RP in 2 DAYS, 8/9/05

breadmond
breadmond Member Posts: 13
edited March 2014 in Prostate Cancer #1
As in the book, I too have been drafted into the "reluctent brotherhood" of men with prostate cancer. I have today and tomorrow left before I have my turn on the table. I'm here now because I'm not anxiouse, I'm not pacing the floors and in a way that worries me. I've read the book. Any last day words of advice? I'll be back.

Comments

  • jeffmtnman
    jeffmtnman Member Posts: 8
    #2
    "reluctent brotherhood" I like that, sign me up.
    My surgery is Thursday 8/11/05, but unlike yourself I AM some what anxiouse ( I hope we both spelled that right ). I guess we know where each others head is at right now. My best advice, ( and I hope I'm listening )is keep good thoughts for yourself and listen to and believe friends and loved ones when they tell you you're gonna be ok.
    My friend Jill knows I love cookies, so she told me when I'm on the table to look up at the ceiling and I would see her there with a tray full of cookies. How's that for love.
    My prayers for you my friend.
    Blessed Be
    Jeff
  • tpelle
    tpelle Member Posts: 184
    #3
    Hello Guys: Last minute, perhaps trivial advice -- when I (age 71) got to my room after RP my lips were cracked, throat was sore and hoarse. Fortunately, I had experienced this before and prepared myself bringing lipbaum and a couple of bottles of purified water. The nurses wouldn't let me drink, but I dipped the washcloth in the water and sucked on it. That was OK and the nurse brought me what I call a paint swab and a glass for my water, as long as I promised not to drink, just suck on the swab. I had no nausea and walked the corridors of the hospital starting the next morning. It's alright to be anxious about the surgery and the immediate aftermath, but that was actually the easiest part of the entire procedure. I went home 28 hours after the surgery. Even the Foley catheter was not a big problem and didn't come out for three weeks. During the last week or so I had some bladder spasms caused by the balloon attached to the end of the catheter tube in the bladder bouncing against the bladder wall. After removal of the catheter, the spasms were gone.

    I began writing a book of my experiences (not necessarily to publish) and would be happy to send the first sections to you. It's always easier to face a procedure when you pretty well know what will happen next. I can probably send them as an attachment. If you are interest let me know at tpelle@innercite.com.
  • breadmond
    breadmond Member Posts: 13
    #4
    jeffmtnman said:

    "reluctent brotherhood" I like that, sign me up.
    My surgery is Thursday 8/11/05, but unlike yourself I AM some what anxiouse ( I hope we both spelled that right ). I guess we know where each others head is at right now. My best advice, ( and I hope I'm listening )is keep good thoughts for yourself and listen to and believe friends and loved ones when they tell you you're gonna be ok.
    My friend Jill knows I love cookies, so she told me when I'm on the table to look up at the ceiling and I would see her there with a tray full of cookies. How's that for love.
    My prayers for you my friend.
    Blessed Be
    Jeff

    Hi Jeff, Thank you for your positive comments. Jill is right, "look up", be it for cookies or prayer, just keep looking up! (no e in anxious, oops) The quote came from Dr. Walsh's book, Guide to SURVIVING PROSTATE CANCER. (End of the first paragraph in the preface). It's a very good book, I highly recommend it. I'll keep you posted, please do the same. All Gods Blessings. Bernie
  • breadmond
    breadmond Member Posts: 13
    #5
    tpelle said:

    Hello Guys: Last minute, perhaps trivial advice -- when I (age 71) got to my room after RP my lips were cracked, throat was sore and hoarse. Fortunately, I had experienced this before and prepared myself bringing lipbaum and a couple of bottles of purified water. The nurses wouldn't let me drink, but I dipped the washcloth in the water and sucked on it. That was OK and the nurse brought me what I call a paint swab and a glass for my water, as long as I promised not to drink, just suck on the swab. I had no nausea and walked the corridors of the hospital starting the next morning. It's alright to be anxious about the surgery and the immediate aftermath, but that was actually the easiest part of the entire procedure. I went home 28 hours after the surgery. Even the Foley catheter was not a big problem and didn't come out for three weeks. During the last week or so I had some bladder spasms caused by the balloon attached to the end of the catheter tube in the bladder bouncing against the bladder wall. After removal of the catheter, the spasms were gone.

