Welcome to the newest post op class.

ismetals

6/01/09
Reading all the curent posts. There is no doubt that this is a great site. It's great to hear the porogress that you Jim and the other recent ops are making. If nothing else this site gives us all a sense of optimism. If the worst is in the cards it also gives us shoulders to cry on, and advice to use. Eight months for me now. Incontenace is a distant memory. Thank God. ed is still a reality. With only one side spared that is to be expected. I still coach my parts every morning and evening and can tell that they are trying to obey the call to duty.
Good luck guys and keep us posted.
ps. Some of the topics are getting really long. Maybe some fresh starts?

RRMCJIM

Liberation Day
Well I am back from the Dr. Cath is finally out, staples have been removed..wow, what a great feeling. The last few days with the cath was getting really old. But now that is behind me. Now it is getting on with living time... I can't believe what an fantastic feeling this is...ahhhhh the little things in life....It lets you know there is life after cancer surgery. It only looks bright ahead. I can't thank all of you enough for the support, for your stories, for all the understanding first hand knowledge that was shared openly by all... My family was there for me every step of the way, I love them all, my wife has been, and is still, my biggest help. But there is nothing like being able to contact others with the same condition, and know what it is like to live with this everyday.
Jim

lewvino

RRMCJIM said:

Liberation Day
Well I am back from the Dr. Cath is finally out, staples have been removed..wow, what a great feeling. The last few days with the cath was getting really old. But now that is behind me. Now it is getting on with living time... I can't believe what an fantastic feeling this is...ahhhhh the little things in life....It lets you know there is life after cancer surgery. It only looks bright ahead. I can't thank all of you enough for the support, for your stories, for all the understanding first hand knowledge that was shared openly by all... My family was there for me every step of the way, I love them all, my wife has been, and is still, my biggest help. But there is nothing like being able to contact others with the same condition, and know what it is like to live with this everyday.
Jim

Liberation Day
Glad it is going great for you Jim. Keep us posted. Was it bad getting the Cath out? The Cath is onthing I'm dreading. Also let us know how your urinary function progresses.
Larry (lewvino)

RRMCJIM

lewvino said:

Liberation Day
Glad it is going great for you Jim. Keep us posted. Was it bad getting the Cath out? The Cath is onthing I'm dreading. Also let us know how your urinary function progresses.
Larry (lewvino)

functions
Hey Larry, getting the cath out was a breeze, over even before I knew it was happening. Even getting the staples out was nothing. Putting on the depends , a little weird. Flow is at will, I can only slow it down as of right now, but I expected that from what I have read of others. But I CAN slow it down. So for me that is a positive sign also. Day at a time Larry, day at a time.
Jim

lewvino

RRMCJIM said:

functions
Hey Larry, getting the cath out was a breeze, over even before I knew it was happening. Even getting the staples out was nothing. Putting on the depends , a little weird. Flow is at will, I can only slow it down as of right now, but I expected that from what I have read of others. But I CAN slow it down. So for me that is a positive sign also. Day at a time Larry, day at a time.
Jim

functions
Jim,
could you shoot me a private email at lewvino@yahoo.com?

I have my appointment to meet the Dr. That I'm considering to do the Robotic surgery with on June 8th.

Would like to ask a few off line questions if you don't mind.
Thanks,
Larry(lewvino)

RRMCJIM

lewvino said:

functions
Jim,
could you shoot me a private email at lewvino@yahoo.com?

I have my appointment to meet the Dr. That I'm considering to do the Robotic surgery with on June 8th.

Would like to ask a few off line questions if you don't mind.
Thanks,
Larry(lewvino)

here you go
Not a problem Larry, here it is .. I am here for anyone with questions,,, rrmcjim@aol.com
JIM

Olee

RRMCJIM said:

here you go
Not a problem Larry, here it is .. I am here for anyone with questions,,, rrmcjim@aol.com
JIM

Liberation Day
Jim congrats on Liberation day. I had never heard that term until my nurse informed me the day I got mine taken out. All I can say is exercise patience my friend. My doctor told me to be patient and it would get better. You'll learn to work around the whole incontinence issue, it takes some planning and with time and healing, hopefully much much improvement. Keep us updated on your progress by all means.

As far as the site, it's awesome by all means. I think there's a wealth of information to be shared by survivors. I found this site to be a huge help in an emotional crutch and an encyclopedia of information regarding prostate cancer. I mean what better source to gather your information than a survivor themselves! The subjects are going to repeat themselves naturally, given the nature of the cancer, but the faces will be new.

