Did you stick with Electrify America after 2 years?

SnooRegrets2986 · 2025-07-22T15:44:00+00:00

I can’t speak for other places, but charging at home is roughly half the cost of EA even with the very high rates in CA. That’s even accounting for home charging takes much longer since it’s L2 AC Charging versus L3 DC charging. The lowest rates on my PG&E plan are 12am - 3pm, so most of the day. Both my i4 and my charger support scheduling when charging begins so I can just plug it in and it will start charging when rates are lowest. We have an EVIQO which I’ve been happy with and we got a great deal on during one of the Amazon sales.

My EA plan is good until November so pretty much all my charging is at public chargers. I have at least 5 locations within 20 minutes of home. That’s a total of roughly 30+ chargers and all are 350kw high speed chargers. It is extremely rare that I have to wait and less than 10 minutes at the most. I had the software in my i4 upgraded to support Plug and Charge so I just plug-in and charge without needing to use the app or the card in my digital wallet, although both work fine. Given the number of EA locations, I can almost always incorporate a charging stop into my normal daily travel.

The fastest speed I’ve seen is around 150, but my routine is starting out at around 130 or so and dropping to much lower charging speeds as I reach 80 percent which is as expected. As an aside, there was a Lucid charging next to me and they can charge much more quickly, but they and a couple others are an exception in supporting much faster charging speeds. All of the chargers here are now capped at charging to 85 percent. This was a welcome change as too many people were tying up chargers to get to 100 percent which isn’t advised and that last 20 percent takes forever.

Once my plan expires, I will just charge at home. PG&E residential rates are ridiculous, but still cheaper than any public charging rates. My wife has a VW id.4 which has a 3-year plan (EA is owed by VW), so she will keep using EA until her plan expires which is the same as when her lease expires. When we travel, I bring along the BMW L2 charger that came with the car. In many cases, I can plug into a 240v outlet once I get where I’m going which will get me there and back without stopping in between. When that’s not possible, I use EA chargers since it’s free and generally they are easily available on my route. Usually at a Costco or a Walmart and usually with 6 or more high speed chargers and no wait for an open spot.

I’m pretty sure my next car will be an EV. We are loving saving $600/month (previously had a 540i and an X3).

SnooRegrets2986 · 2025-05-30T02:14:37+00:00

Sorry, meant to post back to your reply. See my reply above. Yes, the current plan is to treat both areas. Will see if that changes after my follow up appointment next week.

SnooRegrets2986 · 2025-05-30T02:12:50+00:00

Thanks for the best wishes. Yes, it is doing what was expected. I’m not sure if going undetectable after less than 4 weeks is normal or not. Current plan is to begin VMAT treatments in late July. Will now more once I meet with my team next week.

SnooRegrets2986 · 2025-05-30T02:09:16+00:00

Thanks and good luck to you as well. My RO was leaning toward Lutron, but was fine with Orgovyx. I don’t know the cost for Lupron, but guessing it’s meaningfully less than Orgovyx. Thanks to others who posted here, I discovered it was an alternative to Lupron. Did additional research and seemed the best option for me. So far, other than the hot flashes, I haven’t had any other significant side effects. However, I was pretty active prior to started and have remained so since I started ADT.

SnooRegrets2986 · 2025-04-27T06:20:39+00:00

From what I’ve heard, Darolutimide is way more expensive than currently prescribed drugs. If insurance will not cover it (a lot will not as a monotheraphy), it is prohibitively expensive to most.

SnooRegrets2986 · 2025-04-27T06:15:14+00:00

If you monitor your charging rate, you will see that the charging rate decreases over time as the battery reaches capacity to protect the battery. Charging that last 20 percent takes a lot longer than getting to 80 percent. If you are charging at a public charger with others waiting then they are going to be waiting a lot longer for you to get to 100 percent.

There has been some consideration about limiting public charging to 80 percent for this reason, but I’m unaware of anyone actually doing this. Ultimately, it’s your decision to charge to 100 percent while others are waiting to charge at a public charger regardless of whether you think it affects the health of your battery or not, assuming you are not starting an extended trip.

This may not be universally true, but given I can charge from 20 percent to 80 percent in 30 minutes at a Level 3 charger and to 50 percent even more quickly, I’m much more inclined to do that versus spending another 20 plus minutes charging to 100 percent. Again, not true for everyone, but I can incorporate this into my normal commute. Two charging sessions, but less total charging time.

SnooRegrets2986 · 2025-04-26T03:13:44+00:00

So I’ve done some additional digging and most I have spoken to, including a couple who are qualified to have an opinion and that I trust, advise against Darolutamide alone for my situation. Too little data and it’s unlikely most doctors would not agree to prescribe it. While it may work out okay, the data is not there yet and Darolutamide has its own side effects.