    I began writing a book of my experiences (not necessarily to publish) and would be happy to send the first sections to you. It's always easier to face a procedure when you pretty well know what will happen next. I can probably send them as an attachment. If you are interest let me know at tpelle@innercite.com.

    Hi tpelle,
    Yes, I would very much appreciate reading about your experience. I'll send you my email address. Thank you. Bernie
  • rogermoore
    rogermoore Member Posts: 264 Member
    #6
    Hi twinbrook2,

    It appears you do have another with you in this experience. That being jeffmtnman! Ironic you both are scheduled for surgery the same day. Speaking as a four-year survivor I think the most (very most) important thing is to remain positive about the outcome.

    There are a lot of us survivors out here so you will be joining a large group who have beat this disease.

    Best of luck and keep in touch.
  • Willx
    Willx Member Posts: 41
    #7
    rogermoore said:

    Hi twinbrook2,

    It appears you do have another with you in this experience. That being jeffmtnman! Ironic you both are scheduled for surgery the same day. Speaking as a four-year survivor I think the most (very most) important thing is to remain positive about the outcome.

    There are a lot of us survivors out here so you will be joining a large group who have beat this disease.

    Best of luck and keep in touch.

    One thing to do. Take a picture of your erect penis since it may be the last time you ever see it that way.
  • Photon
    Photon Member Posts: 57
    #8
    To both you Twinbrook2 and jeff... I wish the best as willx says there might be the odd problem afterwards but nothing is forever and there is a way around everything even erections and I had non nerve sparing surgery because my cancer had gone outside the prostatic capsule so everything had to go.

    Keep positive and you'll both be fine. Take it easy after the op because it is a major one.

    All the best
  • rogermoore
    rogermoore Member Posts: 264 Member
    #9
    twinbrook2,

    Don't let the response by Willx frighten you. There are a lot of us out here that have not had the unfortunate experience he evidently has! I'm sure you are aware of the possible consequences. However, the most important thing is to rid yourself ot the disease. Again, best of luck and keep us posted on your progress.

    Roger
  • fjmuscar
    fjmuscar Member Posts: 1
    #10
    jeffmtnman said:

    "reluctent brotherhood" I like that, sign me up.
    My surgery is Thursday 8/11/05, but unlike yourself I AM some what anxiouse ( I hope we both spelled that right ). I guess we know where each others head is at right now. My best advice, ( and I hope I'm listening )is keep good thoughts for yourself and listen to and believe friends and loved ones when they tell you you're gonna be ok.
    My friend Jill knows I love cookies, so she told me when I'm on the table to look up at the ceiling and I would see her there with a tray full of cookies. How's that for love.
    My prayers for you my friend.
    Blessed Be
    Jeff

    This is my first communication on this website, but I have been reading the messages. To the two guys who are having a RP on Thursday, this is the beginning of a new life. I had a RP back on March 4th of this year and I am doing fine. It was a trauma for me since I had never been admitted to a hospital nor had any type of surgery. I found that all of my family and friends were there for me when I needed them, and I appreciated them more, especially my wife. Wearing the catheter at home for 12 days was the worst part, but I had very little pain asociated with it. It just got to be a pain in the rear having to keep it clean and change the night bag to the leg bag, but I made it OK. You can't do a lot with the catheter, but with the leg bag, you can walk almost normally and at least get out of the house. That helps a lot. There is life after RP and I had to wear pads in my briefs for only a week. Sex is not what it used to be but the doc gave me (sold) a manual vacuum pump and it works. Hang in there, there are more of us out there than you think. After I had the surgery, it found out that a whole bunch of people I knew had already had it done. You're joining a select group of people and we will survive. Its just another bump in the road of life. Good luck to you and keep in touch after the surgery. It helps.

