From Diagnosis to Treatment to Recovery

Almost 4 weeks post op update

Actually will be 4 weeks in two days.
My stamina seems to be about 99% back. I think the daily 2-3 miles a day on the treadmill is helping. I also am out of the house for at least a little while each day, and I think that helps too.
Still a little soreness, or maybe fullness, in the perineum area, to be expected, but it is getting better.
Still just a hint of pink in my urine, only at the end of the stream. The black flecks (blood clots I think) are still there but today and last night seem to be much less. Hope that's permanent.

As far as continence goes, I feel like I've been doing ok, but for some reason, yesterday was a bad day. I seem to have leaked more, about 1 ounce vs the usual .7 or so ounces per day. This morning seems better. Nevertheless, today I decided to try going from guards to shields. The shields are thinner, much less bulky and feel much more comfortable. I'm not sure how much less absorbent they are, but I would imagine if I am leaking an ounce or less a day, it should hold. And if necessary, I can always change the once a day. They are so thin that its easy to carry a few around in my pocket. So I hope this works.

In the ED department, I continue on the 5 mg of Cialis a day. I read something on one of the Drs websites saying not to try to have erections for 4-6 weeks, to give things more time to heal So I stopped drying to have erections. But I do notice some "fullness" in my pecker when I wake up. I'm optimistic that over time that will resolve in a favorable way.

My increased sensitivity in my left nut, seems to be better. Not 100% but definitely improving. And so far, I don't see any decrease in the size of my Johnson, which I've seen mentioned here before.

My only issue is mental. Even though I know that leaking less than an ounce a day is good for 4 weeks, and I will probably get to 100% continence within a few months, I get very frustrated when I feel a leak, I actually get mad at myself I think, and that issue, combined with concern about what will happen with my first PSA test, has me down. I've always been a fighter, and am fighting this too, forcing myself out of the house each day and trying to be busy and stay optimistic and positive . Its a challenge.

Post Edited (Pratoman) : 1/31/2015 9:13:28 AM (GMT-7)

All good news P-Man. Sounds like you are doing well.

With regards to the blood in your urine. With me it is just the opposite. There is a ping tinge at the beginning, but then it goes clear.

BTW. I got your e,mail this morning and will write a reply tomorrow morning if that is ok. Feeling sooooo tired again.

Works Out, its funny. I had posted about Samadi in the past, don't know if you missed it, but when I saw Samadi (he was the first one I went to) he came off as a nice and caring guy, and no doubt, he is a great surgeon. But the first things he said to me, literally, were
1. relax, you are not going to die from this
2. your biopsy says you are early stage
3. DO NOT DO RADIATION - IT CAN CAUSE RECTAL AND BLADDER CANCER LATER, THE SIDE EFFECTS LATER CAN BE WORSE, AND IF IT FAILS YOU CANT HAVE SURGERY.
4. Dr xxx (my urologist, who is known for his expertise in Integrative Medicine) is a nice guy, I worked with him. But he is not a doctor, he sells vitamins. (I swear those were his exact words, I will never forget them)
5. Dr yyy (the RO at the hospital of which my Uro is Chair of Urology and is well known for Cyberknife) is a nothing. He isn't even published
6. ZZZ Hospital is a nothing hospital, they are not known for anything, that's why they invested millions in cyberkknife and are heavily marketing it.

This blew me away. I thought it was very unprofessional. I decided to meet with Tewari, and if I liked him, go with him. Otherwise I would have overlooked Samadis remarks and gone with him, but in the words of my PCP, if I had two surgeons, equally skilled, and one is a nice man with a professional demeanor, and the other is a douche bag, why go with the douche bag.

I AM NOT discouraging you from seeing Samadi, he is obviously one of the best - but just relating my experience.
Also, when I asked his PA about doing an MRI prior to surgery (which Tewari insists on)the response I got was "we don't do that, MRIs are only for surgeons who don't have a plan, Dr Samadi always has a plan.
Knowing what I know now, Seems to me, the downside to doing an MRI is that it might show signs of ECE, in which case I might change my mind and not do surgery.

