August Surgeries

Thanks, David,
I had seen an earlier comment by you regarding your remarkable situation vis a vis ED before. Absolutely amazing. And I realize that at seven weeks post-surgery, it's way premature for me to worry when it can take a year or even more, but it would be nice to see even a little bit of stirring! Compared to the hell you've apparently been through in other ways, though (I've never seen a complete list of the complications you've endured but gather it's been painful and complicated), my current lack of erections seems like a pretty trivial complaint. Bill in Illinois

Bill,  There is always hope if you keep working at it.  Don't give up and it is very early for you.

Aimzee,  I am with Ron, injections sound very unpleasant.  I dont think I will ever need to do so, but to stick a needle in it sounds very painful but I guess you could get used to it. 

Ed (in Illinois)

Hello folks, I hope everyone is doing well.  Ron had his rehab session, and it wasn't quite what he expected.  The medical therapist did a complete and thorough exam on him.  He did some Kegals and she told him he was doing them wrong.  It should be a softer movement, and recommended doing them while laying down.  No, not 100... but 10 Kegals,  three times daily.  More harm can be done if not done properly.

She showed him some exercises to do and gave him a daily check-in list.  It has a time table (like 12 AM, 1 AM, 2 AM,  etc.) and three categories:  urinating, bowel movement, and leaks.  This may show a pattern.  His pelvic floor is very weak and muscle tone is not strong. 

In addition, Ron received a list of bladder irritant foods; most of what he loves to eat is on that list.     He will be trying to make changes, and if we stick to this diet - I will lose weight.  That would be a bonus for me.      I have been doing too much nervous eating these past 6 months.     He has another appointment in one week.  Renee, does this sound like something Geoff's doctor's rehab program? 

How wonderful that you and Geoff have moved on with your life.  I am sincerely happy he has no issues with ED or incontinence!  This would be a major factor as to why he has completely put this behind him.     Yes, let's keep it up with the zeros!

Now his surgeon made an appointment for December to retest the PSA.  He told him not to worry about it.   His office hasn't called yet, so he will wait until Friday to contact them.  He doesn't seem to be worried about it.  This is all still new to me.  Maybe I am the worrier in our family?  Renee, I do appreciate your words of encouragement. 

Ed, may you never need injections.  You have been very kind in giving us the male point of view on things!  Thank you.

David, thank you for sharing your experience  on the ED issue.   We hope that your recovery from surgery is going well!!

Bill, this quote should be on a thread called, "Words of Wisdom."  It is my hope that you will be sharing good news in the near future!

However, one has to do the intelligent things to keep the possibility open that when, and if, the nerves heal the equipment will still be in good shape.  I told my wife it's like putting a car into long-term storage.  It's wise to run it once a month of so, just to keep the parts lubricated and ready, should we ever have the opportunity to take it back on the highway.

 

Aimzee

We're in!  We're in!  We're in the Zero Club!  YAY! 

Right now we're heading out to dinner to celebrate!  I will change our signature later, but I just had to get on here to share this wonderful news!  PSA .01

Thank you, lovely folks!  And Ed, your special message meant a lot!

Hugs,

Aimzee

 

Good job Ron, now you guys can relax...especially you Amizee.  It's all smooth sailing from here.  Celebrate and then celebrate.

Ed

Thank you so much!  Well, Ron is having good luck in the shower.  We have postponed the other part of the celebration because of a sinus infection (mine).  But we will get there eventually!    He hasn't taken the Cialis tabs yet.

Bill, how are things going for you?

Aimzee

Bill,

Paul's right back into golf, the reason is partly you. He was not very confident about whether his body was up to it but when he heard that you were back at it weeks ago it was just what he needed to hear.

He was out at the driving range today, bought a new driver and all in all he looked pretty happy.

Smiles, An

Hi guys,

How is the August club going?
Aimzee how is Ron's testicular pain?
Ed and Clocknut, I am sure that with your recovery trajectory you must be doing well.

Renee, I hope that Geoff is still doing very well
TryingToStayCalm, I haven't seen you around for a while, I hope that your husband is doing well. I know you were looking for the right oncologist and specialists to look at your options, I hope all of this is going to plan.

Update on Paul:
After working 5 days a week from week 4 post op, Paul has cut back to four days a week. With 5 days a week of intense work he found he was getting really tired by the end of the week. He is doing doing accupuncture to boost his energy levels and playing golf on the day off. I think he's enjoying life a bit more because of this - the whole think weighed him down mentally I am sure even though he says not.

In terms of continence he is 100% good and has been since the catheter came out.
In terms of his erections, they are nearly but not quite good enough to do the deed, I'd say 90%. This is without any medication at all, he ran out of cialis weeks ago. So he is going to see a sexual health physician and probably going to get some Viagra or something. I suspect that given where he is upto naturally that he will need is a tablet to get him to 100%. When his surgeon said that he was going to do a very careful nerve sparing operation, he meant it judging from the results but I think this also meant leaving behind more prostate tissue than he normally would have.

