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Posted 8/8/2007 1:51 AM (GMT 0)
HI. I'm new and facing surgery Tuesday August14,07. I have been reading many of the posts here and wanted to join so if later I have questions I can get feedback. My PSA was 4.32 in July of 06 and went to 5.44 in October. I was scheduled for another PSA teat in January and it was up to 6.47, not sure where to go for info or which direction to take I followed my Dr's advice and started taking a drug to see if the PSA score could be lowered. In April it was down to 2.76, however my Dr. said I should have biopsies to be sure one way or another. I had the biopsies in May and 2 of the six came back with a Gleason score of (3+4) 7. Basically this was done in the Dr's office. I only live about 2 blocks from his office so I walked over and then I walked home afterward. I was there about 45 minutes. I went back to his office 3 days later and was informed about the status of the biopsy. I had been reading a book on prostate cancer for about two weeks and pretty much made up my mind that I wanted to have surgery. My Dr. suggested freezing but when I told him I preferred Robot assisted laparoscopic surgery he recommended a Dr in Nashville, TN about 100 miles from my home. I was able to read up on this doctor and found out that he had did a fellowship with Doctor Minnnie Manon who I have been told was the originator of this procedure. After meeting with Dr. Dasari in Nashville I feel good about my choice. Now it is just getting there and getting it over with. Sorry about this long post. uncledan
Posted 8/8/2007 2:16 AM (GMT 0)
Uncledan:

Glad you have found this forum - hope it will be a source of  info and support should you need it following your surgery.   Look forward to hearing from you after the 14th.

Best wishes.

Dutch  

Posted 8/8/2007 2:42 AM (GMT 0)
Hi   ~ uncledan &   Loved Ones,   A    “Special”   Warm Welcome   to   You!      We know ~ we can “all” make “Your Journey” smoother just by being here for you!   This is truly a great forum!!! ~ You have joined!  You are now part our forum family ~ a group of wonderful individuals who are so willing to share...   It helps “all of us” ~ to help you ~ if we know where you are on your path. So ~ Please stay with us and take our hand when you need it!   Keep posting.... OKAY!!     KNOWLEDGE     IS     POWER   ...   and   POWER conquers   fear   YOU MAKE THE DECISIONS… YOU HAVE OPTIONS… ~ and ~ Your decision will be the right decision for you!!!     Keeping you close in thoughts and prayers as you move forward… In Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy   “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.   (Direct Link ~ just click on the title below and a new window will open!   Reminder … click on the REFRESH icon once you get there) Helpful Hints ~ & ~ Direct Links to Important Topic Threads ~ Hope this helps you!! :) Prostate Cancer Resources, Helpful Hints, and Topic Thread Links
Posted 8/8/2007 2:54 AM (GMT 0)
  Hi Uncledan,   We are thrilled you started your own personal thread!!!!   This journey is best traveled with friends.   Welcome new friend.   We will definitely be with you on the 14 th … BUT…. We’re here right now to start our walk with you!   Start getting prepared and be ready for surgery….  kegels, kegels, and more kegels....   There will be many stepping-stones on your path….   And we will be there every step of the way.   Each step counts!! Click here for a special message from bluebird http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb179/mamabluebird1955/Stepping-StonestoHealingWell.jpg   Buddy & I invite you to visit our personal thread located in our signature below   “Our Journey”…. In hopes that you will pull at least “1” thing that will help to make your journey smoother.   That’s what "all of us" do here.   Share because we care…      You have just started sharing and others will learn from your experiences too!   It gives the heart a warm feeling to know that we do make a difference.   Stay close and keep us up to date as to what’s going on with you… Keeping you close in thoughts and prayers as you move forward! In Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy
Posted 8/9/2007 4:11 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for welcoming me to the forum. I have rented a room in Nashville for the night before the surgery and the 3 following nights. I did this so my wife will have a place to go and freshen up. I hope to be released on Wed or Thur and therefore I can stay one or two night there before the trip home. I had lunch yesterday with a man who just went through the surgery two months ago. He is doing great. I feel real good about my Dr. as he trained this man's doctor in the procedure. I have been trying to catch up the things that must be done now since I won't be able to do them for quite some time after the surgery. It is good in one way as it takes my mind off of the up coming days. I have been doing the kegels as my Dr. said to. Are there any other little things that will help me through? Thanks again, Uncle Dan
Posted 8/9/2007 2:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, UncleDan - good for you for booking 3 nights post-surgery. You may be very glad you waited, although it will be good to get back home, too. We went the 2nd day post-surgery and it was still a bumpy, painful ride. Just before you head for home, be sure to take a painkiller - the doc will prescribe. It will help.