Again, my purpose is not to badmouth Samadi's skill, he is known as one of the best. Just my experience. Also, when I talked to my Uro, he said "go with Tewari, he will care after the surgery, once Samadi does the surgery, he will forget you. And also told me he had some patients who had issues with Samadi.

So clearly, there was a "thing" between them, whatever it was, it was very personal, ,I think. But still, its not a reason to attack another Dr.

Sorry, once I got started on this rant, I couldn't stop, it gets me angry

Yes I know Caspar, you were out having a nice day with your son. (I'm spying on you)

When is your first PSA? I know I read it but I forget when it is. Relax a little bit. You and I both like to borrow trouble.

THINGS ARE LOOKING UP.......

I am well into my 5th week post op, actually three days from now will be five weeks.
I feel very good. Walking is up to 2.5 miles a day ata brisk pace. No pain, Still a little soreness. A little feeling of fullness on my perineum area, when I get up out of bed, or sit in a hard chair for a long time, but much improved. Yesterday, I thought back to where I was three weeks ago, even two weeks ago, vs where I am now. And I was AMAZED at the difference. The pace of improvement has accelerated so much, and it's just terrific.

Regarding urinary control - this morning I completed my first full. 24 hour period of being completely dry. Two days ago, I went a full day of dryness (morning to evening) but then went to sleep and woke to find I had peed about .5 ounces overnight, so what was looking like my best 24 hour period turned into my worst in the last few weeks few weeks, but this 24 hour period is very encouraging. Shows thatCompiler is right, it's not linear. So I am not ready to declare myself fully continent yet, but a week like this and I will. Clearly I'm making progress.
Oh, I also slept almost 6 hours last night without getting up to pee . First time since surgery that I went more than 3 hours straight sleep

I am getting pretty good erections with the 5 mg of Cialis each night. Not sure if it's the cialis or not, but I'm thinking next week I might go 2 nights without the meds and see what happens. Of course the erections are a waste since I'm not ready to do the act yet, for fear that I might do some damage and also for fear that it will be painful. I'll discuss it with the PA at my next visit (less than two weeks)

My next big hurdle is the PSA test, coming up in 11 days. I will feel so good if I get. < in front of whatever number they use.

So all in all, I am starting to realize, that the possibility of getting back to a normal life after Cancer is real. I'm not there yet, but I see light at the end off the tunnel. Now if only I can get a few clean PSA tests under my belt, that will be huge

ATT ALL NEWBIES : Do not despair! KEEP THE FAITH! WE LIVEIN THE 21st CENTURY WHERE AMAZING THINGS CAN HAPPEN.

Post Edited (Pratoman) : 2/8/2015 8:29:54 AM (GMT-7)

P-Man. Now why does none of this surprise me? Dare I say "I told you so"

Congates to you bro

Prat:

GREAT NEWS!!! Yes, fully expected, too.

I just saw your calendar. It says "FREAK OUT about PSA TEST" FOR THIS UPCOMING WEEK.

So, get busy.

Oh, and if you don't see a "<" sign don't panic. You basically want a "0" as the first digit!

Mel

Prat:

I know. My statement stands
<g>

Mel

Yes, this Rochester looks different from Rochester NY

LOLOL no it was not intentional. darn IPad autocorrect. I need to proofread my posts.

On another note, leaking is back, but not terrible..3 ounces in the last 24 hours. Not upset, fighting to be patient. It's only been 5 weeks, not even.

@Yoop - I just noticed your comment about my "minor idiosyncrasies"
What idiosyncrasies ?

Ok, ok, just kidding. But if my PSA doesn't come back the way I want it, get ready for more of that

Seriously, thanks for the kind words.

Prat:

I told you it's not linear.

Think of it as a sine wave with decreasing amplitudes!

(Maybe y = e^(-x)*sin (2*pi*x)).

Actually, that's not quite accurate as you would have some higher amplitudes. Think of the higher amplitudes as noise. This is without the noise. This is what you hope ends up happening!

(This is for Peter, who needs his math fix every so often!)

Mel