Joining the club

Hello!

We have been reading for a couple of weeks and decided it's time to dive in. Curt was diagnosed with prostate cancer in February and having the Da Vinci surgery on May 11. The Dr. feels that he can only spare one nerve due to the volume of cancer in the left side. We feel so much better reading all of your posts and seeing the support that is shown here.

I have been making note of all of your suggestions to make things easier after surgery. Feeling a bit overwhelmed but know that is normal.

Looking forward to getting to know you.

Curt & Vicky

Hi ~   Curt,   Vicky,   &   Loved Ones,         A    “Special”   Warm Welcome   to   You!         We know ~ we can “all” make “Your Journey” smoother just by being here for you!   This is truly a great forum!!! ~ You have joined!  You are now part our forum family ~ a group of wonderful individuals who are so willing to share...   It helps “all of us” ~ to help you ~ if we know where you are on your path. So ~ Please stay with us and take our hand when you need it!   Keep posting.... OKAY!!     KNOWLEDGE     IS     POWER   ...   and   POWER conquers   fear   YOU MAKE THE DECISIONS… YOU HAVE OPTIONS… ~ and ~ Your decision will be the right decision for you!!!   J   We invite you to visit our personal thread:   Click Here:   “Our Journey” ~ Sharing is Caring     Our thoughts and prayers will be with you as you continue to move forward. In Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy   “God Bless You” It's a little prayer   ~   "God Bless You" ...but it means so much each day, It means may angels guard you and guide you on your   way.   (Direct Link ~ just click on the title below and a new window will open!   Reminder … click on the REFRESH icon once you get there) Helpful Hints ~ & ~ Direct Links to Important Topic Threads ~ Hope this helps you!! :)

Hi Curt and Vicki,

Sorry you have to be here but this is the best place to be for hope and help and support.

Having the treatment decision behind you is the first and highest hurdle that you have to face. Good for you for getting it done and good for you for using us to help in the process. Remember that we are here for you and look forward to you sharing your story so you can help the next person who comes on board.

Please stay with us, we need you as much as your need us...

Jim

hi Curt and Vicki,

Not to echo the others, but sorry that you are here. My husband had the Da Vinci in March. Like Alex said, the down part is that you feel so good so soon. I practically had to sit on Kurt to keep him down. He is now back to work with very few leaks if any at all. He wears one pad per day, just as a precaution. Kurts nerve bundles were spared on both sides, however, the doc cut the ends that wrap around the prostate on both sides about half way to 3/4 of the way up because he didn't know exactly where the cancer was. He said that at Kurt's age, he expects full recovery, just may take a little longer than most men his age. You are very close in age, so I hope that gives you a little encouragement. We are not quite there yet, but know that it will come. Doc expects 50% at 8 weeks. I think we have achieved that at times all ready. Good luck to you. Don't hesitate to ask anything. Courtney

Vicky, Take a deeeeep breath. I know exactly how you feel. I was there just 2 months ago. My dad died from this in 1997. He was 53 years old. Surgery was not an option for him, but it was for Kurt. Yes, the doctors expect full recovery. It is frustrating at times, for both of us, but the most important thing is the cancer is gone. He takes Viagra everyother night and pumps 2 times per day. I think that we are ahead of schedule at times, and right on track the rest of the time. It does take time. We will be 5 weeks post surgery tomorrow, and only in our 2nd week of trying to get an erection. So, being said that he can achieve some hardening, I would have to say that the nerves work, they are just mad at being manipulated and cut during the procedure, haha. They will get over it eventually, and our life, though changed forever, will get back to normal.

I posted a thread around the beginning of March about what to have ready for after surgery. If you want, we can bring it back up to the top. We got a lot of great advice there for surgery needs. We were set!! Eventhough we traveled six hours away.

Good luck to you. Keep posting. Courtney

Vicky, where are you all located? That info can also help others to give you advise. Glad you are breathing.... Courtney

Hi Curt and Vicky,

Just wanted to add my welcome to the forum and glad you decided to post!

We are just one week out of surgery here and everything is going very well.

We were also facing the "possiblity" of one nerve going, although our doctor told us absolutely no way to tell until he got in. Turned out both were saved.

Best wishes, keep us udated :)

Tanya and Ken

Hi ~ Curt & Vicky,   In response to your question about Velcro.   Due to cooler weather at the time we had Mr. Hang… we used long pj’s…   We used the drawstring pj's over elastic waist..for comfort in tightness around waist.  Warmer weather!! …shorts would be perfect with no work needed!!   I slit a comfortable pair of pj’s down the left side from waist to mid thigh.    I pulled the drawstring out of the way   so I could re-thread it once the slit was made.   I then hemmed the edges and placed hooks… to close the opening (not really necessary if truth be told!!! No body saw it but us J ).   This allowed for the tubing to be comfortable with a downward draw to the bag.   Buddy was very comfortable holding the “big” bag as he walked, it hung great in the basket beside the bed, and while reading in his “new” lounge chair.   The small laundry basket with handle….was very stable on the floor. (approx size 13Hx12Wx13D).   We chose not to use the leg bag at home!   We also did not venture away from home.   We got lots of rest and good walks!!   The Velcro could be used on a pair of elasticized pants… and at the slit (waist to mid thigh) the Velcro could be used to close the waist (adjusting tightness as healing takes place) and leaving the slit open or a little Velcro could go here too!!   Couldn’t find the posting about the Velcro and now I’m wondering if it was Wittler who mentioned it….   But here’s my thoughts. There are other postings and if I can locate them I’ll send them to you….   Lots of options!   The most important thing we can share from our experience with Mr. Hang…. Is…. Make friends with him.   Let him have his way because he is doing some serious work here.   Helping you to heal and this is so important for continence……   So ~ if you fight him he’s going to fight back!!!   And ~ he will win.   So ~ make life easy…. Go with the flow for the “small amount” of time that you’ll be joined with him….     Hope this helps and continue asking questions…. there’s no need to re-invent the wheel!!!   We can all help to make your journey smoother.   In Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy