Tag: insights

IPSS App. Compare symptoms over time

Posted on by in Uncategorised

iUFlow is a bladder diary and IPSS app. Add Benign Prostate Enlargement (BPH) tracking ability to your best bladder diary app.

Find Your BPH Symptom Score
How Severe Are My Symptoms?

IPSS Questionnaire doctor reading results

Urology IPSS Prostate Score: BPH Symptoms Score. Calculate International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) in patients with prostate enlargement. Especially benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). IPSS is based on the answers of seven questions. Mainly focusing on urinary symptoms severity and quality of life.

Easily share the results with your doctor

Enlarged Prostate? Prostate cancer or BPH ? What can help your doctor to decide? Urine flow test and symptoms.

After completing a short questionnaire in the app. The score is added to the bladder diary and charts. Voiding diary and IPSS app make it easy for the healthcare provider to track the symptoms, in the app or portal.

Urine diary app

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Physicians can use the information in the IPSS questionnaire to help increase quality of life for patients by providing customized treatment. Easily get a full picture of your bladder. Get iUFlow to track and monitor urological symptoms, as weak urinary stream, incomplete emptying, prostate enlargment, volume and other urinary tract symptoms. The recommended practice is to complete IPSS questionnaire once a month. Like that, your doctor can track and compare the results. Using the records as snapshots of your symptoms.

IPSS app quality of life questionnaire on Android
IPSS app on iPhone

Download iUFlow app to your phone or tablet
iUFlow is available for free in the App Store and Google Play.

Enlarged Prostate?? Prostate Cancer? BPH? IPSS App

What happens in case that the prostate enlarges? Self-Assessment

Do I need to undergo a prostate removal or radiation therapy?

The prostate commonly gets larger after the age of 45 to 50. Because the prostate is very close to the urethra, an enlarged prostate usually presses and affect the normal flow of urine. In other words, it can lead to obstruction. 

What else you need to know on BPH 

Incomplete Emptying. Over the last month, how often have you had a sensation of not emptying your bladder completely after you finished urinating?
Frequency. During the last month, how often have you had to urinate again less than 2 hours after you finished urinating?
Intermittency. During the last month, how often have you found you stopped and started again several times when you urinated?
Urgency. During the last month, how often have you found it difficult to postpone urination?
Weak Stream. During the last month, how often have you had a weak urinary stream?
Straining. During the last month, how often have you had to push or strain to begin urination?
Sleeping. During the last month, how many times did you most typically get up to urinate from the time you went to bed at night until the time you got up in the morning?

Install iUFlow app on your iPhone or Android for free. no ads. Apple app Store and Play Store.

What you should know about Prostate Cancer?

Posted on by in Uncategorised

Enlarged Prostate? Prostate cancer or BPH ? What can help your doctor to decide? Urine flow test and symptoms.

What is the most common cancer in men? Prostate Cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian men. There are more than 20,000 diagnoses and almost 3,300 deaths each year.

What is the prostate? Where is the prostate?

Your prostate is a small walnut-sized gland inside your body, just below your bladder. It has a big impact on your urinary system. The prostate surrounds the urethra (- the tube carries urine to your bladder). This is the reason that changes to the prostate often lead to changes in bladder and bowel health.

Enlarged Prostate? Prostate Cancer?

What occurs when the prostate enlarges?

The prostate commonly gets bigger after the age of 45 to 50. While the prostate is so close to the urethra, an enlarged prostate usually presses and affect the normal flow of urine. In other words, it can lead to obstruction. 

Some men notice a trouble urinating or necessitate to urinate more frequently. While others won’t feel any changes. In case you observe any alterations to your bladder and bowel habits, you should check in with a physician to rule out other things. 
Prostate enlargement on its own is oftentimes diagnosed as BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia). It isn’t cancer and won’t turn into cancer. Your Urologist can work with you and may recommend lifestyle changes such as reducing caffeine or alcohol, or eating less spicy and acidic food.

Prostate Cancer – the most commonly diagnosed cancer for men

Prostate cancer is cancer that occurs in the prostate. It is the most common cancer for men. It has a close link to incontinence and many men find incontinence one of the hardest parts to handle after prostate cancer treatment. 

