HI LIZ Re: Re: RP on Monday 12/29

[Guest guest]

Hi Liz,I wish you and your husband the best of luck. I am 17 months post Da Vinci robotic rp. I had my surgery at Northwestern University Medical Center in Chicago at

the hands of a renowned expert who has performed over 300 da vinci

procedures. I was 56 at the time of the surgery and in excellent

health overall. My Gleason was 3+4. Negative DRE. One positive

sample out of 16 taken during my biopsy. Cancer contained within the

capsule. I had a full nerve sparing procedure which lasted over 6

hours. I was very active sexually prior to surgery with no

incontinence. I am a runner / outdoors enthusiast who is in excellent

shape. I am an ex-marine and have always been motivated to excel in

anything I do. For several months prior to surgery I performed up to 200 kegals per day.

I was released from the hospital about 24 hours after the end of

my surgery. I had a catheter for about 8 days. When the catheter was

removed I went for about two weeks with intermittent urinary control.

During that period I used fewer than 5 adult diapers and a few small

pads. I have had zero problems with incontinence since the month

following my surgery.

ED has been a different story. I tried MUSE and like EVERYONE

else, it was worthless. Unlike several other users, I did not really

experience anything beyond mild irritation or discomfort while using it

but I did not get any beneficial effect. I have spent hundreds and

hundreds of dollars out of my pocket for Cialis and Viagra during the

past 14 months as part of the prescribed rehab program. I was unable

to achieve an erection suitable for intercourse during the first 4 or 5

months post surgery (and I REALLY tried (smile)). In months 6 through

12 I showed steady but slow improvement. At 17 months I am hopeful

that my progress will continue and not plateau as it is only recently that I

have returned to some semblance of my presurgery self. I have an

appointment in early January with an ED specialist at Northwestern to

trial injection therapies.

My wife has been (and is) great. She is playful, supportive,

innovative, available and sexy as hell (ok..maybe hell is not all that

sexy but you get my point). My illness and recovery has only drawn us

closer emotionally and, what might be surprising to couples that have

never experienced PC induced ED, drawn us closer physically. I am not

complaining at all. I know where I am on the spectrum of possible

surgical outcomes and recognize I am doing better than the norm. I only

wish to tell you don't expect so much that you will be bound for

disappointment.

Oh yeah...14 months and my PSA is 0.0. I do realize that in the end, that's what it's all about.

Peace and sincere best wishes,

---

>

>

> >

> > 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

> >

>