Starting Other Side

Many, many thank to all of you who responded to my first post when my husband was dx back in May.  You were incredibly helpful as we got ourselves organized for the next steps.

His open RP was last Thursday and he came home yesterday.  Excessive wound drainage kept him in the hospital longer than planned, but now home and getting used to life with a catheter.  As I read in some posts this morning, seems as though by the time the catheter is figured out it is time to get it out - for hubby, that day is Friday.  We get path report at same appt.  Dr. said surgery went well and he was able to spare all nerves on left and about 1/2 nerves on right.  Said lymph glands looked "good."  First PSA in about a month.

I think we're all exhausted from the trauma of it all - psychological for me and psych/physical for him.  So we're trying to take it day by day.  Will let you all know when we get path and, once again, exceptionally grateful for all your support and wish everyone good health.

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husband, age 56

psa 4.3

biopsy 5/20/09 - 2/14 positive, 3+3=6

consultation 6/4/09 - revised to 3+4=7

open surgery scheduled 7/31/09

Hi Siewife, thanks for letting us know and welcome to the other side.

I can honestly say I think the other side has been more difficult on my wife than myself. I may ache, and have been the one with the rubber tail, but she was the one who had to look after my every whim of wanting a pillow in a different place for support, refilling my water glass, and, above all, putting her own life on hold and being my driver and companion for several weeks. If I hurt I could take two 500mg tylenols and have a nap. My wife didn't have such an easy out.

As you know this is a great place to post questions and just reading about and following others as they recover is a source of strength. Please, keep in touch.

Sheldon AKA Sleepless

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Age 67 in Apil '09 at news of 4 of 12 cores positive T2B and Gleason 3 + 3 and 5% to 25% PSA 1.5

Re-read of slides in June said Gleason 3 + 4 same four cores 5% to 15%

June 29 daVinci prostatectomy, Dr. Eric Estey, at Royal Alexandra Hospital Edmonton one night stay

Flew home to Winnipeg on July 3 after 5 nights in Ramada Inn  ---  perfect recovery spot!

Catheter out July 9, so far, so good

Final pathology is 3 + 4 Gleason 7, clear margins, clear nodes, T2C, sugeron says report is "excellent"  

Hello Siewife,

Glad both your husband and you are on the other side. The recovery side. Glad his surgery went well, and you are right, the entire ordeal is a major stress maker for the both of you. Even though my wife is a nurse, she still had a hard time knowing what I was going through, and for many weeks, I was in little position to do much for her in return. Now that I am 9 months out of surgery, I am her utter house slave, she loves that part, lol.

I hope your husbands recovery goes well, and that you both get rewarded with a big fat zero on that first post surgery psa test. May his rubber snake come out with ease, and may his pathology report be squeakly clean.

David in SC

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Age 57, 56 at DX, PSA 7/7 5.8, 7/8 12.3,9/8 14.5

3rd Biopsy Sept 08: Positive 7 of 7 cores, 40-90%, Gleason 7, 4+3

Open RP surgery 11/14/8, Right nerves spared, 4 days hospital, staples out 11/24/8, 5th cath out on 1/19/9

 Pathlogy Report:Gleason 3+4=7, pT2c, 42 grm, tumor 20%, Contained in capsule, one post. margin, clear lymph nodes 

2009 PSA   2/9 .05, 5/9 .10, 6/9 .11, 8/11 ?

Lastest 7/13 met with Rad. Oncl, considering options, 7/20 Catheter #6 after complete blockage, scarring closed up bladder neck, again

 

All I can add is "Walk Walk and Walk some more." Good luck on the healing.

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Jeff T Age 57

9/08 PSA 5.4, referred to Urologist
9/08 Biopsy: GS 3/4=7
10/08 Nerve sparing open RRP- Path Report: GS 3+3=7 Stg. pT2c, margins clear
3 mts: PSA .05 undetectable

 10th month  PSA <0.01

ED- 5 mg Cialis daily, pump daily, going to try MUSE next