Just got back from seeing Dr Brooks at Stanford. First post-op PSA is
<0.05, so we were both in very good humour. Next test, mid-January.

Other stuff:

- Continence almost perfect (as it has been from the first few days). I
still have to be careful when passing wind (I did leak a squirt the
other day when I had some uncomfortable gas and strained to fart), and
I no longer have the total confidence that I had pre-operation - it's
not that I ever do leak, it's just that I have the sense that leaking
is a possibility where it never was before. That said, we were out
hiking the other day and I was jogging downhill with a full bladder and
had no problems at all, likewise I can move, lift, etc. freely without
leaking.

- I pee with a strong stream. Dr Brooks says that by this stage the
risk of strictures is low, especially as I have had a strong stream
throughout. One more thing to cross off the list.

- Squirting when aroused appears to be diminishing. Sadly, I don't have
enough data points to be sure about that.

- When aroused I still produce a little mucous. Nothing remotely like
the pre-op output (no more sticky spot on the bed-linen), but
interesting - ISTR that there are some extra little glands downstream
of the sphincter that produce mucous. I forgot to ask Dr Brooks about
that.

- Erectile function is still poor (some engorgement, but nowhere near
enough to be usable). If anything, I think I have slightly less than I
did 3-4 weeks ago, but it's hard to be sure (or to be sure, it's soft).
Sensation is less than pre-op (and again, possibly slightly diminished
just at the moment). Pills give me a blocked up nose and a headache,
but not a great deal of improvement, if any at all. We'll see how
things go over the next few months. I may look into a pump and/or
injections, haven't decided if/how long to wait before doing that.

- As noted elsewhere I still have some internal twinges; Dr Brooks
considers these normal and unimportant.

- Incision is still slightly tender. Not enough to be bothersome, but I
don't like anything brushing against it.

- I still have some perineal discomfort when sitting on my office
chair. I had that pre-op, so it may be unrelated (perhaps caused by
slight nerve damage from cycling). OTOH, I notice some penile shrinkage
when I sit on that chair for a couple of hours; Dr Brooks thinks that
this is probably dues to pressure plus residual internal swelling from
the op (which he expects to resolve over time).

- I have some mild oedema in my lower belly around the bottom half of
the incision. Dr Brooks says that this is quite common, may be
permanent, and he has no idea what causes it.