Prostate Cancer Really Sucks - Pt4

 Well here we are post surgery.  You get to come home with bags of stuff to get you through the next week.  I literally had bags of bags so that I could change into a "travel" bag that could be strapped to your leg and an extra overnight bag so you can collect everything overnight.  What exactly is everything?  Your urine!  You are now the proud owner of your very own catheter and assorted bag collection.  Sounds lick fun?  It really is!!  Sleeping with pads and pads and tubes.  It was not easy, but like me, you will get through it.  It may be uncomfortable, but as my wife says, you are still here!

After a week, you will get the catheter removed in the office just after you are x-rayed to make sure the new connection has sealed enough to accept urine.  If all goes well, it is the first step to feeling normal again.   

There is also the dreaded post surgery PSA test.  The anxiety of seeing that level is just as bad as the pre surgery anxiety.  Seeing that level come back high is a disaster as the cancer metastasized and haveing it low is an incredible relief.  Mine came back LOW!  I was considered clear!  That matched my biopsy results and the reported clean margins.  It was all contained within the prostate and caught early enough!  This was the first of many more PSA tests to come.  Every 3 months to monitor, then extended to 6 months, then annual.  As long as the levels continue to stay low, I am considered cured and CANCER FREE!  Here is to a long string of low PSA tests!

This is only the first step to getting back to normal.  You should always be in contact with your doctor's office during your recovery and never suffer in silence.  Let them know anything that does not seem normal and continue to question your new normal.  Turns out that my new normal was not so normal.  There could be complications like scar tissue at the new connection to the bladder that can affect your stream.  When I discussed with the doctor, they decided to use a scope to see if there was any scar tissue.  We did not even get that far!  Turns out some guys have a reaction to the catheter where the urethra closes down restricting the flow.  I will leave the details of the fix out of this blog, but what you can imagine, it needed to be opened!  That night was uncomfortable to say the least, but IT WORKED!!  I am now back amongst men in the restroom and standing tall!

The other less discussed result is the nerve function and the dreaded ED discussion.  That topic is not easy for any guy, but you need to be open with your doctor and your spouse.  Without those discussions, the outcome may not be as you wish and you will be inside your head about the entire situation.  Be open and accept help and the options!  As embarrassing as it may be, you will need some aids.  The aids will help with the recovery and keep blood flowing to the parts that need blood.  

As I was told in high school health class, "you need to use it or loose it".  This adage may come true.  Use the aids to keep blood flowing.  As my doctor's office said, it will help in the healing process as well.  I also recommend seeking out help.  As mentioned before, a professional to talk with to assist in getting you through all of this is indispensable!  I also sought information from Dr. Google again.  I found a very good series from a Australian urologist and physical therapist.  They do push their aids a bit, but they also offer some very good information and motivation to assist in recovery (https://www.atouchysubject.com/).  They offer an email program with videos and instructions.  I found it a very good point of reference to get more information.

There is more to come on this journey.  I have been blessed to say I am cancer free at this point in my life and it is great to say that!  I will continue with our journey, but remember, this is not medical advice and I am not a medical doctor.  Seek medical advice from your doctor, not Dr. Google or any social media support group!

Please feel free to leave comments.  It is only with sharing that those with this disease can help each other and those that come after us.

Popular posts from this blog

Prostate Cancer Really Sucks - Pt1

 My Journey begins... Hello, If you are reading this, you have an interest in Prostate Cancer.  From the title, it is self explanatory!  Prostate Cancer, or ANY cancer really sucks.  I watched what cancer can do when my mother was diagnosed.  They performed surgery to remove the affected areas, but as the surgeon explained to us, there was just too much fat to get everything.  Boy does that fill you with confidence!  My mother was not large, but was over weight.  I just could not believe the surgeon had said that to the family with any confidence.  I was dumb struck.  I watched as she went through chemo and radiation treatments followed by blood tests that showed it all worked.  Thankful, we all took a huge breath of fresh air and relaxed.  But cancer laughed at us while we adjusted to normal again.  Within a year, the blood tests showed traces of cancer again.  Here we go again...  She then went for round two ...
Read more

Prostate Cancer Really Sucks - Pt5

Image
Well, the surgery is over.  The healing has begun.  The initial test came back and was great news.  Technically, I am cancer free!  That all sounds great, right?  We don't I feel lucky and grateful? One thing that I learned from the past 6 months, there is a great roller coaster that comes with a prostate cancer diagnosis.   One cannot control life.  It truly is a roller coaster.  That takes a lot of getting used to.  The anxiety of the uphill waiting for test results or healing processes.  Then the twists and turns of the ups and downs.  The diagnosis, sharing with loved ones, the loss of our intimacy (due to stress - preoperative, side effects - postoperative).  I know all the sayings that intimacy "is much more than sex" but that does not change what is internal to me (or many men).  I feel robbed of the life that I had.  Have I lost my manhood?   Societal expectations for men (and I know that...
Read more

Prostate Cancer Really Sucks - Pt2

 So the journey begins... I have been diagnosed and confirmed by my doctor.  The reality sinks in and so begins my dive into the internet with Dr. Google.  I will caution anyone doing the same, please stick to the reputable sites that give you real information and not the many "alternative" medical sites that claim curing anything with a few vitamins and 'special cocktail of supplements'.   What Dr. Google told me was what I would hear from my doctor when he reviewed the options.  The difference was, I was already familiar with many of the options and had my questions ready.  My spouse and I spent time with the doctor and rattled off many questions about each option.  After the details were discussed, the doctor suggested a second opinion to talk about what may be best for us.  I did say "US" as this is a relationship changing disease/diagnosis.  This will affect a spouse as much as the one who has the cancer. As I did my dive with Dr....
Read more