Thanks all for the encouragement and input on my T levels. It gives me a starting point for a discussion with my PCP on the pros and cons for supplemental T, given my PC history. Mike S...
Greetings to all: I rarely post but visit and read on a regular basis. I am a few weeks shy of my 3 year surgery anniversary and am happy to report my PSA remains <0.1 undetectable. By grace,...
medved: Thanks, and glad you raised that issue. Had I wanted to try AS as a treatment option, I fortunately or unfortunately, went to the wrong urologist to discuss that issue. My consult and...
To All: I am a classic lurker and follow this forum regularly but rarely post. However, I could not pass up the opportunity to share this article with all of you since this appears to be a hot topic...
Alf: I am not at all surprised that you urinate 15 times a day. I will express this in US and Metric so both side of the pond can easily understand the problem. If you are drinking 2850 ml (96...
This is a small part of a larger email sent to me by my son who is in the medical field. This could be a new improvement to the existing PSA test and help to curb overtreatment but still provide...
John T, I agree with what you are saying with some qualifications. Men in advanced age with other health issues are likely to be the candidates who will suffer the most from side effects of any form...
From an avid HW reader who posts infrequently. I hope you will read and consider my viewpoint. I cannot help but notice how much caring is expressed by members of this forum. We embrace the problems...
To All: Thanks for the encouragement. Goodlife: I have viewed the things you posted over the past and your message is one that really gets to the heart of the matter. I really need to learn to block...
Thanks to everyone for the encouragement and suggestions. Jeff: I believe I have also stopped improving. I was still declining as of January 2012 making it 18 months of continued progress. Doing a...
Hello to All: Reading post and continuing to pray for all of you as you cope and fight with PC. At 21 months from surgery yesterday's PSA came back with <0.1 So at the moment PC has been managed, ED...
Herman J: glad to see your extensive pelvic floor exercise (pfe) has been helping you. I was impressed by your focus and drive at doing pfe's so intensely. One note of caution that may apply to...
David: Despite my not posting I am following your journey. As said before, you are in my prayers every week as I remember all my PCa friends who are fighting this battle. Your courage gives me and...
Alice: I read regularly but post infrequently. Muscle atrophy is "learned" by our bodies very quickly. If a normal non-surgical patient were to be catheterized for 41 days or more, it would take time...
Chris: You did read these sentences carefully: “All of the men had PSA lower than 0.1 ng/ml after surgery, yet one-third of them later had biochemical recurrence, while the others kept having...
I second the comments made by Worried Guy. I am also a long term leaker with hopes that the situation will improve with time. It appears to be doing just that as my pad weight numbers continue to...
Thanks everyone for your support and encouragement. I have so little to complain about. Given your profiles, I am humbled. The few lines that provide the journey you have taken thus far requires so...
I am an infrequent poster but read posts somewhat regularly. Happy to report that my 15 month PSA test results came back at <0.1 undetectable from the pathology lab. While extremely pleased with that...
Dude: My experience was with Hopkins. Personally, I did not give U of MD any consideration since they don't have a leadership position in urology or the entire field of prostate cancer treatment. By...
Jeff: Yes, I plot in excel but do not perform any special statistical modeling to my simple recording of my 13 hour segments. I merely record the date, day of the week, gross weight of the pad after...
Thanks, I can't take credit for this being a plan of my own making. It is just the way I am healing. I am posting to provide encouragement to others who might have the same long and slow healing...
Hi folks, mostly just reading and not posting from time to time. Just checking in and providing a progress report to those of you with some long-term incontinence issues. I measure pads and chart...
AJ 47 I sent an email to you . Mike S...
David: Just to clarify my position. I have been to a good cross-section of doctors in my life and experienced doctors via my parents and in-laws serious medical issues. Discussions about doctors,...
Mel: I totally agree with your argument. Working in an academic setting you get to see how knowledge transfers works firsthand. The same goes for academic centers of excellence in hospital/medical...
The only thing certain I am going by are these factors: My doctor, who is a leading urologist in the field told me that my consumption of 1,900 ml of fluid a day was far too much. I should use thirst...
What would we do without books like Walsh's? I have read a lot of poorly written books with bad or confusing information that is sadly outdated. I am not defending the practice but I believe a lot of...
Mel: Now I am curious. How much do you drink per day? I have rarely been thirsty but, heck, I have been drowning myself in fluids for years. Mostly water, milk and ice tea. I gave up on soft drinks...
David: I do hope you are considering the option that I sent by email to you. Just a few words of advice for what it is worth: Someone on another site said something profound. Even within a few months...
To All: I never meant to imply that one should get dehydrated. As you all stated that would be just as bad. The hard thing to get my head around is not to drink just for the sake of drinking but to...
Medved: Yes it was a Hopkins urologist/surgeon who told me I was consuming too much fluid. I have been drink around 1,900 ml per day. Mel: You definitely need to follow your physician's advice on...
Purgatory: I can see that post radiation, your recovery protocol might have included a good daily "flushing" of your system. In your case, it is also most likely important to keep your redirected...
To All: I continue to monitor my path to continence recovery and now at nearly 8 full months since surgery, I still have a small amount of leakage. I measure my pad input and the leak is around 12 to...
Arch: I am right behind you with close to 8 months post surgery and still have a small amount of incontinence. My urologist said to be patient and wait it out. He said do not compare yourself to...
Mel: Don't think we have interacted on this forum yet. However, you are on my prayer list. Hope the next step works well for you. I agree with all your points. Being a Hopkins patient myself I know...
Mavica: We are both like many in the US. We work, have insurance policies and pay premiums. We get sick and get treated and pay a portion of our bill in accord with what our insurance will allow. It...
JPF: Is your incision still covered with a large or several small steri-strips? The weeping does happen. Keep the area clean and dry and if you notice it to become swolen or red and appearing as...
North49: I read your post again and did not see the direct comparison between the population of Canada and the number of uninsured in the US. I see you cited 40 million but did not see any comparison...
Bronson: I don't think we have ever posted to each other. Hope your 3/24 PSA is a good one. Did not realize that you were still a 1 pad per day person. I am in the same category. Trying not to let it...
Do you really think that drug dealers with multiple gun shot wounds actually PAY for the health care they receive? No, you and I as regular folks pay for it. So that argument that Americans don't...
DaSlink: Yes, that section is confusing in Walsh's book but read it over several time because it repeats other scenarios with some small differences. I read it last night again. I was around page 382...
I though that I paid a lot for surgery but most of you have me beat. My work colleagues wanted me to use the National Institutes for Health. They would do robotic surgery for FREE. Yes, that is...
DaSlink: Yes, getting Walsh's book will really help. It address your issue (PSA not going to zero after first post surgical test) and makes some very concrete and supportive statements about what to...
DaSlink: We are routing for you. It is easy to get discouraged. Again, read the book, I think you will get some comfort and encouragement from it. MikeS....
DaSlink: Don't get discouraged. I know I sound like a broken record but read the section in Walsh's book on Surviving Prostate Cancer that has the heading, what to do if your PSA goes up after...
Purgatory: I sent it again at 9:03 this morning 3-17-11 via my gmail account. I am sure you have done this but it is worth repeating. Have you read Walsh's book on Surviving Prostate Cancer? I was...
ConcernedCMH: I am in total agreement with AJ 47. Get Walsh's book and read it for all the relevant chapters addressing biopsy and pre-treatment decisions. Given my biopsy and pathology (see my...
Herne: If you followed the expectant management protocol that Johns Hopkins Hospital provides as a guideline, it has an added part that the notable Jonathan Epstein contributed to it. Given the...
Purgatory: I sent you an email via my gmail account. I hope you got it. MikeS....
Mavica: I am trying to look for the good in all of this and adding some humor as well. Actually, my doctor called and apologized the next day. He understood that leaving a cryptic message was...