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Posted 12/31/2010 5:05 AM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with PCa in mid Oct 2010, via PSA and then Biopsy. After many sleepless nights decided on surgery, with the open procedure
great hospital - great surgeon (as far as I can tell)

Underwent surgery Dec 8. Catheter removed Dec 17 - threw out the pads after 24 hours - no leakage to speak of.
Went back to work Dec 20

pain meds - stopped taking them completely on the 5th day after surgery - they were too good , I was afraid I would lean on them too much.

Now about 3 weeks post-surgery. still have pain/pressure in perineum area - hurts when I stand, also can be uncomfortable to sit although better than standing. How long before the pain clears up ?

"Willy" - Willy definitely was shorter and thinner post-surgery, seems to have improved a bit but still not what I remember.
today I've had some spikes of pain in my penis - although most of the time things are ok

ED - never had any problems pre-surgery, now have sensation and orgasm, but Willy not stiff and there is precious little activity. seems like visual stimulus does nothing at this point. please tell me things will improve...

I go back for a PSA test at the end of Jan - hoping to put this in the rear view mirror of life soon.

I need to get the post-op pathology report - Doc said it was good with respect to need for further treatment - he also said that there was a positive margin but in an area with no contact to other tissue and so not correlated with recurrence.

Wife has been an angel. this has really brought us together, although I wouldn't recommend PCa as a relationship builder.

Tomorrow I am going to try to go out for a short run - I'm a runner, need to run to feel normal.
Wish me luck!
Posted 12/31/2010 5:16 AM (GMT 0)
Sounds like you are doing way better than most do at this stage of healing. You have made such quick gains on the leaking. Far ahead of most of us here. It is still way too early to be too concerned about the ED stuff, but we all had that same concern. When you go for you Jan PSA ask the Dr what does he recoment for ED recovery. In some cases we do have to push our Uros other Uros want to jump start that bad boy ASAP.

Best of luck on the healing.

Cajun Jeff
Posted 12/31/2010 5:19 AM (GMT 0)
Hi sfigato,

Welcome to Healing Well. I hope your recovery continues to go well.

I'm a little concerned about all the "activity" so soon following surgery.

Your body had some major attacks on it and needs time for repair. I think you probably got the "no lifting" advice.

I would think that running so soon would be a bit rocky for the new plumbing.

My doctor advised me to take it easier for 6-8 weeks following surgery to let things heal up pretty well.

Barry
Posted 12/31/2010 5:30 AM (GMT 0)
Hello and WELCOME!! Better check with your surgeon before you try any running or other strenuous activity..I'd say it's a little early for that...WALK a couple of miles but running I think not...

Yes, they lie a lot about 'Mr. Happy"..Many men notice some shrinkage..That two inches of urethra they removed has to come from someplace..They severed some important blood vessels too...With most men, it can take a few months before Mr. Happy returns to life..Major changes have been made in your plumbing..

Many surgeons recommend a daily "therapeutic" (25mg) dose of Viagra to improve blood flow to the penis..Ask yours for some samples and see if that does anything. But again, 3 weeks out of surgery is a little soon to be expecting much...

Positive margin? What was your Gleason score? How old are you? Anyway, hold off on the running until the surgeon says it's okay..
Posted 12/31/2010 5:35 AM (GMT 0)
Surgeon said I could run after the first of the year - I figure Dec 31 is close enough - I'm not trying to break any records and will be extremely sensitive to discomfort - so hopefully I can't hurt myself.

Do they really physically change the blood flow to the penis during surgery ? how are things ever supposed to work if blood flow is altered ?
Posted 12/31/2010 8:26 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the forum,

I think on the continence front you have one of the best records of anyone here.

As for ED etc, people here have experienced a wide range of success and failure so it is hard to predict, but it is definitley important to keep trying as all blood flow to the organ concerned helps. Some blood vessels to/from penis, like some of the nerves go via the tissue that has been removed, but there should be plenty of others around, it is to some extent a case of you and your body having to learn to get along with the new set up. Eg an erection may take longer or be softer or need help from a pump tablet or jab.

I too had the shrinkage, but sometimes I now seem to have regained it all back again while on other days it gets even shorter.

As for activity and aches and pains, remember that there is damage/scare tissue etc trying to recover on the inside as well as the outside.
Underwear that helps hold things in place can help with aches in the scrotum and perineum area.
Take it one step at a time. And don't feel disappointed if you have a set back at some point.

Alf
Posted 12/31/2010 4:25 PM (GMT 0)
I had a old country DR tell me 30 years ago (Son pain is a wonderful thing, if it hurts don't do it.) If you are taking pain relievers they will mask the pain and you can cause damage. I try to not use pain relievers unless I really need them.
Posted 12/31/2010 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to HW. I hope you will stick around with us and continue to share your journey. The details of each of our journey's contain valuable info for others. Thanks for sharing.
Posted 12/31/2010 4:45 PM (GMT 0)
Gleason 6, PSA 5.7 looks pretty good! I suspect they will watch your PSA closely for several years without any "adjunct" or follow-up treatment for the positive margin..As long as your PSA drops to "undetectable" and stays there, you are good to go! Don't over-do the jogging! The idea is to STAY OUT of hospitals, not put yourself back in! Best of luck to you..
Posted 12/31/2010 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
Sifgato,

You seem to be doing better than the choice of login name infers - :-)

I would be very careful about running so soon. I got written orders from the hospital telling me no weight lift > 5 pounds, no extreme activity or upper torso exercises for at least 8 weeks, then subject to review.

I did ramp up the walking slowly after the catheter was out, and as I added distance, I hit a point where all progress in continence was lost for about a week. It seemed, and later my GP confirmed, that the kegels and walking need to be balanced, since they work the muscles in different directions, and significant increases in walking can change the interaction.

So be prepared for a possible, temporary setback.

Perineal pain was significant for several months, and even today sitting in a hard wood chair reminds me that things are not the same.

My ED is total, so can't be much help there.

Welcome to HW - happy to hear that things are going well.

Posted 12/31/2010 10:34 PM (GMT 0)
sounds like you are way ahead of the healing curve. I was similar in the ED, nothing to start, then at 6 weeks had a bit of lopsided swelling. At 7 months out everything is fully operational without drugs, however it requires more stimulation than pre surgery. I did use lthe pump for a couple of months followed by Viagara from ADC, both are now gathering dust, hooray!

carefull with the running, I couldn't even sit on my motorcycle for 2 months.

r 

 

Posted 1/1/2011 12:21 AM (GMT 0)
Well, I went on the run. Exactly 1 mile today.
Leaked a bit on the run, but then again nothing more after I stopped
It's a start, hopefully my body wil figure it out after a while

No pain while running, a bit sore later. I've noticed my upper hamstrings have been sore for the last week or so, likey inflammation from the operation.

I'm thinking of selling t-shirts "Prostate Cancer - a real pain in the butt" :-)
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