In response to your question as to where I reside, I live in Iowa. My treatments have/are taking place at the University of Iowa...another very reputable hospital. I have read and heard that there are some of us that have incontinence issues from a prostatectomy see complete continence in time, some a little, and some not so much. As I mentioned, I'm done with anything being done "down there". As you stated, how much more can my "plumbing" take. I don't want to live the rest of my life recovering from surgeries. I am embarrassed by the stigma attached to adults wearing diapers, but it is what it is. I see my surgeon/urologist next Oct. I'm sure he will have some suggestions. I hope I'm brave enough to stand my ground.

Hello @ch6652961f, it's been 13 months since I exchanged messages with you, and I'm glad to have a new chance to commune with a fellow BPH veteran. In some respects, you and I have been through similar challenges -- BPH, prostate resection (TURP in my case), bladder surgery (TURB in my case) after 12 small malignant tumors appeared on the internal lining of my bladder. My incontinence turned out to be short-term -- same as my recovery from surgery. My bladder sphincter is still on the job after 9 years. During that time, I have had regular cystoscope examinations of my bladder and am pleased that no more tumors have appeared -- yet -- although what was left behind of my prostate is growing slightly. My urologist recommended Finasteride to discourage more growth, and I'm fortunate to have no side effect from the medication.

Before my surgery, I used diapers regularly for a few weeks, and I still carry a few in my briefcase or suitcase, although I haven't had to use them for years. I have an understanding with my urologist that surgery of any kind to treat prostate cancer will be a last resort, but I haven't ruled it out altogether. Instead, my preference is "watch and wait." I haven't had a PSA test for years, and my prostate remains unremarkable in transanal examinations.

One mammoth advantage has developed since my surgery 9 years ago. Immunotherapy based on genomic tests has changed my outlook 180 degrees. I no longer see prostate cancer as a threat, because immunotherapy can cure it without knife or heat or frost or laser -- the trusted old fashioned ways of removing prostate tumors. Even gioblastomas, such as those that took Senator Ted Kennedy and are threatening Senator John McCain, are now being cured in clinical trials that are leading to public treatment in the near future. So I hope you can join me in optimism that cancer is not the threat we feared in the past and that accepting the most modern therapies will give us better life experiences for the rest of our lives. Martin

@ch665296f - Thanks for the courtesy of a timely reply. Welcome fellow (I assume) native Midwesterner. I am a favorite nephew of my Uncle Popeye, and “City Of Big Shoulders Born.”

It is/was not my intent to sully your unnamed urologist healthcare provider/team, or, necessarily, to try to dissuade you from going where you feel comfortable with the doctoring. You must forgive me as I am “Bullish On 150+ Year Old Mayo.” My response to you was written for you, as well as for the greater good, interest & information of any testosterone-fueled eyeballs afflicted with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), who may be reading our e-chitchatting exchanges.

I, clearly, am “Bullish” on Mayo. I went into MCF with a heavily testosterone-marinated prostate, and a necked down urinary tract opening at my “Septuagenarian-Vintage Testosterone-Bloated Prostate,” which was suffering from BPH… I came out of the MCF operating room post-TURP scalpel prostate innards carving, “Clean & Green,” fully functional with no nerve damage, no nuttin’ & no problemo… I view that result as a personal “Veritable Miracle.”…which at Mayo is “Patient-Care Business As Usual.”

I call your attention to my related e-babblings over in Men’s Health: “Adventures In Male Agri-Care: ‘Mushrooms’ Fertilized With Testosterone.” I write there about on how we “Blue Tee-Shirters” need to stick together, get “Kilted” and organized, because greater public society tends to put us “Blue-Shirted Baby Boys In The Corner” when it come to Charitable Spending & NIH/Federal Research Bucks and Public Service Announcement Awareness, etcetera. Paraphrasing Johnny Castle in “Dirty Dancing,”…”Nobody Puts Us Baby Boys In The Corner.”

Keep up your pursuit of “What’s Best For @ch665296f’s Plumbing,” not what is best for your doctors and University of Iowa Med at following protocols because you have good health insurance. Remember, it is your body that you are living in, not theirs. You know best what is happening in there/down there. Keep The “Blue Tee-Shirt” Faith, Brother.

You're a hoot, @catgic!

@predictable - Thank you, I will take "Hoot" anytime 🙂

I requested a recommendation from the Pyronies specialist and was told something like, we don't do urology, you have to call urology for an appointment.
I was very happy with my care and direction in.the pyronies visit. And was surprised I couldn't get a referral for my urology issues.

.I was less than impressed with the Pyronies specialist I saw at Northwestern in Illinois.
I'm not sure who to ask for a reference from there.
I was very happy with my urologist Dr. Dan Dammrich at Northwestern. Northwestern. I thought I messaged him for a referral. I'll have to check if he ever replied.

Since the Multiple Myeloma specialist at Mayo didn't seem to want to be involved in my treatment for that I switched to St. Louis.

I might check there for a urologist.

I really don't know what to do to help myself.
So far giving up and living with it hasn't been working out so well.

I don't trust my local Drs. Or any drs. Much. I was in the hospital for 4 days being treated for muscle spasms when I had 4 badly broken ribs. I clunked when I walked. You shouldn't ought to clunk when you walk.

They never looked at the X-rays they ordered. Stevie Wonder could have seen the broken ribs in those pictures.

At Mayo my shortness of breath was diagnosed as asthma.
A nurse told me that asthma was not my problem. I had very minor asthma.
I requested more testing. Some asshole walked in the room and said, "I've reviewed your records, You have asthma and walked out."
I wasted 20 hours of driving for that I was undiagnosed for years.

My issue was heart related. Possibly in combination with MGUS or smoldering Myeloma.

I've had many bad reactions to procedures and am scared to do anything but live with what I have.

I've been kept overnight for several procedures that were supposed to be outpatient.

I had a reaction to a catheter that left me numb for a very long time. I'm still not right.

I should have sued.
I got absolutely no help from any medical so-called professional on the issue.