That walnut sized organ: the Prostate

Calahonda52

Having read some recent posts here I though I would share my experiences with said organ.

Am 63 and have or had no symptoms of any description:

Sept 2014 went for a voluntary MOT offered by my health insurer: typical upselling: sent out the letter saying they would do a special deal at 200 euro for a suite of tests that normally cost...blah

Rang them up to make an appointment: despite having a policy with them for 30 years, first question: what age:
62
Oh, for someone you age we recommend the enhanced package: 400 euro.:cool:

Included in the list of tests was the PSA blood test.
[Will not debate the pros and cons here, this is just an info thread: will not follow this so if u need anything PM me.
In some of Europe they don't do the test because of the uncertainly: they do ultrasound which gives mass and size.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prostate-cancer/basics/definition/con-20029597 ]

Anyway, signed up for the full suite, including the PSA blood test and the DRE:D
[Think Heineken advert]

Doc rang me two days later, PSA too high for your age: need second test in 6 weeks, as the DRE stimulates the prostate ... yes indeed.

Asked for the Free vs bound test: not offered so rang my GP, said yeah come down and we will have a look at the tackle first.

He thought there was a fishy smell down below so he put me on a week of antos before the second test, sent away blood test requesting Free vs bound, just basic test done: why? no answer.
Number was half the first reading: but still too high: 50% over:

3 month ( March) later: same
Next one (Sept 15) double March
Next one [Nov 15 ]( double again.

Saw a consultant yesterday and after a rigorous DRE he says the PSA is way too high for the size of the prostate at my age so he wants a biopsy done in Feb, if the Jan PSA is still high, after another shot of antos to make sure no UTI or otherwise:
[ this course, started today, is serious stuff: I reckon they kill the bugs in the beer I am drinking while writing this:)

Was reading up on biopsy:
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/tony-ward-the-toughest-game-of-my-life-my-epic-battle-with-prostate-cancer-34179564.html

Its a pity Tony never said how he came to catch the problem.

The one thing I remember about what the consultant said about the biopsy is that all it says is we didn't find cancer, not that its not there: they take 12 or so samples: see attachment. but they cannot sample it all so the cell next to one they take might be cancerous.

Why am I posting this:
think about the test as its a very silent cancer
and
be able to live with the potential answer, even if its wrong.

My GP was very definite about the fact that many docs feel it is not a test that should be done cold, without any consideration: he compared it to a HIV test which I gather is not done without counselling.

In my case it may be nothing but it has focussed my mind on living every day to the full and not vegetate in front of Coro and Fair City.:D

Hope this helps and Happy Christmas

sserdda

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=91945404

here is where my problems started.

Have to go back and get surgery on the bladder. And a stent in heart.

Prostate the size of a walnut was the size of a lemon.

Calahonda52

had the trans-rectal ultra sound and prostate biopsy yesterday.

Process was as follows:

paperwork done at 0830
urine test first: all clear
blood tests next: all clear.
Oral and IV antibiotics administered at 09:10
On the couch at 10:10, they wait an hour for anto's to click in.

Consent form signed at that point, having discussed risks etc

Lie on side, knees up, trousers etc down: no gown etc just drop the pants.
topical anaesthetic applied to rectum.

"weapon" inserted into rectum and three local anaesthetic injections given around the prostate. Not in the least painful.

Then 14 samples taken, all you here is a click, no pain whatsoever.

"weapon" removed, cleaned up and off the couch, all done in 10 to 15 minutes.

Then drink plenty liquids to pass at least 100 ml of urine. this was done at 11:30
Once thats done, home and take another set of anto's at 21:00.

As anaesthetic wore off took one lot of painkillers at 14:00 when I got home.

All in all just a bit of discomfort and nothing like what Tony Ward wrote about it
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/tony-ward-the-toughest-game-of-my-life-my-epic-battle-with-prostate-cancer-34179564.html

I asked the guy driving the "weapon", the local anaesthetic is a new development which Tony didn't have.
Results in two weeks.
HTH

Calahonda52

Two days after the TRUS I got septicaemia: followed the consultant's instructions so was admitted to hospital pronto.

