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Posted 4/26/2013 4:05 PM (GMT 0)
In another thread Water Guy says: "For those of you on the fence about attending one of our gatherings in the future just talk to someone who has been there, I guarantee it can change your lives all for the good."

I would love to attend the Sept. GFMPH, but to be honest my husband is resistant. He says that his idea of a vacation is forgetting about PCa, not spending a weekend talking about it. When I read the comments of guys and gals who were at GFMPH it sounds like everyone had a great time though, and was not wallowing in depression.

While I would love to meet the special people who post on healingwell, the real reason I want to go is for my husband's sake. I think that the male bonding and camaraderie that takes place on these weekends would be good for him. He says that he is more focused on side effects than a BCR (although he is scared of that also) at this point. Since he is continent, ED is the SE he is treating. My husband has a lot of anxiety about ED. He has tried to talk to me about issues that a woman could not understand. I think that talking with other guys who have been though PCa treatment, and have stood in similar shoes to him would help. He is also a very friendly, outgoing guy who loves to connect with other people.

We will need to make a decision on attending before the event because we will be invited to a wedding that weekend. Are there any GFMPH alumni who would be willing to speak to my husband about what the weekends are like? If so, please email me. Thanks.
Posted 4/26/2013 5:47 PM (GMT 0)
Bluebird you may want to communicate wth MsWorryWart. He husband was in that same state of mine. She kind of pushed him to attend and by Saturday he was already to sign up for NY.

He told me, "I get it, I know why this is so important. You guys have figured out that we can laugh and live life. We have this time to celebrate and enjoy each other. I thought it was going to be depressing but heck you guys have this thing all figured out."

Shoot her an email. That could be some help.. And by the way this was their first GFMPH.

Cajun Jeff
Posted 4/26/2013 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
BlueBird,

You might also want to consider attending the GFMPH cruise in December. 

The GFMPH Cruise has already booked 10 cabins with 20 of your HW brothers and sisters.  We will be on one of NCI's top rated ships, The Norwegian Jewel, sailing from New Orleans on a 7 night cruise leaving the Sunday after Thanksgiving, Dec. 1st. The cruise goes to Cozumel, The Cayman Islands and Montego Bay Jamaica.

This is the first cruise my wife and I have ever been on and I can assure you that I will be spending as little time as possible thinking about PCa.

Posted 4/26/2013 6:44 PM (GMT 0)
Bluebird - the gathering is about "Brothers" who have been down the same road.

I've been to the three South gatherings and am so glad I attended. Many of the guys get a lot of things off their chests which so very good for the soul...

We do an official meeting on Saturday morning that lasts a couple of hours... Even the meeting is fun. Before and after the meeting is all fun and games..so to speak.
Posted 4/26/2013 6:47 PM (GMT 0)
Bluebird, my husband and I are hoping to attend our first-ever GFMPH get-together this September up in Rochester. I was on the phone with Sonny a few weeks ago and he spoke at great length about what these weekends were about. The subject of PCa gets a couple of hours of attention, then the rest of the weekend is just hanging out, having fun, and making friends. The way Sonny explained it, the guys have had a roundtable discussion for a couple of hours to discuss their issues and gain insight from other's experiences. After that, the subject of the weekend is to enjoy life and put PCa on hold.

I'm sure others will chime in who have experienced GFMPH first hand, and I sure hope that we get to meet this September in Rochester.
Posted 4/26/2013 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
Bluebird,

Ditto to what all the above have posted about our gatherings. We do not sit around and dwell on the negatives of PC but we do all have a great time together more like a fraternity than a medical conference. One of the things your husband will find out is that WE all are going through what he is going through right now. I am in a similar situation as your husband as the ED in also my only SE I am dealing with currently but every time I attend one of these gatherings I find this easier to deal with by having discussions with others having the same problems. I would be glad to talk to your husband about GFMPH any time.

Terry

Posted 4/26/2013 8:08 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your responses. GFMPH sounds perfect for him.

Sephie, I look forward to meeting you if we end up attending.
Posted 4/26/2013 8:18 PM (GMT 0)
Bluebird123,

Cajun Jeff is absolutely right! The only part he got wrong was that my husband was ready to sign up for NY on Thursday night! By Saturday, he was wanting a specific date so he could book a flight! turn

It was great (GFMPH) for my husband and it was certainly Good For My Personal Happiness! yeah
Posted 4/26/2013 8:35 PM (GMT 0)
I'm a newbie. Dumb question but what does GFMPH stand for? How often do you meet? How does one join? Is there a website? Is there a membership fee? Thx.
Posted 4/26/2013 8:46 PM (GMT 0)
aljct,

Here's an old thread but a good one that will answer some of your questions and leave you with other more interesting questions in their place:

www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=2418411
Posted 4/26/2013 11:47 PM (GMT 0)
Just curious...has there ever been a West Coast GFMPH event? I for one would be interested - anyone else...?
Posted 4/26/2013 11:59 PM (GMT 0)
aljct,
GFMPH stands for Good For Men's Prostate Health. It's kind of joke. You can ask for anything and the wish will be granted if you end the request with "I heard it was Good For Men's Prostate Health." You have to say it with a sad face and a slight quiver in your voice. She can't refuse.
You can look it up GFMPH in the Urban dictionary. It's there!