Most men with early prostate cancer don’t have alterations that they notice. Signs of prostate cancer most oftentimes show up in more advanced stages, as the cancer grows.

If you’re suffering from symptoms like: painful urination, cloudy urine or blood in your urine > these are clearly a sign to call for help.

Prostate cancer diagnosis. man in blue dress shirt sitting beside man in blue dress shirt. unsplash

What Are the Five Warning Signs of Prostate Cancer?

  • A painful and/or burning sensation during urination.
  • Frequent micturition, particularly at night.
  • Trouble stopping and/or starting urination.
  • Sudden erectile dysfunction.
  • Blood in urine and/or semen.

Over the years, there was great progress for surviving cancer. In many men, it can be a slow growing cancer. As mentioned, urinary symptoms, as above, are more common in the later stages of prostate cancer.

What is the treatment?

In general, the treatments for PC are mainly removing the prostate by surgery and radiation therapy.

The pelvic floor muscles and a ring of muscles near the bladder (bladder neck sphincter) can be affected. Their role is to allow urine to flow out by opening and closing. Men suffer from urinary incontinence in case that these muscles are damaged during prostate surgery. In addition, radiation therapy can also cause incontinence, sometimes many years later.

Today, we know that it is better to prepare your pelvic floor before prostate cancer treatment. Incontinence after prostate surgery will usually get improved with time. For instance, Pelvic floor exercises (e.g. Kegel) and continence professionals are very effective in helping incontinence. Most men get back bladder control in 6 months to a year. A consistent physical therapy can make a big difference in terms of an after surgery incontinence.

iuflow report read by doctor bph diagnosis

Your doctor or PT interested in data on your bladder – in the form of a bladder diary and a flow test. This can make the process to be much shorter and more precise. In conclusion, it is important to see your doctor and conduct a flow test.

Weak urine flow ratelow Qmax
Slow urinationlow Qmax

Check out the iUFlow app and get an iUFlow PRO urine flow monitoring device

iUFlow app
  1. Track your bladder with the iUFlow app and iUFlow PRO urine flow meter
  2. Be active. Physical activity can prevent you from retaining urine.
  3. Visit your doctor

A post for the Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

Prostate Biopsy Codes for Medicare

Posted on by in Uncategorised

First, what is a Medicare procedure code? Or, CMS codes?

Medicare code Prostate Biopsy Flow rate iUFlow

Healthcare providers can bill Medicare, use codes for diagnoses and codes for care, equipment, and medications provided. “Procedure” code is a term for codes that we use to identify what was done to or offered to a patient (it could be surgeries, durable medical equipment, medications, and so on).

What are Prostate Biopsy codes for Medicare reimbursement?
76872, 76942, 55700, 64450 A4512

Urologist Dr. John C Lin explains the use of possible billing codes for Prostate biopsy (2018) for Medicare patients.

Dr. Lin has been a urologic Practice Management speaker for the AUA. Dr. John C Lin is interested in health information technology. Therefore, he served as an adviser to Google Health. Furthermore, Dr. Lin served on the American Urological Association advisory board on evaluation, adoption, and utilization of electronic health records and telemedicine. 

Dr. Lin hosts Live shows, on people who work in health and health related fields. His main practice is in Gilbert, AZ. Read some of Dr. Lin’s patients testimonials.

Check out Dr. Lin’s vlog and watch his episode on iUFlow and home flow rate.

Dr. Lin explains about iUFlow Home Uroflow meter

What is normal urinary flow rate?

Typically, uroflow ranges between 10 ml/second and 21 ml/second. For women, the range is normally between 15 ml and 18 ml per second. A slow or week flow rate may indicate that there is a blockage at the bladder neck or in the urethra, an enlarged prostate (e.g. BPH), or a weak bladder. Issues with slow urine flow rate will typically mean the bladder is not emptying properly.

Can I calculate flow rate manually at home?
The urine flow rate is calculated by dividing the total volume of the urination (in ml) by the duration of the urination in seconds. For example, 120 ml in 15 seconds will make a 120/15 = 8 ml/s flow rate. Calculating these figures manually will never be as accurate as using a designated flow meter. Above all, you miss some very important parameters such as flow chart, Qmax, TQmax etc.

