Hello out there, my brothers. I promised an update. Here goes.......I had an
rrp done on May 20. Lymph nodes negative. Just to refresh your memory, in
case you might remember my 1st 2 posts, i was 1of 8 biopsy samples
POS,....25% of one apex core. Gleason 6 PSA free 25%, PSA 3.4-4.4 over last
few months. Neg DRE. Bone scan was neg, also CAT scan. Had decent
extra-catheter leaking, which my surgeon, today, attributed to
spasm...something he sees frequently.

In any case...today's visit/catheter removal went "fine". Somewhat
apprehensively, i entered the "inner sanctum" of the office, dropped my
shorts, & laid on the exam table. I had visions of it being ripped out
unmercifully. You know how it goes. As i said in an earlier post, i am a
Pharmacist, & certainly know what to expect. BUT!!!!!!!!.........when it's
YOU on the other side of the catheter, all knowledge goes out the window. It
was out in 2 "jerks". The 1st was the worst  part, but tolerable with some
surprise in how it was being accomplished. I looked continuously out the
window. Didn't look 2 inches right or left. Just didn't want to watch. In
any case it went fine, as in a moment, it was completely out. I was still
like a board of wood due to the tensing, which he said i shouldn't have to
do, as it wouldn't hurt, & be over shortly.Phew!

Now...for the steri-strip removal covering my 3" incision. They use a gum
Benzoin to allow the steri-strips to stay "in place", as they cover the
whole incision with them....over the heavy duty dissolvable sutures. As he
was pulling them off, going down the line, most came off ok. A few were
"stuck", & took a little hair with them. The last 2-3 were painfully
removed, as they wanted, i guess, to forever cement themselves to me. They
lost, but i think they took half of my abdomen with them! Just kidding, but
my wife, who was in the next room, heard the groans of pain. Had some minor
blood leaking from the incision, due to just the local assault, i guess. No
bleeding or probs before this. Incision was intact, & pretty well healed.

Then...i could actually go back into his office & sit comfortably in a
chair, for the 1st time. When you sit with the catheter in you, that balloon
makes it feel like you're sitting on an orange, a piece of wood, or...? In
any case...i could now sit comfortably, with some guarding.
NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.................

The final pathology report, the object of my last 4 sleepless nights, was
presented to me. COMPLETELY CONTAINED WITHIN THE MARGIN.....SMALL AMOUNT OF
CANCER ONLY!!!!!!!!  Seminal vessicles all negative. Additionally the
Gleason score held, at 6. As many of you know, once you get the physical
prostate dissected, 30-40% of men have their cancers/Gleasons upgraded to
more serious levels.  It wouldn't have been the 1st time that i cried in
front of my wife, but for some reason, i didn't. Surprised myself with that
one. What a pressure lifted. I just thanked God, over & over. I beat the
odds! I'll live to play another day!!

In closing, you can forget about ANY degree of continence on day 1. I've
already used ~5 extra-absorbent Depends diapers today. Got to walk & do my
Kegels. Am starting an Rx for Ditropan, which should start to bring the
muscle/sphincter tone back. Additionally, i was placed on Viagra 25mg qd to
help "prime the pump over time", if you will.
It's funny. I was laying in bed reading when i felt a warm dribble. Later
another, as i had to cough. Trust me...they were more than dribbles. Oh
well! I'll give an update in a week or so re the continence issue,
and...whatever else is worth mentioning. Again, from my previous postings,
at age 55, i am as active as the next guy, as far as relations go, but some
things are just more important than macho pride. Guys...it's a big
imposition, and a definite rerouting of your life, temporarily, but its
definitive results more than justify surgical approaches over an easier (for
the moment), more nebulous, unsure, method of treatment like radiation. It's
really a no-brainer...as long as you think with the right brain. Like W.
Churchill once said.....Old age isn't for sissies!! All my best to all of
you. 100% success best wishes to all, whatever you decide upon. I wish you
all well!!!.......Jerry