MY HT Journey

Mel,

Even with some really fierce SEs, none of them make me "ill" as would a crud, cold, or the flu.

You may just have the crud.

I would think an xray of the knees might be in order just to rule out severe arthritis. If PT doesn't help perhaps you can see if injections such as a cortisone or visco-supplement is wise.

Mel, glad to hear that your malaise was not related to the HT but sorry to hear that your darn knees are so painful. about a month ago, there was a stomach bug going around here in the Northeast that hit a few people...fortunately it didn't last long but it wasn't too much fun. Take care of yourself, and hope the PT does some good for your poor old knees.

Dude:

Thanks for your always nice posts. This is getting depressing as the pain is continuous, even when off the knees like sitting or lying down.

I may actually post on the chronic pain forum and see what they suggest as something is wrong -- this doesn't make any sense.

Yes, I have been on Schiff Glucosamine/MSM for a few years and it worked wonders for my knee problems. Until now.

Mel

Have you had blood-work done for inflammatory disease?

Mel, just put a good plug for you on the Chronic Pain group. Great bunch of folks there, have been a huge help to me on my pain issues.

Me and Ambien go back for over 13 years, was put on it in 2000, while undergoing the grueling neck and throat radiation I had back then. There was only a one-month period during those years that I wasn't on it. Even after all these years, its still the only thing that will knock me out to go to sleep, still works every time. I typically pass out within 10 minutes of taking it. However, being on it for so long, it doesn't work well to keep me asleep for more than an hour or two. One reason my doctor is going to have me try another med (still don't have the name handy) and cut the Ambien in half (I have been on 10 mg for 10 of those years). Wants me to take both, to see if we can improve the quantity and quality of sleep. Unlike some news stories, I have never gotten up and done things while on Ambien, there are people that mis-use Ambien on purpose so that they can hallucinate (beats me), so they get jacked up on super caffine drinks then take the Ambien. Seems pointless to me, all I want is to be able to get to sleep. It use to cost me 165 a month for Ambien way back, before it was a generic, even with insurance, now its 4 bucks under my Medicare plan. Over the years, all my doctors agreed, that it was better to be steady on the Ambien, in order to get the sleep, they value good sleep as being essential when dealing with long term ailments like cancer, chronic pain, etc.
You taking them that infrequently should never give you any long term problems.

Hope you get some relief for you knees, just hurts thinking about that, and now a "crud" to make you feel miserable too. Quite a lot to deal with.

david

Ambein has been a friend of mine a long time, glad it worked for you.

Time for another update.

I THINK this is very good news.

I did my first post-HT PSA on Friday, 30 days after my Lupron shot (and 2 weeks longer after starting Casodex).

Last PSA just before starting Casodex was 17.55.

It is now 0.57.

I sure hope this means the HT is kicking PC's ***.

Mel

Sephie:

Does this mean we're engaged?

Mel

Mel:

Great response ... may it be first of many!

Mel, I'm so happy to hear about your excellent result. My happiness is magnified knowing that your down-to-Earth advise, humor, and occasional cage rattling will continue here for a long time to come. Congratulations! Now onto solving the knee issues. ;)

PSA60, Mel already had RP and RT. The HT is happening because his PSA continued to rise after both treatments.

Hope you're doing OK, and a belated welcome to our wacky club.

Time for an update. The SE I think are increasing. One surprise: I had no idea things would come on so very gradually.

I am definitely having more "hot flashes." They are not what I anticipated. I expected hot FLUSHES, but that's not quite the case. I just suddenly feel too warm and start sweating. This is occurring quite frequently, definitely a lot during the night and here and there during the day. I seem to be able to ignore it during the day. At night, I do have to take the covers off, then I feel chilled so they go back on. No fun, but not a big problem. At least it is conveying the fact that the HT is doing its job. My wife is totally understanding!

I am noticing more fatigue setting in, also. When I wake up, I notice I feel a bit tired. It is a strange kind of tiredness. I guess it's as if I didn't get quite enough sleep, although I have. But once I get up and get going, I am fine. But when I come home from work, some days I suddenly get very tired/drowsy. I kind of drift off for awhile (either spaced out or an actual nap). But after 45-90 minutes of that, I gradually "come to" and then I am fine.

I am also noticing some minor itching at times, often on my belly. I attributed that to scar tissue from the surgery, but I am now thinking it is a SE from the Lupron.

Also, I do have breast pain, but only when I bump them or touch them with some force.

In summation: SE are continuing. So far, they are very tolerable. SO FAR.

My main problem remains: knee pain. This is NOT due to HT but it keeps interfering with things. I had an MRI done yesterday and I'll see the ortho guy in 11 days so hopefully we can do something about that problem. I have not been able to do any aerobic type stuff (Biking also seems to irritate my knees; I will try elliptical next gym outing). I need to get more regular in terms of my gym workouts (resistance training). Dr. Lam really emphasized the need to do this.

So far, no cognitive or emotional issues. No problems at work whatsoever.

Mel

Post Edited (compiler) : 4/28/2013 10:13:32 AM (GMT-6)