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Got through my 1st post-op check up/PSA Bragging rights on size?

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Posted 4/8/2014 10:27 PM (GMT 0)
Of my prostate, that is! I had been told my prostate was 86 gms, which made about as big a man (in this area at least) as any one I have noticed around here and even other sites.

But I was getting a pep talk about why I was coming along fine as far as my distressing lack of continence goes. And that I was not behind the curve because not only did he have to cut very wide due to the Gleason 9 ( and good thin he did) but my prostate size was a whopping 106.7 gms! ( any one here bigger than that?) I don't know why I didn't have more BPH symptoms than I did, not really that much. They explained that folks with such large Prostates should expect a longer time recovering continence and a lot of bladder inflammation/spasms due to a hyperactive bladder. Because my bladder had been working against a dam for many years, trying to push urine past this prostate blockage. IOW a prostate dam or dam prostate! Told me time was my best friend, and that Kegels may help or may not but it takes time for the bladder to heal and for autonomic tone to return to that sphincter, that time was was my best friend, and that I would be fine. It does make me feel a little better that there is a logical reason for my on going incontinence. And they also said that the best predictors of finally getting continent was being dry at night and also while sitting, and being able to hold a full bladder when getting up in the morning, which I can do with ease after 6 hours sleep not getting up once. This pep talk does not make it any more fun being wet whenever I am up and walking, especially as the day goes on. But it still made feel a bit better and more hopeful. ( more details in next post!
Posted 4/8/2014 10:42 PM (GMT 0)
So there was some good news and some bad news. First the bad: I was still G9, and there was seminal vesicle involvement . And though he cut about as wide as he could on the left especially, the tumour was right at the border of where he cut on the left, about touching. So none of that was good.

Lymph nodes were totally clear, so that was good.

He said statistically, I had about 50% chance of my PSA staying down for 10 years or more. He emphasized this was in no way the same as saying I had a 50% chance of dying of PC in 10 years. Just that I had a 50% chance of PSA rising and needing another type of treatment, the pros and cons of which we would discuss if and when that happened. I guess 50% chance of PSA staying low is better than 10%, so I will call that good news.

Final good news is: 1st PSA post op was undetectable at < 0.1 ng. ( looks like they don't use the Ultra-sensitive test) He wants another test in 6 months, he feels no need for other treatment until and if there is an uptick. That seems to be a bit more conservative than many, but I trust his judgement. This is Dr. J. Smith, chairman of Vanderbilt's Uro department.

They have referred me back to my local guy for the rehab with injections, since I live 4 hours away and they want a couple of office sessions before they turn me loose. My RN wife and I ( I am an RN also, i.e. CRNA anesthesia) removed the foley at home as well as the JP tube ( all with Doc's permission) but they didn't want us starting the rehab by ourselves.
Posted 4/8/2014 11:01 PM (GMT 0)
When my biopsy was taken in December the doctor measured by prostate at 137.
Posted 4/9/2014 12:34 AM (GMT 0)

ShinytopPC said...
When my biopsy was taken in December the doctor measured by prostate at 137.

I can't win anything! smilewinkgrin Did you have surgery to have it out and actually weighed? Mine was 87 at time of Bx but I got "upgraded" to 106 in the post-op path report.

But at least though my prostate was big, my PSA was low, one of those wonderful " < " symbols. Now to repeat the process over the years and hope for the best.
Posted 4/9/2014 12:43 AM (GMT 0)
No, no path report. I am on AS as I am a G-6. Am currently on Proscar so the size should be shrinking.
Posted 4/9/2014 4:10 AM (GMT 0)
Wow, the air is thin up here...
I thought my prostate was a monster at 60g. Even at that, I had a significant recovery - after surgery, just standing up caused me to empty my bladder, no matter how hard I tried, for the first several weeks. Consider yourself fortunate if you do better with twice the prostate. For reference, it's supposed to be walnut sized...

Billybob, 2nd place at 106g floors me!
Posted 4/9/2014 12:40 PM (GMT 0)
From the Guinness Book of World Records:

"The largest prostate gland removed from a human was 650 grams (22.93 oz) and was removed by urologist Dr. Rajendra Punjabi (India) at Robert's Nursing Home, Indore, India on 15 mach 2010.

The prostate gland measured 10 cm x 11.8 cm x 10.4 cm ( 3.9 in x 4.6 in x 4 in) and was removed using open Freyer's Prostatectomy procedure."


Who would have thought this was even a category????

Jim
Posted 4/9/2014 12:57 PM (GMT 0)

Im_Patient said...
Wow, the air is thin up here...
I thought my prostate was a monster at 60g. Even at that, I had a significant recovery - after surgery, just standing up caused me to empty my bladder, no matter how hard I tried, for the first several weeks. Consider yourself fortunate if you do better with twice the prostate. For reference, it's supposed to be walnut sized...

Billybob, 2nd place at 106g floors me!

Well, thank you Im_Patient, I'm right proud I must admit.

But not as proud as I am about getting that 1st PSA result of < .1 ng. You know, Vandy ( Vanderbilt) is a pretty big outfit, I think they are one of- if not the highest- RP volume centers in the country. But they are not using the ultra-sensitive test yet. Hmmmm. Oh well, I am still going to say I am a zero. Far as we know anyway! yeah

So, IP, when standing you "emptied your bladder" no matter how hard you tried, for several weeks? I wouldn't call it emptying, but it does come out pretty steady when I am up, especially as the day goes on. And I can stop it when I try, at least early in the day.

So did you finally get some control, and how long did it take you?
Posted 4/9/2014 12:59 PM (GMT 0)

Tudpock18 said...
From the Guinness Book of World Records:

"The largest prostate gland removed from a human was 650 grams (22.93 oz) and was removed by urologist Dr. Rajendra Punjabi (India) at Robert's Nursing Home, Indore, India on 15 mach 2010.

The prostate gland measured 10 cm x 11.8 cm x 10.4 cm ( 3.9 in x 4.6 in x 4 in) and was removed using open Freyer's Prostatectomy procedure."


Who would have thought this was even a category????

Jim

I am humbled, I really thought I might have some bragging rights! shocked
Posted 4/9/2014 1:34 PM (GMT 0)
Congrats on your PSA number!
Posted 4/9/2014 1:52 PM (GMT 0)
134 grams after surgery.
Posted 4/9/2014 2:22 PM (GMT 0)

iSpark said...
Congrats on your PSA number!

Thank you! Hopefully the 1st of many low numbers!

FrackMe said...
134 grams after surgery.

Amazing!
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