Thread: Secret men's business or my Prostate cancer

Originally Posted by bitingmidge

Please no photos! (Unless you managed to whip off a couple of those fantastic nurses that is!)

Thanks Peter and accepted in the vein I know you meant it, BUT on a serious note that wasn't likely to happen.

In fact not likely to happen in the future as I was told by the surgeon that they had to cut the two sets of muscle that control erectile functions. Always a possibility that you lose that function in these kinds of ops and in my case unfortunately it came true.

It came as a shock to me and I don't think I've come completely to terms with it, but that part, and an important one to all males, is over. It is fantastic that I have the support of a loving wife. For many years I've been able to support her with her illnessses and now she helps me instead.

I warned you lot that I would open my soul in this forum and tell it honestly, warts and all, not to shock but to help me through and as a help to others.

So guys if any of you are still not taking regular PSA test do it now and don't ignore it for early detection is still the best option you've got.


Peter.

Peter,

Good to hear that you beat the 1 in 200 odds. I found the pain lasted about three and a half weeks after my heart surgery in January; it seemed like an eternity at the time, but is only a distant memory now. If you keep taking your 8 Panadol per day you should be able to keep it within tolerable limits.

Rocker

Two days since being discharged from hospital and the lingering effect of all the morphine I was given whilst in hospital as pain relief has evaporated.

At the moment every movement has to be done gingerly to avoid pain, no longer running about just gingerly wobbling from place to place. Walking with a catheter is like walking with an apple hanging between your thighs and is not funny.

My favourite chair with the help of 3 extra cushions is the most comfortable place apart from laying flat out in bed and people die more often in bed so I try to avoid doing that too much.

I was going to post some more anecdotes about my hospital stays but I'm not up to it.

This may sound pessimistic but it's not. It's exactly how my body feels, BUT I''m so grateful that I'm alive and that this will pass as well.

Peter.

Originally Posted by Sturdee

It came as a shock to me and I don't think I've come completely to terms with it, but that part, and an important one to all males, is over.

And a deeper silence fell! Unless the boys pm'd you!

Hi Sturdee - sorry to hear of your woes. Yep, you may have some trouble rising to certain occasions in the future and yes it is important to most males, but your sex life is certainly not finished. There's a whole new world of sexual invention awaiting both you and your wife, and if the grins on the faces of my sister and brother in law are anything to go by (he had the same complication) you're going to need your vitamin pills!

The best of luck to you.

Sturdee, I had read through all of this before and thought I had posted but either didn't, or pushed the wrong button!
Was sorry to hear o your woes but I trust things will be as good as possible from now on.
I've had checks over the last couple of years but this is a timely reminder for another.

All the best mate.

Peter
Thank you from all who have and will get a prostate check as a result of your initiative with this thread.
Best wishes for a continued recovery.

Regards

Gordon

Peter as the bible says 'and it came to pass' most of your woes will also and there may even be some benefits apart from a cure. I may have raised this issue in past threads but there is a lot of benefit attending Support Groups. Most of the monthly meetings have guest speakers who cover subjects such as diet, natural remedies, incontinence and sexual disfunction and tell about solutions and the latest developments both pre and post cancer. I am a great advocate of these groups and have learned a lot in the last 2 years. I would also like to think that I have helped others in my group by discussing my experiences which were external radiation, high dose brachytheraphy and 22 month of hormonal injections. This was a lot easier on the body than your treatment.
Wishing you all the best and low PSA for the future.

John

Peter, I sympathise with the catheter and bag I had mine for six weeks and it drove me mad.
A friend of mine was done a month ago and he only had it in for a week.
les

I was rained off from work today and took the opportunity to visit Sturdee, I took a bottle of pain killer for him.... I hope he enjoys it..

He is his usually jovial self and cant wait to get back to it..
I got all the gory details , well I did ask....

Last night when I went to bed I was most uncomfortable lying down. Normally I sleep on my side but since the op. I have to sleep on my back and stretching out flat was painful across the abdomen.

So rather then putting up with this I got up, took a spare blanket, cranked up the overnight heating and setled into my reclining chair in the lounge where I had quite a good sleep and where my wife found my the next morning quite cheerful.

But the lousy start to the night turned into a great day when Al came to visit me, we spent a couple of hours chatting which was great. Thanks Al.

So I spent my days sitting/laying in my chair reading or watching tv and getting up every so often and waddle getting some exercise. Sitting at the computer for a while is still uncomfortable but I'm pushing myself to keep going a few times during the day.

Peter.

Originally Posted by les88

Peter, I sympathise with the catheter and bag I had mine for six weeks and it drove me mad.
A friend of mine was done a month ago and he only had it in for a week.
les

Les,


The catheter is due to come out next Tuesday as well as the removal of the staples and hopefully then I can start the proper road to recovery.

Peter.

My pleasure Peter, apart from the green look around the gills you looked good.

Im sure you will be up and at em in no time..

Originally Posted by whitewood

I may have raised this issue in past threads but there is a lot of benefit attending Support Groups.
John

I agree John that there is great benefit with support groups and that may be something when I'm well again to consider.

Meanwhile I have a private support from a fellow volunteer at the men's shed where I go who went through all this last year and of course this forum where all my mates are, maybe unwittingly, supporting me through this.

Thanks guys for listening and helping, Neil for this forum, without this it would have been harder to cope.


Peter.

After another lousy night I have blood in the urine and a painful abdomen so I'm going to the emergency dept for a check up.

So long ,

Peter