7 days in hospital and 4 days IV at home... scary.

A week after I got home and finished the medication I got it again.

Back in hospital again. I followed the instructions again and was admitted pronto again.

7 days in hospital and 10 days IV at home


Scary redux.
However no permanent organ damage.

Biopsy result show cancer so I will know next week what the medical plan is: either surgery or radiotherapy.
Too far gone for the inserts.
Decision is mine, no recommendation

Will be back when I know what the plan is.

Moral of story, get it tested.

Metric Tensor

Hi Calahonda,

Sorry to hear about the bad news. Wishing you all the best.

Calahonda52

Tks, MT: in some respects its easier to deal with than if biopsy came back with the result saying we didn't find it in the biopsy so it would have been more PSA tests and more biopsies... [ The analogy I use is a dart board for the 15 shots they take: they might have missed it at treble 19
Am told its still contained in the prostate as all the other tests, including bone scan, are clear so its just to decide on what to do after I talk to the radiotherapy RT and surgery teams. The main side effects from both are somewhat similar, what I don't have is the differential stats that say for example, X out of 10 patients who opt for surgery get side effect A, as opposed to Y if they opt for RT

The RT is also a much longer process, maybe 9 weeks at 5 sessions a week and then waiting 3 or more months before they can see it it has worked.

As an engineer, my instinct is to go surgery as it gets it done, am otherwise healthy so no medical reasons why I can't go under knife, I have neighbour who is obese with same issue and surgery not offered.
The other, perhaps illogical, reason for my thinking is that heavy RT precludes subsequent surgery, same as for women with breast cancer, heavy RT precludes reconstructive surgery.

Thanks again.

drunkmonkey

Honda don't know if this is much use to you but sounds promising http://www.mdtmag.com/news/2016/04/five-year-study-shows-98-prostate-cancer-cure-rate-stereotactic-body-radiation-therapy

Calahonda52

Surgery is the agreed plan, and the examination of the prostate, post-extraction, will determine if any RT is required.

Will be back with an update post-surgery and in the meantime, thanks for all the kind words both public and private.

And, notwithstanding the uncertainty with the PSA test results, don't wait to get your's tested if you are male and of an age......

As I wrote before, I had zero symptoms, it was picked up in a medical MOT and would have been a serious issue in a few years if not picked up.

gizmo555

Hi Calahonda,

Just happened to see this news report on a scientific paper published yesterday - you may want to discuss with your doctors:

A MAJOR STUDY has shown that aspirin could be effective in stopping the spreading of some cancers.

Patients diagnosed with bowel, breast and prostate cancer could see their survival rate boosted by as much 20%, as well as seeing a reduction in spreading.

This comes from new research led by Professor Peter Elwood from Cardiff University’s School of Medicine – an expert whose previous work includes proving the link between aspirin intake and a reduction in death from heart disease.

http://www.thejournal.ie/aspirin-survival-rate-cancer-drug-2726804-Apr2016/

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0152402

Calahonda52

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-36105272

Nice diagram!

The only comment I have is that I had zero symptoms.......

Gizmo, thanks for the links. Appreciated.
Open rant:
I am 100% skeptical of a lot of this stuff as in a few years time they will stand it on its head.
Most of this stuff, IMHO, is churned out by academics chasing publications and slave-driving their research students, all with the aim of getting more funding.
You then have examples of stuff being falsified, just like the car emissions so prefer article like the above that deal in facts.
close rant.

Calahonda52

I met with the surgeon last week and i am getting "done" in May.

At the start of the discussion he asked me about family/kids ages etc which took me by surprise a little.

The two main side effects from surgery are urinary incontinence and loss of sexual functionality, normally the ability to have an erection.

He was pretty forthright in his assessment of what needed to be removed so I will have side effects.

