Hello,
I don’t know if I went into very much about or shared much of my past and present medical history. I was extremely debilitated from CFS/ME, FIBROMYALGIA and CHIARI MALFORMATION. I am still very debilitated from these disease states but have improved enough to have achieved some kind of measurable lifestyle I can describe and enjoy as a life worth living! I was pretty much bedridden and home confined for almost 23 years out of the past 32. As a result, even before I was being treated for my HYPOGONADISM as of 2011, I was already very weak and unable to do or accomplish very much physically with the debilitating side effects of POST EXERTION MALAISE and ORTHOSTATIC INTOLERANCE etc, along with experiencing measurable cognitive disfunction. As a result, when I started my “TRT,” it also improved my overall physical and cognitive wellbeing by about 30%. to 35%. This is an enormous benefit to me and my ability to live and enjoy my life as much as possible given all of my past and present health challenges. While on “TRT,” I have a somewhat functional life, albeit extremely limited when compared to the normal lifestyle and well-being enjoyed by most so called normal individuals. So for me, continuing my “TRT,” literally allows me to live a lifestyle I would not otherwise be able to have or enjoy. It’s similar to a Diabetic’s dependance on Insulin. Although I wouldn’t literally die like a diabetic would if they no longer had access to their insulin it would create an extremely catastrophic existence for me.. I also deal with excessive amounts of pain created by the disease states I have to manage. Additionally, without my pain management therapy it would be impossible for me to endure the amount of daily pain I must manage to survive. In totality, I need the combination of all my current treatment protocols because there are no cures for CFS/ME or FIBROMYALGIA. I did have a combination of neck, head and brain surgery back in 2001 to help heal and correct my CHIARI MALFORMATION. However, that specific congenital disease has caused a certain amount of continuing side effects that the surgery could not repair or restore me back to the previous and normal functioning of my overall cognitive and neurologically related capacities. “CM” is the result of your cranium failing to grow and develop completely to its normal size as you develop from a toddler to and through your adolescence stage.
Additionally, your Spinal Canal does not develop fully which in combination with your underdeveloped and smaller than normal cranium reduces the normal amount of functioning space and area required to allow the Cerebrospinal Fluid to flow normally and adequately enough to your brain. Additionally, the Cerebellum begins to herniate and gets forced downwards through your Spinal
Canal. Your Cerebellum Tonsils also start to twist and wrap around your Cerebellum instead of straddling it in parallel on either side. This specific combination of physical abnormalities by themselves causes a severe neurological and cognitive disorder. In combination with my already debilitating cases of CFS/ME and FIBROMYALGIA etc, it was analogous to the creation of the “PERFECT STORM!”
I was literally and completely overwhelmed by the magnitude of everything manifesting simultaneously.
It all started with some viral type symptoms which first struck me on December 30th, 1990. Prior to that, I was a very fit, athletic and strong man enjoying the fruits of my labor and had built a very successful insurance career, was happily married and living a wonderful, enjoyable life and overall lifestyle.
Although I certainly did not want to be diagnosed with Prostate Cancer or any other kind of cancer,
which I was diagnosed with in August of 2022. At least I knew there were successful treatments and protocols which could manage the cancer and achieve a state of remission. Although if left untreated, the cancer I contracted could actually kill me. In many respects, it’s been much easier to manage my PC than my other overwhelming disease states. The bottom line for me is about my existence here on earth and the overall “Quality of Life!” available to me. I’ve already survived and have barely done so at too many stages experiencing far too many tortuous years without having that minimum quality of life. As a result, there was absolutely no possibility that I would choose anything that could or would possibly recreate anything less then a viable option moving forward. Hence, the radiation treatments in combination with the Medical Castration created through the utilization of LUPRON and other similar medications was never going to be a viable option for me. In addition to some other important considerations, the “RALP” became the obvious choice for me. My other debilitating disease states made it impossible for me to even travel to the hospital to attend the required radiation appointments etc.
Given the fact that I was going to experience a certain amount of urinary incontinence and Erectile Dysfunction whether I chose the surgical or radiation protocols I chose the surgery. Although you experience the Incontinence and ED immediately through the Radical Prostatectomy procedures etc. I also preferred the available option of doing the surgery first which gives me the option of utilizing the radiation options at a later date in time in case my cancer was ever going to reappear within the first 5 years or longer following my surgery. You are not afforded the surgery option if you choose the radiation treatments initially!
As I had previously stated, there is NO one best or better choice of treatment to manage PC. However, after completing a sufficient amount of research in addition to different physician consultations, each patient will ultimately choose the best treatment protocol for themselves.
The one that best meets their overall needs, desires, risk attitudes and assessments.
I am fortunate to be in remission with no detectable cancer and my Total PSA is and remains undetectable at < 0.014 since the day after my surgery on 10/26/22 and has remained the same as of today, 10/2/23.
I returned to my “TRT” on 3/27/23. It was similar to turning the light switch back on! I was barely getting by each day during the 5 months I had discontinued my “TRT” which started one month prior to my surgery and continued without it for the additional 4 months following my procedure!
Within several days following my first “T”injection I was already feeling substantially better. So………..by all measurement data, continuing my “TRT” is an absolute must for me.
I wish you the very best with your continued journey
and recovery.
GODSPEED