August Surgeries

Aimzee,
I'm not the best result for leakage, but from an 8-pad a day guy, here goes.

(I've forgotten where you are located, so patience if I use all US brands)

The first months after DaVinci I used a Depends pant, with a Walgreens Men's Guard stuck inside. If I changed the guard when it got wet, the pant was good for the day. I easily went through 8 pads or more a day, and sometimes there was the overflow, so a few days - 2 pants.
Since the pants are so much more expensive, the pad change saved a good bit of money.

The Walgreens house brand guard (appears to be same product as Target and Kroger house brand guards) is substantially heavier than the Depends guard, so it holds up better to floods.

I also found that the Tena and Walgreens large pads (ladies style) were a good backup (and cheaper), but they are bulkier, so less comfortable. I used them at night to save the guards for daytime.

(added - Depends and Tena are the best guards for me now, as they fit a little better. At the beginning, using the Depends guard, it would have been 15 a day. Just a factor of economy in the early days)

Post Edited (142) : 9/2/2010 5:15:05 PM (GMT-6)

Thank you David and 142 - I appreciate the advice.  I bought several packages of a product called Poise (pads, liners, etc.) that were on sale.  Can these be used?  I did save the bill if I should return them.  Ron doesn't like the briefs, but will use them as required.

142, can those be slipped into the Depends panty?  I feel strange asking these questions, but Ron says, "Tell them I am reading this stuff."  LOL!

EDIT:  He used 4 for the entire day.

Hi all,

First let me thank you all for your comments about friends not showing up when they should.. some have .. most have nothing to say .. people are afraid ... to say the wrong thing ..

Aimzee so happy for Ron - Cancer Free - WOW! Such a wonderful report and he is so active. I'm sorry he is still having testicle pain but know that in time that will subside. Sounds like you are a fabulous support for him in terms of the incontinence.

Ok, my friends .. we got the path report and my day crashed from there. Based on how well he is doing in his recover and the doc who came out to tell me it seemed contained and no nerve involvement I am totally shaken by the report. I wasn't naiive .. but .. just had so much hope.

Here are the facts:

prostate was 42g.
Extensively involved bilaterally but predominantly on the left with prostatic adenocarcinoma Gleason 4+ 3 with some components of pattern 5. (it was 3+4 at biopsy).
Approximately 70% contain tumor.
Tumor extends beyond the pseudocapsule into periprostatic tissue in the left aspect of the gland and invades into the left and seminal vesicle.
Extensively extraprostatic and intraprostatic perineural invasion with tumor.
High grade PIN identified.
Foci are suspicious for lymphatic infiltration with tumor.
apical, base, pseudocapsular and soft tissue resection margins and right seminal vesicle are free of tumor.

Two lymph nodes tested - negative for tumor.
Stage pT3b N0 Mx

That's all folks. We see the local uro tomorrow to hopefully get that cath out (bringing depends) and to discuss the results and next steps. We will probably go see a sloan kettering oncologist as I need answers. I need possibilities.

Any comments welcome and support needed. I am trying to stay positive, I swear it. We will get through this.
Judy

Thank you again for the tips, 142.  I have seen those other brands.  The leakage has eased up a bit, but Ron feels comfortable with the Depends.  I can check for free samples!

Judy, I pray you get the answers you seek.  I am still trying to understand all these result statements.  Your husband started off with a Gleason score of 3  + 4 = 7.  After the surgery it became 4 + 3 = 7.  Isn't it unusual for the numbers to switch like that?  Please don't give up hope!  Have you checked on other topics which may apply to your situation?

Good advice, An!

I'm sorry, Aimzee - the post was meant for Judy.

Just an FYI,
This thread is very long and might end up locked. The system we use does do that automatically to shorten threads. This is the longest I have seen not end up locked, so we'll see...

Tony

Aimzee,
I will try to keep it alive for a longer time. Your friends will still coming be here and the courtship continues. My apologies for being misleading. Our system will sometimes automatically lock a thread and make it necessary to just start a new topic thread when they get too large. I didn't want you to be surprised if that happened.

I will use my super powers to keep this evil force away...

PS: I had an uncomfortable testicle for about 4 weeks after my surgery. It started going away about week 3. I know a few guys that had it a bit longer, but I don't easily recall anyone where it continued for very long. It is very rare.

Peace...

Tony

Hello all,

The hospital and surgeon that took out my husbands prostate cancer are doing an ongoing gene-based study which started 12 years ago to help work out a better understanding of which patients need active treatment and which patients would benefit from a active surveillence approach.

They have contacted my husband a couple of times and want him to sign over 2 slices of his prostate for their use in this study. From what I could see in the path report there were seven slices (and really only two have much cancer on them).

So I completely understand the need for this reasearch and its not as if we are actually using this prostate. But his results are a little peculiar (the Gleason 4 cancer is in the fibromuscualar portion only, 1% of cancer is in this catagory) and at some stage we may want to do a second opinion on these slices.

Is it reasonable for us to say, wait a while to these researchers? What would you do if you were in our position?

An

 

An, from my educational perspective, I am a firm believer in research, and we depend on people to participate.  The more samples (subjects) involved the more solid the findings.  So, yes I would definitely participate in the program!!  There may even be findings beyond what the pathology report states.

I am involved in a ten year (and many more years) research project on CANCER of  the lungs, cervix, prostate, and colon.  I believe there are 100,000 men and women involved in this National Study which began in Spring, 2000.  It is random sampling for which Ron was not approached.

Thank you, Judy!  We are very concerned about you and your husband's prognosis.  I know you have started a separate thread, and I will try to follow it.

Enjoy the holiday,

Aimzee

The news sounds so good, Ed!  I am very happy for you and your loved ones!

I go in to see the uro on 9/28 and will be tested then.  I do talk with him on the phone every once in awhile.  Actually I have not really thought about the PSA test but im sure I will be anxious for the results once the blood is given.  Life is pretty much normal other than wearing a pad still for security and the slight ED which is improving.

I went to the dermatologist yesterday. My rash is an internal reaction to something most likely one of my medications. He recommended I get the prostate out and then think about finding what is causing the rash. When I got home I received a call from my the women who schedules my urologist's surgeries. She said the doctor asked if she had heard from me since she had not he told her to call and see how I was doing. I'm not sure if he is concerned about me or has a car payment to make.
I see my GP today for my 6 month check up so I'll find out if he is releasing me for surgery. If he does I'll walk next door to my urologist's office and schedule my surgery. Maybe just maybe I'll be in the Sept club.
All of you August guys are in my thoughts every day. I wish I was posting my progress after surgery not my journey to the machine.

Hello all...New to this forum (just found it). So I'm not sure if I'm doing this correctly, but here goes..

I was wondering if I was too late to post info for an August surgery. Don't know if I need to post more, but here are the basics. Had my LRP on last day of August 8/31. Got my catheter out today 9/9. (finally... what a week that was). Also received my Surgical Pathology Report today....Margins: Negative (sounded good to me). Scheduled for my first PSA review on 10/7. Now, sitting here in front of my MAC (wearing my first pad) trying to learn tips on this continence issue from those going or who have gone through it.

Thanks, and hoping to chat with others in a similar situation.