He was also pretty forthright in what he sees are his priorities.
1: remove the cancerous material and enough ancillary material to try get clear surgical margins.
2: Minimise the side effects, with the emphasis on keeping the incontinence to a minimum.

In my case due to the amount of ancillary material to be removed, the nerves that facilitate the erections will be removed so thats that.

So no longer a question of percentages and probabilities, it is game over in the jolly roger department, end of the "I see you are happy to see me" comments .

The urinary issue may only be short term but it will arise.

The key take away for me is early testing as if I had caught this earlier the radiotherapy inserts might have been a solution.

The next stage after the surgery is to slice and dice and examine the material to see did they achieve the clear surgical margins: this will be available 2 days after the surgery but they wont start any further treatment, if necessary, until 2 months after the surgery.
So it will be a long summer.

RobFowl

A mate had this 9 years ago and is as big and bad as ever with no recurrence to date. Keep the head up and take the advice of your docs

PMBC

Calahonda52 wrote: »

I met with the surgeon last week and i am getting "done" in May.

At the start of the discussion he asked me about family/kids ages etc which took me by surprise a little.

The two main side effects from surgery are urinary incontinence and loss of sexual functionality, normally the ability to have an erection.

He was pretty forthright in his assessment of what needed to be removed so I will have side effects.

He was also pretty forthright in what he sees are his priorities.
1: remove the cancerous material and enough ancillary material to try get clear surgical margins.
2: Minimise the side effects, with the emphasis on keeping the incontinence to a minimum.

In my case due to the amount of ancillary material to be removed, the nerves that facilitate the erections will be removed so thats that.

So no longer a question of percentages and probabilities, it is game over in the jolly roger department, end of the "I see you are happy to see me" comments .

The urinary issue may only be short term but it will arise.

The key take away for me is early testing as if I had caught this earlier the radiotherapy inserts might have been a solution.

The next stage after the surgery is to slice and dice and examine the material to see did they achieve the clear surgical margins: this will be available 2 days after the surgery but they wont start any further treatment, if necessary, until 2 months after the surgery.
So it will be a long summer.

Don't know when you are due to be done but best of luck either pre or post or both,

Calahonda52

Been a tough few weeks in my head since I last posted.
Main events were getting the post-consultation letter from the consultant, which read like a reverse spare parts list:D

The other event was the PCA in the hospital: Pre Clinical Assessment.
This took a good 4 or 5 hours but it was very informative.
I now know why the catheter wont fall out while it is in for the week or ten days post op:)

Got details of the different urinary nappies and why bigger is not necessarily better: it seems more frequent changing is better than less frequent because the pads contain a chemical, when not wet, can cause a skin rash down there:eek:

Of course that poses the question in my head: how do you dispose of these?
A half full black bin of them in the current heat would not be an odour free situation I would think.
Then of course the practical aspects of this if out in restaurants/ friends houses etc....

The one positive event was enrolling in the DCU MedEX pre-op fitness improvement programme.
I have attached a single page on this as well as a chart on exercise in general.

The MedEX programme I am enrolled in is essentially an exercise bootcamp for cancer patients.
Normally folk get 2 or 3 month notice of their surgery but I did not start this till the 5th, when I did the baseline assessment, followed by 3 supervised gym sessions a week plus a home based exercise session.
I have my post bootcamp assessment on Tuesday 17th at which point the benefits of the 2 weeks will be measured.
Apart from the benefits of exercise in general, it seems when under anaesthetic, the heart and lungs are working really hard, so the MedEx is cardio focussed.
My legs gave out during the baseline test on the bike so that can be improved.
If the heart or lungs had given out, then its a more difficult fix.

Heading up to DCU now for a gym session: one more on Monday, baseline test on Tuesday and mack the knife on Wednesday, hopefully home Friday.

I will know 4 or 5 business days after the op whether they achieved the necessary clear margins so right now I am not looking past May 25rd or so.

