Several weeks ago I went to a cardiologist for a treadmill test and echocardiogram, which were both just fine. These tests were done to evaluate whether or not my heart was strong enough for me to have a GreenLight laser procedure to treat an enlarged prostate.

I debated whether or not it was appropriate to write about this on the blog. But 50 percent of men my age have this problem, and it increases in frequency the older one gets. Enlarged prostate, and its treatment, is relevant to lots of men—just like exercising, wrestling with weight loss and eating healthier.

This past Wednesday I had the procedure. They administered a general anesthesia and when I woke up it was all done. There was very little pain. This is a relatively new procedure and I would have done it a year earlier had I known about it. The old procedure was described as the “roto-rooter procedure.” I wasn’t going to do that voluntarily.

Looking back, the most difficulty I had was dealing with the medication. They gave me a strong painkiller, which left me woozy. I didn’t need it and if I’d known it was going to make me dizzy I would have taken a couple of Tylenol instead. We returned home from Honolulu, where I had the procedure done, on Thursday, and on Friday I threw the pain pills in the trash. After that I could think clearly again.

I’ve been advised to take it easy for the next few weeks and resume daily activity a little at a time. This means I’ll need to eat more vegetables and less meat than normal.