tony
New Member
Posts: 1
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Post by tony on Dec 30, 2013 13:19:32 GMT -5
Had robotic surgery by a hack join hazelcrest il. Dr. Was so embarrassed he wouldn't come see me after surgery sent his asspciates 4 hr surgery took 7.5 Hrs o was on a moriphine drip and seven Hrs after surgery I almost went into shock the moriphine wasn't helping. It was downhill from then on
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Post by Rick Redner on Dec 30, 2013 18:46:09 GMT -5
Tony, Was your surgeon new to the robotic procedure? Morphine after robotic surgery is almost unheard of, why were you in that much pain? What's been happening to you post surgery that you say it's all downhill? Rick
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Post by gvenlet on Jan 11, 2014 14:22:46 GMT -5
I all. I had rp February 25,2011. I read everything I could get my hands on and researched on the internet too. I had a gleason score of 6 and my psa had gone from 4 to 7.5 in one year. I had a biopsy that showed cancer in 2 of 12 cores. My prostate was also enlarged to about the size of a lemon. My wife Kay has been most supportive and we have a strong marriage. We continue to have an active sex life with the help of trimix injections. Once I got past the aversion to needles we have had good success. I think a sense of humor helps a lot and I have a strong faith in God. That is the short version.
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Post by Rick Redner on Jan 12, 2014 14:59:52 GMT -5
Gvenlet, Glad to hear injections are working for you. I was using bi-mix but after 3 months I stopped responding to injections. They gave me tri-mix which for me was so painful, I stopped injecting that day. Almost 3 years post surgery and I'm beginning to get a decent response to 2.5mg Cialis daily.
How long has it been since your surgery? Rick
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Post by David on Feb 22, 2014 9:11:31 GMT -5
Hey Rick, I left mine in New York City. My first post op psa was bad, another one in 6 wks was even higher. Started 8 wks radiation right away, and hormone therapy. Psa undetectable now, but still on hormone therapy....probably until it quits working. Still no erections 1 1/2 yrs later, and still wearing pads, and have rectal and bowel complications from the radiation. But at least I'm alive, and I would do it again because my cancer was very aggressive and spreading fast. Surgery was my best option!
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Post by Rick Redner on Feb 22, 2014 10:09:21 GMT -5
David, I'm heading to NY in a few weeks. From what you describe it sounds like your cancer was not confined to your prostate. While the quality of life issues are miserable, no erections (not surprising with hormone therapy) and urinary incontinence, I suspect we're both grateful to live in an era and a country which gives us options to treat prostate cancer. That said, there were times when I hated the quality of my life, do you struggle with that now and then?
There is one thing you can do if obtaining an erection is important to you. You can use penile injections. They have approximately an 85-90% success rate.
Do you have a good support system? I found that healthy people really couldn't understand what it's like to deal with urinary incontinence. I also know how depressed I became living in diapers. How are you doing? Rick
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Post by Ken on Feb 24, 2014 9:34:13 GMT -5
Rick: Robotic Surgery October 2011 when I was 68, so I'm not a newbie to the issues that we face. I too was given the 3 options but chose to remove the cancer (2-cores with a 3+3). Your forum seems to be focused more on ED which was somewhat of a problem before surgery, so really not much more of a problem after surgery. The issue that I still deal with is incontinence. I have kegeled to the point of exhaustion with the help of a physical therapist who specializes in this issue on 2 separate occasions. Just when I think it has been conquered - well guess what. I wear 1-2 pads a day depending on the activities and use a Bard Cunningham clamp when I feel it necessary as a precaution. It has not stopped me from living my life as normal as normal can be. The acceptance of what we face and the understanding of who we are, allows us to overcome, what I call a"blip" on the screen of life. The family and friends (those who are compassionate but really can't understand what we go through) support has been amazingly terrific. The point here that I am attempting to project is that the mental attitude toward this disease is a great part of dealing with the outcome of the treatments (no matter which). This disease does not have to be a death sentence. ED problem, incontinence - so what. Deal with it and you'll become a better person. Given the chance of a re-do, I'd do it the same way all over again.
