Update: LDR done!

I have to be honest in that my anxiety level rose to that which I rarely if ever reach these past few days -- especially with some of the threads this week with other LDR experience.

I'm typing this at 5 pm PST. No pain, no discomfort. I can pee (thus far) well / same as before the procedure. Zero pain when peeing (twice, 25 minutes apart) around 11 am. A small bit of medium pain just at the start of peeing at around 2:30 pm. No higher sense of urgency. They did do a camera procedure all the way to the bladder while I was out -- they did say I could have some post procedure irritation -- that's probably the initial burst of pain when I went at 2:30 pm.

I had to get up at 3:45 am to get the shower done with special soap (three times, Thursday morning and night, and this morning) they give you as a precaution to to prevent hospital inspections. And I had to do the "flush the system" procedure, and then leave to get there at 5:30 am.

I got to meet a lot of doctors, at least 4 or 5, and then there were the extra doctors (residency, med students). It was quite a procession of doctors starting around 7 am, then wheeled off to the operating room around 7:35 am. Once I got to the room, I got transferred to the table, had an oxygen mask put on, and that's about all I remember.

I then woke up in the recovery room about 10:55 am -- it took about 15 to 25 minutes to reach a more coherent state. I got a cup of ice chips about 11:15 (they tasted wonderful). But zero pain or discomfort when I came to. I was given 3 Tylenol and 5 mg of what I found out this afternoon was Oxycodone (not particularly thrilled with that) -- but they said they found patients experience less pain and discomfort post procedure -- yeah, they drug you! But now, at this time with zero pain / discomfort, I think most of the medicine effect should be gone as it's 10 hours later.

I didn't talk to the doctor post procedure -- I see him next Friday. But he did talk to my wife and told her the procedure went well and everything looked great. I had to pee before I could be discharged. No catheter, no blood in pee. Good flow, good volume. Discharged about 12:30 pm. I got wheel chaired to the car (but was allowed to walk 50 ft to the bathroom myself before leaving in the chair for a second pee before the 30 minute ride home).

I get a CT scan Monday to check placement. Lupron shot Tuesday. Meet with MO Friday. CT amd MRI in one month. RO appt in one month after the scans.

Bottom line, I'm thrilled to have this behind me. IMRT done. Seeds done. Looking back, the worst procedure was the volume study. Everything else was not that bad.

A happy, relieved G9 tonight!

Congratulations! Now it’s time to focus on a great recovery.

Glad to hear LDR is treating you with very few side effects. Here's to many lower and lower PSA readings to follow. Keep us up to date.

Great to hear that your procedure went well. I had the exact same treatment plan. At 2-1/2 years, I’m feeling normal.

I’m scheduled for my 6 month PSA test this week.

Had a colonoscopy yesterday. Two small polyps, no visible signs of tissue damage from radiation.

Al

Glad you got through it okay. Over thinking the worst outcomes can be harmful to ones health.

Any treatment has the potential for life debilitating side effects, but they are very low. Look at the disclaimers for any drug you might take, it's frightening. Just have to play the odds sometimes. For me, not treating would have given me very high odds of a miserable outcome.
I agree with your statement, the flow test "was" the worst part for me too. Not a very pleasant test to be conscious through.

I'm 5 years out now, still undetectable, still functional in sporting a "woodie", as they say. Not the same overall, somewhat diminished, dried up, but very happy with the outcome

There have been a few LDR side effects threads of late. But, they are "vastly" outnumbered by those that have posted on this forum with little to no SEs!