RRMCJIM

Olee said:

Liberation Day
Jim congrats on Liberation day. I had never heard that term until my nurse informed me the day I got mine taken out. All I can say is exercise patience my friend. My doctor told me to be patient and it would get better. You'll learn to work around the whole incontinence issue, it takes some planning and with time and healing, hopefully much much improvement. Keep us updated on your progress by all means.

As far as the site, it's awesome by all means. I think there's a wealth of information to be shared by survivors. I found this site to be a huge help in an emotional crutch and an encyclopedia of information regarding prostate cancer. I mean what better source to gather your information than a survivor themselves! The subjects are going to repeat themselves naturally, given the nature of the cancer, but the faces will be new.

patience
Thank you Olee, for everything, got to love the day the cath came out....it needed it's own special designated term...lol...the incontinence issue is improving daily. Went from 4 depends the first day, to only 2 depends the next. Control does seem to be easier. I look forward to using just a pad for the occasional drip.But hey, just started, so give it time...
Jim

gkoper

13 days post op Davinci
Cath removed 6 days ago. No sweat on removal. They deflate the balloon & you say ohhhh-ahhhh. I'm depending on depends less&less. Control is better & better. Still tender in that area when I sit the wrong way. Played 2 hours of tennis yesterday & swam 1/2 mile. Felt great. Slept like baby last night. One week till next doctor visit and 3 weeks till next PSA check.
The medical center where I had surgery ( Ocala, Fl) is having a public "interaction" with the Davinci robot that did my surgery. My wife & I made reservations to attend this demonstration. Should be interesting. And Jim....looks like you will be back on that Harley before long.
George

lewvino

gkoper said:

13 days post op Davinci
Cath removed 6 days ago. No sweat on removal. They deflate the balloon & you say ohhhh-ahhhh. I'm depending on depends less&less. Control is better & better. Still tender in that area when I sit the wrong way. Played 2 hours of tennis yesterday & swam 1/2 mile. Felt great. Slept like baby last night. One week till next doctor visit and 3 weeks till next PSA check.
The medical center where I had surgery ( Ocala, Fl) is having a public "interaction" with the Davinci robot that did my surgery. My wife & I made reservations to attend this demonstration. Should be interesting. And Jim....looks like you will be back on that Harley before long.
George

George,
Glad to hear that you are progressing nicely. It gives me encouragment since I will be facing the robotic surgery in the near future. Hope to actually schedule my surgery after I meet with the Dr. June 8th.

Larry

gkoper

Hi Larry
Might be a good idea to write your questions down for the doctor as you think of them. Then you be armed and ready for consultation. Of course there are many of us ready, willing & able to answer any question you may have. We are in your corner.
George

lewvino

gkoper said:

Hi Larry
Might be a good idea to write your questions down for the doctor as you think of them. Then you be armed and ready for consultation. Of course there are many of us ready, willing & able to answer any question you may have. We are in your corner.
George

Thanks for the thought. I've
Thanks for the thought. I've all ready started a list for the Doctor and have talked to a few others on this site. Also spoke via phone to a few men that have met Dr. Robot! LOL.

I'm tired of the waiting since I was diagnosed back in late March. Just ready to get on with the treatment and the what if's.

Larry (lewvino)

hopeful and optimistic

lewvino said:

Thanks for the thought. I've
Thanks for the thought. I've all ready started a list for the Doctor and have talked to a few others on this site. Also spoke via phone to a few men that have met Dr. Robot! LOL.

I'm tired of the waiting since I was diagnosed back in late March. Just ready to get on with the treatment and the what if's.

Larry (lewvino)

Hi Larry,
Where are you located? Are you willing to go to a different location for the operation? Remember you want to get an experienced surgeon. YOu will only do this operation one time.

Good luck,

Ira

lewvino

hopeful and optimistic said:

Hi Larry,
Where are you located? Are you willing to go to a different location for the operation? Remember you want to get an experienced surgeon. YOu will only do this operation one time.

Good luck,

Ira

I live near Chattanooga Tn
I live near Chattanooga Tn at a small town Called Georgetown out in the country. My Appt is with Dr. Joe Smith at Vanderbilt in Nashville. Tn.

I've heard many excellent things about him. He has performed over 2000 traditional, about 1,000 robotic. Is chief of Urology at Vanderbilt. Has published over 200 medical articles on Male Cancers and has written over 100 medical book chapters on medical cancer.

