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Posted 9/19/2006 1:51 AM (GMT 0)
Tom has successfully survived prostate surgery. I kissed him good bye in the O.R. waiting room at 6:30am and did not get to kiss him again until 12:30pm. It was a very long morning. The doctor told me that the surgery went well. He said that they sent his seminal vesicles for frozen "whatcha-call-it" (sorry, I don't remember the name ...too tired to look it up) and they were clean. Now we are just waiting for the path on the prostate and nodes. He said it was sticky and seemed perhaps inflamed in there. I'm thinking that's probably not good. I am worried about the results. But I've been nothing short of paranoid about every test we've faced. The bone scan, CT scan, and the bladder biopsy. If this one is bad news, I guess three out of four is still still something to try to be positive about. Hows that for optimism?

We were not able to get a private room, so I will be back at the hospital in the morning. I will take this time to see how everyone is doing. I apologize for not being as active with the group lately. PC, kids and work have had me chasing my tail. I will be off work for the next two weeks now, and will have more time to visit.

Posted 9/19/2006 2:29 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Wittler,

You've certainly had a big day, I remember it well.  Gordon was in and out about the same time as Tom on July 13.  His numbers are pretty similar to.  It sounds like everything went really good especially if the seminal vesicles were clean, thats great news.  I know its hard now not to worry about the pathology but please don't let the doctors words about inflamation scare and worry you.  Many times the prostate is still inflamed and irritated from the biopsy.

After Gordon's surgery I ask the doctor if the cancer had penetrated the capsule, (for some reason I thought he would be able to tell me right then after the surgery), his reply was "I'd be surprised if it hadn't".  You can imagine how sick that made me feel.  Then he said he would go over the pathology report in 10 days when we came back to have the cath removed.  More waiting, ARGH!!!!  I'm telling you this though because as it turned out, the cancer was contained and I had worried and stressed for nothing as it turned out!   So....try not to worry yourself sick like I did until you know for sure what the report says.  Still, thats easier said than done!

I'm sure everything will be fine.  The next few days might be a little rough but after those first few days Gordon turned around pretty fast.  He only used pain pills for about 3 days.  He had a radical, I'm not sure what you said Tom was having.

Try to get some good rest tonight while you can.  For me, after Gordon came home, it was just like it was when our baby was born.  You sleep when they sleep and work around them!  It won't take long though and things will be right as rain again  :)

Sending warm hugs and love your way,

Posted 9/19/2006 3:25 AM (GMT 0)
Kate,

Glad to hear that Tom has gotten thru the prostate surgery.  The worse is over and now it's just time for recovery.  I wish Curtis' was over with too!!  WOW 6 hours of waiting to see him again must have about killed you.  I'm dreading that!!!

I'm sure he'll come thru the pathology report just fine too just like everyone else who catches it early seems to.

Hugs!!

Posted 9/19/2006 3:29 AM (GMT 0)
Kate,
Glad everything went well. So far so good....prayers for a quick recovery.

Swim
Posted 9/19/2006 10:58 AM (GMT 0)
Kate,
Glad that all went well with Tom’s surgery.

Jim
Posted 9/19/2006 11:38 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks All for the warm wishes. It has cheered me some. Thank you Letty for your story. It is remarkably comforting to here a success story from someone with comparable results. He had the open radical. The surgeon was nice enough to have his assist. call me in the waiting room three times during the surgery to let me know what stage they were at at how he was doing.

Off to the hospital
Posted 9/19/2006 12:30 PM (GMT 0)
Kate and Tom,

I'm so glad the surgery went well and now you are on the road to recovery. It has been almost 3 weeks since Jeff had his surgery (open radical) and he is back at work, has a small amount of leakage, and has had an orgasm (with no erection). so life does go on! once you're back home, rest when he does because you'll need it. best wishes to you both....kat
Posted 9/19/2006 2:08 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kate,

Glad to hear Tom is through the surgery, and now the recovery begins. I pray that the path. report is ok.
My wife (Jane) had to face much the same challenges as you now have; Work, the kids (they both had surgery too), and me. She was literally the only one still on her feet. You will have to pace yourself, eat well, take your vitamines, and you must get some REST. For your sake, and the family you can't allow youself to get run-down.

I wish you both a speedy recovery, and post us when you can.

Glen
Posted 9/19/2006 2:19 PM (GMT 0)
 Glen,

That must have been rough for your poor wife with you and your kids all having surgery.   All that extra work...not to mention the worry!!  All I can say is she sounds like a keeper!!  yeah
Posted 9/19/2006 3:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Ellen,

Yes we started dating in 1961! married in 1969 and she has put up with my foolishness all these years. Of coarse if she had not scheduled me for a physical last year I may have ended up like my uncle. I'm so limited physically now that all I can do to say thanks is prepare a good dinner for her after work. Tonight it's pork chops w/ gravy, peas n'carrots, and red Bliss potatoes. (hopefully I'll get home from the doctors in time to put this all together).

Glen
Posted 9/19/2006 3:42 PM (GMT 0)
Glen,

Hey fixing a nice dinner for her after she worked all day is the best thing you can do for her!!  I'm surprised it's not BBQ though!!  tongue

Looks like we've been married 3 years longer than you have.  Good luck at the doctors today!!