Metric Tensor

Good luck tomorrow. Everyone here is rooting for you!

muffler

Ditto. Sincere best wishes with it

Water John

Just read all the thread. Good luck tomorrow.
Friend of mine done around Christmas. Used his post op time to plan new projects. He's flying now.
Best Wishes.

mass_debater

Best of luck

LegacyUser

Hey all. Just reading through the thread myself as I have what I'm told by the doc is prostate trouble on and off for the last few months. I am 30 years old.
Basically at random times i experience a sort of cramp and pulsating feeling extending from line between belly button and pubic bone sort of back to butt.
Horrible ache for about an hour after i ejaculate too which is not nice.

Doc prescribed me ciprofloaxin or something that helped but it came back.

gizmo555

upsetbf86 wrote: »

Hey all. Just reading through the thread myself as I have what I'm told by the doc is prostate trouble on and off for the last few months. I am 30 years old.
Basically at random times i experience a sort of cramp and pulsating feeling extending from line between belly button and pubic bone sort of back to butt.
Horrible ache for about an hour after i ejaculate too which is not nice.

Doc prescribed me ciprofloaxin or something that helped but it came back.

Sounds like prostatitis - inflamation of the prostate - which can be caused by an infection, hence the antibiotic your doc prescribed to you.

Had it myself at about your age, it settled down in due course and 22 years later I'm not bothered by it at all. I was also advised by the urologist I saw at the time that it does not increase your risk of prostate cancer. But the best thing to do is to talk about these things with your doctor!

NoCrackHaving

gizmo555 wrote: »

Sounds like prostatitis - inflamation of the prostate - which can be caused by an infection, hence the antibiotic your doc prescribed to you.

Had it myself at about your age, it settled down in due course and 22 years later I'm not bothered by it at all. I was also advised by the urologist I saw at the time that it does not increase your risk of prostate cancer. But the best thing to do is to talk about these things with your doctor!

Actually there seems to be a correlation between a lower risk of prostate cancer and having experienced prostatitis previously but not a lot of research has been done on it.

gizmo555

NoCrackHaving wrote: »

Actually there seems to be a correlation between a lower risk of prostate cancer and having experienced prostatitis previously but not a lot of research has been done on it.

Glad to hear it - two of my brothers have already had theirs out!

LegacyUser

And what ages are they?

I'll have to go to the doctor again. Going to make an appointment today. Sitting in work getting random spasms every half hour or so that last a minute or so at a time. It's a sharp cramp almost like someone's stretching or trying forcefully to pull something out of you.

No pain or stinging when I pee though like what happened before christmas. I have since that time, also noticed much reduced volume or even no semen when I ejaculate and then ache for an hour or 2. Has anyone else ever experienced similar?

gizmo555

upsetbf86 wrote: »

And what ages are they?

They were both in their mid-fifties when they got their diagnosis.

Calahonda52

Okay,
Job done on Wednesday.
Came home yesterday, Friday.
The surgery side went well, just awaiting the "did he remove enough" lab results.

Just a brief outline of the few days.
Dropped off at Mater at 05:45
Paperwork done soon after 06:00
Final chat with surgeon, a surgical registrar and a nurse, into the hospital gown and up to theatre for about 06:45
No hanging around, got the "gas" about 07:00
Bliss!
Don't remember anything about the recovery ward, I came to in the semi-private room at about 16:00

Plenty painkillers so peaceful enough night.
Thursday passed pretty quickly, was up out of bed at 0800 after breakfast, with short walks every hour.
Physiotherapist came with breathing exercises.
Was home by 11:40 on Friday.

The one downside was the room mate was an ignorant, obnoxious, foul-mouthed man so I couldn't wait to get home.
The wrinkle was that he had family on the nursing staff on the floor and he thought he owned the gaff, to the extent that his family brought in drink for him.

The temporary plumbing is taking a while to getting used to: it gets removed on Wednesday and then we will see how "Wet Wet Wet" we will be.

The surgeon confirmed that I will no longer have a functioning pencil, I knew surgery would mean no more lead in it but he confirmed the rest.

