7 Months Out and MUSE

Just had my 7 month post RP check-up and thought I’d post my status – maybe some others can compare/learn something: 1.          PCa – Zero Club for 3 rd time – 30 days, 4 months and 7 months.   Woo Hoo! 2.        Incontinence – Now about 95% OK.   For those slow healers:   8 pads daily for 2 months, at 4 months down to 3 or 4, 6 months, one.   Progress is very slow, hardly noticeable day to day, and just slight improvement Monday to Monday.   I’m no longer wearing pads during the day (desk job), but will leak some in the evening and whenever I exercise (including fast walking).   Wearing ½ pad from about 6:00 until bed time.   Still doing keegles 2-3 times daily.   First few days padless I wore briefs and boxer underwear as my safety cushion. 3.        ED – Yes.   At   1 month started on 5 mg C daily.   At 4 months, began to supplement that with 20 mg C in the mornings and 50-100 mg V in the evening, 3 times weekly.   Best result was about 50%.   Using VED 5 days a week, and think it does help the size.   No apparent shrinkage.   At 7 month check, doc prescribed MUSE.   Insurance didn’t cover (thank you Blue Cross), and the 6 injections (yes, they call it that) were $360.   First try: Insertion was easy, and there was a slight burning (maybe a 2 on a 10 scale).   In 10 minutes little Willie woke up.   Probably a 80-85% relative to a 40-50% on the oral drugs.   Significantly better.   Last a little over an hour.   Had some soreness after, but I think that was because Willie had been stretched out way more than he was used to.   Seems to me to be a good start.   Will try more over the next few months, hoping for a kick start to those nerves and veins.     Plan to go to the trimix at my 10 month checkup if no significant improvement.   All above with doc’s recommendation. 4.        Mental – This has all been tougher than I expected.   The incontinence has been a real drag.   Afraid to have much of a social life due to surprise leaks; spending lots of time in the bathroom at work; having to go often, any time any place.   And the bottom area still doesn’t “feel” the same – a little more burning sensation on needing to pee.   Haven’t really addressed the mental aspects of the ED yet – too much leakage to even worry about that.   I’m a widower and had a significant other until I got dumped 5 months post surgery (guess for lots of reasons – though I can’t help but think my own mental state was part of it).   Hard to figure out how to start over in my/our condition.   I find myself looking forward to the one year anniversary – maybe I’ll like the new normal. Just one more example of how we’re all different.   Hope some of the newbies will gain some insight or maybe even a little encouragement.

Hey Curious George.

Congratulations on your great progress! You're in the zero club; you're getting a response with drugs; your incontinence is down to a pad per day. Not bad... not bad at all!

Not having a partner in this mess makes things more difficult. But you do what you have to do. Many guys are in your position. You have to eat right, keep yourself in shape, wear clean clothes, and stay circulating. Keep a positive attitude. Unless he has bucket-loads of money, a fat, dirty, miserable, recluse is not usually at the top of a woman's Christmas wish list.

Good luck to you.
Jeff