Hi Everyone!

Hello Everyone Old and New,

  I am sorry for the long loss of contact. I have missed everybody very much. This site was such a God send for me and Tom.  Our life has been nothing but caos lately, but what can you expect with 7 kids between us? Tom is doing very good, although he would probably say different.  I judge life by the PSA score, and so far we are still undetectable.  We did have a scare with his second test though.  The first post op was -0.0 and the second was a 0.1. Immediately the Dr did a repeat because we had used a different lab that was notorious for giving elevated Psa and the repeat came back -0.0.  Tom's erections are sometimes weak, and sometimes not so weak. Sometimes we use cialis, but most of the time we don't.  We have a pump, but have only attempted to use it once.  I really don't think we need it. He definitely has a nerve left, we just need to give it physical therapy. He is still having some urinary issues, but other then phantom leakage it's not from the surgery. It's from a stretched out bladder due to excess beer storage.  We just didn't know he had the problem until we became regulars at the urologist office.  

  I am hopeful that you are all well and hold strong. If not, we will all get through this together. I look forward to catching up with you.

Kate

 

Hi, Wittler - good to hear from you! Sounds like things are progressing very well. That PSA scare must have sent you reeling. Please don't go away - you're a veteran, now!

Excess beer storage? I think many of us could be in trouble...

I'm new here but it is good to hear good news for anyone. Congrats on getting your lives back and I hope you keep getting good news. You are a becon of hope for all of us who have just started this ordeal.

Alex

Pete, GreenAcres, Lee & Buddy, Alax and Kat,

It's good to be back. Just sitting down and taking a time out from my crazy life is half the battle. I'll make this my own personal happy hour.

Pete - My loving husband has been a beer drinker for at least 35 years non stop. At this time, a normal day will involve a six after work. And maybe a 12 pk on a day off (he quite a tolerance built up). For most of the last decade he did service calls at work and would go many hours between bathroom breaks. He says he would just hold it until he didn't need to pee anymore (very bad). With that sort of treatment, his bladder is now twice the size it should be. Our urologist says that his bladder will hold 1000mLs. He says 400mLs will make a healthy bladder want to pee your pants.
The problem with a stretched out bladder is that it looses it's tone and strength to push the urine out. So most of the time it doesn't fully empty. Long story short, the Dr wants him to try "self cathetering" at night before bed to empty his bladder completely empty. This will hopefully help shrink his bladder over time, as well as give him a good night sleep without getting up to pee. I'll keep you posted on the progress.

GreenAcres - It's good to here from you too. How are you and your husband? That PSA scare sent me reeling. Just a 2 minute phone call put me right back to the beginning. Crying and praying.

Mamma Bluebird - I missed you terribly. Over Holidays I found the best bluegrass Christmas music cd. I thought of you both every time I listened to it.

Alex - It is nice to meet you. I will look up your posts to get to know your story. This is truly the best place to draw strength.

Kat - A hand full? Heck, there are days I feel like I'm running the circus. He has four and I have three. In the beginning we had six living at home with us full time. Now we a down to four with 9 yrs until the youngest is out of high school. We are a strong couple.
How are you and Jeff doing?

And we think two adults to one small dog is a handful!

In find the bladder explanation very interesting. I used to do that as a child - when I was too shy to ask where the bathrooms were. (My dad's a minister and we spent a lot of time in hospitals and other people's homes.)

On another note (beer, etc.), while many things are not "good" for us, a vice or two isn't all that bad if it gives us a little something to help unwind, especially when you push hard all day! (That's my story and I'm sticking with it.)