LegacyUser

Hiya CH.

I'm glad things went well for you. Just wondering, did you have a radical retropubic prostatectomy? Or was is transurethral? I'm assuming the former if the nerves were removed?

Calahonda52

upsetbf86 wrote: »

Hiya CH.

I'm glad things went well for you. Just wondering, did you have a radical retropubic prostatectomy? Or was is transurethral? I'm assuming the former if the nerves were removed?

It was certainly radical prostatectomy, but was robotic assisted, keyhole surgery so not zipper surgery so don't know about the sub-categorisations you mention.

Calahonda52

Just got an update from surgeon on the lab results, all clear so no further action, other than regular monitoring required.
Thanks for all the kind words both public and PM.

In signing off, if you are male and of the age, or have family history of prostate cancer, get it looked at.

The one thing I would recommend is that you see a consultant early in the process as they know how to do a proper DRE, a lot of GPs, IMHO, based on the different ones I have had, don't have the skill level or enthusiasm for a full-on DRE.
In addition, don't take no for an answer if your GP refuses to have the PSA test done.

My consultant knew from the DRE that I had an issue which needed dealing with, I will , almost, miss them:).

Hasta la vista, baby:D

Water John

Thanks for your courage in sharing this.

Metric Tensor

Calahonda52 wrote: »

don't have the skill level or enthusiasm for a full-on DRE.

One of the best lines I have ever read on boards!

Congrats Calahonda52 - great news!

You've given a great service to us all by being so open in this thread.

drunkmonkey

Honda great to hear it's been a success, best of luck with the recovery.

as a man a big younger than you is there any advice you could give to your younger self that might help one of us to doge this. Did the doctor say anything about diet or lifestyle that could have caused it?

LegacyUser

From what I read the only things you can do are:
- live a healthy lifestyle, good diet, stay a healthy weight
- avoid infections which are linked to pc, ie don't get any STIs
- ejaculate frequently

Calahonda52

Water John wrote: »

Thanks for your courage in sharing this.

Thank you and the others for similar comments.

The reason for sharing is that I had zero symptoms and just got very lucky with a random VHI MOT initiated PSA test which my then GP would not have supported.

As I still have the sleep deprivation outlined in post 1, I was lying awake thinking about how I am going to deal with the urinary incontinence side effect.

You hear and read people say: My neighbour had the same done ten years ago and he is grand.

Well sorry guys and girls, it just ain't that simple.

I have two professional opinions on my desk right now as to what will happen tomorrow when the catheter is removed:

1: plumbing as normal, with some leakage risk when laughing, sneezing, coughing, exercising, (reading self build posts on boards)

2: Plan for worst and be rigorous about doing the pelvic floor exercises.

This is lifestyle changing surgery.

Things to consider, in random order:
Need for permanent day bag with full change of clothes.
Can I ever make a 45 minute presentation to an international conference?
What about events like rugby matches or concerts?
How to protect car seats and other seats in both my house and when I go visit?
What to do with the wet pads?
How to get back cycling, both in gym and on road?
Long car journeys, especially on motorways?

What happens at night? Will the badder give me any idea of being in need of emptying?
Just to put some math on this, when I was in the Beacon they made me measure the output so I know its a max of 750cc, usual about 600cc per fill.

The night bag, for the last 4 nights has averaged about 1,800cc between 10pm and 0800.

However, I normally don't get up at night so whats giving rise to three fills?

The surgery has changed the shape and location of the bladder so 750cc might never be achieved again.

The largest pads I can find have a rated absorbency of 516 cc, yep 516, so I don't know whats going to happen tomorrow night.

I will keep you updated as this aspect of the project is a real issue, which cannot be brushed under the carpet with a simple, you will be grand comment.

Keep well.

Ps, I know all theses issues have been solved before, by others for others, they just need to be solved for me by me.

Metric Tensor

Really appreciate your honesty Calahonda. Can't be easy.

