I had my seeds implanted on 21 February and I have been thrillled with the early results. When I first awoke from the surgery, I had an intense urge to urinate but thankfully I was too sedated to do anything and the nurse was sufficiently attentive that she kept me from attempting a bathroom run that would have undoubtedly ended badly. She kept me in bed, assured me she would help and gave me something in my intravenous (IV) drip that made the urge diminish to a tolerable level as I regained consciousness. I had not had any water since midnight the prior night and though I had received IV fluids, I now realize the urgency was acute bladder irritation from the brachytherapy procedure.
I was so parched that in the recovery room, I drank several glasses of water and ginger ale. The saltine crackers they provided absorbed every drop of moisture in my mouth and I soon gave up on them in favor of hydration. I was able to urinate before I left the hospital. It was bloody with irregular, sporadic flow and uncomfotable burning, but it was a really good sign. (Funny how a simple pee can get complicated....)
Other lower abdominal functions have resumed and are not completely normal, but not alarmingly altered. I took stool softener because it makes things easier when nature does call.
Reading other posts makes me realize/realise that it's a long road. I still feel pretty normal. I am recovering well from the surgery and I recognize/ise that the side effects of radiation have not yet hit me, but they will.
I hope you will all continue to post your developments and advice about the things that can help (and the things that don't work). As you can tell, I am a Yank (and also a NY Yankee fan, so it's doubled) and I am very interested in how our condition is treated in the UK and elsewhere.
I've had 2 orgasms since the procedure and they were bloody but not at all painful. Good to hear about the outlook based on the posts. Too bad intensity may diminish, but I'll take half a loaf and no cancer.
I was treated at Danbury Hospital in Connecticut, and the care was superb. I took only 2 pain pills after I left the outpatient center (then I switched to scotch) and I have had disomfort, but sitting on a cold compress (not an ice pack) brought relief. I am a lucky guy, so far.