I heard some men wait 6 months to get into see him. My local Urologist has said he will provide follow up care for me, Is a friend of Dr. Smith and got me into see him about 6 weeks from being diagnosed. Local Dr. only does traditional though the hospital he practices out of has ordered a Da Vinci robot not yet installed. He steared me towards Nashville since in his opinion you want someone with the most experience. They have the robots here in Chattanooga but looking for the best. Its only about 2.5 hr drive to Nashville so doable.

Larry (lewvino)

gkoper

Larry
Looks like the surgeon you are seeing has the experience. As far as the wait, my wait from diagnosis to surgery was just over 2 months. Most of the guys I have talked to said their wait time was about 2 months as well. My numbers were 4 cores of 12 & a gleason 7...fairly aggressive. My doctor said he thought my cancer was contained... I did the research and made the decision & scheduled the surgery. Not that anyone should rush into a snap call...the side effects can be devastating for some men....I wanted to get it before it spread...and it appears I did. Looks like you are doing your homework Larry,you will arrive at the right decision. Keep us posted.......
George

hopeful and optimistic

lewvino said:

I live near Chattanooga Tn
I live near Chattanooga Tn at a small town Called Georgetown out in the country. My Appt is with Dr. Joe Smith at Vanderbilt in Nashville. Tn.

I've heard many excellent things about him. He has performed over 2000 traditional, about 1,000 robotic. Is chief of Urology at Vanderbilt. Has published over 200 medical articles on Male Cancers and has written over 100 medical book chapters on medical cancer.

I heard some men wait 6 months to get into see him. My local Urologist has said he will provide follow up care for me, Is a friend of Dr. Smith and got me into see him about 6 weeks from being diagnosed. Local Dr. only does traditional though the hospital he practices out of has ordered a Da Vinci robot not yet installed. He steared me towards Nashville since in his opinion you want someone with the most experience. They have the robots here in Chattanooga but looking for the best. Its only about 2.5 hr drive to Nashville so doable.

Larry (lewvino)

Sounds like you have a winner; you can also consider seeing
Dr. Smith for follow up, especially in the beginning........there might be an advantage....Good luck..........Ira

lewvino

gkoper said:

Larry
Looks like the surgeon you are seeing has the experience. As far as the wait, my wait from diagnosis to surgery was just over 2 months. Most of the guys I have talked to said their wait time was about 2 months as well. My numbers were 4 cores of 12 & a gleason 7...fairly aggressive. My doctor said he thought my cancer was contained... I did the research and made the decision & scheduled the surgery. Not that anyone should rush into a snap call...the side effects can be devastating for some men....I wanted to get it before it spread...and it appears I did. Looks like you are doing your homework Larry,you will arrive at the right decision. Keep us posted.......
George

Thanks for your input. My
Thanks for your input. My numbers were 5 cores of 12 all at Gleason 7 mostly 4+3's

I just got off the phone with another man who had the Robotic surgery with the Doctor I'm consulting with On Monday. He is 3 years post surgery and doing great with all aspects. Only thing was he told me had to wait 3 months for his surgery. My son is getting married in bermuda in late sept.and don't want to miss that! All ready have a cruise booked for the wedding.

Larry (lewvino)

RRMCJIM

gkoper said:

13 days post op Davinci
Cath removed 6 days ago. No sweat on removal. They deflate the balloon & you say ohhhh-ahhhh. I'm depending on depends less&less. Control is better & better. Still tender in that area when I sit the wrong way. Played 2 hours of tennis yesterday & swam 1/2 mile. Felt great. Slept like baby last night. One week till next doctor visit and 3 weeks till next PSA check.
The medical center where I had surgery ( Ocala, Fl) is having a public "interaction" with the Davinci robot that did my surgery. My wife & I made reservations to attend this demonstration. Should be interesting. And Jim....looks like you will be back on that Harley before long.
George

two hours!!!!!!
Sure George, rub it in, 2 hrs of tennis and swimming also....I thought I was doing good...but my cath has only been out since Monday..So I guess I can hope for more then. at 3 days out I am dry at night, walking produces constant drip still. But I seem to be able to hold it till I can hit the bathroom. Hope you continue to do so well, I have had 2 more erections since the cath has been out. Much more comfortable than the erection with the cath in....lol...But it is so nice to sleep at night and get up dry...
Keep it up George, one of us needs to take the crown from Theo
Jim