PMBC

Very difficult time.
Is night-time peeing related to day time consumption, particularly late evening afternoon. I find if I limit the amount of tea I drink, usually about four-five cups before lunch-time, and a few in the afternoon/evening I am unlikely to have to pee during the night. Also water has less effect in that regard than tea or coffee.

Calahonda52

PMBC wrote: »

Very difficult time.
Is night-time peeing related to day time consumption, particularly late evening afternoon. I find if I limit the amount of tea I drink, usually about four-five cups before lunch-time, and a few in the afternoon/evening I am unlikely to have to pee during the night. Also water has less effect in that regard than tea or coffee.

Yes it has and lifestyle choices food and drink-wise need to be made to reduce output.
Alcohol, coffee, tea, fizzy drinks, are all culprits.
To be honest, since Friday I have drunk all of the above as I have what the IT guys call straight through processing:D.
That will change tomorrow.
So while the halcyon, student days of 16 pints of black at a sitting in Hartigans are well and truly gone, I just need to figure out how to manage when, not if, I do skull a few pints, even if I have to wear a kilt!

Tefral

Jesus, I just read this from start to finish. To say this has been an eye opener wouldn't even cover it.

PMBC

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Yes it has and lifestyle choices food and drink-wise need to be made to reduce output.
Alcohol, coffee, tea, fizzy drinks, are all culprits.
To be honest, since Friday I have drunk all of the above as I have what the IT guys call straight through processing:D.
That will change tomorrow.
So while the halcyon, student days of 16 pints of black at a sitting in Hartigans are well and truly gone, I just need to figure out how to manage when, not if, I do skull a few pints, even if I have to wear a kilt!

When I think of it, those liquids are diuretics; hence the effect. Good to read you are keeping a sense of humour. I recall a class mate who was built like a keg borrowing ten-bob notes form a few of us and going to 'The Cellar' to drink 21 pints on his 21st. Galway was a shocking place for the drink.
O tempora, o mores.

Calahonda52

cronin_j wrote: »

Jesus, I just read this from start to finish. To say this has been an eye opener wouldn't even cover it.

Thank you. If it gets somebody diagnosed early then its worth it.

The how is worth repeating.

The reason for sharing is that I had zero symptoms and just got very lucky with a random VHI medical insurance policy related MOT initiated PSA test which my then GP would not have supported.
I was not quite 62, with no family history and good longevity in the genes.

LegacyUser

Fair play to you for being proactive about it CH you are a great example of how being proactive about health saves lives. So many men and most men of your age (no offence) pay little heed to their health and well being. A lot of it tends to be out of a sense of fierce embarrassment, which I simply cannot fathom - you're dealing with professionals who have seen it all before - not getting a DRE up on stage.

My father, a great man altogether, was not great for looking after his health in proactive way. He would rather take blood pressure tablets for life rather than modify lifestyle factors. He died of metastasized colorectal cancer (went to liver, lungs brain) aged 63 despite having symptoms for a while but managed to convince himself it was hemorrhoids.

What are the sexual side effects of the surgery CH do you mind me asking? I understand that normal erections are not possible but can it be achieved using medications or I've heard of injections for severe ED in SCI patients? Will it be possible to orgasm any more? (dry of course)

From my reading it seems that it is actually probable that one will get prostate cancer at some stage or other in our lives. More than 80% will have prostate cancer by 80 years old, but it is slow growing in many cases. Especially in the very elderly, there is not much testosterone any more to fuel the cancer.

Calahonda52

Just one comment upsetbf86, I would not agree I was proactive in this case.
I was 62, getting on with life and the VHI knocked!

The rest of your post is for another day, if ever.

Calahonda52

Just back from having it removed, utterly painless.
Good instruction on how tackle the urinary issues, I will just take it one day at a time, I expect my next update here will be mid July after I meet my consultant again, where I hope to get the clinical all clear to start cycling again.

Just to wrap up on the DRE and the need to use a consultant.

