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Posted 2/24/2015 11:51 AM (GMT 0)
Morning of day 7. This afternoon, I will be visiting the local Uro to have my catheter and staples removed. It occurs to me that I might have called them anyway. Yesterday evening I starting having the uncomfortable feeling that I'm getting some leakage of urine around the catheter. Plus more irritation where the catheter exits. I know it's not uncommon, but it's one of those things we're supposed to call about if it happens.

With the call yesterday with the pathology, and the catheter and staple removal today, this will be a big marker on the road to recovery. I have every intention of sleeping in my regular bed tonight, with a good woman to snuggle up next to.

Guys and gals here at HW, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. The outpouring of support, advice, insight has been unbelievable. I'm not planning on being one of those guys who comes and takes for a while until things are resolved and then disappears. I want this place to survive for a long time, for all the newbies who seem to show up daily. The only way I can do that, is to keep dropping by.

yeah
Posted 2/24/2015 11:59 AM (GMT 0)
Great news about the pathology, and also good news to have the catheter removed today!
Posted 2/24/2015 12:30 PM (GMT 0)
Halbert
It will be one of those memorable days for you. Great relief and an important step forward. I remember it well. I drove my Porsche and had pizza. Wrote a teary email to my four kids. Probably could have skipped that
Steve
Posted 2/24/2015 1:18 PM (GMT 0)
Halbert, I too like Prato mentioned commented on your "calls" thread - but I'll also say it again here - BIG CONGRATS on that report! Also, you said "I want this place to survive for a long time, for all the newbies who seem to show up daily. The only way I can do that, is to keep dropping by." Yes, for sure, please do so - your journey will indeed be of immeasurable help to the newbies. That's the main thing that keeps me hanging around here - never forgetting what I felt like at that point in my journey, just given the "C" word. Continued best to you.
Posted 2/24/2015 2:01 PM (GMT 0)
Halbert ,looking forward to hearing your report on catheter removal. Good luck as you move forward. This will be a good day for you

Post Edited (Pratoman) : 2/24/2015 11:59:17 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/25/2015 2:02 AM (GMT 0)
Halbert,

So glad your surgery is over and you are on the road to recovery. And thanks for sharing everything you have! How was the Malbec?
Posted 2/25/2015 3:12 AM (GMT 0)
End of Day 7.

This morning, I thought I'd have to go see the Uro early. Really. A couple times in the last 2 days I had situations where the catheter stopped draining. Then, I'd stand up, or move around, and all of a sudden it would flow a bunch. Kind of weird.

But: visit at 2:15. Nurse (male) took out the catheter, then laid me back on the table and pulled the staples. The PA came in and they put on a few steri-strips over one spot, then a chat with the PA about what comes next. I go back to the surgeon on March 20, and he wants a PSA before that (week 3 or so), so the PA wrote an order for that. Went through the basics: no lifting over 15 lbs, walk walk walk, take stool softeners for at least a couple more weeks, keep doing kegals.

Then home. Have had a couple of good pee's. Leak when I stand up or cough or laugh. But, that's expected. Dinner: bacon wrapped filet, baked potato, big salad, ice cream, a nice merlot she found. Restful evening.

Onward!
Posted 2/25/2015 5:06 AM (GMT 0)
Glad today went smoothly Halbert. Must feel good walking around without your dance partner
Posted 2/25/2015 6:22 AM (GMT 0)
halbert,

Great that you're doing well at this point. Keep making good progress.

Dave
Posted 2/25/2015 1:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi halbert

All good news, but having a male nurse take care of that puts a damper on the story possibilities down at the bowling alley :). Next time pay for premium lever Obamacare. It has more choices. Be well
Posted 2/25/2015 11:00 PM (GMT 0)
Ok, evening of day 8 post surgery, day 1 post catheter.

Steven, yeah, no good bar stories about good looking nurses and catheters. Now, the two nurses (night shift and day shift) at the hospital were both attractive young ladies. The fact that I was coming out of surgery meant that I noted their attractiveness as I would note the beauty of the Chagall Windows at the Art Institute. :)

Up once in the night last night to pee. I seem to be dripping when I stand up mostly. Sneezing/coughing hasn't been an issue. Working on kegals. Still having some abdominal pain as the incisions heal. That will likely last a few more weeks. So far today, I've done 3 15 minute sessions on the treadmill (2 mph), going to do another one this evening. Once I'm good at 4 15 minute sessions a day, I'm going to start speeding up to 3 mph, then start adding incline.

Goal is to go back to work Monday, March 9. We'll see how tired I get on the treadmill before that.
Posted 2/26/2015 1:42 AM (GMT 0)
Good being young. The only treadmill am fond of is work. But you will feel weak for a few weeks. Your body has been assaulted big time. But I suspect you will be like new in a short time. All the best
Posted 2/26/2015 2:51 PM (GMT 0)
I had an unexpected surprise early this morning: At about 4 am I woke up with a mild ache down below. On investigation, willie was trapped pointed downwards by the pad, was was perhaps 25% erect. THAT was unexpected, but not unwelcome. Let those kinds off surprises continue!
Posted 2/26/2015 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
Halbert thats a great sign. Mine started as well, with about a 25% bone, just same as you, right after catheter removal. And now 6 weeks later, i am getting full erections. If i didnt know better, i would think they are even better than before surgery.

So this is a great start for you, hopefully you see more and more improvement over the weeks to come.
Posted 2/27/2015 2:57 PM (GMT 0)
Friday, day 10 post surgery, day 3 post catheter:

Woke up this morning with a fully dry pad. I'm still not secure during the daytime. The cabin fever is definitely getting to me. It got so bad that yesterday afternoon, I drove up to wal-mart and just pushed a cart around the store for 1/2 hour...just to see that there is a world out there. I'm planning on going back to work on Monday, March 9. Next week, I'll put on my steel toe boots and wear them around the house for a few hours. I know that strapping a 5 lb weight on the end of each leg will wear me out if I do much walking at all.
Posted 2/27/2015 3:04 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds like things continue to go great Halbert, good for you and here's wishing you more of the same as you continue forward.