Posted 9/19/2006 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Glen,

What a Ma-yun...YUMMY!
I lost my way home..how do I get there again? LOL!
Posted 9/19/2006 7:16 PM (GMT 0)
I should also mention I make a pretty good spaghetti sauce from scratch even if I do say so myself.
It takes all day to make cause thats the way it was made in the good old days.....
Posted 9/19/2006 9:47 PM (GMT 0)
Glen,

I'd love the recipe for a good spagetti sauce that takes all day.  My mother made one like that, but I didn't get it before she died and wish I had now.

Posted 9/19/2006 11:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Ellen,

This sauce is country chunky style cause in the old day there were no Cuisenarts. It goes as follows:

1/#10 can of diced tomatoes (or 1/3-1/2 peck blanched & Peeled Italian pear tomatoes aprox.)
1 1/2 lbs ground beef, pork, or turkey (my daughter won't eat beef)
1/2 garlic, aprox. 8-10 cloves
1 large - or 2 small green peppers, diced
2 celery stalks thinly sliced
3-5 leaves fresh basil leaves choped or dry frakes 1/4-1/3 tsp
1 large or 2 med. yellow onions, diced
1 8 oz. box of button mushrooms thick sliced (3 vert. slices per)
1-2 lb Italian sweet sauage or brats will do, fried (1 sausage per person)
1/4-1/3 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp Worchestershire Sauce
2-5 dashes of hot sauce (optional)
1/3 cup red wine for the aroma (optional)
salt and pepper to taste

in a 10-12 qt soup pot add 2 tbsp olive oil and bring to med-high heat sear the meat till just cooked. drain off fat. add the chopped veggies & minced garlic lightly braise till just barely glassy. Then add #10 can of diced tomatoes (wear a dark color for this manuver). Bring to a very slow simmer, then fold in the sliced mushrooms. Next add the seasonings stir occationally. After 1-2 hours the wine & hot sauce can be added if desired also add the fried Italian sausages. At this point you need to taste the sauce to see if it needs some tweeking. What ever you add should be done in small amounts. If the sauce is too acidic you can add a tbsp of light brown sugar or more to taste. In about another 2 hours the sauce will have thicken enough to serve, but the taste is always the best on the second day. Don't forget a loaf of Italian bread and Parmesan cheese.

This recipe should serve 8-10 people.
Posted 9/20/2006 12:13 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Glen...it sounds great!!
Posted 9/20/2006 1:01 PM (GMT 0)
Wittler - how's Tom doing today?

Spin - that sounds delicious, especially as I have two food web sites going and we love to cook around here. (And for those of us who are "peck" impaired - it's nice to be able to used canned tomatoes!) Who remembers the old song "I love you a bushel and a peck - and a hug around the neck"?
Posted 9/20/2006 4:46 PM (GMT 0)
I remember that song! was it Doris Day that was singing?
Posted 9/21/2006 3:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Everyone!

 I would first like to thank you for helping hold me together through this. I feel like I've had a dozen Guardian Angels holding my hand. 

  Our hospital experience is over (knock on wood)! We were discharged yesterday afternoon. I would have written sooner, but was dead tired. The doctor called this morning to check on Tom and give us his path report. It was unbelievable good news. Even the doctor was surprised. The nodes were negative as well as the margins. And as if that isn't enough, they down graded his Gleason to a six. This is phenomenal considering that the doctor said that 75% of his prostate was affected with cancer.

Today must be my Birthday!

We still have a long recovery, but this news will help it to be bearable.

 

Posted 9/21/2006 7:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kate,

That is absolutely great news! What a tremendous relief for both of you. Now (after you get some rest) you can start the recovery with a sense of re-newed purpose. Tell Tom I said hello, and we all wish him a speedy recovery. Please keep us posted when ever you get a chance.

Glen
Posted 9/21/2006 7:21 PM (GMT 0)
Kate,

That's wonderful news!!!  Now you both can concentrate on recovering!!  I just hope Curtis is so lucky when he goes to meet the robot as Tom has been.

Posted 9/22/2006 1:14 AM (GMT 0)
Kate and Tom

YEAH! YEEHAW!! as they would say in the south. yes, it's your birthday...and anniversary....and Christmas! thanks for sharing the wonderful news and here's to a speedy recovery. kat
Posted 9/22/2006 2:45 AM (GMT 0)
Dear Kate & Tom,

There is no place like home... :) Wonderful news!!
Give Tom a big HUG!!! and when he returns it that HUG is for you from me!!!
You did good girl!!!!!!!!!!! and Tom too!!!!!!!!!!!

Now on to healing/recovery. Let the catheter be your friend....... Rest, eat, walk, rest, eat, walk.... and before you blink... it will be out!!!

Thinking of you with warm thoughts and keeping you close in prayer.

"GOD Bless You"

It's a little prayer "GOD Bless You"... but it means so much each day,
It means may angels guard you and guide you on your way. ~author unknown~

Yes, we were right there with you.... and as on member stated in another posting.... our hands were on your shoulder the whole time...

Take care for now and get lots of sleep..... :)
Posted 9/22/2006 1:15 PM (GMT 0)
That's terrific news! What a relief to get these past few months behind you and get on with it!
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