In my case there were zero symptoms, and it was normal size, however the consultant could tell by the texture of the prostate that there was something awry and proceeded to the biopsy without delay..

I dont believe the GP's have that level of skill as its not a regular procedure for them.
If when your GP does the DRE and meets it at the back door, then he can tell its enlarged, however it takes more skill if nothing seems abnormal.

Keep well and hope this helps someone somewhere

Calahonda52

One thing they don't tell you, pre-op, is that in general, when lying down on one's back, the urinary incontinence following prostate removal is a lot less of an issue than during the day.
What follows is based solely around my experience but it might help someone.

Preamble: the anatomy down there.
The pelvic floor muscles are like a hammock, and when homo sapiens is walking, these muscles support the lower intestines, bladder etc.

Therefore when lying down on one's back, the bladder is on top, with no pressure from the gut so at night it can just sit on top and wait to be filled by the kidneys.

What they told me when the catheter got taken out was that for about 10 days, when the bladder filled at night, the stitching would come under pressure a bit and cause pain just above the pubic bone.

That wakes you up and then its a case of managing what happens next: more of that later.

Wednesday night, the day the catheter was taken out the pain was pretty severe, but the intervening nights it is getting less and less.

Currently, I have cut back my liquid intake to about a 3rd of what it would be normally, [or should be, which is 30 ml/kg/24hrs], so normal would be for me about 2.7 litres

The pain arrives about every four hours and the tank is only holding 300-320 ml
So bed at 22:00, up at at 02:00 and 06:00 and a good bit of sleep in-between, which if you have been reading earlier has been in short supply these past 5 or 6 months.

Crucially, thus far, I have had no nocturnal deluges so am happy to go to bed.
[Yes I do wear a nighttime pad which catch some residual stuff but minor.]

If you read earlier, this was a concern in the post-op period while the catheter was in.

So night-time, and lying down are good places to be.

A lot of angst, perhaps angst solely of my doing, could have been avoided if this intel was available pre-op.

So how do I deal with the full tank: at the moment I have a plastic jug beside the bed and I use it.
I can shut the flow when I get up out of bed, or any horizontal position which is progress, however the post-op guidelines say thats not good to do long term and it can damage the bladder.

Part of the reason for using the jug is that right now, as a result of the nerve removal, there is little enough there to direct any flow: so using the long, waist high, or floor level troughs that feature sometimes in men's toilets are out,
likewise, I don't see urinals being of much use unless they are straddled.

Even standing over the toilet at home is not satisfactory.

As for the rest of the day, when standing, or sitting, or walking:
well, lets say it's a very frustrating work in progress.

However, having the lying down and especially the bedtime "comfort" is a big bonus compared to where I was , head-wise, 10 days ago.

ps: post the full repair of the stitching, I don't know what the at night, full tank trigger will be, thats for another day

LegacyUser

Part of the reason for using the jug is that right now, as a result of the nerve removal, there is little enough there to direct any flow: so using the long, waist high, or floor level troughs that feature sometimes in men's toilets are out,
likewise, I don't see urinals being of much use unless they are straddled.

Your post is very interesting and I am glad that you are seeing steady improvement.

I'm not sure I understand what you mean in the quoted bit though? Why are urinals and regular toilets not usable? What is the difficulty in directing the flow? Is there difficulty in aiming? Or is it a case of the flow being so weak it won't be projected into the receptacle? I would've thought that urination would be profuse with the prostate removed since there's nothing to restrict the flow.
Is it that the bladder doesn't contract to expel the urine since the nerves for it are gone?
Is there any superficial sensation left?

Metric Tensor

How's the body Calahonda?

I won't take any offence if you don't want to respond - hope you're keeping well.

PMBC

Metric Tensor wrote: »

How's the body Calahonda?

I won't take any offence if you don't want to respond - hope you're keeping well.

Ditto Ca. Best wishes

Ardennes1944

Same from me. Truly an eye opener, reading this at 24.

