New member- P-Ca-duceus

Hello all. I found this site pre-op, and I must say, you hear the good AND the bad. But hearing from others with the same problem was very educational.
As you might guess from my name, I'm a doctor (orthopaedic surgeon), who has found himself on the other side of the knife. So far, everything is progressing well, better than expected. I have made a habit in my life of expecting the worst, but hoping for the best. I'm never disappointed. I hope my unique perspective can be useful for the group.
Catheter came out yesterday, but, of course, the highlight of the doctor's visit was the great pathology report. After literally and unwittingly sitting on this disease for three years, I was fearful that I lost my chance to be cured. Now I am a prospective member of the zero club, and a practicing member of the Kegel club.
I am mostly continent and can stop the squirts when they come. Last night was dry, although I hit the BR four times. So my only question right now is about the mild burning at the tip of the penis after the pad gets wet. I'm changing pads frequently and using vaseline to protect the skin, but I wonder if there are any other tricks I can use. Do certain foods cause more burning? Does it go away in time? Can it get worse?
I look forward to continuing my participation on this site, which I see is populated by thoughtful and compassionate people.

---

12/2005-Age50-PSA 4.2-Biopsy negative
01/2008-Age 52-PSA 8.0-Biopsy negative (I should have known then)
01/2009 Age 53-PSA 17.8-Biopsy positive-Gleason 4+3, 1 of 24 cores!
Time to become my own best advocate
Special protocol MRI with Gadolinium dye at Brigham and Women's Hospital-
main tumor (1.9cm) is ANTERIOR, not accessible by biopsy. All is now clear.
04/02/2009-open RP- Dr. Jerome Richie (experience is #1)
Pathology- Stage T2cN0M0,Gleason 4+3, margins clear.




post edited to add members name in subject- to allow for archiving and elimination of "new Member" subjects....lol

Re-inserted Signature information...Silly bug in the software. ~

Post Edited By Moderator (TC-LasVegas) : 4/11/2009 11:52:46 AM (GMT-6)

Welcome to the club and to HW. You are familiar with how things go, so settle in and stick with us and share your Journey. As to your penis irritation, many here used an antibiotic salve, such as Neo-sporin for a few days, until the trauma of the tube healed. Your problem sounds like our typical irritation from the catheter tube, if it continues and seems to be a form of diaper rash from the moist pads, several guys have the names of some super-duper heavy duty salves that will help stop that and enhance healing. Hopefully you wil continue gaining continence and will move beyond the need for pads soon.

Hi P-Ca-duceus,

Welcome and congrats on the pathology report. For the burning, I had it for about a week after the catheter was out and then it disapeared by itself. It's probably not caused by the pads, rather from the catheter as I was dry from the go, yet the burning was present.

Best
Nasso

What's up, Doc.
Sorry you have had to join our club. You do sound like you have a full understanding and have made good decisions thus far. Watchful waiting is seldom selected on the front end, but as long as you manage it, it's a good call for many. Your PSA was approaching mine pre-op. I am glad to see you avoided my results post-op. The suggestions had been in line with my experience. I used up my remaining Lydocaine at the get go and was able to control the burning. Within' just a couple days after the catheter came out I was dry, so I needed few kegels. Even today, more than two years later, dry.

Welcome to Healingwell. You can see that a patient to patient network can be quite useful. I was here right after Dx, and I learned so much more here than my doctors could tell me in brief one hour meetings and such. I believe I was well informed and made sound decisions in my care. It started with not being afraid to ask the right questions with the experienced brotherhood. I wish you the very best in healing. By all means, stay for the fun...

Peace,

Tony

P-Ca-duceus, sorry about the signature erasing. I'm the one who probably dropped it, when editing I have the option of adding the signature or not, but it is a click to add function and I most likely didn't click the box, so it dropped it. Again sorry about that..... I edited the post to get you to stand out from the crowd of other 'New Member" in case anyone is searching for you in the archives. That and No Subject seems to be two favorite subject lines lately....

Hello and welcome here, sorry you need us, but great place to be. As far as the burning you described, my dr. put me on some pyridium, makes you pee bright orange, completely stopped any burning sensation, only had to take a total of two doses.

David in SC