Mel: Thanks for the honesty.
As human beings we adapt to new circumstances. Think of what is was like for many of us before the internet. We would have had a solitary experience of visiting our doctor, getting a diagnosis, going for scary, painful treatment, coming home and geting only the support from family and local friends. Perhaps a few phone calls to distant relatives. If we were bold enough, we might find a support group of 5 or 6 guys at a local hospital.
This is a community connected mainly by technology. I can freely talk about my fears, anxieties, urine, erectile issues, to guys that might be 2 doors down from me or thousands of miles away. It is unusual to have such a large support group with many who share similar issues. We are a support group distilled so to speak with a rainbow of issues. If you were in a small support group, you might have 4 or 6 main issues to discuss. Here we have hundreds of individual and collective issues.
So it is easy to see the entire gamut of prostate problems displayed here from the most minor to the horifying. My point is we adapt to dealing with a lot of information and a lot of personalities. It is easy to become overwhelmed. It is easy to envy the prognosis of some and retreat from the dire predicament of others who are far worse off. Mel, perhaps you are echoing the deep seated condition we all have. How do we cope with so much information? Maybe the glossing over posts is the manifestation that we just can't take in so much and digest it.
I have said this before and will say it again. My problems with incontinence are what brought me here, not my pathology scores. However, I made a "deal" with God. Give me a good pathology and I will return the blessing with my feeble attempt at trying to help others cope with the pain and anguish of this disease. If I can do that by my words of comfort, encouragement, a bit of knowledge from the few facts I know, or just listening, I will have fulfilled my promise to be of service to those in need.
I can't begin to tackle the big issues when someone cries out for help with complex treatment issues. However, I know that some of you can and do because you know something or have been in their shoes yourself. It is our strengths and weakness that build the fabric of this forum. If we did not have fears or doubts we would dismiss all newbies to the forum with a cursory "stop your crying and buck up buddy." We don't. The compassion is tangible here. We all bring part of who we are to this forum with one guiding rule. We freely open our hearts and minds to what people ask about in this forum and given encouragement and strength. A lot of people are helped I am sure who don't sign on the HW forum because the lurker to poster ratio is very high. While it might be other members just stopping by to read but not post, I bet a lot of outsiders a bit too shy or reticent to post are gaining knowledge and comfort by those who do post.
You are al my heroes and I gain strength to cope and persevere by the kind words and encouragement you have given. I hope to keep doing the same for you and others as well.
Peace,
Mike S.