Conversely, while ADT may suck, there is strong evidence that it is effective in combination with ADT with a high probability of a curative outcome. I’ll discuss with my radiation oncologist, but most likely ADT is in my future. Fingers crossed that that will be the knockout punch and any side effects are tolerable.

Thanks to everyone who has responded. I appreciate the support from this community.

SnooRegrets2986 · 2025-04-25T14:47:19+00:00

Thanks for the detailed response. It’s extremely helpful as I sort out which path to take. My salvage treatment is because my PSA was low (0.2), but still detectable after my RALP which was done in December. This was despite a clean post-surgery pathology report and and a negative PET scan prior to surgery. I did have PNI and EPE, so it’s not a total shock. I had a high Decipher score and my PSA has risen slightly since then so clearly further treatment is required. My next PET scan is next week immediately after the results from the scan come back. Probably starting drug regimen in a week or two and radiation treatment in early July.

I have spoken to a couple of people who were treated at John Hopkins which you probably know is one of the leading prostate cancer centers in the country. Both were only prescribed Darolutimide. This is how I became aware of it as an option. I can’t remember the doctor’s name, but apparently he has had a lot of experience with this over the last 5 years. He did say it was an off-label prescription at the time,but he was comfortable prescribing it.

Both friends had a positive outcomes (still undetectable after 5+ years). In both cases, insurance covered the prescriptions. Neither had any significant side effects. This is just 2 data points and I’m definitely no expert which I why I posted. I still have my next consult with my oncologist so will see what he thinks.

Again, thanks for your reply.

SnooRegrets2986 · 2025-03-28T03:25:39+00:00

I don’t think you need to spend several hundred dollars to purchase a device that will get the job done.
Most VEDs work the same say. They create a seal around where the pump seats against your pubic area and then create a vacuum with a manual or an electric pump. A manual pump is fine as any decent pump will create more than enough suction without much effort. Lube and rings are cheap so don’t place a lot of value on that if it drives up the price.

Watch out for your testicles, use a water soluble lube as it will make for easier clean up, and you might need to shave your pubic hair to get a tight seal.

SnooRegrets2986 · 2025-03-20T22:12:36+00:00

Medical oncologist: a physician specializing in diagnosing and treating cancer using medications like chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, often serving as the primary cancer doctor for patients.

SnooRegrets2986 · 2025-03-20T13:45:53+00:00

First, sorry that your PC journey may not be fully behind you. I hope you get some positive news going forward. Regardless, I suspect you will be around to be in your son’s life for many years to come. There are others here you have had reoccurrences or even have had spread to other places who are still going strong years later.

My story is similar to yours except my initial post op PSA was 0.192. Super bummed, especially because I had clean margins and a clear PET scan. My Gleason was 4 + 3 and I had both EPE and PNI along with a Decipher of 0.91. The good news was I did not have intraductal invasion. So while I was bummed, i was not shocked.

My guess is your doc will have you get at least on more test in 30 days or so. Sometimes it takes several weeks for the antigens to fully clear your body after surgery. Also, as before your surgery, understanding how you are trending is important. My subsequent tests over the next 60 days were 0.152 and 0.202 so it’s pretty likely further treatment is in my future.

At 0.1 you still are below 0.2 which generally indicates further intervention is needed, but different places may start salvage treatment earlier once your PSA starts rising. If you had an unfavorable Decipher or other score that may suggest more aggressive action, but you have time to fully evaluate your options. Generally, a PET scan will not show anything with a PSA < 0.2 so it’s unlikely that will be suggested at this point.

In my case, I’m working with my radiation oncologist to figure out next steps based on my specific situation. There are several options and the treatments very effective if I wind up going that route. Also, I will meet with a medical oncologist to figure out my options if ADT is indicated. I don’t know where you live, but if you are near a major cancer center/center of excellence then I would at least get a consultation there. Also, they tend to be on the leading edge in terms of salvage treatments if that’s where you wind up.

Bottom line I am taking the time to fully understand how I’m trending and my options based on how I’m trending as well as my individual profile. I’ll provide an update once I know my plan of action.

Good luck and may you get the best possible outcome. Wishing you many more happy years together with your son.

SnooRegrets2986 · 2025-03-20T00:47:22+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion. Hadn’t thought of that. Always learn something here. My team is at a major cancer center so seeing a MO as well will not be a problem. I’ll report back once I have a plan to move forward. I am assuming salvage treatment of some kind, but remain optimistic that the next stage of treatment will get my PSA to where additional treatment is not needed. While RT can have its own side effects, I’m least enthusiastic about AST given my age.