Read more on why you should order your own home Uroflowmeter.
How to Generate Flow Charts at Home?

Unboxing of iUFlow by John C Lin, Urologist

Posted on by in Uncategorised

Unboxing of iUFlow Uroflow. Dr. John C Lin has been a urologic Practice Management speaker for the American Urological Association and was nominated as Physician of the Year in Lake Havasu City in 2004. Dr. Lin served as an adviser to Google Health. In addition, he served on the American Urological Association advisory board (Health Information Technology workgroup) on evaluation, adoption, and utilization of electronic health records and telemedicine. 

More info on Sunrise Urology – Timely urologic care to the Gilbert, Queen Creek, Mesa, Chandler, San Tan Valley, and surrounding areas.

Dr. Lin currently hosts occasional Facebook Live shows, highlighting personalities who work in health and related fields.

Unboxing of iUFlow by Dr. John C Lin, Urologist

Part I
Unboxing of iUFlow automated home uroflow / uroflometry using an innovative Bluetooth connected device. The information / voiding diary is saved on the user’s phone for later analysis. This seems to be an interesting device for those needing an automated voiding diary.

How can I test urine flow at home?

What is iUFlow?

iUFlow is a Uroflow for home use. It uses sensors to objectively measure bladder behavior during a prescribed interval. The outcome is a complete urine flow test. For example: Volume, Qmax, flow rates and frequency of a patient’s voiding activities. iUFlow is an easy Uroflowmetry or urine flow rate test at home.
iUFlow Uroflow and iUFlow Voiding Diary app — Urine Flow

George C. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I use it daily
“The Dr. wanted me to uroflow daily. This unit has given me the easy way to do that. And it also keeps all the records for me.”

What is normal Uroflow?

Average outcomes are based on age and gender. Typically, urine flow rate runs from 10ml to 21ml / second. Women range closer to ~15ml/s to 18ml/s. A weak or slow flow rate may be a sign that there is an obstruction at the bladder neck or in the urethra, an enlarged prostate, BPH, or a weak bladder.

What is normal Uroflow? How to read Uroflow results?

How can I increase my urine flow?

  1. Be active. Lack of physical activity can make you retain urine.
  2. Kegel exercises. Stand at / sit on the toilet and contract/expand the muscle that allows you to stop and start the flow of urine.
  3. Meditation. Anxiety and stress cause some men to urinate more often.
  4. Double voiding. Pass urine more than once each time that you go to the toilet.

There are many more questions related to prostate and lower urinary tract symptoms that we receive frequently. For example: Can turmeric shrink prostate? Is oatmeal good for your prostate? What color pee is bad? What’s the first sign of kidney problems? Do I have a normal volume of urine for 24 hours? How can I clean my bladder?

Please feel very welcome to contact us in regard to a urine flow test at home.

man urinate into iuflow uroflowmeter
Provide your doctor with real-time data.

Read more on iUFlow and why you should order your own home Uroflowmeter.

Generate Flow Charts at Home

BPH Patient consulting with an online Urologist. Not an exciting chat

Posted on by in Uncategorised

More and more online doctor services are emerging. Let’s take a look at this correspondence of a BPH patient and an online Urologist (below). Firstly, as you can see, the answers are generic. Secondly, he received a grocery list of possible issues and treatments. Thirdly, it seems that the online doctor is confusing between Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and Urge incontinence??.

To sum it up, an online doctor can’t replace a visit at the Urologist’s or PCP’s clinic.
(TL;DR) Avoid online doctor services and don’t try to save money on your bladder.

Weak Flow? A sign of BPH?

online doctor bph

BPH Patient: I am a 58 years old male. Why does it take me a long time to pee recently? No burning sensation. Urine is not coming easily. Slow urine flow.

Doctor ###### replies:

Hello, my name is Dr #####, thank you for your question. I am a qualified MD with 13 years’ experience, and I am happy to work with you on this.

You should approach a doctor for this.
There are several types of male incontinence like Stress incontinence, Urge incontinence, Overflow incontinence and Functional incontinence.

