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Posted 10/3/2006 10:15 AM (GMT 0)

10 Days to go before surgery. Time to stop the vitamin e, alleve etc. I had my first prostatectomy dream last night. The first I remembered anyway. I’m trying to fill my life with good stuff to stay occupied and positive. I found a new apartment with lots of light. The thought of coming back to this basement apartment was depressing. I’ve also started studies for a new series of paintings. I know it will be a while before I’m up to doing the work, but it’s an inspiration. I haven’t been keeping up with my exercising but I’m determined to walk every day up until the day before. I’m just wondering how it will be waking up after the procedure. Well, I won’t be waiting much longer J

Posted 10/3/2006 10:47 AM (GMT 0)
Bird,

You will wake up so groggy you won't recall much at all of the first few hours. Nurses will bug you first to wake up, then to take Q15 vitals and then to get your hinney outta bed and walk after a while! Not much different than having a wife around...LOL!!! The rest is pretty much living with the side effects that do get better with time.

Life isn't over minus a prostate any more than it's over when a female loses her parts. Although many women believe otherwise, just as many men do. That prostate is cancerous organ that will kill if it stays (eventually). There would be no new inspirations for paintings had this controllable condition not been found. I so wish I had a single artistic cell in my body. Artists see the world so differently from us untalented souls. I hope you share your talent.
Art should always be shared so everyone can see through the eyes of the artist. It's a very bland world for people like me, without people like you!

New is good, light is good and life is not any different shortly after any major surgery....it still goes forward. As much as we'd love to stay back and not face the wonderful adventures ahead in the wake of a crisis....we do move forward. You choose how yer gonna live it! Sounds like you are on the right track already. Happy stroking....... take that any way you wish ;>)

Swim
Posted 10/3/2006 11:03 AM (GMT 0)
Hey there my friend. I couldn't sleep had a few to many beers last night. I've been wondering about you since we both have the same date for our surgery 10/12/06. Everyone says we are going to just fine and I believe them. I spoke with a fellow last night here in town who had his surgery 4 weeks ago this friday. Last week he was gone all week cross country on a business trip, says he is doing great. He said just take it easy for about two weeks and the worst part is the catheter but you get used to it. He said the pain was minimal and he went home the next day and hasn't had hardly any pain. He said the biopsy was worse for him than the surgery. He also said get some whitey tighties and poise pads for after the surgery and that they work real well for the occasional leak, I guess we awill have for a few weeks. He said his wife got him some diaper type things and to not even go there, the poise pads are the way to go according to him. Be sure and post how it went just as soon as you can, I will do the same. Only 10 more days and we are off and running. God Bless You
Posted 10/3/2006 11:23 AM (GMT 0)
Birdland and 56Pontiac,

yes, the 12th will be here and over before you know it. Just think of all the guys who have been there before you...and are doing well now. that is what will happen with you. Do everything you can to be healthy now, then relax and allow your body to heal, and look forward to your futures. Swim-you are too funny!!
Posted 10/3/2006 12:04 PM (GMT 0)
Birdland:

I'm nine weeks post surgery tomorrow.  It's uncanny some of the things you remember.  Mine took about one hour.  I remember rolling over from the gurney to the operating table; looking over at my surgeon and telling him "You da' man!"; then I don't remember a thing until the recovery room when the surgeon came in and told me the surgery was "perfect". Shortly afterwards, I remember going up to the room very cognizant. 

I guess what I'm trying to tell you is it's not that big a deal.  Don't work yourself up for nothing.  I thought the same thing you did as the countdown began.  I now realize it was for naught.

 

Posted 10/3/2006 1:26 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Birdland,

I was a bit nervous before surgery too (Mine was almost 3 weeks ago).  I suppose it is only natural.  But, like everyone else, I was up and walking fairly quickly.

In my case, they wouldn't let me get up the first evening (my surgery was in the afternoon), since my blood pressure was low and worried the nurses.  The doctors told me later that lower-than-normal blood pressure is quite common after surgery since they get you so dehydrated prior to surgery so that very little is in the bladder.

Waking up after surgery was easy although it took me a while to keep my eyes open for very long. But my wife was there and they took care of any pain I had initially. The worst problem was the the bed in recovery was not super comfortable and of course I was so thirsty.  The nurse would only let me have occassional ice chips until she knew I wouldn't get sick.  I kept trying to convince her that I have an iron stomach, but I guess I was a bit groggy and not too convincing.

So the next day, I was walking (slowly), left the hospital at noon, and was walking at home every day - slowly and around the house at first and then around the neighborhood after that.

The only real pain I had was from the gas afterward, which took a couple of days to clear.  (An early message thread said "flatulence is your friend!").

Posted 10/3/2006 3:07 PM (GMT 0)
Birdland and 56 Ponitiac, I am also going to have my Surgery 10/12/06. very Good Luck to all of us. I have been waiting a long time since july thought it was not going to get here BUT!!!! the 3 of us can compare Notes I guess around 14th or 15th. I don,t have a recliner I guess pillows and the couch. Tighty whitetys and the Pads? Keep in Touch 11 Shepla aka Mike K.
Posted 10/3/2006 3:11 PM (GMT 0)
S J C Did you say only 1 Hour for Surgery? That is the Fastest I,ve heard. You are doing well for 9 weeks Shepla
Posted 10/3/2006 5:32 PM (GMT 0)
Mike (shepla):

I had the open procedure like you're having.  Just like your surgeon, James Eastham, mine (Alaln Partin) has performed a large number as well.  Those guys get the job done w/out any delay or hesitation.

