@island time - unfortunately, my prostate gland is no longer available for review, so I can't even get a Decipher score. @Mumbo - I will be talking to my urologist next week about the viablity of...
updated profile: Age 69 (55 when Dx) 05/18/2009 - RALP Surgical Pathology: Prostate gland 51.8 grams; Gleason score 3+3=6; Pathologic stage T2c, N0, Mx; Left/Right Pelvic lymph nodes clear (no tumor...
05/18/2009 - Robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy Surgical Pathology: Prostate gland 51.8 grams; Gleason score 3+3=6; Pathologic stage T2c, N0, Mx; Left/Right Pelvic lymph nodes clear...
Thank you Peter and everyone. Fortunately I belong to a local PCa support group whose leader is very knowledgeable and regularly attends nationwide conferences and symposiums with leaders in the...
Hello friends, it's been quite a while since I've been on the forum. Quick recap and update: Family history of PCa made it an easy decision for me to have a robotic-assisted prostatectomy in May of...
I was getting some benefit from Viagra/Levitra/Cialis, then for some reason even they weren't working. So I decided to get a baseline testosterone level test. I was surprised to find that my...
Greetings Charlie, I agree with Michael, based on your report for only a week without the catheter, that's exceptional. Keep up with the exercises. As far as the ED goes, as you will hear often at...
David, You're right, of course. I didn't intend to minimize the cancer - free PSA reading, but like many of my brethren, the quality of life post-treatment is always a concern when deciding on a...
It works, but the option is only available if you use the "post reply" button and not the "quick reply" box. Check your profile in Control Panel and see if there is something there that might be...
I am also the youngest attendee at my local support group (1st Thursday of every month), but most of the regulars are very active and informative. We have a cross section of surgery guys (open and...
Hi all, Just got my second zero, hooray! Not quite six months out, and my surgeon lectures me about the stress incontinence I still have. I've been stuck at one pad a day, mostly as a safety...
David, A fair question, and the conventional wisdom would be that extension of life is paramount; however, the quality of that life must be part of the individual decision-making process. Perhaps...
Huey, As you can see, there are many variables that go into each of our personal decisions, and fortunately (or unfortunately depending on one's perspective) there are several options available for...
Everything I read about ED post-surgery is very general, with recovery timelines averaging 6-24 months. There must be something more to it. At about 4 1/2 months post surgery, the best I can get is...
Huey, I couldn't agree with you more. I tried to make the case with my insurer that it's for medical, not recreational, reasons. They actually looked into it because someone else was also...
At about 4 1/2 months post surgery, the best I can get is an occasional "twinge" and some increased size with manual stimulation, but no stiffness. I'm on 25mg Viagra 3x a week, and when I've tried...
Ed, You're staying with us in the Zero Club, and that's final! Greg...
Bill, I well remember leaving my dignity at the door. Good luck during catheter week. If you want to compare post-op experiences, check out my journal at...
My urologist told me straight away that his experience is with open surgery and at this point in his career, he was not interested in taking the time to learn the robotics procedure. He was also...
I agree with the comments posted about the show. IMHO, any negatives of not enough details were outweighed by the many public figures who had PC, did something about it, and spoke out in support of...
Dan, If the biopsy definitely showed the presence of PC, then if you are considering surgery, some would recommend having it done sooner rather than later, if only because the more it spreads...
The show repeats tonight at 12:00 am. 3:00 am, and 5:00 am Eastern. Greg...
I agree with geezer99. The missing piece of information here is the post-surgical pathology report. Greg...
Welcome Possum, There is a lot of good information here to browse through, from people who have traveled this road before. Everyone here is great and full of good advice. As Sephie said, it's most...
Here's mine along with my surgery diary, http://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=1475616 Greg...
Ask your health insurer if code CPT 55866 is covered. That seems to be the standard coding today, see, e.g., [b] policy%2F emed%2F Robotically_Assisted_Laparo_Rad_Prostatectomy.html&keywords=%3C...
