Back from the Uro's Office

Just came back from my uro's office.  We talked first about the most recent PSA of .04, my lowest post treatment reading every.  Despite the number being so low, he still voices caution at this point.  As I have been told several times before, when you are at Gleason 7 above with fast velocity prior  to any treatment, very unpredicible and unstable.  He wants to do another PSA 3 months from the last, then one more 3 months after that, to make sure is not going to try to sneak back.  If still low, he said then we can move out to six month markers for a year or two.

He was glad his back up crew handled my emergency cath swap out well last Friday, and so am I.  The new one is still flowing great, and my pain factor has at least been knocked in half for now.  Since was no improvement in the bladder neck area, and since I am now starting to pickup a lot more rectal issues, he said he was in no hurry to remove the SP catheter, that it was the best safety valve I have in place.  He said he didn't want to take it out, then a month later half to puncture the other side of my bladder putting in another one.  I agree with that.

He said he has studied some more about post-radiation damage, and unfortunately, he said there are cases where it can take years, not months, for things to ever heal back up satisfactory.  He didn't say this, but I am thinking this, I still wonder if due to this deep and narrow and troublesome prostate bed I seem to have, if my radiation amount and delivery wasnt over kill somehow, and is the direct cause of all the pain/suffering I have been through during the 2 months of radiation and the 5 months since.  Told the dr., that in reality, there is no improvement in my bladder neck area, it is still too swollen and raw feeling to use on its own, and its very erratic about when it will and won't open, usually just causes a lot of pain if any attempts are made.

So, it another month on this catheter, then another catheter swap, and the dr. and I will update each other.  He is still hoping for a natural healing to take place without resulting to radical advanced surgeries.  He said continued patience is still the best course for me.

David in SC

Purgatory said...
 He said continued patience is still the best course for me.

Easy for him to say   Then again, doesn't sound like you have a choice.

Sounds like a positive visit David, but I know you would like some resolution regarding the cath. When that thing finally comes out I hope you throw one big party and invite all of us. I'll bring the pretzels.
Michael

David, Glad the new cath is working. I really hate it that you're having to go through all this. It's easy to tell from your posts that you're one heck of a nice guy and strong enough to make it through this to complete recovery. You will stay in my daily prayers.

Thank you, Raypat, and Jerry, now you are talking, a future party to plan

Hi David,
Glad the pain has lessened even just a bit, fingers crossed, the next psa will be the same.
cheers mate,

Mike

Understand your doctor being cautious regarding your PSA. I was a Gleason 8 and doctor kept me on 3 month intervals for year and now I am on 6 months intervals. Not sure what he will do next week when I hit the two month mark. However, be thankful for the .04.

Also, hopeful you get some comfort down the road. You have raised issues we should ask if/when we have to go for salvage radiation.

.... all I can think of, DAVID, is that next to you, JOB, (from the Bible) looks like LADY GAGA...

sincere non-heresy hugs,
BRONSON

Pleased to hear the pain has backed off somewhat. What your doc says makes sense. Put two people in the sun, even with same apparent skin types and the UV radiation will burn them to different degrees. Cut two people and the resultant scar will look different in both of them. It just goes to show how different we and our reactions are , even though we appear the same. I guess your radiologist has a table of figures in front of him/her and does the calculations based on that. No table for different patients reactions to a particular dose of radiation. But really David you were in a no choice situation.......... there would be no point in having a lower dose than, based on their calculations, was needed if it didn't do the intended job (which happily it seems to have done). It sure doesn't make it any easier to deal with though.
Take care,
Bill

David,
Any little improvement is good news. At least this latest visit has a positive ring to it. Keep us up todate.

David,

I hope the recent spattering of good news provides a little comfort and the ability to think about some other good things in life.

Keep on truckin' !

Barry

Hello

These complications sound very unfortunate. I hope I am not repeating something that has been already discussed but I believe Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is used to promote tissue injury after radiation. Basically, one inhales pressurized oxygen to speed up the recovery. I hope this helps.

EdC - thanks, friend

DJ - yeah, the testing doesnt bother me when its in the right direction, lol. yeah, my uro and i go back to 2007, so we have literally spent hours together, his mannerism and mood is always good, he never ever rushes a patient, when you are in the room with him - its like you are his only patient that day, plus he knows whats going on with me down there better than anyone else alive.

thanks barry and john, yep, bronson can be a hoot when you need it!

jamesc and patterson - really dont know anything about that, other than hearing it as a term, will check that out and find out what its all about, unless someone here has some first hand experience.