August Surgeries

Thank you, 142 for the advice, and also your personal experience!

Renee, I am so happy that this op is over although I mourn a bit for the prostate he had all his life which did a pretty good job in the sexual and urinary department. My husband is very happy getting rid of it.

An, I think most of us wives (or partners) feel as you do, An.  However, having this monster (cancer) out is the important thing.  Ron feels as your husband does.  I hope he continues to improve!

Renne, I hope your husband continues to get better with each passing day!  That is my wish for everyone!

Aimzee, sorry to hear that Ron is still in pain, intense pain. They do cut through a lot and I guess there are plenty of nerves all the way fr the port sites to the prostate that can get stunned or hurt. Hope it subsides soon.

An, I cannot compare Ron to any of the other guys.  He went INTO the hospital with intense pain on the right side to the testicle.  I think that may be why he's feeling as he is.

Anyone having a problem with pink urine?  I am working on getting him to drink more water.  We BOTH need more rest!

Ger42, I am so happy for you that the surgery hasn't been postponed!

Thank you, afterglow!

Thank you, Mel!

Hope all is going well Ed! 

Mimi,  how is your husband doing?

Can you believe we have hit 100 posts in such a short time?  At least one good bit of news, the guys had a chance to enjoy a good portion of the summer!

Take care everyone!

Aimzee

Renee, thank you for the positive thoughts!  Today was a little bit better.  Ron did walk around the house.  Also, took two naps and drank more water.  He is very tired, and I am tired from not getting enough sleep, but we're hanging in there.  Geoff got the cath taken out quite soon!  It will have to be 13 days for Ron.  It's kinda of like making those X's for when a person gets out of jail.

And who would have been excited over a bowel movement?  It's a whole new world being on the other side, but being cancer free will well be worth it.  The doctor has not mentioned any RX's for ED.

How are you and your husband doing, An?

Best wishes to all the gents and the people in their lives.

Aimzee

Aimzee,  Everything is going well here 11 days out.  I am also one who had and still has alot of pain but it is much better now.  It is very important to stay on top of the pain, meaning that he needs to take the meds at the regluar times wheter he hurts at the moment or not.  If you let the pain get away from you it is much harder to manage.  I would wake up at night and take the meds and go bacl to sleep and take them again when I got up.  I had pink urine for a couple of days and the nurse said it was no big deal but he needs to force down alot of water.  I hate water and it was hard but I did it :).  I slept in my recliner until the cath came out so my back was killing me by the time I got to sleep in my bed, but it is also better now.

  As for pads:  I wore one when they pulled the cath out until I got home and have not used one since.

  As for ED:  I am going to give it a few days before I start putting that pressure on myself but it does feel like it might not be much of a problem but we will wait and see.

  I have been out shopping, running errands, working on motorcycles yesterday and will most likely go back to work mid week which will make it 2 weeks from surgery. 

  Thanks everyone for the support. 

ED

Hi An,

Sounds like Paul is doing very well-Geoff only stayed one night in the hospital, but we did stay at a hotel right across the street as we live 2 hours away. He was nervous about leaving the hospital, but insurance in the U.S. pushes you out as quickly as possible.
With your husband's pre-surgery numbers I'm sure his path report will be great.

Aimzee,

I'm hoping Ron is feeling better and you both are getting some sleep. Every day seems to bring improvement and believe it or not, one day you'll be back to normal.

Speaking of normal, I'm home all alone as Geoff went back to work today-2 weeks to the day of his surgery. Said he had no excuse not to as he was feeling fine. His incontinence only lasted a week-after the cath was removed it just flowed that afternoon and then he was dry all night. He was totally dry every night, but the first 3 days he had drips morning and afternoon. After three days the drips stopped in the morning and yesterday he was totally dry all day. He did wear a thin pad to work just in case, but is hoping it's over. In any case, he's very happy with that aspect of his recovery.

Ed, Glad to see that you are doing so well-you're a real poster boy for ralp.

Ger and Staycalm,

We'll be thinking of you both on the 26th.

And Mimi, We're hoping your husband is doing well also.


Renee

Hello all,

Paul's pathology results have been updated in the signature below. It is such a relief that the margins are negative but unfortunately the gleason score has changed from 3+3 to 3+4. 7 foci. The surgeon said given what we know now surgery was absolutely the correct option. Gleason 7 cancer has to be treated but it is unlikely it would have been found by biopsy as the actual volume of grade 4 is small. I am happy that we made the right decision and I'm happy the margins are negative and that the tumour volume is small.