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Post by Rick Redner on Feb 24, 2014 10:16:41 GMT -5
Ken, Welcome to our forum. It's a honor to hear from someone who has years under his belt as a post-surgery survivor. I'm not surprised to hear that ED became along term issue. It seems the older you are when you have surgery more likely it is to have significantly less return of sexual functioning. I was 58 at the time I had surgery. At that time I foolishly thought I was young. Like you I'd begun to experience some issues prior to surgery, but surgery took those issues to a new level. I certainly agree and experienced the reality of your observation, while healthy friends and family are great they can't understand what it's like to adjust to life without a prostate, which is why I created this forum, so men and couples easily find a community of people who did understand. I also share your belief that it's our attitudes post-surgery that will either make us bitter or better. The fact that 10% of those coping with life after surgery either split up or say that life is now miserable is rather sad to me, because that represents tens of thousands of couples coping with life without a prostate who did not become better. So thanks for sharing your perspective and demonstrating that you can be become a better person, grow closer in your relationships even though you are still dealing with ED and leaking. Once again, thanks for sharing your experiences and perspective. I'm curious Ken, how did you find out about this forum? Rick Robotic Surgery October 2011 when I was 68, so I'm not a newbie to the issues that we face. I too was given the 3 options but chose to remove the cancer (2-cores with a 3+3). Your forum seems to be focused more on ED which was somewhat of a problem before surgery, so really not much more of a problem after surgery. The issue that I still deal with is incontinence. I have kegeled to the point of exhaustion with the help of a physical therapist who specializes in this issue on 2 separate occasions. Just when I think it has been conquered - well guess what. I wear 1-2 pads a day depending on the activities and use a Bard Cunningham clamp when I feel it necessary as a precaution. It has not stopped me from living my life as normal as normal can be. The acceptance of what we face and the understanding of who we are, allows us to overcome, what I call a"blip" on the screen of life. The family and friends (those who are compassionate but really can't understand what we go through) support has been amazingly terrific. The point here that I am attempting to project is that the mental attitude toward this disease is a great part of dealing with the outcome of the treatments (no matter which). This disease does not have to be a death sentence. ED problem, incontinence - so what. Deal with it and you'll become a better person. Given the chance of a re-do, I'd do it the same way all over agai Read more: postsurgery.freeforums.net/thread/53/visiting-first-time-read?page=2&scrollTo=311#ixzz2uFiDjOhy
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Post by Ken on Feb 24, 2014 11:47:49 GMT -5
Thanks for your quick response. I continually follow the US TOO blog for any continence issues and noted your recent post. BTW, my post PSA on every test has been 0.0 That's what matters.
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Post by Rick Redner on Feb 24, 2014 15:20:48 GMT -5
Ken, After surgery I was going through 15 diapers a day. I hated my life and at 0.0 PSA didn't matter to me. At that point I had a very serious case of buyers remorse. 3 years post surgery I'll leak if my bladder is full and I bend, sneeze cough or lift something. Now I'm very glad I had surgery even though ED is still an issue. What are you looking for when you look for incontinent posts? Rick
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Post by Ken on Feb 24, 2014 18:30:23 GMT -5
The Truth and I can handle it…Seriously, to see how others are coping. A magic bullet, if it exists, as to something that I do not know that could make a positive difference physically. And to offer any comfort when I deem it appropriate. As I referenced earlier, my incontinence is mild compared to others. I am in fairly good shape for 70, walk and play golf often. Promised myself (not yet fulfilled) I would get back into the gym which stopped at surgery. Fifteen months after surgery, I conferred with an incontinent specialist surgeon re: male sling. After a very truthful conversation where the Dr. told me of a slim chance for a fully successful procedure where I would not need pads, I opted for no further surgery. Without a crystal ball, who knows what the future will bring, but for now I'm OK. My wife is very supportive. The humor we have instilled into this situation would not be believed.
If you are interested in a voice conversation, let me know and I'll send you my number.
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Post by Rick Redner on Feb 25, 2014 11:15:08 GMT -5
Ken, I'm not aware of any "magic bullet" are you doing kegles? Rick
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Post by Ken on Feb 25, 2014 19:48:28 GMT -5
Rick:
I fully understand that there isn't any 'magic bullet'. Just attempting to justify my continually checking in on the site.
Yes to the kegels. As mentioned earlier, I've gone through 2 separate sessions of physical therapy, each lasting 4-6weeks with the most recent ending mid-October.
It's peaks and valleys as to the control with the extent of the kegels. However, I am not able to achieve total control or dryness.
In November, I had an incisional hernia operation repair as a result of stress on one of the robotic incisions. As you might expect, this was a valley time and my control reflected this. I am back to the daily regimen and the precautionary measures I spoke about. It's all good. Thanks for listening.
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Post by Rick Redner on Feb 25, 2014 20:12:14 GMT -5
Ken, It's good to keep up because the research keeps changing and you never know what you'll find. For example for years I've been asking my Dr for testosterone supplements. He wouldn't do it and once I was dx with prostate cancer, my Doc's ruled that out forever. BUT I kept reading. Lo and behold the research on this and opinion changed. Now it's OK to give some men with PC testosterone. I starting using a supplement 3 weeks ago. If I didn't keep up, I never would have thought to ask. So you don't need to "justify" checking in. It's possible some day you'll find that new procedure. Rick
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jehjr
New Member
Posts: 20
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Post by jehjr on Mar 3, 2014 7:00:41 GMT -5
Rick,I received this article last night. Tightening the plumbing by, Stuart Baptist, Sidney Australia www.continence.org.au/data/files/Bridge_2014/Bridge_autumn_2014_web.pdfIt seems that Australia treats prostate cancer with the same energy level we treat breast cancer. I have learned a lot from 3 physiotherapist, David Hughes, Associate Professor Pauline Chiarelli and Stuart. This article speaks to the issue of men needing visual aids to learn about Kegel exercise.
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