Causes for incontinence are:
Small functional bladder capacity (FBC): In other words, the bladder is able to contain only a small volume of urine,
Detrusor Overactivity: the muscle of the bladder is hyperactive, causing inappropriate urination.
Sleep disorders: such as sleep apnea and sleep walking, etc. can lead to this.
Medications: certain medications can cause this.
UTI: urinary tract infection can cause this.
Urinary tract stones
Neurological disorders

Consult a Urologist for this.

A urologist needs to investigate to find the cause of your incontinence. You need to be examined thoroughly for this. In addition, besides tests like Urine Culture and sensitivity, you also need tests like Uroflow, Ultrasound, IVP, cystoscopy and voiding cystography. You should discuss these tests with your doctor

You need to take some active steps to combat such habits:
Pelvic exercises: Kegel exercises should be done.
Link: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000141.htm
Biofeedback exercises.
Behavior modifications: Like going to the bathroom at fixed times, drinking less fluids, holding on to the urine as far as possible till the time is appropriate.
These steps will help you, but you need to see a Urologist for this.
Hope I have been able to clarify the situation for you and helped in resolving your query. If you need more help, please let me know so l can continue to assist you.
Thank you and I wish you the best of health – stay safe!

Conclusion:

An online chat will never replace a real face-to-face visit with a Urologist or Gynecologist. It is better to arrive prepared. That is to say, share objective data with your doctor. Such as: bladder diary and uroflow charts. Your health care provider will very much appreciate these. And, like this, your complaints can be assessed scientifically as symptoms.

Generate Uroflow Charts at Home
Shared with doctor

Monitor your issue with iUFlow home uroflow and Bladder diary app. Your doctor will appreciate the data and will be able to better tailor the treatment for you.

iUFlow Uroflow Urine test

Simple to use but very effective

I found this flow meter by accident and so pleased I did. It helped tremendously to have an accurate record to present to the consultant.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Contact us for more information regarding iUFlow or with any question about interpretation of uroflow results. Uroflow Test at home

Learn more:

iUFlow in 3 Easy Steps

Weak Urine Flow? A sign of BPH for men?

iUFlow Overview

Printable Bowel Movement Chart – Poo diary

Posted on by in Uncategorised

Bowel movement and voiding Diary is a tool that allows to record how much liquid you drink, how often you go to the restroom. And some additional information like when you experience urine leakage and urgency. Bowel movement and voiding diary is also known as Bladder Diary, Bristol chart, poo log, stool diary or Frequency volume chart (FVC).

How to complete – Instructions for Completing a 3-Day Bowel movement chart

1. Complete the bowel movement and bladder diary for a total of 3 days. 24×3

2. On the day that you start recording events in the bowel movment and bladder diary. Print your name and full date at the top of the diary.

How to record in the diary:

Hour: Use one bowel and voiding diary sheet for each 24-hour period. Circle your bedtime (example, 11pm) and wake-up time (example 7am) directly in the time column. Start recording all fluid intake, bowel movement and urinary events starting at 7am and ending the following day at 7am. Write down the event next to the appropriate hour time slot when it occurred.

Fluid: Under “fluid intake”, write the total amount of fluids you drank. This could be in ounces or ml– during a given time period.

Toilet : In the column marked “toilet voids and bowel movement”, remember to make sure that the urinary container is in the toilet. On each time you urinate. Record the amount of urine you voided (in ml) each time you urinated in the toilet over a 24-hour period.

Bristol chart

Use a Bristol chart to rate the bowel movement shape.

  • Type 1-2 indicate constipation,
  • 3-4 are ideal stools as they are easier to pass, and
  • Type 5-7 may indicate diarrhea and urgency. 

Tired of the manual way of recording pee? Consider getting an iUFlow device. Provide your PT or Urologists with real-time bladder data.

Leaks: Under “leaks”. Mark each time you had involuntary urine loss (even a small amount) before you made it to the toilet.

Urge: Under “urge”. Rate each time you had a trip to toilet.

Start a new page for each day you keep the diary. You need to keep a diary for 3 full days, though they do not need to be consecutive days.

