Guest guest Posted December 28, 2008 Report Share Posted December 28, 2008 Good morning! My name is Liz & my husband is having RP tomorrow, 12/29/08 for PCa. His Gleason score is 6 (3+3), age 50, stage b1 per urologist. PSA doubled in a year to 4.47 in October 2008. Biopsy showed cancer in only one side of prostate, 12 samples taken, think cancer was in 4-6 of them - I wrote it down somewhere but can't find it now. We are both scared but cannot imagine living knowing the cancer is growing (no matter how slowly) inside him. So with the blessing of both his GP (a close friend who lost his first wife to cancer) and his urologist (another longtime friend), we are off to surgery tomorrow. I have read all I can on the internet. I want to know everything that I can. If anyone has tips for surviving the next few weeks including suggestions for living with 's new friend " Mr Catheter " , please let me know! What a way to start the New Year!! But I have to know that God is in charge and has given us this challenge for a reason - I hope I can be still and listen to Him as we travel this path. Hugs - Liz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 28, 2008 Report Share Posted December 28, 2008 Where to start. Is this the open type surgery? First I'd suggest trying to be there at night with him in the hospital. Place is full of people in the daytime, not bad in the evening, desolate at night. Be a comfort and probably a real help to have someone to keep an eye on things for him as he'll be helpless. The catheter is not that big of a deal after getting used to it for a day or two. Leg bag is handy. Drink plenty of water with it. He'll be on his feet Tuesday, not real strong or steady for sure. And be assured, these operations have been performed for about a hundred years now, surgeons know what they're doing. Best of luck and hoping for a full cure with the surgery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 28, 2008 Report Share Posted December 28, 2008 Where to start. Is this the open type surgery? First I'd suggest trying to be there at night with him in the hospital. Place is full of people in the daytime, not bad in the evening, desolate at night. Be a comfort and probably a real help to have someone to keep an eye on things for him as he'll be helpless. The catheter is not that big of a deal after getting used to it for a day or two. Leg bag is handy. Drink plenty of water with it. He'll be on his feet Tuesday, not real strong or steady for sure. And be assured, these operations have been performed for about a hundred years now, surgeons know what they're doing. Best of luck and hoping for a full cure with the surgery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 28, 2008 Report Share Posted December 28, 2008 Hi Liz:I am 53, 23 months out from LRRP. The catheter is manageable, but there may be irritation at the tip of his penis. K-Y jelly can be used to lessen the irritation. Also, there are several bags that can be used. I used a 500 cc leg bag after the surgery for during the day. At night, you can go to a surgical supply/drug store and purchase a large "drainage bag", that he can use at night. I had to drain mine once during the night, as opposed to every 1-2 hours for the small bag. Pain after surgery will be moderate, it just felt to me like I had been kicked in the stomach. Tylenol was all that was needed after the first pain dose. Encourage him to walk and be active as much as possible. They will start semi-solid food the day after surgery, I would have waited one further day and stayed with full liquids until then (I had severe cramping). A positive attitude is what is most important. The ride has just begun and he will have to remain positive, and not look back. He will have to discuss everything with you, because there will be incontinence and ED issues. Be pro-active on the ED issues. Don't be afraid to look into injection therapy and oral ED meds early on in the post op course. Good luck.To: ProstateCancerSupport From: liz1j03@...Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2008 17:25:25 +0000Subject: RP on Monday 12/29 Good morning! My name is Liz & my husband is having RP tomorrow, 12/29/08 for PCa. His Gleason score is 6 (3+3), age 50, stage b1 per urologist. PSA doubled in a year to 4.47 in October 2008. Biopsy showed cancer in only one side of prostate, 12 samples taken, think cancer was in 4-6 of them - I wrote it down somewhere but can't find it now. We are both scared but cannot imagine living knowing the cancer is growing (no matter how slowly) inside him. So with the blessing of both his GP (a close friend who lost his first wife to cancer) and his urologist (another longtime friend), we are off to surgery tomorrow. I have read all I can on the internet. I want to know everything that I can. If anyone has tips for surviving the next few weeks including suggestions for living with 's new friend "Mr Catheter", please let me know! What a way to start the New Year!! But I have to know that God is in charge and has given us this challenge for a reason - I hope I can be still and listen to Him as we travel this path. Hugs - Liz Send e-mail faster without improving your typing skills. Get your Hotmail® account. