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Posted 7/10/2013 4:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi guys -

Looks like there are a bunch of us on the forum right now who are a week or so post-surgery - wishing everyone a very speedy recovery.

My recovery has been great so far - minimal discomfort, mostly later in the day when I get tired. Definitely seeing good signs in the ED area - some spontaneous activity - still a little sore down there, but glad to see things beginning to work.

But the really astounding thing - and I almost hesitate to post this - is that since having the catheter out yesterday, I have been completely continent - no leaks whatsoever - just like before surgery, basically - including the night time. I was hopeful for a good outcome, but never expected this - I'm completely flabbergasted. I'm planning to wear pads etc for a few days while everything gets sorted out - but so far I have been completely dry. Has anyone ever heard of this happening before? I knew my surgeon was good...but this may elevate him to the Hall of Fame.

Added some of the post-surgery path report info to my signature...

DougInLA
Posted 7/10/2013 5:26 PM (GMT 0)
Wow - great report.

Keep up the healing.

All the best,
Andrew
Posted 7/10/2013 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
You're a very lucky guy, and your surgeon is obviously very skilled. Congratulations on the quick recovery of continence. I hope that continues and that the ED is short-lived as well.
Posted 7/10/2013 6:30 PM (GMT 0)
Doug,
Sounds like you are doing amazingly well so far. Congrats!
Hope your recovery continues to go smoothly.

Bill from Florida cool
Posted 7/10/2013 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Doug,

That's great news. As I've said before, it seems that side-effects are less prevalent in "young" guys.

I was also nearly 100% continent as soon as the catheter was removed. I would occasionally have a drip or two here or there (particularly when in an odd body position, like twisting my body to look over my shoulder when driving my car in reverse or squatting on the floor playing with one of my kids, or during orgasm). Even those infrequent/minor drips were gone after 2-3 weeks.

Have you tried caffeinated, carbonated or alcoholic drinks? I was warned that those tend to irritate the bladder and can cause leaking. I resumed caffeinated/carbonated drinks a few weeks after surgery, and never had any leaking problems. (I'm not much of an alcohol drinker, so I have nothing to report on that.)

-Gedman
Posted 7/10/2013 6:57 PM (GMT 0)
Doug,

Sounds like you are doing great. You are a lucky guy.

But if you will forgive me for a brief aside, you aren't winning-73-million-on-the-lottery lucky, you are more like winning-fifty-bucks-on-a-scratchoff-card lucky. Storys like yours happen all the time... but not every time. They are lucky but not that unusual.

I mention this because happy outcomes like yours are somewhat underrepresented here on the forum. We tend to give the impression that every man who has surgery will be leaky and impotent or that every man who has radiation will get radiation cystitis or worse. That's because the guys who get good results from surgery, radiation, brachy, etc. don't tend to hang around that long after treatment, whereas we guys who struggle with side effects tend to accumulate.

It sounds like you are on your way outa here. Your recovery is going great. I always love to see that... but do drop by from time to time and say hello.
Posted 7/10/2013 9:13 PM (GMT 0)
Doug,

Enjoy the speedy recovery. Take it as it presents itself and be thankful.

Good news.
Posted 7/10/2013 9:15 PM (GMT 0)
GREAT NEWS DOUG!!
Posted 7/10/2013 9:23 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all the good thoughts, guys...and in particular to Peter, for the reminder that there is a whole spectrum of possible outcomes, some of which do fall on the positive side. I think this is a very important point - it is very easy to become so focused on the potential negative side effects that we forget to consider the possibility that our chosen procedure might go well and that we might end up ok.

Still looking for my zero-club membership card...but feeling optimistic that I'm headed in the right direction..

Warm regards -

DougInLA
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