Clinic: __________________________

Full Name: ______________________________

Date | TimeUrine volume / Toilet tripsDrinks volumeLeakageUrgeDescription
Date and Time am/pmThe exact amount of pee in mL / Bristol chart rating 💩 (1-7)The exact amount of intake in mL / ozDid you experience any accidental leakage?
Rank it 0-4		How strong was the urge to go? Rank it 0-4 
      
      
      
      

Diagnosis Methods

Download and print your own bowel and bladder diary PDF form using this link

bowel and voiding_diary_instructions_how_to-1 — Download

Get Form ^

This is the good old way. But, you don’t feel like carrying this paper voiding diary with you? Check out a digital voiding app. iUFlow – Bladder diary. A FREE toilet tracker app available on both Android and iOS app stores.

Install it on your smartphone

How to have a Better Bowel Movement?

How to avoid constipation?

It’s easy: Drink water. Eat food that is rich in fiber. For example: fruits, lentils, nuts, grains, and vegetables. Move more.

Track every toilet trip and share the results with your doctor. With the iUFlow app it’s a 2 clicks procedure.

Shared with doctor

Feel free to contact us with any question.

iUFlow Overview

Urology 1:1 Tips and Useful information for better quality

Posted on by in Uncategorised

What is the urinary system?

How is the urinary system controlled?

Essential Tips and Info about urinary system. The urinary system, or the renal system, consist of four parts — the kidneys, the ureter, the bladder, and the urethra. The urinary system have important functions, get rid of waste, working with other organs, so the body keeps a proper chemical and water equipoise, and adjusting blood volume and blood pressure.

The bladder stores the urine until it is convenient to pee or in other words, to expel it from the body. While urine is taken from the kidney to the bladder by the ureters.

Ureter ≠ urethra

‘Ureter’ differs from ‘urethra’. While, the ureters are tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. The urethra is the tube that transports urine out of the body.

Urine equals water, urea and salts.

Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms. Or in short, LUTS.

What are LUTS?

In other words, the lower urinary tract: bladder, prostate and urethra. LUTS are grouped, in general, into symptoms to do with storing or passing urine, like blockage. It can be symptoms linked mainly to one or the other, or a combination of both.

How common is LUTS? When you get older, LUTS are more common. In other words, with age. It can happen when you’re young, but the reason of the problem is likely to be different.

Nearly 33% of men, over the age of 70, are suffering from moderate to severe LUTS.

You’re less likely to suffer from LUTS if you have a healthy lifestyle and body weight and if you’re a non-smoker.


Urologic Conditions

Procedures

  • Uroflowmetry (at home)
  • Urinalysis
  • Bladder Scan
  • Cystoscopy
  • Testicular Self-Examination
  • Urologic Radiology

Understanding Urology

How do doctors check for bladder problems?

Your doctor will ask for your situation and will perform a physical exam. What if I completed a bladder diary and I performed iUFlow urine flow rate test already? If your doctor has ordered the test, and you have any questions or concerns, contact your doctor’s office.

Visiting a Urologist

What should I ask my doctor?

Questions to ask your doctor

  • What are results from the urine flow test telling you?
  • Does my Qmax match the volume?
  • What other test will I need to explain my problem?
  • Am I suffering from LUTS? Can LUTS be prevented?
  • Men: are the symptoms related to my prostate (such as BPH)?
  • Should I fill out a Bladder Diary?
  • What are the next-steps?

Article: Does a home bladder monitoring device improve data?

Article: Do patients feel at home? Bladder holter device

Uroflow test (conventional) – Location

Depending on the availability in your region, This test is typically performed in a hospital or a physician’s office.

How long does a uroflow take? Time.

The procedure usually takes about half an hour. Your physician might ask you to repeat the process in case the results are not valid. In other words, to fill your bladder, wait a while and measure again.

iUFlow Uroflow Urine test

Provide your doctor with real-time data.

What is an iUFlow test?

Read what is iUFlow and why you should probably consider getting one.

iUFlow Dashboard – How to use?

Posted on by in Uncategorised

iUFlow Dashboard and Portal.

Firstly, log in diary.iuflow.com (click here or look for the iUFlow Portal link in menu). There you will find your current bladder diary synced from your iUFlow bladder diary app. That is to say, all your home flow rate test that you synced and your manually added events.

Secondly, access the measurements on the iUFlow user dashboard.

