Surgery this Friday 8/26 at Swedish with Dr. James Porter

Brian, we'll be thinking of you this week. Do you have your post-surgery plan all set up?

Recliner in clear view of TV with remote readily available?
Small bucket to hold cath bag?
Doggie Doo Doo pads for said recliner?
Extra pairs of loose fitting athletic shorts?
Supply of DVD's (daytime TV is miserable after a while)?
"TV" tray near recliner for laptop, phone, water mug?
Waterproof pad for the bed at night?
Shower Stool for the bathtub?
Stool Softeners (Dulcolax)?
High Fiber foods?
Steaks for the grill on Cath Removal day?
Pee Pads for your shorts after cath removal?
Sense of Humor for yourself, spouse, children?
Plans for a romantic evening between now and Friday?

You'll do fine, Brian. Swedish has a great reputation!

Brian, all will go well I'm sure. The hard part was deciding.

Thanks Pratman.. I believe I just got done reading your entire posts history. A very well documented process and of great value to me. My state of mind is that, "this is in GOD's hands" and part of his plan for me. I keep saying to myself, "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me" and God has not given you a spirit of fear but of power love and a sound mind. And the Peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and mind in Christ Jesus. That's how I am keeping my anxiety down and my faith strong.

I didn't have a chance at 40 to plan for my emergency open heart surgery when my aorta dissected while on the tennis court. Tomorrow is my 13 year anniversary and I got my second chance at life. I turned it into an opportunity to give back to others and started a website, 13 years ago and have over 500 stories from all over the world. This is a bit different and I would have most likely died of PC as I had no idea of PSA's, I had had a couple DRE's before, all fine, but had my left hip not needed to be replaced, and the required physical within 30 days, and my doctor NOT Ordering a PSA, I would have never known about it. I had tried in last December and was a week away from getting it done, but that hospital had their own doctor who did physicals and when I told him about my AorticDissection, he said, you need clearance from your cardiologist. So, my Dr. Otto said, OK for the surgery, ONLY with a cardiac anesthesiologist. It turned out that they didn't have them at the highest volume hip doctor in the entire state? GOD works in mysterious ways. I was also one of the first, if not the first survivors of the AD at Providence Everett. Now fast forward, many tennis matches later and my left hip is to the point that my rating has declined and I can't even tie my shoes or put my socks on without my sock tool, so April 4 was my date for my new hip. Now, that the hip on hold, and my PC being 3 of 12 on the right side being originally Gleason 9's reduced to 8's. I am ready for the surgery this Friday. My journey for my own personal reflection is being chronicled at briantinsley.com and although I don't think I will have the reach of my aorticdissection.com site, It's imperative to get the word out!! Oh yah, my wife had a brain tumor when our daughter was born too! So, we've had our fair share of stuff At this moment in time, Sunday before my companies punt pass and kick contest tomorrow for some sales raw raw event, watching Hoarders, I am ready for it. My hope is that the surgery goes w/o any issues and that the right nerves, lymph node dissection (apparently Dr. James Porter) is a leader in this field, will all go well. I do have a moderate leak in my aortic valve (biscupid) value and after my PC, Hip Replacement, My aortic valve will probably be next. But......... one foot in front of the other and day by day is my motto. Still I am so thankful for all that I have and want to continue to be a roll model and help others. My main goal is to get through, get the news that the margins turned out to be perfect and that Dr. Porter based on his surgical expertise will be able to give my his honest opinion of things stayed in the PC completely.

God BLess,
Brian :)

Brian - Best wishes - you should come out fine.

As already mentioned, be sure to bring depends and a pad when cath is removed

Bobby Mac

Thanks... Jim and all others. Sorry if I broke a rule. My apologies. It was not planned or intended. Consider it done. Today is my 13th year anniversary since my aorta dissected half way up both carotid arteries all the way to my left iliac artery. So, today is also a punt pass and kick day at our office. I have something up my sleeve..:) I happened to have one an event 40 years ago in peewees! And 25 years ago in college I got to make it to a football game at halftime and won again, the whole enchilada! I got a trophy and ball! My sincerest thanks to all. I am taking 2 weeks off work and starting this Thursday. Plan on still planing tennis at 0700 am, and perhaps got for a bike ride, with a bad hip still trying!! :) I am hoping to provide updates as my surgery progresses. Thanks,