As you already know, having the greatest confidence in your surgeon is one of the most important things. Good luck! (And we'll be in the virtual waiting room on Tuesday)
Posted 8/12/2007 2:22 AM (GMT 0)
I am debating on whether to take my notebook computer with me. It is one more thing to keep up with. Since I won't be able to carry or lift I hate to put all this off on my wife. Packing in food and luggage will be enough of a problem. My updates will probably be a little late in being posted. I will post as soon as able. Uncle Dan

Age 67
Just waiting for surgery now
Posted 8/12/2007 2:59 AM (GMT 0)

uncledan,

I also live about 100 miles from Nashville and had my surgery done at Vanderbilt.  I have heard that Dasari is good so it should go smooth.  I would suggest taking the bare minimum with you to the hospital.  You will not have time or feel like you want to be on a computer.  If your Da Vinci is typical then you will be home two days after the surgery.  I drove in the morning of my surgery and was in the hospital for one night and then the next night in a local motel room.  I had no pain but there was soreness.  The catheter is the biggest headache but I even slept well the night in the motel room with the catheter.  My wife stayed with me the first night in the hospital but she should have stayed at the motel as there was nothing that she could do for me anyway.  I found it impossible to sleep the night in the hospital so I just got up and walked most of the night.  It surprised me tremendously how well I felt and I walked a lot until the nurses told me I was over doing it.  I know you will have a similar experience.  I look forward to hearing your story.

Tamu

Posted 8/12/2007 3:09 AM (GMT 0)
     Hi ~   Uncle Dan & Loved Ones,   Just a little hug to let you all know we will be there ~ in thoughts and prayers as you head into surgery…      Please let us hear from you once you get home and settled…!!     We hope you’ve pulled something from “Our Journey”… to help make yours a little smoother. You won't need your computer... in fact one member posted from a computer in the hospital waiting area... :)   Keeping you close… Thank you for staying close...    “Our hands will be on your shoulders” special words borrowed from hamala   In Friendship,   ~~ * ~~ * ~~ * ~~~ )*&^%   Group Hug %^&*( ~~~ * ~~ * ~~ * ~~   From the 3 of us... Lee, Buddy, & Murphy
Posted 8/12/2007 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
Uncle Dan- Wishing you all the best on Tues. Positive thought and e

nergy from the west coast aimed directly at you and you surgeon! Hit us up when you are up to it. Peace. Pete

Posted 8/12/2007 4:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hello uncledan,

I'm glad you found us so that we can support you and your family during this time before your surgery. There are a couple of things well worth taking on your trip: a nice soft pillow to sit on while you're in the car, and a pair of roomy sweat pants. So good luck this Tuesday, and post us when you feel up to it.

Glen
Posted 8/12/2007 5:04 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Uncledan,

You may wish to take your own robe for when they get you up and walking around at the hospital.  They'll do it pretty quickly the same day or next morning... and those hospital gowns are hard to tie yourself and don't cover much! yeah

Also, I always had the nurse or CNA empty my catheter bag before the walks.  It can get heavy when full!  The first and second walk, I used my IV pole to keep me steady.

We'll be praying for you Tuesday.

Regards,

Idaho

Posted 8/13/2007 4:49 AM (GMT 0)
Good luck on the 14th UncleDan. We are all here wishing you the best.

Keep us posted...