    Frank M
  • tigersi
    tigersi Member Posts: 15 Member
    #11
    my father had his prostate removed 4 yrs.ago& still has clean bill of health and never regretted it one bit.my whole family's thankful he did.his dr's name is 'dr.tooth'(strange don't you think) my father told my sister privately that his sex life'might'have to change ect,he's 78. my sister thought this a little too much info.{haha)we try to keep sense humor somehow.i was just dx lymphoma,the not curable kind,having bone marrow biopsy fri.{ouch!)sooo,i wish us all well,&
    a speedy recovery,take care
  • Willx
    Willx Member Posts: 41
    #12
    Hey TwinBrook2 - well, tomorrow is the big day for you and I wish you the best. You have a few tough days and nights ahead of you, but the discomfort will subside and you'll get used to having your buddy around (the catheter). I don't believe you stated your age in your original post, but I'm sure you'll do just fine. Good luck and let us know how it's going as soon as you get back to the discussion board.
  • Peter51
    Peter51 Member Posts: 29
    #13
    Hello guys. Good luck. I'm sure you're ready for the surgery. Here's a little pain advice, you will feel quite uncomfortable immediately after the surgery. Keep in mind that the healing and pain relief was quite rapid for me. I would say that each day after the operation, the pain was about half the day before. The thought of this can comfort you when it hurts knowing that it will surely be less tomorrow. Note that it is a diminishing curve and it may still be with you several weeks out but very minimal. Listen carefully to the doctors and the nurses say. Pay close attention to everything said about keeping your stools soft. The pain medication, percoset, will help with pain but will harden your stools. I was advised to use it very sparingly and did so. I never got constipated. A friend that had the same surgery was not given that warning, loaded up routinely with the pain killers and consequently had more pain than he could handle when he did get constipated. Use it maybe for the ride home but not when your reclining about the house. I rented an automated recliner from a medical store and a bar to grab while getting in and out of bed. The roll into and out of the bed was the worst pain. Try a stool to rest one knee while grabbing the bar and gently rolling. It will be hard at first but will be a lifesaver after you've done it a few times. Good luck to both of you.
  • breadmond
    breadmond Member Posts: 13
    #14
    Peter51 said:

    Hello guys. Good luck. I'm sure you're ready for the surgery. Here's a little pain advice, you will feel quite uncomfortable immediately after the surgery. Keep in mind that the healing and pain relief was quite rapid for me. I would say that each day after the operation, the pain was about half the day before. The thought of this can comfort you when it hurts knowing that it will surely be less tomorrow. Note that it is a diminishing curve and it may still be with you several weeks out but very minimal. Listen carefully to the doctors and the nurses say. Pay close attention to everything said about keeping your stools soft. The pain medication, percoset, will help with pain but will harden your stools. I was advised to use it very sparingly and did so. I never got constipated. A friend that had the same surgery was not given that warning, loaded up routinely with the pain killers and consequently had more pain than he could handle when he did get constipated. Use it maybe for the ride home but not when your reclining about the house. I rented an automated recliner from a medical store and a bar to grab while getting in and out of bed. The roll into and out of the bed was the worst pain. Try a stool to rest one knee while grabbing the bar and gently rolling. It will be hard at first but will be a lifesaver after you've done it a few times. Good luck to both of you.

    Hello "Reluctant Brotherhood",
    I see Dr. Walsh (JHH, a terrific person) tommorow at 10:45 am, I have read all of your comments and greatly appreciate them all. SOOOOO...I'll be laid up for a few days. I be in touch when I can get internet access. JEFF GOOD LUCK !!! My prays and best wishes are with you. ( WILLX... GREAT IDEA!!)
  • breadmond
    breadmond Member Posts: 13
    #15
    breadmond said:

    Hello "Reluctant Brotherhood",
    I see Dr. Walsh (JHH, a terrific person) tommorow at 10:45 am, I have read all of your comments and greatly appreciate them all. SOOOOO...I'll be laid up for a few days. I be in touch when I can get internet access. JEFF GOOD LUCK !!! My prays and best wishes are with you. ( WILLX... GREAT IDEA!!)

    My wife and I woke early we made love like it was the last time (atleast for awhile). God bless the "The Reluctant Brtherhood". Twinbrook2
  • bmorris
    bmorris Member Posts: 18
    #16
    breadmond said:

    My wife and I woke early we made love like it was the last time (atleast for awhile). God bless the "The Reluctant Brtherhood". Twinbrook2

    Twinbrook2 I hope the surgery went well. I had the RP 11 months ago and I am doing well. There were some initial complications with scar tissue in my urethra which required me having to have the catheter in for two additional weeks after the initial 2 weeks. I had very little leakage and the erections have returned with the assistance of viagra and/or MUSE. I tried Cialias and Levetra -- no luck. Recently, my PSA has risen to 0.2 we believe it's due to some benigned tissue remaining. A biaopsy last month supported this. Like the previous "club members" have stated, you will see an improvement almost daily, so keep your head up. For me the first two weeks after surgery were miserable!! ( I had reocurring infections of my urether that were quite painful).

    Stay strong and positive.

    Bmorris

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