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 28, 2008 Report Share Posted December 28, 2008 Hi Liz:I am 53, 23 months out from LRRP. The catheter is manageable, but there may be irritation at the tip of his penis. K-Y jelly can be used to lessen the irritation. Also, there are several bags that can be used. I used a 500 cc leg bag after the surgery for during the day. At night, you can go to a surgical supply/drug store and purchase a large "drainage bag", that he can use at night. I had to drain mine once during the night, as opposed to every 1-2 hours for the small bag. Pain after surgery will be moderate, it just felt to me like I had been kicked in the stomach. Tylenol was all that was needed after the first pain dose. Encourage him to walk and be active as much as possible. They will start semi-solid food the day after surgery, I would have waited one further day and stayed with full liquids until then (I had severe cramping). A positive attitude is what is most important. The ride has just begun and he will have to remain positive, and not look back. He will have to discuss everything with you, because there will be incontinence and ED issues. Be pro-active on the ED issues. Don't be afraid to look into injection therapy and oral ED meds early on in the post op course. Good luck.To: ProstateCancerSupport From: liz1j03@...Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2008 17:25:25 +0000Subject: RP on Monday 12/29 Good morning! My name is Liz & my husband is having RP tomorrow, 12/29/08 for PCa. His Gleason score is 6 (3+3), age 50, stage b1 per urologist. PSA doubled in a year to 4.47 in October 2008. Biopsy showed cancer in only one side of prostate, 12 samples taken, think cancer was in 4-6 of them - I wrote it down somewhere but can't find it now. We are both scared but cannot imagine living knowing the cancer is growing (no matter how slowly) inside him. So with the blessing of both his GP (a close friend who lost his first wife to cancer) and his urologist (another longtime friend), we are off to surgery tomorrow. I have read all I can on the internet. I want to know everything that I can. If anyone has tips for surviving the next few weeks including suggestions for living with 's new friend "Mr Catheter", please let me know! What a way to start the New Year!! But I have to know that God is in charge and has given us this challenge for a reason - I hope I can be still and listen to Him as we travel this path. Hugs - Liz Send e-mail faster without improving your typing skills. Get your Hotmail® account. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 28, 2008 Report Share Posted December 28, 2008 Good luck for the surgery Liz. You may find it useful to go along to http://www.yananow.net/choices.htm#radical and click on the links to Useful Items for Surgery at http://www.yananow.net/rprx.htm Instructions For Care After Surgery at http://www.yananow.net/rprx.htm and Me and My Catheter at http://www.yananow.net/Catheter.htm All the best Terry Herbert I have no medical qualifications but I was diagnosed in ‘96: and have learned a bit since then. My sites are at www.yananow.net and www.prostatecancerwatchfulwaiting.co.za Dr “Snuffy” Myers : " As a physician, I am painfully aware that most of the decisions we make with regard to prostate cancer are made with inadequate data " From: ProstateCancerSupport [mailto:ProstateCancerSupport ] On Behalf Of lg1j03 Sent: Monday, 29 December 2008 4:25 AM To: ProstateCancerSupport Subject: RP on Monday 12/29 Good morning! My name is Liz & my husband is having RP tomorrow, 12/29/08 for PCa. His Gleason score is 6 (3+3), age 50, stage b1 per urologist. PSA doubled in a year to 4.47 in October 2008. Biopsy showed cancer in only one side of prostate, 12 samples taken, think cancer was in 4-6 of them - I wrote it down somewhere but can't find it now. We are both scared but cannot imagine living knowing the cancer is growing (no matter how slowly) inside him. So with the blessing of both his GP (a close friend who lost his first wife to cancer) and his urologist (another longtime friend), we are off to surgery tomorrow. I have read all I can on the internet. I want to know everything that I can. If anyone has tips for surviving the next few weeks