Decision: DaVinci

My decision's been made. I'm scheduled for DaVinci on April 11. I'd already been leaning toward that, but discovering last week that a re-reading of my Bx slides upped my Gleason to 3+4 from 3+3 solidified things. I want the doc to be able to look at some of the nodes.

My Uro, in Morris County, NJ, has performed more than 400 RARPs, so I'm comfortable with him. This week, I go for a CT scan and a bone scan. (BTW, what's the pre-CT drink like?)

Having set a date for Sx, the reality of a life style change is hitting me. I realize that some of the things I'd planned on doing in late April and in May have to be skipped.

Hope I get some good weather between now and Sx so I can get some motorcycling in before being knocked out of commission for a while...

Shoreguy, I think I know who you picked as your surgeon. If it's Dr. P he's a good man. He was very nice to me while I was consulting with him. I also know the hospital where I believe you will have your procedure. It's a great hospital and has a new Da Vinci machine. Have you interviewed or at least talked with a few surgeons? I found it beneficial to talk to a few.

I was also braced for life changes even though many advised me at my age I wouldn't encounter many as long as I picked a good surgeon. They were right, outside of dry orgasms and a rehabilitative period of a few months working my way through some very minor changes all is the same now just over a year out. I'm sure you will also do very well. So many of us do and their are a lot of contributing factors for that outcome.

Why exactly are you having the C-Scan?

I had one surgeon I was about to go with advise that I needed a cystoscopy before surgery. The other two said that wouldn't be necessary. None of them advised I needed a C-Scan. Is it because your PSA is close to 10 perhaps? Mine was under 3 but I was 18 years younger than you when i went through it so that could account for a lower PSA. I had 1 of 12 cores you have 3 of 12. Just wondering if these two differences are why a C-Scan is advised.

Anyway, good luck, you'll soon be on the other side and recovery, physically and mentally can be rather quick luckily.

ShoreGuy, may I ask if you consulted with radiation oncologists and/or prostate oncologists before making your decision?  Surgery may indeed be the "right" decision for you but I at least hope you took the time to study alternatives before making that decision and not only rely on the expertise of surgeons.

In any case, I wish you luck on your journey.

Tudpock (Jim)

142: My CT scan is "With I.V., Oral Contrast," thus the milkshake beforehand, I guess.

DavidG: Yes, Dr. P. it is. I haven't spoken to any other surgeons. I have personal reasons for wanting to be at that particular hospital, and Dr. P. is the RARP leader there. He's also my regular uro.

Re the CT scan, I suspect it's the Gleason of 3+4 that drove the decision. I say this because the original Bx report came back as a 3+3, and the doc said no need for any scans. Then, when a re-read of the Bx report came back at 3+4, the doc decided on the scans. That's the only thing that changed.

Jonathan: Catching up on "prostate-related" activities, huh? Ya mean, like standing over the flippin' toilet for eternity, waiting and waiting and waiting, and then repeating the same in a short time, again and again.

Jim: I did meet with a radiation oncologist, and was actually rather impressed with him. Coincidentally, the very next day, I received news that my Bx report had been revised from a Gleason 3+3 to a Gleason 3+4, and my wife (who's an oncology nurse) and I agreed that the "get it out" approach, with the opportunity to examine the nodes, seemed the wisest course.

Thanks to all of you for your input!

shoreguy:

sounds to me like you did your homework, good luck ahead as you await your surgery. i have a nurse for a wife too, comes in real handy going through the process and dealing with any post-surgery issues.

i think what the guys mean, is to "use" your current prostate as much as possible in a sexual manner. no matter how good your results are after surgery, sex will never be 100% the same as before. as i am sure you know, that even if you have no ED or minimal ED issues (the range is all over the place here with the guys, from zero ED - I am in that rare group, to complete longterm ED, despite having nerve sparing surgeries). But you will be having dry, fluidless orgasms the rest of your life (once you get use to that part, it's not so bad, even has some plusses, as in no sticky messes). So have all the sex you can stand before your operation, since once they removed your friend formerly known as your prostate, it's a different game.

i wish you only the best, and smooth sailing ahead.

david in sc

Italianguy, I know exactly what you mean with the depression in considering all the options, and the relief at making a decision.

ShoreGuy - Kegel NOW. And get out and walk a lot now. Both will do you good in a month or so when you need to be doing them after surgery. And if you have any excess weight (I'm guilty) any you can lose in the next month will help your surgeon to do the best possible job on you.