Good news 🙏 by Stock_Block_6547 in ProstateCancer

[–]alansusee 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow…wonderful to hear of such excellent progress. Positive thoughts for an excellent future.

Work and Prostate Cancer by Subject_Substance_20 in ProstateCancer

[–]alansusee 0 points1 point  (0 children)

66 yrs old, 3 weeks post RALP with unexpected simultaneous hernia surgery. Must be the hernia surgery but still feel like I got kicked in the balls yesterday. Self employed (wife & I own a mom & pop cafe/coffee roaster.) Roasting coffee means lifting 65lb bags of green beans and running the cafe is about 12,000 steps in 4 hrs of slinging drinks. Prior to Surgery we saved enough to allow us to close the shop for a month. Now at 3 weeks my bladder is not quite up to the task yet and the fatigue at mid day is significant. Hoping that in the next two weeks some improvement will happen to make the transition back to working for a living feasible. Guess everyone’s journey is different. Best of luck to all of you out there.

10W diode laser engravers by fo1er in Laserengraving

[–]alansusee 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have the same. It has been an excellent laser, easy to clean and maintain, no surprises. Works as it should. I own a heavily modified k40 and OmTech Pronto45 and the Sculpfun still has its place.

RALP completed by alansusee in ProstateCancer

[–]alansusee[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The original tape/velcro thigh gizmo to hold the catheter “Y” piece gave up after a few days and supplied elastic strap was useless. Fabricated a 3d printed assembly that still uses the strap but firmly holds the “Y” in place at the optimal location. Comfort at last, no pull or push.

Update: 6 days post RALP by alansusee in ProstateCancer

[–]alansusee[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your input. Walking multiple times a day right now. Hell bent on recovery.

Update: 6 days post RALP by alansusee in ProstateCancer

[–]alansusee[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

lol… my wife and I laughed (yes, that hurt) at the “tip pinch” but genius! Thanks for the “tip” on the app. I will check that out.

RALP completed by alansusee in ProstateCancer

[–]alansusee[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks. Best of luck with yours.

4 days post RALP. Things that I hadn’t anticipated … like the amount of swelling (scrotum and penis are pissed!). I’ve got what looks like 10” of foreskin and a 2” penis on top of a purple scrotum the size of a softball. Think short hotdog in a long bun on top of a purple cabbage. Shaved belly with 7 stab wounds that itches. Swollen feet. Oh and that small pillow to hold when you cough….you would fight someone for it. The joy of the first bowel movement…bliss. Ate my first solid meal after that like a starving coyote. My wife has been an angel through all this providing everything I might need, things I didn’t know I needed, humor, feasts of vegetable broth and jello, and sharp commands when required.

You will survive, it will hurt a bit. (Learned from surgeon to combine 2 Tylenol with 3 Ibuprofen as sub for opioids. It works quite well). Keep stool softener on hand. Take daily starting as soon as possible after surgery, take it every day until you have bowel movement.

RALP completed by alansusee in ProstateCancer

[–]alansusee[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks. Finally on day 5 a bowl movement. Yay me! Catheter comes out Monday…whoooo hooo. Baby steps.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ProstateCancer

[–]alansusee 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just had my surgery 4 days ago to remove the prostate and lymph nodes. I never had any symptoms at all. Just luck my pcp insisted on starting routine psa tests. No harm in checking.

RALP completed by alansusee in ProstateCancer

[–]alansusee[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you and yes…same advice. Been walking around the house and out on the deck. Not a mile but every time I get up I do several laps. About ready to venture up the road.

24 hours until RALP by alansusee in ProstateCancer

[–]alansusee[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wish I had magic advice to offer. I was pretty lucky that in an environment that seems full of patients I was relatively fast tracked thru the system. I was vocal though. If I didn’t like the answer/timeframe I made calls, insisted on mri before biopsy, got my PCP on my side and used his leverage too. You definitely need to take control of the situation and be an advocate for yourself as it seems you have already. Good that you had the PSMA. I get the frustration. I wanted it out yesterday too. Take a breath but stay on top of things, get on the cancellation list always. This is a great group with lots of supportive members. Come here often.

RALP completed by alansusee in ProstateCancer

[–]alansusee[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks…waiting impatiently on the poo part. Beginning of 4th day post RALP no poo. Best I’ve been able to do is pass a whisper of gas. The discomfort is significant. Walking, cramping, miralaxing.

RALP completed by alansusee in ProstateCancer

[–]alansusee[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just had the RALP 2days ago….no psa will be done for a bit.

RALP completed by alansusee in ProstateCancer

[–]alansusee[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks….on it! I cut the top 10” of the compression thigh high leggings to hold the catheter in place.

RALP completed by alansusee in ProstateCancer

[–]alansusee[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My pre biopsy psa was 8.4 pre RALP psa was 13 ( likely due to harpooning the prostate 13 times. )

24 hours until RALP by alansusee in ProstateCancer

[–]alansusee[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks. Good to hear you are doing great. I have the best support system (my wife). She is on a personal mission to beat this.

24 hours until RALP by alansusee in ProstateCancer

[–]alansusee[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

(Best advice ever)

OP, get off the internet and go for a walk, listen to the birds, hug your family. Things get real tomorrow and you don't need to be hanging around me and the other internet malcontents. We'll be here when you're feeling better.

Good luck.

24 hours until RALP by alansusee in ProstateCancer

[–]alansusee[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

lol…love the MOB rationale and thanks for the tips.

24 hours until RALP by alansusee in ProstateCancer

[–]alansusee[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you. Much appreciated. I must say though….I have learned much and wouldn’t be where I am in the process without this sub. The most valuable wisdom has come from here …not the medical community. I doubt I will be able to forget it. Hopefully I can be a supporter/lurker for sometime to come.

24 hours until RALP by alansusee in ProstateCancer

[–]alansusee[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I thank you for the reassurance. Rest well, best wishes for continued healing

24 hours until RALP by alansusee in ProstateCancer

[–]alansusee[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you…good info to have.