The membership fee is high - you need to have (or have had) a rotten prostate. I see from your stats that you've already paid your dues for life. Come on over.

Bluebird
It is not depressing at all. We have one group meeting (usually on Saturday for about an hour or 2) that is a chance for everyone to trade information and get to know each other. Then it is play time. Mostly we hang out, eat, drink, trade stories, learn what others do for a living, laugh! In Baton Rouge we ate like pigs, In fact, we ate a whole pig. There was a crawfish boil, jambalaya, pig roast, fried catfish and a Scotch tasting that could not be beat. There were even hand rolled custom blend cigars to go with it.
The conversations covered the merits and demerits of buying a Class A, B, or C motor home, where to go on vacations, the price of meds, stock market activity. A couple of nerds discussed digital SLR cameras and piezoelectric devices. If you're self employed you can discuss work and write the trip off as a business expense.
The best part is that everyone knows your situation and no one is put off by a leaking pee pad saturated from too much laughter.

I'm the host for Rochester - the last weekend in September. You both will have a blast. (I'm sure others will tell you the same.)

Cajun Jeff and Pat really set the bar high this time. I'm already thinking about what we'll do!

Send me an email and we can talk.
Jeff
Posted 4/27/2013 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
where do we get info on the GFMPH mtg in rochester?

dave
Posted 4/27/2013 12:39 AM (GMT 0)
Gasman

Since worried guy is the NY host he would be a good place to get information on that gathering. I am putting on the GFMPH Cruise so I can provide that information.


Terry
Posted 4/27/2013 1:09 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Gasman1 Dave

To respect people's privacy we don't post info on this site or anywhere publicly. Send me an email and I'll fill you in. It is always the last weekend in Sept. People generally come early (Wed or Thursday) and stay late (Monday or Tuesday). Some folks stay much longer - 2 weeks! It's fine with us. We love it.
We have water and power hook ups for campers and RVs too. Just like a first class campground but with and endless supply of free firewood. wink

My email address is listed.
Jeff
Posted 4/27/2013 5:57 AM (GMT 0)
I am a newbie too and sooooo hoping to attend one of these events sometime. We also live on the west side of the states....love to be able to go to one closer:)
Posted 4/27/2013 6:56 AM (GMT 0)
DouginLA: As of this time we have not had a GFMPH West. How knows you make your way to the September gathering and you could be in the same boat that I am in.

On my first GFMPH we were 6 guys. At dinner on Friday Afternoon I was cooking a gumbo in Rochester NY for the guys and one of my brothers came into the kitchen and said. "We had a meeting without you outside. The decision was that in April were going to have another GFMPH and it will be at your house. How about such and such a date?"


I quickly relpied " Oh sorry that date does not work for me it will have to be the next wk."

The rest is history.

There is one guy in the NorthWest that is thinking of the possibility. Some of the guys only make the ones that are local to them. Less than 500 miles. :) Im one of the lucky guys that has made all of them except the very 1st one.

Already looking to September!

Cajun Jeff
Posted 4/27/2013 1:47 PM (GMT 0)
I can't make the first GFMPH cruise because of various conflicts so I am already thinking about a second one. Seattle is a lovely town for some pre-GFMPH tourist activity (the Science Fiction museum is a hoot and many of my friends talk about Dixie's BBQ and their absurdly spicy barbecue sauce that is called "The Man") and a GFMPH Alaska cruise would be one for the books. I've only cruised Alaska twice and it's been several years so I am good to go again.

One of the guys at GFMPH Baton Rouge last week was a hard sell for this year's Mexican cruise because "he doesn't do water." He should have no such reservations about the Alaska cruise since the water is so cold that if you fell in it wouldn't make much difference whether you "do water" or not. We'd all be in the same boat, so to speak, and he wouldn't need to feel singled out.

Something for people on the left coast to think about. You guys tell us where and when. We'll show up.
Posted 4/28/2013 7:08 AM (GMT 0)
Peter....
You could count Mr & Mrs WW on that Alaskan cruise!

Bluebird123... I sent you an email. :)

Post Edited (MsWorryWart) : 4/28/2013 1:13:01 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/28/2013 10:29 AM (GMT 0)
We would have to give an Alaska cruise some serious consideration too, but not in December. nono nono


Terry
Posted 4/28/2013 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
We would do some serious thinking on Alaska as well. But need enough time to save some change.

Cajun Jeff
Posted 4/28/2013 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
Living in Washington I always dismissed the Alaskan cruise as being too close to home. But if a Alaskan GFMPH cruise is scheduled count us in. Our home will be open for those wanting to stay a bit longer to sightseeing.
Bertb&patsyb
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