Surf is UP !!!! @@

Posted by surftohealth88 @surftohealth88, Aug 11 12:17pm

So- here we go ! 😣
The time has FINALLY come, but at the same time "suddenly” ... This Tuesday (tomorrow) my husband is having surgery at noon and according to written instructions he will be released next day to go home.

I am so very fortunate that our younger daughter lives in the same area so she will be giving us a ride and keep me company during procedure, otherwise the surgeon would be forced to put me "under" too 🥴 to stop my crazy pacing through corridors.

We are ready as much as one can be ready, all is sanitized, cleaned, cooked, folded and sparkly and stored in one place so there is no guessing "where the heck is that Senokot" 🙄. My brain is scrambled completely because of the stress and I feel like my fellow posters here that are on ADT - yesterday I called a bookcase "the thing with boards and books" XP.

Prayers and good vibes are welcome : ))), and I will keep you all posted about everything.

I also want to use this opportunity to thank everybody on this forum for every advice and every comforting word that I received since I came here in February (or was it March ?), I can not remember since all of those months are one very loooong blurry day that never ended ....

I will leave you now with a short poem : )) and will post again as soon as I can : ). HUGSSSS to allll !!!

If you believe in fairies,
ask them,
If you believe in God,
ask him,
If you believe in destiny,
ask it,
Ask them all to send healing
for surfer who sailed the seas,
trying to find peace,
but never found it.
Ask for gentle waves and siren songs,
the mistral breeze to bring him home.
I’ll be waiting,
forever,
without a cease.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

Profile picture for surftohealth88 @surftohealth88

I know - if there is any damage to nerves the recovery is slow but definitely happens in most cases. Some members here needed almost 2 years for ED to resolve and that is exact time that is mentioned in most papers. If there is a problem with continence it resolves usually by 12 mos and for ED it can take 18 to 24 mos. I think that Cialis is supposed to help with blood circulation in that area which promotes better healing.
I am giving my husband alpha-lipoic acid and vit. B12 lozenges because they can help with nerve reparation. Can not do any harm, that is for sure ;).

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Yeah, I take a good multivitamin and magnesium since I checked my diet and magnesium was clearly lacking for me. I don't believe vitamins and minerals "fix anything" but rather for me it's just about trying to give my body the nutrients it needs. Unfortunately I just don't eat healthy enough to get it all in my food (which I think is the best way). I've found the Kirkland brand at Costco particularly good value and quality. Best wishes.

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Profile picture for peterj116 @peterj116

Cialis 20mg Tablets 8 - Tadalafil $216.99 NZD

Cilatil 20mg Tablets 8 - Tadalafil $49.99 NZD

It's not publicly funded down here.
150 bucks a month for the generic. That's what I'm taking.
Don't even know if they're doing any good. I assume they're repairing nerves & scar tissue. That's what I was told, anyway.

Still "under assessment" for funding.

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Sorry to hear that. Best wishes.

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Profile picture for northoftheborder @northoftheborder

Yeah. I seemed to get everything all at once during those months in late 2021 — I have a list on my phone so that I won't forget, and I have to scroll to read it all — but since then, I feel like I've been living life in reverse, getting stronger and feeling healthier each year as I age, despite the permanent spinal damage and the "incurable" stage 4 cancer lurking in the background.

So if you feel that everything's going south all at once, don't give up. Stay positive (joyful if possible; maybe keep a gratitude journal), and hang on. Things might keep getting worse at first, but they *can* sometimes eventually get better if you're stubborn enough to keep rolling with the punches.

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Thanks North for this post 🤗 !
I will read it any time I feel down 🌟☺️

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Profile picture for peterj116 @peterj116

B12 That's a new one. I'll ask the surgeon.
I'm going back on Tuesday to see how the AUS is getting on.
Should be the last urologist visit. Then it's just blood tests forever.

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In Europe it is actually very common practice to administer B12 shots for any nerve related pain (lumbar nerve pain, shingles , etc) and those have amazing effect. Now here in the USA it is "unheard of" tactic *sigh.
My husband had shingles flair 10 years ago and doctor was giving him all kind of meds with no effect and I insisted after 2 weeks of aginy to give him B12 shot or that I will find who will give him a shot and he got one - in TWO days shingles pain was literary gone ! Day one was 50% better, next day gone . BUT, I am sure that that same doctor never offered a B12 shot to any future patient.

B12 deficiency is actually common in older people because guts are getting older and absorbency is less efficient. For that reason it is better to take B12 tablets that are dissolved slowly under the tongue. That way vitamins are directly absorbed in bloodstream.

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DAY 4

Really nothing to report, which is good : ))). Had normal BMs , normal BP, normal urine, etc etc. He is still little bit low on energy, but that low blood count and hemoglobin will need couple of weeks to recover, so it is expected. He still prefers big bag. No trouble with catheter.

His surgeon checked on him yesterday via text which was very sweet of him < 3. Got major points in my "doctor report card" ; ).