As you know we got a result of 0.02 6 weeks post op and although its great that this is undetectable it is associated with a slightly higher risk of BCR if it turns out that this is his nadir. We are going to be doing a PSA test at the 3 month and 6 month mark to track the trend. So the next PSA test will be in three weeks. With the surgical margins being good and the cancer being so small we have every reason to hope that his PSA will be 0.02 or lower but its good for us to keep a close watch on it for the first year.

The new job is keeping me busy, I'm working long hours and it has been a somewhat steep learning curve but I am enjoying it. This is probably why I haven't posted as much recently as I used to but I do read quite a few posts everyday.

Overall things are going well with us and I hope that its the same for the rest of us. To think that 2 months ago we were all dealing with the aftermath of the surgery is quite amazing - time has flown.

An

NB: Clocknut, Paul loves his new driver. He's happy with the swap

Post Edited (An38) : 10/29/2010 9:00:27 AM (GMT-6)

An and Ed-it's great hearing from you both. We are doing very well in Florida-we're coming into our best 6 months of weather. Got our sailboat launched on Monday and now Geoff is down at the boatyard helping our youngest son (Jason-29) get his ready to launch. Geoff is still on the Cialis-the doctor wants him to take it for 1 year and our insurance agreed to pay. He has no ED problems but we don't know what it would be without the drugs. He works 9 hours Mon.-thru Thru. and 8 hours one Fri. and then gets the next Friday off. He has done this for years and loves the 3 day weekend every other week. He is doing great and doesn't even worry about pc anymore. I, on the other hand, already have psa anxiety for his next test. I've been checking the forum, but not as often because I do think it makes me think about it too much. And you're right, An, time has flown since Aug. Thank heavens we had each other to help us thru it!

Renee

Aimzee, happy to hear about Ron finding this rehab person. And you job of looking after so many grandchilren must keep you very busy and very happy.

Renee, I love that Geoff has already forgotton the PC. And the 3 day weekend every fortnight when you own a boat would be so much fun.

Ed, my life resembles yours at the moment, 11 hours a day at work 5 days a week (with a little weekend work to catch up. Sometimes I take a short break to look at this site. Hope that it slows down as we get towards Christmas. Love it though partly because it limits how much I can think about Prostate cancer.

We own a 100 acre place three hours from Sydney with a holiday house and cattle on it, that's our fun time. It was a great weekend 3 weeks ago when we went there for our first weekend away - it made Paul so happy to be there after all that had happened. We are heading towards our summer, our favourite season, but its spring now.

It's so lovely having this thread it feels like a safe caring place to be. I will post on this August thread now and again with progress updates, trust you will as well. I would love to track how the August Club is going.

All the best,
An

An, I have suggested this thread to newcomers - well, wives new to the HealingWell forums.  Reading the first few pages are so worthwhile.  There is so much heart and soul in this thread!

Reading your description of life in Australia sounds fascinating.  I remember the Summer Olympics there and the scenery was beautiful.  What a great place to go to escape.

Ed, the things you do indicate that you have truly recovered from the surgery.  May you continue to have that high energy, but try to relax whenever you can!  CONGRATULATIONS to you and your wife on the birth of your new Grandson!  I guarantee life will never be the same.

Aimzee

Renee, like you, my children are in their 20s and 30s.  However, this is the 4th Grandchild I am helping, and the most difficult.   We'll get there before Preschool next year.  Just a little background... eight years ago I was teaching Sociology at our local college.  When my children starting having babies, I made the decision to help with caring for them while Mommy went back to work.  You know that saying, "It takes a village to raise a child"?

Ron has been helping since he retired.  I do believe they are a part of his recovery.  He still takes a nap each day, working around their schedule.  He doesn't seem to have the energy some of the guys do, but we are hopeful.  Sometimes the day time incontinence gets him down, but he is most grateful to be alive.  I know I am, too!

I hope all the 'crew' from this thread are doing well.  It is good to hear from you!

Best wishes, 

Aimzee

Thanks Everyone.  The new grandson is perfect.  We had him at the motorcycle track at 6 days old!!..  It's never too learly to get started...welll...6 days maybe.  Winter is coming on here and it;s time to put the camper up for the winter.  This thread is getting bruied quickly by all the newcomers, I guess business is good :).

Anyhow, Everything PC wise is going great.  I hadrly think about it.  My bext appt. is Jan something.  I only have slight ED problems right now.  Nothing leaking.  I think the August group turned out farily well and I am so glad the thread is here...what a great idea An.  We almost need our own website now lol.  Good luck to everyone and let's keeo this thread alive.  Thanks for listening all this time...and there were some rough ones.

Ed