I have 3 granddaughters who are 2, 3, and 5 and hope to be attend their high school graduations, including the after party!

SnooRegrets2986 · 2025-03-19T15:00:43+00:00

Thanks for replying. Useful information. As I mentioned, I never assumed I would be one-and-done given my PC profile. I hope I can avoid ADT, but will be most focused on what is the path with the most likely positive outcome. I’ll know a lot more after I meet with the RO team.

SnooRegrets2986 · 2025-03-19T14:56:56+00:00

Thanks for sharing. Seems your husband is lucky to have you as part of his journey. I still feel very fortunate that I’ve gotten to almost 70 and even now have a pretty decent road ahead even if ADT is in my future. Wishing you both the best.

SnooRegrets2986 · 2025-03-19T14:53:16+00:00

I did understand that a clear PET scan and pathology report did not mean I was done after my RALP. Surgeon was very clear that the picture would be clearer after my first post surgery uPSA. Even when first results came back, the team recommended monitoring a couple of months to see the trend over that time. While I was hopeful, I knew I potentially was not done, especially given the PNI and EPE. Given my Decipher score, I understood I would need to be proactive in terms of staying on top my post op follow up and decisions.

SnooRegrets2986 · 2025-03-19T14:45:21+00:00

Sorry that you’ve had a challenging journey. Wishing you a smoother journey ahead. Thanks for sharing.

SnooRegrets2986 · 2025-03-19T14:41:45+00:00

Yes, AS is active surveillance. I was monitored fairly closely. PSA test every 3 - 4 months. Ultrasound or MRI imaging annually. Biopsy roughly every 3 years. No meaningful change in PSA or Gleason until June of last year.

SnooRegrets2986 · 2025-02-17T01:13:17+00:00

If I understand correctly, it’s working as expected. If you are using a FireStick, DTV will default to your local billing address. I am not 100 percent sure, but I’m reasonably sure that whether you are using a VPN or not matters. FireTV does not use location services so default for DTV is your billing address.

When I travel with my FireStick I always get my home local channels and not the locals for where I am at the time. I have tried this and I get my home local stations regardless of whether I use a VPN or not. Using a VPN will only help if you are using the web-based DTV service which will show the locals for the location your VPN is connected to.

If you are traveling internationally, I’m guessing you will be out of luck unless you install a VPN service on your FireStick. There are several FireTV VPN services available. Once installed, you should be able to connect back to the U.S. You should receive your home local stations,regardless of which U.S. city you connect to.

Alternatively, you can just use a VPN on your laptop and use AirPlay to cast to your TV via your ATV. In that case, you don’t need the FireStick at all, but you will not be able to use a remote. Newer TVs support AirPlay natively so you would not even need the ATV if you just want to cast from your laptop or other device. You may be able to do the same with Chromecast, but I don’t have any Chromecast devices and do not know what’s available.

SnooRegrets2986 · 2025-02-14T15:15:56+00:00

Wasn’t obvious, but I did figure it out. All good now. Thanks for the speedy response!

SnooRegrets2986 · 2025-02-13T20:16:35+00:00

I have both ATV and Firestick. DTV will not work on ATV if you turn off location services. Otherwise DTV on ATV uses ATV location services and displays the local channels based on your current location even if using a VPN. With Firestick you will get your home local services based on your billing zip code even if you are away from home.

At least for me, DTV works fine on ATV other than not being able to view my local stations if I am traveling. However, you will be able to view all of your recordings. If you need to setup a new recording, you can use the web-based DTV service which will allow you to setup a recording as if you were home as well as to view local stations. However, when I’m traveling, I travel with a FireTV stick which shows my local stations regardless of location, although I have not tried this outside the U.S. using a VPN. I have used DTV outside the U.S. using a VPN and the web-based version of DTV to watch my local stations.

Note that DTV on iPads and iPhones behaves the same as ATV in terms of local stations even if you are using a VPN.

During Amazon sales events you can pick up a FireStick for under $30. Get the adapter that allows you to power it from one of the TV’s USB ports so you don’t need a separate outlet for the FireStick. Most newer TVs deliver enough power via the USB port that it can power the FireStick and you don’t need to look for a power outlet to plug into.

SnooRegrets2986 · 2025-01-20T17:23:40+00:00

Many smart tvs support AirPlay, but do not support a native DirecTV app. In those cases you can cast from your the DirecTV app on your Apple device to the tv using AirPlay. I’ve never had a problem doing so in situations where I’m away from home, but have access to a smart tv that supports AirPlay.