Catheter is scheduled to come out this coming Thursday - time flies ... 😬

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Thanks for the update.
I do not remember how old your husband is but it sure is an adjustment to start to think in terms of years for things to get back to normal. It seems not so long ago that things took days maybe weeks.......

keep the updates coming 🙂

Ed

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Just saw this thread. I went back the thread and I am glad your husband's surgery is progressing very well after some anxious moments in the hospital. Your husband is lucky: he has you and your duaghter who lives nearby.

My surgery is scheduled for September 2nd, and I am making all the necessary preparations for the post-surgery recovery at home.

I wish your husband further progress in his recovery.

Thanks for detailing some ofthe challenges of the post-surgery recovery so folks like me can better be prepared.

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Profile picture for surftohealth88 @surftohealth88

-DAY 3 POST OP

*MORNING round ; )

Patient is in good spirit, had full night sleep without any pain medications administered. Woke up before me and went down to kitchen and made himself an oatmeal and washed some fruits taken out of the fridge which prompted my lecture about “not carrying anything”. I was assured that it was "just 3 nectarines and basket of strawberries and that it can not possibly exceed the weight limit" (which is true). BUT, I wish to prevent “ooopppsss” ideas of pulling gallon of milk out of the fridge or reaching for business briefcase that weights a TON in his upstairs office. He had normal BM this morning also.

Urine looks much more regular, healthy color, light yellow. It was still pinkish yesterday on occasions. He took a shower at noon, all went well and with no problems. I ordered some heavy duty vacuum hooks from Amazon and attached one on shower wall so that he can hang catheter bag and keep it out of the direct water stream - it actually stayed completely dry that way. Only long catheter tube got wet but it was easy to dry it with paper towel.

His incisions are really minor, just strait tiny lines and his port incision is also nice looking, no redness or swelling, just a thin line. Slight brownish bruise appeared below that incision but hardly visible. When he got out of the shower he towel-dried himself but I suggested that he proceeds with full body "blow-dry” using a hairdryer on low heat setting - he is very hairy man, mind you XP. That step made sure that his body and especially his belly got really dry so no moisture would irritate incisions or skin in “lower parts”. It is VERY important to keep incisions dry to prevent any irritation or infection. He put on fresh clean clothing and changed a towel for fresh one. (I will be changing his towel on daily bases till his incisions heal 100%).

He is cleaning meatus about 3 times a day with disposable pre-moistened wipes which we got in the hospital and I also ordered some from Amazon beforehand. There is no irritation on a tip of his penis (as of now), maybe it helps that he is not circumcised (?) so that area is protected and lubricated naturally. He is drinking a lot of natural herbal teas (with no caffeine), warm drinks sooth him and make him feel comfy. He misses coffee but it is OK. He was advised to start with Cialis today, 20 mg for rehab purposes.

*AFTERNOON round:

Patient took a loooong nap after eating a big bowl of home made chicken noodle soup. He is feeling good, energy is coming back, BP was normal, oxygenation 96, heart rate 71, temperature normal. Answered some e-mails related to his job, walked a bit around the home and around the garden, can sit upright at dinner table with very little discomfort in pelvic floor but I insist that he spends most of the day sitting reclined - I do not think that area needs any pressure during healing. He goes up and down the stairs full speed, I have to yell “slow down” - c-c-c.

Urine is still clear, light yellow color. He is keeping hydrated and I am convinced that herbal teas did wonder and promoted such fast clearing of the urine from occasional blood and some haziness yesterday to this healthy color today. Catheter is “behaving nicely”, does not cause much trouble. No poky feeling, no bladder spasms, no tip irritation.

Dinner is going to be a grilled salmon with mashed sweet potatoes and plenty of lettuce.

There was no need for Tylenol or Ibuprofen today.

PS: I am still very tired 😋, but it is mostly stress related - I will need some time to recover.

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Catheter yoga 🙃

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Profile picture for surftohealth88 @surftohealth88

DAY 4

Really nothing to report, which is good : ))). Had normal BMs , normal BP, normal urine, etc etc. He is still little bit low on energy, but that low blood count and hemoglobin will need couple of weeks to recover, so it is expected. He still prefers big bag. No trouble with catheter.

His surgeon checked on him yesterday via text which was very sweet of him < 3. Got major points in my "doctor report card" ; ).

Catheter is scheduled to come out this coming Thursday - time flies ... 😬

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Even though surgery is not in the cards for me, I find your reports fascinating and have read them all. Please keep them coming. I'm so glad progress is good for Mr. surf.

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Profile picture for edinmaryland @edinmaryland

Thanks for the update.
I do not remember how old your husband is but it sure is an adjustment to start to think in terms of years for things to get back to normal. It seems not so long ago that things took days maybe weeks.......

keep the updates coming 🙂

Ed

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Hi Ed, my husband is 69 years old.

I guess having diagnosis of PC puts us all in "years" of adjustment ; ), there is no escaping some kind of maintenance after that . PSA tests, diet, exercise, and possible additional treatments.

But - one step at a time : ))

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