including suggestions for living with 's new friend " Mr Catheter " , please let me know! What a way to start the New Year!! But I have to know that God is in charge and has given us this challenge for a reason - I hope I can be still and listen to Him as we travel this path. Hugs - Liz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 28, 2008 Report Share Posted December 28, 2008 I had robotic prostatectomy 3 months ago, I am 52, had PSA jump from 1.9 to 2.85 over a year. Second biopsy revealed prostate ca in 2/12 cores on R, 5% one core, 25% other core, gleason 3+3=6, clinical stage T1c. Like you and your husband I couldn't live knowing I had a cancer, albeit a slow one growing inside of me, my father and mother had died of cancer in their 50's and 60's, respectively. I looked into radiation and watchful waiting, did the robotic versus open surgery for quicker recovery time, I needed to get back to making money ASAP, wife doesn't work. I was in the hospital one night, very noisy, had a double room with a guy who had a thousand friends, they all showed up that night. When I woke up from surgery I had moderate pain and gas feeling. I didn't know that the way they do the robotic surgery through the belly button procedure is to pump your abdomen full of C02 gas so they can raise up the abdominal wall and get to the prostate gland. The catheter is a big pain, I'm not going to kid you. When he comes home from hospital make sure you have plenty of tape because it unsticks from your thigh very easy and then the tube with the bag starts pulling on your penis. I had to retape every day to keep that from happening. When he sleeps at night it's better if he can sleep on one side or the other through the night to prevent pulling on the catheter. I had to turn over sometimes and had to be careful to hold on to the bag when turning. If he's sleeping in a bed it would be better to have a chair next to the bed to rest the catheter bag on to prevent the pulling. My catheter was in for 7 days. Removal was no big deal, only relief. I didn't have a bowel movement for 6 days and the gaseous feeling was uncomfortable, was taking colace, and mild pain pill for the abdominal pain and tightness, DO TAKE THE PAIN PILL. No need to suffer for no reason. Once the catheter came out I was able to go back to work in 3 days but I had to wear diapers for the first 2 weeks. Lots of leakage, especially when standing up, or when exerting at all. I had to put a pad inside the diaper to get through the day without changing. Very discouraging at first, but I kept doing the Kegal exercises every day, 3,4 5 sets of 10 throughout the day, and then gradually the incontinence just sort of went away. At first I became dry at night, then the mornings became dry, then I was only incontinent in afternoon or when I drank alcohol or when I exercised. Now I am only incontinent when I sneeze or cough, and then even then it's very little. I no longer where any pads at all! The ED issue is another thing. I still have no signs of spontaneous erections. I take a low dose of viagra every day and penile injections 2x/wk. I tried the vacuum device but I never seemed to get that to work right. With the injections I can have normal sex with wife 2x/wk. The penile rehabilitation goes on for 6 months, maybe by then I can have normal erections. Nonetheless I have no regrets about having the surgery, my pathological stage at surgery was T2a, it was a nerve sparing surgery, and my first post-op PSA was .01. (considered undetectable). All the best to you and your husband..............lg1j03 wrote: Good morning! My name is Liz & my husband is having RP tomorrow, 12/29/08 for PCa. His Gleason score is 6 (3+3), age 50, stage b1 per urologist. PSA doubled in a year to 4.47 in October 2008. Biopsy showed cancer in only one side of prostate, 12 samples taken, think cancer was in 4-6 of them - I wrote it down somewhere but can't find it now.We are both scared but cannot imagine living knowing the cancer is growing (no matter how slowly) inside him. So with the blessing of both his GP (a close friend who lost his first wife to cancer) and his urologist (another longtime friend), we are off to surgery tomorrow. I have read all I can on the internet. I want to know everything that I can.If anyone has tips for surviving the next few weeks including suggestions for living with 's new friend "Mr Catheter", please let me know! What a way to start the New Year!! But I have to know that God is in charge and has given us this challenge for a reason - I hope I can be still and listen to Him as we travel this path.Hugs - Liz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 29, 2008 Report Share Posted December 29, 2008 Hi Liz, All of these guys who