It's been over a month since my last post, partly because I've been so tired all the time. I finally went back to work on June 29, six weeks after my surgery. For the first week I worked half days,...
FIRST ZERO! It's been over a month since my last post, partly because I've been so tired all the time. I finally went back to work on June 29, six weeks after my surgery. For the first week I worked...
Buckeye, I'm about a week behind you, and I have the same sensation of a "hardness" just below the above-navel incision point. At 39 days after surgery, I no longer feel a slight "twinge" of pain...
Yes, it's quite normal, however, the amount of leakage is usually directly related to the amount of straining you are doing when you move your bowels. What's happening is when you strain, the balloon...
Colin, Your doctor is correct. It takes a month or so for the rectum to heal after the biopsy, because the rectum wall is punctured by the biopsy procedure in order to get the core samples from the...
Colin, I agree with everything said in the prior posts, but here's another thought: Whichever way you decide to go, ask the surgeon or radiation oncologist for references, i.e., past patients that...
My friend (who had a robot assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy back in 2001 at the Cleveland Clinic) tells me he has had success with Ditropan for his incontinence. He suggests I ask my...
That sounds like excellent advice, DS. On the one hand I want to do whatever exercises I'm supposed to, but I know I'm getting frustrated in the length of time it's taking to get back to normal,...
KEGEL QUESTION Is it possible to hurt yourself doing the Kegel exercise? Friday night I got the best night's sleep so far, and unless I was delirious, I made it through the whole night without a trip...
Hello ddd49, As someone who just had surgery about 4 weeks ago, the post-op recovery period is still very fresh in my mind. I think you and your husband will find that his daily tribulations are "old...
I guess I'm as normal as everyone else. 25 days after surgery and I'm basically dry overnight, but getting up during the night 2-3 times. I believe the overnight dryness is related to being prostrate...
Jacketch, Thanks for the bump. It's four days since my catheter removal, so the document at the link is definitely timely, plus it helps tie together and clarify information I've read from other...
*** BEST POSSIBLE NEWS *** My doctor called this morning with the results of the surgical pathology: [i]NO EXTRA-CAPSULAR INVASION [i][u]NO TUMOR PRESENT IN THE LYMPH NODES [i][u]NEGATIVE [/i]...
Hello Jon and good luck on your biopsy results. Bleeding after the biopsy is normal, but you might want to try drinking a lot of fluids to flush out whatever is in there. Let's hope that what you...
5/28/2009 UPDATE Sorry this update is later than I wanted to post it, but I was hoping to have the pathology report by now. Anyway, I want to capture the last days of the catheter before it fades...
5/22/2009 UPDATE More good news today, thanks to your posts above and last night's 4:00 am read of information posted at "Post surgery constipation problems",...
Wee-one, As someone who just a few days ago crossed over to "the other side" of surgery, let me also welcome you to the brotherhood. I agree with what everyone has already said, but I didn't notice...
Mikey, I agree with fogball. Looks like you and I had our surgeries at the same time. Currently I'm off my feet on the bed more than I would like, and walking less than I would like, but that's...
Once again you guys have come to my rescue. Here it is at 4 in the morning on Day 4 after surgery, and my stomach pains have awoken me from my sleep, making me question whether I've done anything...
5/21/09 UPDATE Good news first: Dr. Esposito told my wife and my brother (as I was still out from the anesthesia) that both nerve bundles were spared, and both lymph nodes were clear. He also...
Propaul, You came to the right place for advice. There are many men here that have gone through what you are going through, so the good news is you/we are not alone. May I also suggest as a resource...
45 hours to go until I check in for my surgery. Sunday night is my double date with MagCitrate and Fleet. Oh, and the wife, of course. Here's hoping for the best, and I'll see you guys on the other...
Best of luck. I'll be joining you guys "on the other side" in just a few more days. Looking forward to comparing post-surgery results. Greg...
Thanks, John but given that my MRI is only a few days away I don't think I have a choice. The facility's web site (http://www.hrgimaging.com/html/fourth_level/mri2.htm ) mentions it uses a 1.5 tesla...