Calahonda52

First up, thanks for all replies/kind words, am not following this thread, next look/update will be after 21st July when I hope to get sign off from surgeon on returning to DCU.

I need to bring a PSA blood test to that appointment, it better be frigging zero:D

Scars are healing slowly but surely.

Pain:
Dealt before with the three pain points, still the same, hospital happy that its the inners restructuring.

Energy Levels.
If I do any physical stuff in the morning, am talking light stuff, I need to rest in the afternoon, and take some pain killers both then and at night.

Nights still the same, up every four hours but its not a problem: am seeing some slight increase in bladder storage before the pain hits so maybe progress is being made.

I sometimes increase the liquid intake at night to replenish the hydration levels so it might be three hours but it is not a problem.

Days, especially walking, are generally wet.

I try walk first thing in morning as retained liquids at a minimum, it is still an issue but not as much as if I walk after a big coffee:)..

Standing up after sitting down is becoming slightly less of an issue as I seem to have regained some control, but the consequence of that is that it strains the pelvic floor muscles so when I wear the longer, rectangular pads, they hurt to sit it.
The triangular, jockstrapesque, pads are more comfortable but don't have the same retention capacity.

This progress has helped with the driving but you need to know there is a toilet close by your destination.
Drove to our local shopping centre recently and one lot was out of action and the other closed for cleaning: result was the first "industrial scale accident". Luckily I had the black plastic in the car seat so getting home was not a problem but its tough to explain to the grandkids why Grandad has wet himself......;)
You just can't wait....

I have been out socially twice and the go-to pad for such events is the full adult nappy; it stores about 1.5 litres, becomes heavy but it works as long as one doesn't drink hugh volumes of alcohol or the non-alcoholic fizzy drinks: they just go straight through.
Downside is that you need to strip off to replace it.

However, the overlay on all of this is that arising from the nerve removal part of the surgery is that there is little enough to hold onto for directional purposes so am currently using a jug as anything else is a problem standing up, as discussed previously. Flow rate not a problem, just the stitching related pain.
How this will pan out once I get back to work remains to be seen.

I asked the NRA for details of the motorway stops, its attached: pathetic and reflects the immense pressure from the bypassed town: current thinking is that I will just have to bring a bottle. Alright when on your own but I would often bring clients to meet suppliers or lunch: What's that in the drinks bottle/coffee cup holder bro...:D....

Of course when at home, one can always sit down, however that has its own problems which are outside scope... suffice to say that the anaesthetic shuts down the back office system, they, prior to surgery, said it was for a few days, it took several weeks to get back to normal, and that was with loadsa fibre fruit etc.

Getting rid of the 30 or so nappies a week has, for the moment, not been a problem as I have very good neighbours and between the 4 or 5 of us, a black bin goes out every week so so problem so far: the weight is getting a bit less, it was 7.5 kg the first week but this week was 5 kg, which reflects the progress while sitting.

Lifesaving surgery: Yes.
Lifechanging surgery: Yes,
where every activity has to be planned, even something as simple as the sequence when having a shower and a shave, I have to "re-nap" before shaving.....
when at home alone sitting, and the door bell rings, you have to pee before answering the door, so don't answer anymore......

Keep well.

PMBC

Thought about you this a m but decided better not to post. Great t hear from you.

LegacyUser

CH, I'm glad to hear you are making progress, albeit slow progress. I've been very interested in this thread since I've had my own prostate problem, but hardly worth talking about compared to your ordeal.
Just remember that it's still very early days for you and its quite probable you will make much more progress in the coming weeks and months as the plumbing continues to heal.

I get most of your post but one thing I find difficult to get my head around is the problem you are having with the lack of directional control of the stream. Forgive me if its requesting tmi, just curious, but why won't it work to just hold your penis and aim the jet like you would with a garden hose? Is the stream too weak or too strong or is your penis retracted up or shrunken as a result of the surgery?

Metric Tensor

Fair play for posting CH. You seem determined to continue with life - I admire this hugely - keep on trucking!