My Feb 2019 annual blood test indicated a 5.5 PSA. My family doctor tried to get an appointment with a Specialist. It took until the end of May to meet the Specialist she picked. (I later found out she only knew of this one Specialist who only did surgery.)
After the initial May appointment, the Specialist did a Biopsy the end of June. The results came back the end of July. Gleason 7 (3+4). The Specialist gave me a book about Prostate Cancer to read and said: "Lets meet next month to discussion your options once you research and understand the options on your own".
On the Prostate Canada web site, they have a list local chapters. I decided to go to my local chapter at their next meeting. I probably dominated that meeting with my questions to the 10 or so members who were there that night. The members freely shared their answers and opinions to my concerns.
Decided after that chapters meeting, based on my numbers (and my otherwise good health) I (with my wife's full agreement) wanted surgery to remove the prostate. (I decided that although radiation would be less initially inconvenient, I did not like the fact that once you do radiation, the option for future surgery is out. Also, did not like the possible long term side effects of radiation.)
At the end of Aug met with my Specialist only to find out he only did open surgery. I made the appointment for his next available surgery date of early Dec.
However, though further research and discussions with other Prostate affected men, I really wanted robotic surgery which I believed would be less physically evasive.
Based on the discussions from the local chapters meeting, there was another Specialist's name that came up a lot, that did robotic surgery. Bypassing the regular doctor's reference system to have my current Specialist set up a meeting with this other Specialist (which could take a few more months), I contact the other Specialist directly. The same day the new Specialist scheduled an appointment with me for the following week (mid Sept). (Wow, speed this is normally unheard of!)
During the meeting with this new Specialist, there was no doubt in my mind, I want him to do the robotic surgery. He was able to schedule the surgery in late November. I then cancelled my first Specialists surgery.
The robotic surgery went VERY well.
After coming home from the hospital after 2 days with the catheter in place, had some minor issues - mainly bladder spasms and some leg cramps. However in email discussions with the Specialist, the use of Advil controlled the issues.
After 10 days the catheter was removed in the Specialist office. Whew, what a relief for that!
Used a lot of diapers the first week until I gained some bladder control. (PS - Costco Kirkland Brand is the best priced diapers out there and they are pretty comfortable!) Continuously fewer diapers used each day.
By the end of Dec I was just using pads in my underwear for the odd leak (usually when laughing too hard or the odd time when walking.)
Also from the first day in the hospital, I had started walking. After I got home with the catheter, I was walking all around the house in multiple laps every day. After the catheter came out, started walks outside. Short distances at first (up and down the street) to laps around the block. I am now doing 3 main walks a day at about 3 km each.
Still have not got an erection. Before the surgery I was taking 15mg Cialis when needed. Last week (end of Dec) tried the 15mg one day. Nothing. Tried 20mg the next day. Nothing BUT I did have a side effect happen: major aches and pains in all my leg muscles for the next 2 days. Luckily you can take Advil for this to control the pain. Decided to stop taking any more Cialis until my next Specialist appointment in mid Jan, so I can discuss the issue with him. Will not be doing my first PSA test till March.
That's my story for now. I hope is helps someone else. Will update it as I progress.
3 months after my operation and just got the results of my first PSA test. Undetectable!!
Next week will be going to a physiotherapist who specializes in assisting patients with ED after prostate surgery. Already started taking 5mg of Calais every day as part of the therapy.
Will give an update in 3 months.
Six month PSA test results still 0. Still taking Cialis and using a VED. Dr. says to be patient about regaining erections.
Hi. Now 2 years since surgery. PSA's still non detectable. However no erections yet. Cialis / viagra not working either. Will try injections and see how that works.
3 years now. I still have full bladder control but no erections. Tried injections but just can't get my head around looking at myself injecting my penis with a needle. The one time I did try it, there was no effect. So now I just use the Vacurect to get an erection but it is mainly to pull blood into the penis.
I had started the Vacurect a year after my operation but dropped it after a year for about 6 months. Into my second year I found a video on how to properly use the device: (Use it, squeeze out the blood, repeat and repeat again: min 3 times). Note: since I had stopped for that 6 6 month period, the first few times I started using it again, i was actually bleeding on the ends of my foreskin since it has not been stretched in a long time. It looks like I will have to do this for the rest of my life.
My wife has been good about the no penetration / intercourse since we have found other ways to keep her satisfied.
It's been 4 years now since my surgery. Last reading at 3.5 years was still negligible. Still have full bladder control. Still no erections even with Calais or Viagra. Use the vacerect pump every couple days just to keep blood moving in the area.
Will update at the end of the year at the 5 year mark.
Rick's e-mail address is: rbrez AT sympatico.ca (replace "AT" with "@")
