Your Friend said...
Here's an excerpt from the article referenced on Nature.com:
This study documented significant postoperative testosterone reductions in prostate cancer patients after a radical prostatectomy. Patients with high Gleason grades had greater testosterone reductions. These findings may have clinical implications for the prediction of postoperative hypogonadal states in prostate cancer patients.
I was always under the impression this was the case, that a significant drop in T was found after RALP. I don't know what my score was prior, but I have to believe it was very very high. The change after surgery was significant in many ways
@pratoman... Your score of 215 is very similar to my last known of 223. I just looked at your story and see you were 58 when this struck you. I was 45. I've always wondered if the older you are the less you notice the change after surgery? An old buddy of mine used to say he knew some elder statesmen on the golf course who were the exact same guys post-op. He shared that with me because I golfed with him the day before my surgery. The concern shared was I would not be the same guy anymore.
For anyone who hasn't had surgery, or I guess even if you have, the placebo effect is real. I think it works in two ways. The belief you will be fine works just as much as the belief you won't. My belief is overanalyzing your situation, like I did, is counterproductive. I'm a maximum information kind of person. Reading all the things that were likely to happen to me became a self-fulfilling prophecy. A reverse-placebo effect, if you will.
Much of what was in my head back in 2013 is still resonating almost a decade later and a lot of it was doom and gloom stuff.
Glad you're still here, pratoman. It's been a lot of years for you and I think it's fantastic you've amassed 9k posts helping people. God bless you for that. I feel kind of guilty in that I used this forum when I was in need and then when I felt I was in the clear, it became too much for me to stay in that moment. I wanted it in the rearview. It takes a special kind of person to remain all these years. Continued good health to you and everyone else reading these words. Faith and belief are so powerful, so my prayer is you all believe in good things no matter what news you've received.