"a 5 lb weight on the end of each leg" - reminded me of wearing "ankle weights" as part of training back in my high school basketball days!
Posted 2/28/2015 1:51 PM (GMT 0)
Day 11 morning report

I'm continuing to gain a little every day. Two dry nights in a row now, and occasional dribbles (not every time) when I stand up. What I have noticed is that there is almost no lag between "I'm going to have to go soon" and "I've gotta go NOW". Which, from what others have said, puts me right in the middle of the group.

What I'm still finding is that average level activities wear me out. Doing a load of dishes. Sorting out a load of laundry and putting it in the machine. I know this will get better with time, but if anything makes me feel like an old man, it's that.

I still have abdominal pain if I bend over (like to tie my shoes), so the incisions are still healing inside. That will take time, and I know that.

I talked to my boss yesterday, and he's more than willing to have me come in partial days if that's what I need, leave early if I get worn out. I'm still planning on going back on Monday, March 9. We'll see how next week goes.
Posted 2/28/2015 2:56 PM (GMT 0)
Halbert, sounds like you are on track for a good recovery, it's still very early on for you. The dribbles will continue to improve
Posted 3/2/2015 11:52 AM (GMT 0)
Good morning brethren...

Things appear to be progressing right on schedule. I still have abdominal pain when I bend over, for example to tie my shoes. I'm only having an occasional dribble at random times.

Now, something I was told could happen, but I didn't expect, is the last two nights I've woken up from a deep sleep completely soaked in sweat. And my wife of 35 yrs reaction was an "oh". Followed by a sarcastic "I'm sorry". about what I expected. Is Manopause a word?

I'm planning on going back to work next Monday (3 weeks less 1 day from surgery). I'll admit that a lot of my reason for going back is to deal with the cabin fever. Also next week, I'm going for my first post-surgery blood draw. From what I've read here, I don't expect a "0", but I'm forewarned about that.
Posted 3/2/2015 12:09 PM (GMT 0)
1. Don't tie your shoes
2. I had the sweats too, lasted about 2 or 3 weeks
Posted 3/6/2015 12:12 AM (GMT 0)
OK, two weeks + 2 days from surgery.

I'm having a totally uneventful recovery. I'm mostly continent, with occasional drips. Getting up once a night, and I've done that for years and years. My wife and I played a little last night, and ED doesn't seem like it's going to be an issue going forward.

I'm actually probably in as good a physical condition I've been in for years. I'm starting to do one of the programmed workouts on the treadmill once a day. Back to work next week. I'm not looking back, at all.
Posted 3/6/2015 12:43 AM (GMT 0)
Awesome post Halbert.
Nothing but happiness.
Posted 3/30/2015 2:05 AM (GMT 0)
Figure it's time for a bump for the newbies to see. I had to leave work early on Friday because I overdid on Thursday. We'll see how tomorrow goes. This is, however a short week. Friday is a holiday (good friday).

For the newbies...there IS light at the end of the tunnel...and it's sunshine.
Posted 4/20/2015 10:08 PM (GMT 0)
Time for another bump and and update...

Coming up on 9 weeks post surgery tomorrow. As mentioned above, I went back to work at 3 weeks, and focused on simply being "there". My boss and co-workers were great, and were careful to keep me from doing the stupid stuff. It was hard. A couple weeks after I went back, someone said to me, "you're looking a LOT better than when you first came back, you're not nearly as pasty looking".

I found that after I went back to work, I simply did not have the energy to do much else. The treadmill turned into a clothes rack for a few weeks. Now, after week 7, I was able to get back on it. I'm doing a 30 minute program every other day. I feel really good.

Also, on day 59, I stopped wearing the depends shields. I figure the occasional drips I'm getting are no big deal. Now, on day 3 of being padless, I'm finding that is correct.

The hardest thing at this point is that I do need to periodically remind myself that I'm NOT 100% yet. I'm probably still months away from being physically--or mentally--where I need to be. Even though I know I'm at the 'early' end of normal as far as my physical recovery goes, I'm still impatient. Some part of me keeps telling me that I "should" be able to do whatever without problems. That if my wife comes to bed and whispers in my ear that things should work as well as they always have. That there wouldn't be a problem with jumping in the car and driving 500 miles with 2 stops.

I suppose I'm simply having trouble admitting that I have been through a major change, and I still don't know the end of it.

On the other hand, this whole experience has focused other things very clearly. I have a firm goal of retiring on Oct 1 2020, or Jan 1 2021. Either just after my 62nd birthday, or at the end of the year. That's solid. It's a plan to work towards. And, it WILL be possible. There are a whole lot of things that I want to put on my bucket list.

Thanks again, guys and gals. I owe you more than I can possibly repay.
Posted 4/25/2015 3:20 AM (GMT 0)
Great post Halbert.
Accepting change takes time, and its normal to not be ready for it or even aware that you need to.

With that said, and being about 6 weeks ahead of you, let me tell you that the improvement will continue. Your track is just about the same as mine, I think. And I am 14 weeks out, and still feel like I am improving. I actually realized this past week, that I no longer feel much different. ALMOST no squirting, strength is back to 100%, mentally as well.
Regarding the drips, first it becomes, as you said, no big deal, or something you could live with. Then after a while, it becomes only once in a while. And I suspect eventually, the drips just don't exist anymore, as you learn to kegel before stress situations without thinking about it.

Keep the faith man, it just keeps getting better, you'll see.
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