okay to manage symptoms (urinary hesitancy) via lifestyle (don’t drink before bed) and medication could be pursued if needed.
- My PSA reading came back as 1.6 ug/l, which I understand is above average for my age but under the threshold to indicate any clinical significance or need to address, so again this was something I was told could be monitored but is a non-issue.
- My doctor had a lp(a) reading done due to family history of ASCVD, and my result was 218 nmol/L, which I also understand is quite high but in my doctor’s words “I’ve seen 400, so it’s not that bad”. His treatment does not include any medical intervention, and I was told to continue managing this through lifestyle (my BMI and waist circumference are in check, low BP, low cholesterol markers, good diet/exercise/sleep habits, mental health in check, etc.)
I don’t have a specific question, however I’m experiencing a lot of turmoil as a result of learning of these results as a relatively young man, and the lack of subsequent treatment/intervention.
I listened to your podcast about lp(a), as well as another (Peter Attia), and came away with the impression that part of the benefit of testing for this early is so that subsequent risk can be mitigated via LDL management which would usually include medication. I understand less regarding the PSA/prostate results, however I am afraid that this may also be potentially undertreated given the circumstances.
In short, I realize you cannot provide medical advice, but it would be helpful and/or reassuring if you could identify any concerns with what has been laid out for me.
I fully admit my concern is being influenced by a bit of a personal crisis, as I am now confronting maladies that are usually expected in later decades, so my apologies if this post seems unnecessary.
Thank you so much in advance!
