I know what you been about sleeping on one's back.  I've been a stomach sleeper all my life and it was a bit of a wrench having to sleep on my back, even though it was just for two weeks.

Here I am 16 days post op and they removed the catheter last Friday - yahoo!

I forgot how easy life can be without a bag of pee strapped to your leg!

Over the last two days, since catheter removal, I have been wearing a pants pad, but I haven't had any "accidents" - yet - although I am going to the loo quite a few times during the day and I went 5 times during the night last night. I shall be re-starting my pelvic exercises tomorrow (too painful up to now) and will hopefully get my bladder fully re-trained sooner rather than later. The good news is that my pee is also fairly clear now (it was more like Ribena whilst the catheter was still inserted) so it will hopefully remain that way.

I am still drinking lots of water daily and am on Paracetemol as there is still quite a bit of discomfort and swelling in the gut and a few sharp pains from the lower gut/penis areas, although these have reduced dramatically since the catheter was removed.

It really feels like the worst is over now and it is recovery time and I intend to try my first dog walking exercise this week to see how that goes.

Onwards and upwards ......

Wal.

It is now 3 weeks yesterday since the Prostatectomy and I am getting better daily.

The 6 x puncture holes across my gut have healed nicely, although they are still a bit red and scabby. Most of the swelling has reduced although my gut is still a bit lumpy and funny-shaped and the bruising colouration has gone.

I have another week of wearing the anti-DVT white stockings and also self-injecting myself with Fragmin - I WILL NOT miss doing those injections at all!

I took myself off the Paracetemol yesterday and although there is still some discomfort down low in my gut, the sharp pains seem to have stopped, although I still felt some slight pain overnight last night, but I will stay off painkillers if I can.

I am wearing a pants liner day and night - just in case of dribbles or unexpected delays in making it to the loo in time. I seem to be regaining some control over my bladder, although I still have to go as soon as I feel the urge. I think that doing regular pelvic excercises is helping a lot. I am still going quite a few times during the day, but it reduced to only 4 times through the night last night, so hopefully things are improving.  I am still drinking a fair amount of water daily and my pee is still cloudy and pink/yellow solid bits come out every so often (internal scabs?).

I am off to see my GP on Monday and I will mention the cloudy pee as I think I may still have a urine infection that the hospital mentioned when they removed the Catheter and they gave me 1 days antibiotics at the time. The Consultant has also told me to talk to the GP about a prescription for a penis pump and Viagra - so that will be the next phase once I have fully healed.

All in all everything seems to be going well and I am hoping to be getting out and about this week (weather permitting) even if it is only taking the dog for a walk, going to local shops etc.

Onwards & upwards ........

Wal.

Hi Wal

Absolutely b****y great that things seem to be going so well and all bits crossed for you.  Re "dribbles" - only worry about them if they appear from your mouth!!!

Seriously though, it all sounds to be going well and I really do hope everything pans out well for you and your family (lets not forget them).  A bit worried though about the keenness to go to the shops.   From my point of view, Chemo is the best excuse I have had for years for avoiding shopping.

Keep fingers crossed for me too - Chemo No 7 tomorrow.  Extended cycles as I had to have the dose halved.  Poor old body could not cope with a full dose and in hospital 3 times with Neutropenia unfortunately.  White cell blood count fell to 0.1 / 0.3 / 0.1 , which was a bit awkward on each occasion.  All better now though and we await seeing the Consultant early Dec after Chemo No 8.

Keep smiling my friend

John

(overwhelmed) 

PS  I wish I had not started with such a silly "name"

Hi John,

Thanks for your good wishes and it is great to see that you too are hanging onto your sense of humour, a definite bonus when going through this cancer slog.

Yes, things seem to be going to plan, although I was told by my GP yesterday that I do have a Urinary infection and I am now on a weeks course of antibiotics - that will hopefully blitz and remove it.

My thoughts are with you today for your Chemo No. 7. I hope it is not too unpleasant for you and that it does the business that is required and I hope your results are good news when you see the Consultant in early December.

My next Consultant appointment is on Monday 24th Nov 14 and that will be the big one where I get the full current PSA results from a blood sample to be taken in a couple of weeks. Also there will be all of the biopsy results from what they removed during the Operation. It will either be excellent news where they think they got all of the cancer cells and it will be monitoring my PSA levels into the future, or they will think that there could still be some cancerous cells in there and I will need a 4 week intensive Radiotherapy course, or maybe even Chemo? Here's hoping that it is the former option.

All the very best for the future and you keep your chin up too.

Wal.

Hi Wal

Sorry to be a bit late in responding to you.  I have found the new website an absolute frustration, sadly.

Chemo was fine except I am finding it a bit of a chore - never mind, its all in a good cause.

I hope the 24/11 appt goes well - it is always a worry to anticipate what will be said but usually the anticipation is worse than the reality so keep[ your spirits up.

I had a worry abouit what I wrote recently re radioltherapy and then chemo, in my case.  Please do not think that radiotherpapy does not work.  i did not have it in the end because I had to have a TURP Op to relieve a Urethra blockage and by teh thime I recovered fro thnaty the cancer had spread so radiotherapy was not an option.

Keep your spitits up and good luck for the next appt on the 24th

John

Hi Wal

Sorry to be a bit late in responding to you.  I have found the new website an absolute frustration, sadly.

Chemo was fine except I am finding it a bit of a chore - never mind, its all in a good cause.

I hope the 24/11 appt goes well - it is always a worry to anticipate what will be said but usually the anticipation is worse than the reality so keep[ your spirits up.

I had a worry abouit what I wrote recently re radioltherapy and then chemo, in my case.  Please do not think that radiotherpapy does not work.  i did not have it in the end because I had to have a TURP Op to relieve a Urethra blockage and by teh thime I recovered fro thnaty the cancer had spread so radiotherapy was not an option.

Keep your spitits up and good luck for the next appt on the 24th

John

Hi Wal

Somewhat late to the conversation, but similar to yourself, 50, diagnosed 2 months ago and only through fault rather than a request. I actually asked to be given a full MOT and by chance, they did it (something I have since discovered they wouldn't normally check PSA's for my age group.

I discovered Tuesday just that my Gleason has been relisted to a 9 (not 8 as previously told) and that with a PSA of 33 and a positive reading on my Lymphs, no are no longer willing to operate ( a shock when we thought that we had travelled the 40 odd miles just for the op date!)

I am now awaiting an ultrasound guided biopsy on the Lymphs in my groin, following which, a further 2 week wait and then prognosis. It is anticipated that I will go on to have hormone therapy for 2.5 years, then radio in a further 3-4 months.

The one thing that I have discovered is not to just leave things ticking, push the hospitals and use your cancer nurse (mine is brilliant and a hoot).

Good luck mate.

I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer with a rating 6 in June 2010, I was going to have the Prostate

removed but the surgeons at Adenbrookes could not be sure they could remove the entire tumour so 

I was told the best option for me was Radical Radiotherapy which I started begining of November 2010 

every day until the end of January 2011.  The treatment I received has so far been a great success and 

at 70 years of age I can still go to the Gym & Swimming several times aweek, My PSA reading when

diagnosed 5.5, my last PSA reading in June this year was 0.03