Paul got stuck for another day in the hospital, he came down with chest pains and they had to rule out pulmonary embolism and heart attack. It turned out that the bottom of his lungs have been affected by the 4 hour surgery - it is a known side effect of the surgery in some patients and will require some simple physiotherapy. The actual recovery from surgery is going well, he hops out of bed, goes for walks and looks pretty strong.

Ger42, changing surgery dates on you like that would be terribly stressful. And you were so careful with the arrangements for your son to come in and for the dogs in the kennel. If you are prepared, I think you would be able to manage well without your son, especially if you could stay an extra day in hospital.

A quick update: Surgery was a week ago, and all went well. No lymph node involvement. The doctor said there was a very tiny place where the PC had broken through or touched the prostate outer wall, so my husband may have to have radiation treatments later on. He spent Monday through Wednesday in the ICU, but walked to the regular surgical floor on Wednesday around suppertime. He was discharged on Thursday. The biggest issue now seems to be the inconvenience of having a catheter. He's very restless.

Thanks so much for all your help, kind thoughts and prayers.

Mimi

Why so long in ICU? He had quadruple bypass a few years ago PLUS carotid artery surgery on the same day. Then there is the lung aneurysm we have to get taken care of now. That almost delayed surgery. That's separate from the issue that led to the lung biopsy (negative).

One day at a time, I tell myself. Celebrate ALL victories and live in the moment.

An,

Thank you for adding M to the list on 8/26. Ger42 we are connected across the miles my friend for same day surgery. What a wonderful idea to share the month's surgery dates and share in thoughts and prayers and hopes for peace of mind, and strength of mind and spirit for one another.

Hoping those who went ahead are doing well in their immediate recoveries and to those upcoming hang in there .. we are ready to rock and roll and move on with our lives .. a new chapter .. a good book for all ..

Judy

Post Edited (TryingToStayCalm) : 8/23/2010 8:51:13 PM (GMT-6)

I have read all the recent posts here.  I am so happy for those who are on the way to a speedy recovery!

Ger42, I am so sorry the doctors are unable to give you a definite date, but you're part of our crew, even if you go into September!  Please post whenever you can.  For me, the hardest part has been helping my husband with his shower.  It would have helped having your son there. 

I also want to welcome TryingToStayCalm.  I wish the very best for M and his surgery.  This is a great thread to be posting on, Judy. 

Renee and Ed, I read your positive reports and am amazed.  Ron can barely walk the distance of our small home.  I think he should call the Nurse's Assistance for some advice.  I am seeing some depression and wish the cath was out.

Renee,  I cannot believe Geoff went back to work.  Ed, where did you get this energy?

Mimi, thank you for getting back with us.  Your husband does have a lot to deal with.  May he experience positive changes in the coming days. I hope all further treatment is a complete success.  I like your advice... one day at a time.

An, things look very promising for Paul, although the chest pains were a scare.  Isn't that strange, he had his surgery 2 days after Ron's but will get his catheter taken out in two days.  I cannot figure out why they want Ron to wait until August 31.  I think it's great that he "hops" out of bed.

Thank you, NEIrish.  So true, so true...

I look forward to the day I will have some really good news to report.

FYI

Aimzee, Renee, the catheter will only come out on Thursday if the scan (an x-ray?) shows that the reconnection has healed well. about 10% of the surgeon's patients have to go back and wait a little longer.

An

Hi Judy,

Just want to wish M luck on his surgery tommorrow-I'll be thinking about you both and sending lots of positive thoughts your way.

Hope all the other August men all coming along and that Paul gets rid of his little friend( the cath) tommorrow.

Renee

Judy, all the very best with m's surgery. We are thinking of you!

Aimzee, I hope that ron's pain is under control. It is hard to be upbeat when you are in pain.

An

Hello all,

Paul had his x-ray and catheter out after the x-ray was checked. The news so far is good on the continance issue - he seems to have good control of his urination but he seems to want to go more often than he used to.

He went beyond sensations and had a half erection this morning (his daily boot-up routine as he called it before surgery) which was really encouraging in terms of his recovery.

We also went out for a longer walk today, three times around a football field, but he is pretty tired now from all this activity and taking a nap.

Aimzee, Ron, good to hear that you are out in the sun and that Ron's doing better.

Judy, let us know how its going for M and with you.

An