human
[Urology] 27M, Pee drops "leaks" after peeing. Embarrassed to visit a doctor.As the post says, I am 27M. After peeing few drops of pee leak out after peeing.As a "solution", i "rub" my penis to move any pee in the canal outside. I do it even from behind the testicles. However recently, it seems even that doesn't work out. As i still get few drops of pee afterward, especially when i sit down.I wanted to go to a doctor, however i am extremely embarrassed. And I am not even sure if there is anything that can be done at this point.The thing is: the reason i believe this is happening, is because when i was a kid, i inserted a thermometer in my urethra, it was deep enough that i felt it penetrating something and pee came out.However if i recall correctly nothing really changed after that incident and this leaking issue started happening about 5 to 8 years ago.
gpt
To put your mind at ease, there is a VERY low likelihood that these issues are secondary to your "self-exploration" event that you journeyed on when you were younger. Additionally, there's absolutely no reason to be embarrassed about this. This is what us physicians do on a daily basis, and we do what we do because we love to help people (most of us, that is). And I promise, for every "embarrassing" event you think you might be bringing to the table, I guarantee all of us have seen much, much worse. But again, there's absolutely zero shame in what you're going through whatsoever. Get a referral to a urologist from your PCP; all they focus on is genitourinary tract issues, and they should hopefully be able to help you find an answer to what's going on.
Can alpha thalassemias present with normal hemoglobin, but chronically low ferritin? My hematologist suggested my hemoglobin was normal because I burn through ferritin so quickly. Like OP, my specialists have all but thrown in the towel after four years of treatments (for a diagnosis that has now been thrown out - Von Willebrands 2M).I have had high RBC and low MCV, normal HCT and HGB, low B12 and D (take weekly injection of the former, high dose oral supplement of the latter). Ive had two iron transfusions ~4 years ago. I can provide complete blood work for the last four years if that would help.
Hemoglobinopathies (like thalassemias) produce red-cells that have a shorter life-span than regular 'normal' red cells. So yes, there is a high turnover and therefore higher demand of nutrients. However, there are other explanations as well. If you like further exploration I would suggest you make a new thread? Results from the last 4 years would give a tremendous head start.