I went over the pathology report with my urologist while I was still in the hospital, on the third day after surgery. I got a printed copy when I had my first post-op office visit a week later....
David, It is great news to hear that you are done with the radiation. Everything gets better from now on. Thank you for posting the details of your experience. It is a valuable resource for others...
Open surgery on June 18. After five months of 3 to 4 pads every day, I suddenly needed only one a day. After another week I realized that the one pad each day was dry when I threw it away. It was a...
I still think golf is a big waste of time and not really a sport. Oh, wait a minute, weren't you all talking about golfing?...
Roger, Thanks for your post. It has helped me understand my own situation better. It's not always easy to be open about such private matters. For the first couple of weeks after getting rid of the...
You may be experiencing coccydynia. This may be the result of trauma to the area, or just a coincidence. You may want to try naproxen sodium (Aleve) to ease the pain. Coccydynia is usually not...
David, I'm so glad you suggested meeting in person. Even with the unfaltering support of my wife and family, it's was good to talk face-to-face with someone going through a similar journey. I'm happy...
I had surgery just 4 weeks after my positive biopsy, and this contributed to my developing an anal fissure. It is a side effect that I didn't expect, and that has been negatively affecting my quality...
I may be stating the obvious here, but it's always a good idea to include your significant other in any discussions that you have with the urologist pre-surgery. That way, you can talk as a couple...
Piano Man, I had a few complications after surgery, and had catheters inserted and removed for a month after surgery. After that, I was completely incontinent for almost a month, and then there was...
I just received my 4-month PSA test results and it showed undetectable levels -- less than 0.1. I now feel comfortable applying for membership in the zero club. All the side effects from surgery pale...
Things to add to the list, that I found out the hard way and wished that I had known beforehand: 1. After prostatectomy the rectum is thin, delicate, and at risk for injury for at least three months...
David, If I'm understanding your situation, there's still every expectation that you'll come out of all this whole and cancer-free. Radiation knocks out the cancer, the supra catheter comes out, and...
David, I hope that they aren't discriminating against you. I think that it is just that they don't have participating yoga studios lined up in every community. The studios on their list agree to a...
Tony, thanks for the link. Among other things, the article says, "patients with truly organ-confined prostate cancer who receive an accurate pathologic evaluation of true Gleason score 6 (with no...
I took Worried Guy's advice and contacted Yoga Bear. They were very nice, and set me up with a 60 day free pass to a local Yoga studio. I expected that there would be a cancer survivors section,...
My biopsy involved 12 cores and I was given a local anesthetic. It was only slightly uncomfortable at the time, and there was no lingering pain at all. Two hours after the procedure I drove myself to...
All I can figure is that the organizations against routine testing feel that the tests may lead to unnecessary treatment. I understand that some PCa is slow-growing and may not ever get to the point...
I had a Foley catheter for 14 days after surgery, and it gave me few problems. After a few bouts of urinary retention I had three more Foleys inserted and then removed, each for about three days. The...
David, There was no reason at all for a rush. The biopsy results came back after a few days, and I was stage T1C with a Gleason 0f 3+3=6, which all pointed to very early stage cancer. I talked with...
Geezer, There was exactly four weeks from my biopsy to my surgery, which I now know to be on the short side....
David, Thanks for the best wishes. You and I both have been on the short end of the statistical curve for complications from RP surgery. Let's hope things even out. We're both due....
James C, Thank you for your concern. The colorectal surgeon tells me I have a 50:50 chance of the fissure healing itself. We will wait for up to 6 weeks to see if things get better. In the mean time...
I just got back from a visit with a colorectal surgeon. What I thought were persistent hemorrhoids turned out to be an anal fissure. The doctor said this was likely a consequence of the procedures...
David, Thank you for sharing your details. I’m sorry you had to go through all that, and that it still continues. Your prognosis sounds good and I hope you are finally whole soon. I had 4 catheters...
David, Best wishes for your surgery tomorrow. May it be the beginning of the end of your saga. When you had the multiple catheters right after the initial RP surgery, what was you doctor telling you...
David, I see from your signature block that you had catheters in for 66 days after your original open RP surgery. I, too, needed catheters beyond the "normal" two weeks after surgery. At the time,...
I am finding that after RP I have needed to develop a subtle awareness of the state of my bladder. Before surgery, I would wait until there was an obvious strong urge to urinate -- now the impulse...
I found HealingWell after I had already had the surgery, but everything I'm reading seems to confirm my decision. It's good to hear from others in my situation. Thanks to everyone....
I had my Foley catheter out at 9:00 AM 14 days after radical retropubic prostatectomy. By 4:00 PM that same day I was back to my doctor’s office to have another Foley catheter inserted (second)...