OK... I made it..... My surgery was Friday at 07:40am with Dr. James Porter at Swedish Medical in Seattle. I remember the two different waiting areas for pre surgery staging. My parents met me at the first one with my wife and then my wife and I went to another floor I believe where I met the anesthesiologist who apparently work with Dr. Porter quite a bit. I remember getting wheeled to the OR room and she asked me if I wanted to see the "Robot" and I said I had watch every Youtube video on them but said OK. I then remember scoothing over to the table and then nothing till like 2:30pm looking at the clock hearing someone next to me and then the next thing up to the 11th floor around 3pm ish or perhaps a bit later. All I know I was out of it. I finally did my first walk at 3:00am - 3 tiny laps around the floor. My next time for laps was about 10:00am when my wife showed up. We left at 2:30pm forgot the bag with all the cathetor stuff and wipes/pads, so my wife had to drive back later in the day to get another bag of stuff... No biggie! The worst pain that I had from the surgery I believe was my coffee withdrawal as I felt nauseous and the meds they gave me made more it worse. So, about 2 -4 hours later I still needed some thing and I said why not half the does this time and that worked to get me some rest. Thank GOD my parents brought the recliner her as I slept in it for Sat/Sun night and last night Monday, finally made it to my own bed and got some sleep - I am a side (left) sleeper and I manged to get some sleep. The gas pains the first two nights were very tough. I had 3 BM's on Monday and that was a relief!!!
It's Tuesday around 2 :15pm and I had walked a bit on my treadmill on Sunday and then about a mile yesterday, not all at once, but in two/three times, I think I did more than a mile yesterday. I have my appointment for Friday at 4pm to have my cathetor removed and to get my results from the pathology report. My parents said the doctor didn't see anything, but my left nerves were spared but right nerves and Lymph nodes. I am just hoping for positive news on Friday. I will also be interested what Gleason the come up with. Originally VM said a 9 then changed to an 8. So, my hope is that it was all removed. I appreciate all the support from this site and the kind words. I still can't believe I had PC and then had the surgery and now to think it might be 100% gone... I know who to give thanks to that's for sure!

Take care,
Brian :)

OK... No cancer spread! I had my catheter removed yesterday. Unfortunately, I had a reaction that they said 1 out of 30 people have. That filling up of your bladder w/syringe and then the removal, sent me into a state where my knees buckled and sweating light headiness. There is a term for this but can't think of it! So for the next 5 hours I was out of it with nausea. But. with my wife by my side. Dr. Porter read off the results. He said Positive Results!.. There was NO CANCER SPREAD!!! The margins were negative, no seminal vesicle invasion, 24 Lymph nodes, 12/12 nothing found. Gleason Score, 9. Primary at 4, secondary at 5. Pathologiic stage-pT2c. I like this comment of the report. Treatment effect: No known therapy! All I can say is that there is a higher power. I am so thankful to everyone here as well! God Bless Brian :)

tennis, that is a great path report! Now, focus on getting your strength back. You have had major surgery, and it takes time. I know you knew that. Keep walking. Don't ride a bike for a while. Eat healthy (but an occasional dish of ice cream is ok). Do your kegals, 10-15 reps, 4 times a day. Let us know how the continence works.

One thing I've learned...and it seems a bit counterintuitive...is that I'm actually more prone to drip a little when I let myself get dehydrated. There is a balance point to find.

Go out an enjoy life!

Congrats on that Brian! Keep making us proud!

Congrats that all went so well. Your recovery will hopefully be fast!
I read your path report on briantinsley.com. One thing I saw puzzled me. In path report it is written Extraprostatic extension: Present, very focal (less than 1 mm) and later down Stage: pT2c
Shouldn't the EPE stage you as pT3a?

Congrats on the successful surgery. Best wishes on a speedy recovery. Take care Brain. -JR

Hi..it's day 3 without the catheter and day 10 since my surgery. Wearing these pads is kind of weird and as well as having the guy down stairs seemingly shrunk back into a cave! LOL.. In call seriousness, I think the size of the prostate is how much my penis has shrunk back into my body. This is weird! I am curious as to when some of the urinary issues will start to improve? Or what is a general expectation? Other that those things, been walking some and watching a lot of tennis this weekend! Thanks, Brian