Understand the data of the iUFlow Dashboard and Portal

Q: I completed a bladder diary using the iUFlow app, but what is the iUFlow device?
A: iUFlow is a uroflowmeter for home use. iUFlow objectively measure volume, Qmax flow rates and frequency of a patient’s voiding activities during a prescribed interval. The easiest urine Uroflowmetry test at home. Every urination is uroflow.

iUFlow flow rate chart

If you use iUFlow home uroflowmeter: compare your uroflows and assess the effect of treatment. In other words, learn whether the medication, therapy, kegel, surgery make a difference to your flow rate.

Look for a change in flow curve shape and changes in Qmax at a specific volume.

Flow rate test example

For instance, how your flow rate looks?

Is your urine flow bell shaped? Plateau (flat)? Or sporadic?

Even in a very general look, the urination chart shape can teach us a lot. A plateau chart, or low Qmax value are commonly a sign of obstruction. It is a common symptom of BPH. In men – Benign prostatic hypertrophy. Enlargement of the prostate gland, or block of the urethra. Also, it can point to another abnormality related to the Lower Urinary Tract.
How to read Uroflow results?

Thirdly, save the current and previous reports and share them with your doctor or physical therapist. Alternatively, your clinician can log in to the iUFlow clinic portal and track your progress in real-time.

iUFlow clinician dahsboard
iUFlow Clinician Dashboard

As always, you are very welcome to contact us for more information regarding iUFlow. Or, if you have any question about interpretation of uroflow results.

iUFlow Overview

Voiding Diary Analysis – Top tips and Guidelines

Posted on by in Uncategorised

FVC analysis – continence assessment

Voiding Diary Analysis: As we all know, a 72-hour frequency volume chart (FVC) is a basic source and an important part of a continence assessment. FVC insights:

Bladder diary form to analyze

Bladder diary example

In order to get an objective picture, a three-day voiding diary is an important part of a continence diagnosis. From both the patient and doctor sides, the best is to complete one prior to the assessment. Like that, the doctor can examine the information in conjunction with the rest of the visit. What should I record in order to get a voiding diary analysis? Should I bring anything else to the meeting?

OK. What should I record?

  • On each day: the time you wake up. Similarly, the time you go to bed.
  • Measure each void. Write it down in ml or oz, recorded on the chart to the nearest hour
  • Mention the degree of urgency for each void (0 – 3: while, 0 = no urgency, 3 = very urgent)
  • Record of all wet events and degree of wetness. For example: dry, damp/dribble, wet/stream, soaked/flood or by pad weighing.
  • What you were doing when you leak
  • Record of pad/underwear alterations

Drinks and voiding

To clarify, what information needed for the fluid intake part of the form?

  • Volume of drink (how much the drinking glass holds ml)
  • Type of beverage
  • Time

Yes, leakage and Urgency scores are important. When the diagnosis is for overactive bladder, repeated voiding diary tell us a lot about the bladder behavior. Certainly, when compared.

Pad weighing, optional?

24 hour pad weighing. It is usually undertaken in care homes or in patient’s home. Pad weighing is optional and can be undertaken as part of the diary. While, 1g weight is equivalent to 1ml urine. Pad weighs are done using a 24-hour pad collection. Where all pads used in a 24-hour period are collected and weighed. Urine volume (in ml) = weight of wet pad (in grams) – weight of dry pad (in grams) Similarly.

In conclusion, what to do:

To sum up, print the bladder diary. Or download the iUFlow app, or any other Bladder diary app. Fill out:

  • Total drink volume
  • Total voiding volume
  • Frequency of urination
  • Likewise, Frequency of night (nocturia) episodes
  • Calculate: average daily urination volume
  • Likewise, calculate: Average daily urgency score

Feel free to contact if you have any questions we can assist with

Based on : Gilbert R. Fluid intake and bladder and bowel function. Nursing Times.

Many suffer from incontinence but not aware of the solutions for it. Treating incontinence starts with fully understand the nature of the problem. In other words, reliable diagnosis. Learn more on tracking your bladder habits with iUFlow voiding diary app.

Also, consider home Urine flow test for more diagnostic insights.

A modern bladder diary app can help to monitor BPH, obstruction or other prostate related symptoms.