A Rough Week

Got word last week that I had to move to a new townhouse. Mine is being renovated. Started the move yesterday. Nothing like getting a nice squirt every time you pick something up!!! Because of financial problems in my city, I will be getting furloughed two days a month starting in July for a year. Financially, that hurts (at least I get to keep my job). I went to the lab 7:30 this morning for 6 month PSA blood test. Was shocked when I got a call at 3:45 from the Radiologist's office telling me to see the guy on April 28. Not believing that a PSA test could be done that fast I questioned the nurse and unfortunately she told me my PSA had climbed to .25. I had already agreed to starting radiation if my PSA started to rise, but the realization that it is happening sucks. I am still worried about the stricture problem even tho I have had a good stream since the surgery in March. I'm starting to lose what I thought was a great sense of humor. Still battling incontinence, worried about the radiation causing scar tissue again and blocking me, and to top it off, I have not even begun the battle to work on the ED. I'm trying to keep positive for the sake of my great wife and my sons, but it seems to be getting harder. Just have to try harder. Squid.

You have plenty of motivation with the "great wife and sons."

Just keep on sailing forward.

squid, my brother, really bothered by all your negative news, feel for you.

at .25, I wouldn't mess around on the salvage radiation, you don't want to keep climbing or doubling on you, you are still at a real effective range according to my radiation oncologist.

as far as the stricture issue goes, remember, that's why I had the SP cath installed a week before my SRT began. It was a pre-emptive decision knowing that the SRT could cause another stricture or total blockage during or shortly after radiation, and for us few guys that have a lot of stricture problems, its almost a certainty, adding another complication to your problem. At least discuss my case with your uro, and if you/he/she wants to, I will be happy to give you his name/number in case he wants to compare notes on the stricture issue. My uro was less than 100% at first, but after consulting with my rad oncol, and now that he has seen what has happened to me because of radiation, he's a big believer in what was done. He said dealing with a stricture in the middle of radiation would have been a true emergency situation, and that I would have never been able to take the pain of having a foley in place what that area was enfllamed from radiation.

keep me posted, brother, you have a lot on your plate all of a sudden. dont let it overwhelm you. keep each of your problems and situations in seperate boxes, and deal with each one individually. That's how I handle mutiple problems and crisises.

if you need any help, just call on me, hoping the best for you

david in sc

Squid, very sorry to hear about your rising PSA. The financial concerns don't help. But there will be better weeks. Stay positive.

Sorry for the PSA rise and the other things going on. It's tough but your family needs you, so do the best that you can. We are all here for you.

Neal

I'm sorry. Words just don't seem enough at times. Here is hoping easier days lie ahead.