Posted 10/3/2006 7:47 PM (GMT 0)
Birdland…   We are on the countdown with you!!!   Please stay with us and let us walk with you on this journey… We have a lot of strength to share so pull from all of us!   What have you been doing since we last heard from you on 9-19… ?? In your first posting… you mentioned that you were single.   Here are a few questions we would like to know if you don’t mind sharing…   Who will be with you during surgery? Have you prepared for your return home with the catheter?    Have you been reading postings to gain information or any books to help you with this major surgery? Where are you having your surgery? And please refresh my memory as to which surgery you are having??   A new apartment with lots of light is a great move!!   If they have stairs… use them J   What happened with your exercise program???   It is so important to start the kegels before surgery… and to continue them after the catheter is removed……It is an important part of the healing/recovery process and the urinary control issues….. Walking and stairs are very important too!!! So – if you want an easier recovery you’ll be doing all of these and more.   Take care, Lee & Buddy
Posted 10/3/2006 11:24 PM (GMT 0)
  my boyfriend had robotic prostate surgery and he is 6 months out from that date.

  He is taking viagra, and can acheive a erection, but we have not been able to have

  sex.  I am concerned because he is becoming more depressed, no matter how I tell

  him that I am competely happy, and am more blessed that he is alive and well.  Can

  anyone tell me there input on what can we do as their significant other to make

  things better in some way.

Posted 10/4/2006 8:45 AM (GMT 0)

 Thanks

I can't believe all the great, encouraging responses.Swim... thanks for the post-op reality check. Nobody is bland. When I look at my heart beating on the echo or hear my carotid artery from the ultra sound, I realize what a miracle we all are! All the millions of parts and cells involved in doing something simple like lifting a hand, not to mention smiling at a friend. Lee & Buddy...I'm having the radical prostatetectomy.Surgery is at Sloan kettering in Manhattan-I'm staying with my folks for 2-3 weeks, my sister (an RN in Baltimore) and a close friend are with me during surgery and all the folks at work will be near the phone waiting for the all-clear call. So I feel like they are with me too.I teach art at a middle school so on my last day I have to tell 110 kids that I'll be out for a medical procedure. I'm sparing them the details. I really love these kids and I don't want them to worry so I'm going to be as positve and humorous as possible when I let them know. Anyway...got to go walking. Thanks again

Birdland

Posted 10/4/2006 11:44 AM (GMT 0)
Birdland, I think you'll find yourself comfortable enough to be on your own after a week or 2, especially after the catheter is removed. I'm glad you'll have family helping you out - just simple things like getting you water and helping you up and down from the bed/couch/chair. while in the hospital, the nurses were not always available and it was helpful for me to be there with Jeff (even though he was only in the hospital for a day). we'll be thinking of you and shepla and 56pontiac as you all have your surgery next week.

Sundance - I posted a new thread so that others can reply.
Posted 10/4/2006 11:50 AM (GMT 0)
To Birdland and shepla (Mike):

Looks like you both may overlap at Memorial Sloan Kettering. shepla on Oct. 12 and Birdland on Oct. 13.
Posted 10/4/2006 6:21 PM (GMT 0)
 Hey Birdland,             Thanks to S J C  I realize I am 1 day ahead of you at sloan kettering. I have PSA 3.3   Gleason 3+3=6   59 years old  grey or white hair. I have Dr. James Eastham. Suppose to be there around 12 pm Oct 12th  surgery around 2 or 3 pm. If you want to say hi come by and I,ll be the one looking for a place to pass a little g.    Good Luck to us next week. Mike K.    aka   shepla
Posted 10/4/2006 7:25 PM (GMT 0)
how cool is that?! you two can probably meet in the halls! hey - we have to find every good thing in life.... :)
Posted 10/4/2006 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
Bird,

The reality check is never meant to sound as harsh as it might appear. I really have this frontal brain damage syndrome going on sometimes don't
I? :>) I realize the uncertainty of unfamiliar, out of control situations. It is perhaps, because I have a great deal of experience on the inside where the work gets done, that see things a little differently. Perhaps it's the shear number of life threatening situations I see and have seen my own family endure. I am very aware that people who stay relatively healthy react with strength combined with fear when something threatens their in control world.

It's that cancer word that throws such a wrench into our finely tuned mental engines. Sugar is sweet but if it's thrown into a gas tank, it does some serious damage to the engine. Sugar coating truths of a major surgery would do the same. It would do damage to your mental engine, don't ya think? So now what? Well, we deal with reality. Keeps the engine running.

If final outcomes were more predictable I'm sure you would be nervous but not nearly as afraid. Just think of how good you'll feel when the burden of this surgery is over. A weight will lift and the whole thing will start to feel like a distant memory in no time ;>) swim
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