have answered have given good advice. However, if you question 1000 men who have had robotic RP's, you will get 1000 different stories. Mine was about 13 months ago. I had a harder time than most with the catheter. First of all, I could not sleep in a bed and ended up sleeping in the recliner while it was in. I have never slept in my recliner before or since then. My only call to the emergency physician's number was when my bladder felt like it was overfull and very painful which could not have been the case with the catheter. A nurse called back and said I was having bladder spasms. She told me to take a pain pill and be perfectly still. I did that and it went away. That happened a few other times and was the worst pain I had after the operation. I was in agony when I went back to the Uro the next week and although having it taken out hurt like hell, the relief was instant. So keep in touch with this group and bring in if he is inclined. Next questions might be ED issues and you should be able to get good advice from members here. dwayne > > Good morning! My name is Liz & my husband is having RP > tomorrow, 12/29/08 for PCa. His Gleason score is 6 (3+3), age 50, > stage b1 per urologist. PSA doubled in a year to 4.47 in October > 2008. Biopsy showed cancer in only one side of prostate, 12 samples > taken, think cancer was in 4-6 of them - I wrote it down somewhere > but can't find it now. > > We are both scared but cannot imagine living knowing the cancer is > growing (no matter how slowly) inside him. So with the blessing of > both his GP (a close friend who lost his first wife to cancer) and > his urologist (another longtime friend), we are off to surgery > tomorrow. > > I have read all I can on the internet. I want to know everything that > I can. > > If anyone has tips for surviving the next few weeks including > suggestions for living with 's new friend " Mr Catheter " , please > let me know! > > What a way to start the New Year!! But I have to know that God is in > charge and has given us this challenge for a reason - I hope I can be > still and listen to Him as we travel this path. > > Hugs - Liz > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 29, 2008 Report Share Posted December 29, 2008 Hi Liz, All of these guys who have answered have given good advice. However, if you question 1000 men who have had robotic RP's, you will get 1000 different stories. Mine was about 13 months ago. I had a harder time than most with the catheter. First of all, I could not sleep in a bed and ended up sleeping in the recliner while it was in. I have never slept in my recliner before or since then. My only call to the emergency physician's number was when my bladder felt like it was overfull and very painful which could not have been the case with the catheter. A nurse called back and said I was having bladder spasms. She told me to take a pain pill and be perfectly still. I did that and it went away. That happened a few other times and was the worst pain I had after the operation. I was in agony when I went back to the Uro the next week and although having it taken out hurt like hell, the relief was instant. So keep in touch with this group and bring in if he is inclined. Next questions might be ED issues and you should be able to get good advice from members here. dwayne > > Good morning! My name is Liz & my husband is having RP > tomorrow, 12/29/08 for PCa. His Gleason score is 6 (3+3), age 50, > stage b1 per urologist. PSA doubled in a year to 4.47 in October > 2008. Biopsy showed cancer in only one side of prostate, 12 samples > taken, think cancer was in 4-6 of them - I wrote it down somewhere > but can't find it now. > > We are both scared but cannot imagine living knowing the cancer is > growing (no matter how slowly) inside him. So with the blessing of > both his GP (a close friend who lost his first wife to cancer) and > his urologist (another longtime friend), we are off to surgery > tomorrow. > > I have read all I can on the internet. I want to know everything that > I can. > > If anyone has tips for surviving the next few weeks including > suggestions for living with 's new friend " Mr Catheter " , please > let me know! > > What a way to start the New Year!! But I have to know that God is in > charge and has given us this challenge for a reason - I hope I can be > still and listen to Him as we travel this path. > > Hugs - Liz > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 29, 2008 Report Share Posted December 29, 2008 Here's one of those 1000 different stories. I had robotic RP on December 15, 2008. In the two weeks since, I have progressed very smoothly through the stages of recovery. I tolerated the catheter quite well. Slept through the night in my own