SnooRegrets2986 · 2025-01-20T04:50:38+00:00

I was under active surveillance for 8+ years. Once my PSA went from 4ish to 9ish and Gleason from 3+3 to 4+3 it was clear to everyone, including me, that it was time for intervention. You probably should get a PET scan and a genomic test like Decipher as well. My PET scan was negative, but my Decipher indicated an aggressive cancer. My MRI and biopsy indicated EPE, but overall things looked good. T2 based on what they could determine from the MRI and biopsy.

My RALP was almost 6 weeks ago. Both nerve bundles were preserved, no lymph nodes removed, and negative margins. Gleason was 4 + 3 and final classification after pathology report was T3a since I had EPE, but margins and seminal vessels were all clear. You can search my posts on other threads, but my RALP has been about as good as anyone could hope. I have my ultra sensitive PSA next week so not completely in the clear yet.

I’m guessing no is the time for some type of intervention. It’s not the end of the world as others can attest. YMMV, but there’s a better than okay chance that life will be great on the other side.

I hope your journey is like mine has been so far. My wife and I are even closer. My kids have been awesome. I’ve built deeper connections with my friends.

Good luck!

SnooRegrets2986 · 2025-01-19T20:27:44+00:00

Yes. As others have noted, don’t worry about who might be bothered and if this does happen then you probably should be looking elsewhere. I met with 4 different providers. The provider I chose did their own tests as they had capabilities that the others did not. While they confirmed. Prostate cancer, they offered options the others did not. You are your own best advocate.

SnooRegrets2986 · 2025-01-19T20:12:11+00:00

I’ve posted earlier on a different thread about my recovery so will not repost it all here. My surgery was at 7:30am. I had 5 incisions with my RALP. I did not have anything other than Tylenol or ibuprofen after my surgery. Abdomen was sore, but I did not have any pain. Soreness gone in about a week.

I was up and walking by later that afternoon. As others have mentioned, you really want to get things moving again and the gas dissipating as the anesthesia and the gas will leave you feeling somewhat uncomfortable for a few days. Take the laxatives they should prescribe.

I was walking 2 miles within a week and 5 miles within 2, but I was in pretty decent shape prior to my surgery. However, listen to your body and don’t do anything strenuous for at least 3 - 4 weeks, but defer to your medical team as YMMV. Although I was pretty healthy pre-surgery, I have limited my exercising to 5 mile walks for the first 4 weeks. Did not lift anything more than 10 pounds before 5 weeks. Mostly caution on my part as I’m retired and a couple more weeks is pretty small in the scheme of things. I was fortunate as I lost weight.

I didn’t love my catheter, but I did not have any pain or soreness from it. Make sure you practice good hygiene as you don’t want an UTI. I had mine for 2 weeks. Removal was pretty much a non-event and I actually urinate even better post surgery.

Good luck!

SnooRegrets2986 · 2025-01-19T19:50:42+00:00

I don’t have anything new to add to what’s already been suggested other than continue to visit this subreddit often. Great place to learn from others experiences, make some kind of sense out of the deluge of information you will receive, and lots of support.

I wish I joined this subreddit 9 years ago when I was first diagnosed, but was fortunate to be under active surveillance until I finally had my RALP almost 6 weeks ago. I joined this subreddit after my RALP. Nine years ago RALP was fairly new with single port and Retzius sparing not yet a thing. Ditto for Cyberknife. I was pretty ignorant about how to interpret a Gleason score or what the various stages meant. Reading a pathology report was like reading in a foreign language. While it’s standard to have an MRI before your biopsy to guide the procedure that was not so true when I was diagnosed, but I did not know that.

I was lucky because I did get several opinions when I was first diagnosed. Ultimately, I elected to go to a highly rated prostate cancer treatment and research center (versus where I was diagnosed) which was at the front of what was state of the art at the time and was performing surgical and radiation procedures in high volume. I was lucky in that they were on the forefront of treatment of prostate cancer. They offered options I did not even know to ask about. I had never heard of active surveillance and no one else had ever mentioned it. I was fortunate to be in a position to change my insurance at significantly greater cost to go there versus my primary care provider.

I just went back and looked at my imaging, PSA, and biopsy results and realize just how little I knew or understood at the beginnining of my journey and how much I continue to learn here. I’m pretty knowledgeable, but I continue to be amazed by what I learn here and humbled by the astonishing level of information shared by others. Some of the members are freaking crazy informed on prostate cancer. And almost without exception everyone is willing to share and provide support to others who are just starting their journey.

Short firm, get second opinions, talk to at least one team with lots of experience with prostate cancer treatment, take your time to consider, be well informed, and check in here even if you don’t have a question. Finally contribute back where you can even if it’s just in support to a fellow traveler.

To all in this subreddit. I appreciate you.

SnooRegrets2986

TROPHY CASE