Posted 8/26/2008 9:56 PM (GMT 0)
I'm just passing the eight month mark after RRP, and on the whole things are going pretty well. On the cancer front, things so far couldn't be better, which considering that was my #1 priority ahead of continence and potency, has me telling myself that is enough. But human nature being what it is, I'm striving for progress on the other two. My first month or so after catheter removal was urinary Hell, using up to seven pad a day. Then all of a sudden it improved to basically one every 24 hours with a very few exceptions. I have never gone so far as weighing the things, but always replace it every 24 hours. The couple of times that I apparently forgot to empty the bladder before bed and was completely zonked out (or had a few beers) I filled them completely. It is amazing how much these things will hold! But other than those two instances, they are basically the same thickness after 24 hours, so I must not be losing too much, although there is definitely some. So I suppose I am what some term "socially continent" even though I wouldn't dream of going pad free yet.
The ones I'm using are the Serenity "Moderate" (20 to a pack) pads, and while they do a good job I do wish they were a bit thinner. I Tried the next step down, but they were half the width of the "moderate" ones (which are about 3 1/2 inches wide), and would leave me nervous. The Depends equivalent is as wide but thicker and more cumbersome than these. Has anyone run across a pad thinner than these but as wide (3 1/2 inches)?
As for the ED...pretty much no improvement other than the occasional 30-40% of normal with the Cialis and Viagra and the pump for therapy. I did try the Caverject and WOW does it work, almost too well as I started getting worried after four hours. It did subside and I do think I'll reduce the dose and try the tri-mix which I hear is better. But I do need a variant that I can travel with without a cooler. On and on it goes, this thing of ours.
Thanks.