comfortable bed with the big bag and moved around easily during the day with the smaller, leg bag. Bladder spasms were infrequent, and I had been given meds to take for them when I left the hospital. BTW, I left on Wednesday morning following Monday morning surgery. Catheter was removed Wednesday, Dec. 24. After 24 hours of no control of bladder, I found I was only having " squirts " on standing up from sitting or lying position during the day and that I am completely dry at night. I get up once or twice in the night to urinate but have no leakage into nightime diaper. I'm still using the diaper simply because I bought a big package. I think I coulddo well with just a pad. Still can't control the " squirts " very well, but progress is being made. Sitting was and is painful but getting better. Still got blue balls! As for ED, I'm taking 25mg Viagra each day since the removal of the catheter and " exercising " when I shower each day. Making progress toward a usable woody. Seems that my surgeon does good work. I was exhausted after a few hours up for the first 12 days. Took naps and went to bed by 8-9pm. Last two days have been much more active and less tired. I'm thankful for this good outcome. I'm 67, in good physical shape, no other health issues or medications. Gleason from biopsy was 3+3=6, from pathology report was 3+4=7. This is an outcome I had known might be possible and so was not alarmed. All was contained, no extra-capsule tumor and no involvement of lymph nodes. > > > > Good morning! My name is Liz & my husband is having RP > > tomorrow, 12/29/08 for PCa. His Gleason score is 6 (3+3), age 50, > > stage b1 per urologist. PSA doubled in a year to 4.47 in October > > 2008. Biopsy showed cancer in only one side of prostate, 12 > samples > > taken, think cancer was in 4-6 of them - I wrote it down somewhere > > but can't find it now. > > > > We are both scared but cannot imagine living knowing the cancer is > > growing (no matter how slowly) inside him. So with the blessing of > > both his GP (a close friend who lost his first wife to cancer) and > > his urologist (another longtime friend), we are off to surgery > > tomorrow. > > > > I have read all I can on the internet. I want to know everything > that > > I can. > > > > If anyone has tips for surviving the next few weeks including > > suggestions for living with 's new friend " Mr Catheter " , > please > > let me know! > > > > What a way to start the New Year!! But I have to know that God is > in > > charge and has given us this challenge for a reason - I hope I can > be > > still and listen to Him as we travel this path. > > > > Hugs - Liz > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 29, 2008 Report Share Posted December 29, 2008 Here's one of those 1000 different stories. I had robotic RP on December 15, 2008. In the two weeks since, I have progressed very smoothly through the stages of recovery. I tolerated the catheter quite well. Slept through the night in my own comfortable bed with the big bag and moved around easily during the day with the smaller, leg bag. Bladder spasms were infrequent, and I had been given meds to take for them when I left the hospital. BTW, I left on Wednesday morning following Monday morning surgery. Catheter was removed Wednesday, Dec. 24. After 24 hours of no control of bladder, I found I was only having " squirts " on standing up from sitting or lying position during the day and that I am completely dry at night. I get up once or twice in the night to urinate but have no leakage into nightime diaper. I'm still using the diaper simply because I bought a big package. I think I coulddo well with just a pad. Still can't control the " squirts " very well, but progress is being made. Sitting was and is painful but getting better. Still got blue balls! As for ED, I'm taking 25mg Viagra each day since the removal of the catheter and " exercising " when I shower each day. Making progress toward a usable woody. Seems that my surgeon does good work. I was exhausted after a few hours up for the first 12 days. Took naps and went to bed by 8-9pm. Last two days have been much more active and less tired. I'm thankful for this good outcome. I'm 67, in good physical shape, no other health issues or medications. Gleason from biopsy was 3+3=6, from pathology report was 3+4=7. This is an outcome I had known might be possible and so was not alarmed. All was contained, no extra-capsule tumor and no involvement of lymph nodes. > > > > Good morning! My name is Liz & my husband is having RP > > tomorrow, 12/29/08 for PCa. His Gleason score is 6 (3+3), age 50, > > stage b1 per urologist. PSA doubled in a year to 4.47 in October > > 2008. Biopsy showed cancer in only one side of prostate, 12 > samples > > taken, think cancer was in 4-6 of them - I wrote it down somewhere > > but can't find it now. > > > > We are both scared but cannot imagine living knowing the cancer is > > growing (no matter how slowly) inside him. So with the blessing of > > both his GP (a close friend who lost his first wife to cancer) and > > his urologist (another longtime friend), we are off to surgery > > tomorrow. > > > > I have read all I can on the internet. I want to know everything > that > > I can. > > > > If anyone has tips for surviving the next few weeks including > > suggestions for living with 's new friend " Mr Catheter " , > please > > let me know! > > > > What a way to start the New Year!! But I have to know that God is > in > > charge and has given us this challenge for a reason - I hope I can > be > > still and listen to Him as we travel this path. > > > > Hugs - Liz > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 29, 2008 Report Share Posted December 29, 2008 > Be pro-active on the ED issues. Don't be afraid to look into > injection therapy and oral ED meds early on in the post op course. Yes, yes, yes . . . Even supportive doctors can fall down on " penile rehabilitation " . My post-surgical experiences included: a) bladder spasms (they stopped as soon as the catheter was removed) an almost-complete uretral stricture (I'm using a catheter once every two days, and everything is stable after a year). > > Good morning! My name is Liz & my husband is having RP > tomorrow, 12/29/08 for PCa. His Gleason score is 6 (3+3), age 50, > stage b1 per urologist. PSA doubled in a year to 4.47 in October > 2008. Biopsy showed cancer in only one side of prostate, 12 samples > taken, think cancer was in 4-6 of them - I wrote it down somewhere > but can't find it now. > > We are both scared but cannot imagine living knowing the cancer is > growing (no matter how slowly) inside him. So with the blessing of > both his GP (a close friend who lost his first wife to cancer) and > his urologist (another longtime friend), we are off to surgery > tomorrow. > > I have read all I can on the internet. I want to know everything that > I can. > > If anyone has tips for surviving the next few weeks including > suggestions for living with 's new friend " Mr Catheter " , please > let me know! > > What a way to start the New Year!! But I have to know that God is in > charge and has given us this challenge for a reason - I hope I can be > still and listen to Him as we travel this path. > > Hugs - Liz > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 29, 2008 Report Share Posted December 29, 2008 Your have received excellent advice from the listserve. All will be well! The catheter will be manageable. It's no fun, but it will be okay. Be patient! God Bless! Coy RP on Monday 12/29 > Good morning! My name is Liz & my husband is having RP > tomorrow, 12/29/08 for PCa. His Gleason score is 6 (3+3), age 50, > stage b1 per urologist. PSA doubled in a year to 4.47 in October > 2008. Biopsy showed cancer in only one side of prostate, 12 samples > taken, think cancer was in 4-6 of them - I wrote it down somewhere > but can't find it now. > > We are both scared but cannot imagine living knowing the cancer is > growing (no matter how slowly) inside him. So with the blessing of > both his GP (a close friend who lost his first wife to cancer) and > his urologist (another longtime friend), we are off to surgery > tomorrow. > > I have read all I can on the internet. I want to know everything that > I can. > > If anyone has tips for surviving the next few weeks including > suggestions for living with 's new friend " Mr Catheter " , please > let me know! > > What a way to start the New Year!! But I have to know that God is in > charge and has given us this challenge for a reason - I hope I can be > still and listen to Him as we travel this path. > > Hugs - Liz > > > ------------------------------------ > > There are just two rules for this group > 1 No Spam > 2 Be kind to others > > Please recognise that Prostate Cancerhas different guises and needs > different levels of treatment and in some cases no treatment at all. Some > men even with all options offered chose radical options that you would not > choose. We only ask that people be informed before choice is made, we > cannot and should not tell other members what to do, other than look at > other options. > > Try to delete old material that is no longer applying when clicking reply > Try to change the title if the content requires it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2008 Report Share Posted December 30, 2008 I am 9 months post RP. My opinions would be to make sure you take the antibiotic that most docs give you to start the day of your cath pull (which