Update from Uro/Surgeon's Office Visit.

Just got back from Uro/Surgeon's office.  Nothing with me is ever easy and straightforward.  He had consulted with my Rad. Oncologist that I saw a week ago  (and for doc. skeptics, the two have consulted freely several times over my case, even though there is no connection between their practices).  She nows admit that I got a serious case of radiaton burn going on, explaining most of the moderate to severe pains that I still have going on nearly 1 1/2 months post SRT.  He aplogized for the pain I went through in early December, when he was swapping out SP caths.  He said it wasn't the infection as I thought, but it was the radiation burn causing all the deep pain.  See, I don't imagine these things, folks.

He did not change the cath, even though it was past time, he said my UTI was still raging, so he extended the antibiotics for that.  He is going to arrange for a day surgery hopefully one day next week.  At this point, he said there was no way I could endure the pain of any procedures even if sedated in his office.

They will put me under.  He will go in with a scope through the penis to look from that side, and also put a scope through the SP hole, to determine how much damage there is, and find the best way to re-open my bladder neck.  As suspected, the radiation basically swelled it shut.  He said more than likely, I will awake with both a foley cath through the penis, and a new, smaller diameter SP cath both.  Now that's a first for me, two caths at the same time.  The SP would be capped off, and would be for emergency use, in case the radiation tried to close down the foley cath as it heals.  He said that there would be a small chance of spending 1 night in the hospital, if they thought that it would be too painful, that way they could administer IV pain drugs.  Hoping that's not needed.

He said its going to take some time for all this to heal, both the bladder neck, and the bladder wall, so its possible I may have to have the catheter(s) for 30 days or more. 

I am glad to have a plan in place, but its not going to be fast or easy.  He thinks the jury is out on the SRT, whether it was effective or not, he has arranged to do the next two PSA tests for me.  As damaging as the radiation was to me, he still feels with my numbers it was the only sensible thing to try.

One explanation for the radiation damage:  He said considering how deep and narrow my prostate bed is (that proved probamatic for surgery), that I received a very high dose of radiation for salvage purposes, 72 gys.  So he thinks there must have been a whole lot more "scattering" going on causing this collateral damage.

Hang in there for me brothers, there's hope, but still got a ways  to go.

David in SC

Hi David,
I am so sorry to hear what you are going through. I give you sooo much credit. I think the most comforting thing now is that you have a plan, a plan is always better than no plan at all. It's a step closer to a happy ending. Good luck.

LuvMyDAD

Thank you, Mike. That's my hope too, and that was the attitude of my doctor, we got to keep working the problem.

Thanks for the update David and as you say, there is a plan in place. Start my IMRT next Monday and perhaps when I am thru with that and your feeling better we can meet for lunch somewhere between Greenville and Commerce. Until then I hope that you will be on the mend and feeling better.

Michael

Luv, thanks girl, and yes, dealing without a plan is much worse, at least know I can go back to focusing on a solution, one that I hope really works in the long run. Say hey to your dad for me.

Jake, hope you radiaton goes much smoother, it really does for most men. And yep, lots of radiation for a salvage job, plus it was a known fact that my body reacted poorly to radiation based on my previous bout.

goodlife, thanks for you kindness, not convinced i have had it worse, just more descriptive, the writer in me, and a pretty good head for details. anyone that deals with pc has their own battle stories and scars. my best to you too.

michael, would love to hook up with you at some point. refresh my dead mind, where are you at again? lost it, lol. And I hope your radiation goes picture smooth. brother sonny's is a good example of how well it can go.

David, I am so sorry to hear what you are going through. I'll say a little prayer for your complete recovery. Thank you for all your input to this forum.

john

Sorry to hear about the bad news, but there was also some good news in there to.

Always praying for everyone on here. Hang in there it will get better, at least you

have some answers. Take care,  Neal

Neal, it is a little more involved and will take a little longer to solve than I originally thought, but my doctor wants to do it right, and to minimize any pain/trauma associated with it, and to get the bladder neck opened properly and to give it a chance to heal right.

Jeff, my friend, thanks. I never thought about the 2 cath configuration for my situation, but have read of cases where it is done as a safety net. I am glad my doctor is thinking through all the "what ifs" in this situation. Still got a ways to go, this may stretch into near the end of February, not January like I first hoped, but if all this works, it will be worth it beyond that point. Thanks for being there.

David in SC

David, let me just add my comments that I really appreciate all the caring comments, useful information and general support you give to us here on this board. Hope the upcoming procedure gives you all the relief you deserve.

Of course, then you need to go and ruin it all by trumpeting your Red Sox affiliation. Pfui. As an Indians fan of long standing, I am envious beyond measure of your team's success, which I doubt I'll see from my team in my lifetime.

David,

Alli can say is Ouch Ouch Ouch .... just reading your upcoming plans. Ouch.

Hope it all goes well.

On another subject: Yeah GO RedSox ... (And Go Celtics!) Patriots?? Just GONE

David, I'm wincing as I read your post and I don't have the same body parts!

All I can say is I'm praying as hard as I can for you, as is John. Don't know what else I can say other than hang in there.

xxoo from NY

Jim - thank you, Patriots wil be back.

Sephie, good to hear from you, and yeah, ouch and some more tube time, but perhaps it will fix me this time

neil, thanks, hope you are healing ok from yours, i will look for your call later

THank you, EdC, I am hoping that with one more big push with this plan, I can be "cured" of this persistent problem and be able to live the rest of the this new year catheter free. I almost can't imagine that at this point after all these months.