Another Saturday Morning - Another Catheter Blockage

David,
I think you fall into the "if it weren't for bad luck, I'd had no luck at all" category with the catheters.
Hope the day goes better.

Ed, none of that would help the current condition, when you are on long term caths, there's always something going on. As I have mentioned before, until I can heal up from the radiation damage, there's nothing my uro can do, nor an advanced surgeon can do either. So I am stuck in this waiting game of healing, which seems eternal to me. Once you have been radiated, either as a primary or in my case, a secondary treatment, the radiated area of your body is never the same again, which can lead to complications.

I could get "mad", have my uro remove the SP catheter, and take my chances. But I guarantee you that within the first 72 hours or less, I would be in total blockage. There's still too much penile pain to have someone do an emergency foley catheter insertion, so I would be between a rock and a hard place.

If someone takes the time to view my options, there is really nothing I can do until such a time that I truly heal enough or completely down there, in order to do something else for a proper long term fix. So blockages or not, this catheter, as my dr. says, is still my best safety net to avoid being in a serious, traumatic, and painful emergency situation until then.

I may just stop posting these kinds of events here at HW, or perhaps just disapear until I can get this solved. That way no one has to be bothered by the unpleasant side of complicated side effects like these.

I know people get sick to death hearing about it, and other set backs that are reported, but trust me, having to live with this day after day, week after week, month after month - is much worse than just reading about it. There are times it gets me so down, I just want to give up all together, as I get sick of the waiting, the lingering, the daily pains, etc. Perhaps this is a rant in disguise, didn't start out wanting it to be one.

142, thank your mother. My PC has somehow brought my mother and I closer together than we had been the past 25 years or so. At almost 83, I don't think she likes the idea of one of her chlldren dealing with a serious ailment such as PC. Parents never like to think ahead that they may indeed out live their children. Years ago, I use to joke about how my mother would be 90 and going well, and that I would die before I was 65. Only as a joke. Now that I am going on 58 this year, and with my current situation, not quite so unbelievable anymore.

I agree with you, I am never jealous of someone else's good forturne, as each human life must travel its own natural path, but I know what you mean. Nothing has been simple or easy with me since I found out that I had PC. No, I don't feel like I have been picked to suffer more, as there are so many brothers in advanced situations that make any of my sufferings pale in comparisom. And so far ,I am not one of the unfortunate 28,000 plus that die each year because of this cursed cancer.

The closest I had to "normal" since this journey began for me, was from March - June of last year. I had recovered pretty good from my open surgery, had spent 63 days at that time on catheters, had a corrective surgery (my first), was fully continent, and by some miracle of miracle, never had an ED issue at any point. So that was 4 reasonably good months ,during which time, my wife and I took a long overdue real vacation out of state (FL), and I spent the the spring time busy restoring a vintage RV trailer, and just starting to get back into my life.

But from July of last year, until now, its been one set back and ordeal after the other. More blockages, 4 more corrective surgeries, SRT that has done a lot of damage, and 10 more catheters added to the mix.

So that's 11 months now, where I don't have a normal day, or even a single pain free day. Yet, I still have to be a good husband, good father, good grandfather, still have to seek work, still have to accomplish something every single day, or else I feel totally useless to myself and others.

Yes, I am a person of faith, but even that has been pushed to its limits at times. I get sick of seeing so many terrible acting people, that have plush lives where on the surface, they never have to suffer bad health or hard financial times. They treat others so poorly, yet their lives are "blessed" on the outside. Sorry, ranting a bit again.

David in SC

Jim, right now, I have too much penile pain, post radiation for my dr to put a scope up there, unless he does it as a day surgery with me knocked out. He had to abort the last two in-office attempts, even though I was sedated heavily due to excessive pain. My entire bladder was thoroughly flushed just 3 weeks again when they changed out the stopped up catheter. For the most part, my output is crystal clear, that's why this morning's blockage was a big odd. When it happened last week, there was a lot of cloudiness to the mix, as well as some blood, so that made more sense.

For now, no one is sticking anything up my weiner unless I am put under, not going through that pain and trauma again. I believe I have had the scope a total of 9 times so far, if my count is correct.

David, as always I read every one of your posts. Lately I've not responded to your ongoing catheter issues because it sounds so trite saying "hope things get better for you" (which I do pray for). I hear you about your faith being tested. As I've said before, your poor bladder took one hell of a licking from that radiation. The good news is that your PSA is well below 0.1 - the bad news is that you can't tinkle on your own.

There is nothing anyone can really say that would your burden easier to bear. Hopefully knowing that all of us are here for you will make your situation just a touch easier to handle.

Oh David: What can I say that I have not said before. Will call you before we head in your direction.

Cajun Jeff

Raypat - thanks, just blowing off some steam I think, its builds up despite all my patience

Sephie - nothing you say would be trite to me, and thanks, if my cancer wasn't in check at this time, it would be a much more depressing situation, but I am thankful for the period of remission I am in.

Thanks, Neal, and Yeah, the Jeff Mobile is heading south as we speak.

Thanks too, Jeff ,keep enjoying that trip of yours

Thanks, Zen, and no, I don't have the slightest idea what you mean in your offer, but respect and appreciate it just the same. Anything from a person's heart is of value to me. I don't have to understand or agree.

We don't ever have to see eye to eye. We are individuals, with different pasts, presents, and even futures, but have a common cord of dealing with the great beast, Prostate Cancer. That single link is immense and worthy of mutural respect in itself.

David in SC

Thanks Billy, coming from you, means a lot. Since the blockage, been in a steady level of pain since early this morning. When I did go out a bit today, nothing too strenuous, came back with blood in the bag again. So I obviously aggervated something again. During the day, I take Tylenol Quick Release 500 mg capsules, 2 at a time, no more than twice a day. My dr. will still not let me take Advil or Aspirin or any of the other drug types that can cause bleeding, so it really limits me. The Tylenol by itself usually offers little comfort or pain relief.

about to take my first real pain med of the day, prescription kind, at about 9 PM local time, I try to hold off as much as I can during the day hours so that I am not constantly taking the prescription med. But if I don't, I just end up really on edge and hurting. So even that's a catch 22. WHen I see my dr again ,want to talk to him about pain management, as the current plan doesnt always work.

I hate taking meds, but I also hate steady pain, there has to be a happy balance somewhere.

David in SC

David - Just want to add my two cents. I will pray for you. Please keep in touch with everyone. We all need each other.

Georgeann

*hugs*

CareBear