On the day that doctors are encouraging all Aussie blokes to get their prostate checked, LIV hears from a Perth dad who has experienced problems with his ‘waterworks’, thanks to BPH, but now has his life back on track.
Colin, who is 69, began experiencing symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also known as an enlarged prostate, in 2015, but he struggled for a further two years before going 
to see his GP.
He frequently needed to urinate but only had a weak stream and this soon began to affect both his social and work life. Like many men, he put off visiting his doctor, but when a friend suggested he go and get checked out, he finally learned what was going on.
“I first noticed the symptoms when attending social functions. I was going to the toilet far more than all of my mates.
“I was getting up about four-to-five times a night to urinate. It was really frustrating to deal with. I was lucky to get even two hours of uninterrupted sleep,” said Colin, a real estate consultant and dad to three.
“Whether I was at work, barbeques, or the footy, I was always getting up and down to go to the toilet.
“I’d feel the urge to urinate, but when I reached the urinal, there was only a dribble. The blokes next to me sounded like race horses, on the other hand.”
Colin’s experience of constantly disappearing to the toilet probably sounds familiar to a lot of guys.
It wasn’t until Colin’s GP referred him to a urologist, who diagnosed him with BPH in 2017, that he realised he wasn’t confined to being a ‘Disappearing Dave’ for the rest of his life!
“I started treatment soon after seeing the urologist. Since then, I’ve seen a pretty significant change to my quality of life. The biggest difference for me is the six-to-seven hours of uninterrupted sleep I now get.
“I still urinate more frequently than some of my friends, but the improvement has been noticeable and very positive,” said Colin.
Having personally witnessed the benefits of treatment, Colin is now urging other Aussie men to get their prostates checked without delay.
“There needs to be more awareness around prostate disease. All my mates are familiar with prostate issues, but few know what BPH is.
“If Aussie blokes are having any ‘old man’ issues downstairs, it’s important they go to their doctor and get checked out.
“Developing BPH is a natural part of life – it’s not a big deal. Simple treatments are available to help manage your constant visits to the toilet,” Colin said.
If you suspect that you, or a loved one, may have symptoms of BPH, talk to your GP. To check the severity of your symptoms and learn more, you can head to www.disappearingdave.com.au