is no big deal). My opinion number 2 would be to manage any IC problem you have so it does not effect the quality of your life. It should only be temporary issue and it can be managed discreetly. > > Good morning! My name is Liz & my husband is having RP > tomorrow, 12/29/08 for PCa. His Gleason score is 6 (3+3), age 50, > stage b1 per urologist. PSA doubled in a year to 4.47 in October > 2008. Biopsy showed cancer in only one side of prostate, 12 samples > taken, think cancer was in 4-6 of them - I wrote it down somewhere > but can't find it now. > > We are both scared but cannot imagine living knowing the cancer is > growing (no matter how slowly) inside him. So with the blessing of > both his GP (a close friend who lost his first wife to cancer) and > his urologist (another longtime friend), we are off to surgery > tomorrow. > > I have read all I can on the internet. I want to know everything that > I can. > > If anyone has tips for surviving the next few weeks including > suggestions for living with 's new friend " Mr Catheter " , please > let me know! > > What a way to start the New Year!! But I have to know that God is in > charge and has given us this challenge for a reason - I hope I can be > still and listen to Him as we travel this path. > > Hugs - Liz > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2008 Report Share Posted December 30, 2008 ; Snip: (We are both scared but cannot imagine living knowing the cancer is growing (no matter how slowly) inside him.) That is exactly how my hubbie and I feel. He is having surgery January 9th, next Friday. We found this site that has alot of info on care of the catheter and postate cancer. http://www.yananow.net/choices.htm#topofpage http://www.malecare.com/services1.htm http://www.malecare.com/urinary-catheter_66.htm This one is the best: http://www.malecare.com/prostate_cancer_surgery_patient_hints.htm Good luck and let us know how it goes. You can also email me anytime at fun_luvin_1972@... Marla Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2008 Report Share Posted December 30, 2008 I had surgery to remove my prostate 3 years 6 months ago and everything is working fine now. It took almost 2 years to get full use back, although I often got night time errection which were usable. " BUT " unknown to me at the time of the surgery was that my surgeon used surgical clips to suture my insides. They are v-shaped clips which are used to pinch close cuts instead of using regular string sutures. Advantages are that surgery takes much less time, BUT, these clips are with you for ever. They do no dessolve and can be seen in you under x-rays. You can have cat-scans & MRIs with no problems. THE biggest problem is what happened to me. I exercise and do sit-ups regularly. The sit-ups caused a clip to move and pierce the tube one piss through, causing blood in my urine and pain. I had to have the clip removed with a cystescope while under general. Hope this helps, please feel free to cantact me for further if you wish. Remember this above all, Knwoledge is power. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2008 Report Share Posted December 30, 2008 > ... > " BUT " unknown to me at the time of the surgery was that my > surgeon used surgical clips to suture my insides. > ... > Remember this above all, Knowledge is power. An oncologist I know once told me that some of his patients want to know everything that will happen to them and some don't want to know anything. Some have actually said to him: " Doc, do whatever you have to do but don't tell me about it. I don't want to know. " He wasn't sure which kind of patient was happier. Some doctors are reluctant to say much, believing that the patient is better off not knowing, or that if the patient wants to know, he'll ask. If you don't want to know anything, well, I can understand that. But if you are one of those who does want to know (and like Pablo, I'm one of them), be sure to ask. We can't assume that doctors will tell us everything without our asking them. If you're getting surgery, ask the doctor just what he's going to do. Ask about what will be cut, what will be cut out, what will be sewn up or clipped, what will be damaged, how the recovery and healing will go, and what the long term effects will be. For radiation, ask what will be radiated, how much radiation, what other parts of the body will be hit, what are the short and long term side effects. Do some research on your own to supplement what the doctor says, and to enable you to ask educated questions. For me, one of the signs of a good doctor is patience, honesty, and clarity in answering such questions. Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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