Jim
Posted 8/13/2007 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
I traveled from Madison, MS. for the surgery in Nashville with Dr. Dasari.  He is a skilled surgeon and my recovery in all respects was very good.  That 450 mile ride home was tough and I would suggest you let your local urologist take your cathether out and consult with Dr. Dasari on the pathology report if you don't travel well; however, 100 miles should not be a problem.  Good luck.
Posted 8/16/2007 1:10 AM (GMT 0)
  Hi UncleDan and Loved Ones, Just a little note to let you know ~ we are T hinking of You !!!! In Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy
Posted 8/21/2007 2:12 PM (GMT 0)
8-21-07 Home and walking around, Surgery was quite long 5 hours. Removed prostate. one left side and 2 right side lymph nodes, left and right seminal vesicles, also removed a large quantity of scar tissue from earlier surgery. Dr Desari fells sure he got everything. The nodes were not enlarged. Stayed an extra day, released 8:45 PM Thursday evening. Some pain and a lot of soreness the first two days, am now beginning to feel better. Travel back to Nashville tomorrow for pathology reports and removal of this worrisome catheter. All in all it has not been as bad as expected. Still my worst fears are the issue of being incontinent. Well I'm headed downstairs to watch the NASCAR race if it isn't rained out. Uncle Dan

Post Edited (uncledan) : 8/26/2007 1:29:12 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/21/2007 2:17 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck tomorrow, uncledan. I'm sure you'll do fine.
Posted 8/21/2007 4:18 PM (GMT 0)
We're all sending positive energy your way, uncledan!  Good to hear you're feeling better.  Getting that catheter out is another step forward, regardless of the work on continence.  I think you'll feel more like a "free man" without it.  Hope NASCAR was good! -- Idaho
Posted 8/23/2007 4:25 PM (GMT 0)
Back from Nashville without the catheter. Trip was not quite as bad as expected. I am eating just about anything I want and my inner workings are beginning to feel normal. I have periods of incontinence. It appears to be when I first try to stand up. Shortly after 1 AM this morning I began having bladder spasms. The feeling at first was like I was loaded up ( full bladder ). It continued to progress until I was feeling pain equal to #8. I took some Tylenol around 2AM and the pain was bearable by 4AM. It is now 11:30 AM and there is no pain. I am taking each AM 2 Tylenol 500mg, 1 Celebrex 200mg, 1 Cipro antibiotic, and a Ducalax stool softener, this is repeated in the PM without Celebrex. I walked about a mile this AM. My removed prostate patholgy report was different from my earlier biopsy report. Instead of 7 ( 3+4 ) it was now 7 ( 4+3 ). This means my Gleason was closer to 8 than 6 according to Dr. Dasari. As stated earlier he believes he has removed all cancerous tissue and after reading the report he appears to be correct. In one area the cancer was closer to the edge than one MM. I really am lucky to have been able to get this taken care of fast ( only 10 weeks from biopsy to surgery ). My Dr. and this forum have been great assets to me during this crisis.
Posted 8/23/2007 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
After going over my Pathology report I have made some corrections to my signature. Uncle Dan
Posted 8/23/2007 5:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hi uncledan,

Did they update or change your staging on the final pathology report?

Idaho

Posted 8/23/2007 6:40 PM (GMT 0)
Staging remained the same, the report said there were no palpable abnormalities or areas of nodularity identified. Prostate weight was 92 grams, just over 3 ounces. Uncle Dan
Posted 8/23/2007 6:50 PM (GMT 0)
 Hi ~ Uncle Dan, Just stopping by (we’re still in Maryland)… to let you know we are T hinking of You!!!   Thank you for the wonderful updates...      G lad to hear the spasms are taken care of and really good news with the path report.   It makes me smile each time I see you say... not quite as bad as expected.  Thank you for continuing to walk with us… Stay close!! Hugs and special thoughts of HealingWell for you… In Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy
Posted 8/23/2007 7:04 PM (GMT 0)
A quick note to thank evertyone for their warm support. I only need to get the hang of these Kegals to be able to stay dry. I know which muscles to work and have been exercising them for months. The problem is sometimes more muscles than those needed are engaged. Any commments. Uncle Dan
Posted 8/25/2007 2:45 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, I'm back, and dry most of the time. Just ten days from surgery and only 2 since removal of the catheter I have had a completely dry day. Tomorrow I intend to leave the pads and depends in the package. Thanks again for all the inforation I have gotten from this site. I have done a lot of reading and research and my next project is to try to start a prostate cancer support group in my town. I have already been promised a site for meetings. So off we go. Uncle Dan
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