My latest PSA was on 3/31/08 and was 0.046 - Testosteone was 323, for
which i am grateful. Particularly want to thank Steve Kramer,
I.P.Freely, and above all Curtis, who freely shared there knowledge and
support in this group for me. Life is good now i go to the YMCA each
morning, work out on the treadmill for 35 minutes, do a little over 2
miles.
I am now 71 and happy to still be around.
Past history & story below ~ long

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To  Hell & Back  !!!
On Wednesday 4/25/06 at noon i was admitted for Palladium Seed implant.
When i went to the hospital registration desk, they had my last name
incorrectly spelled & an incorrect social security number, my insurance
company would have been delighted.
The seed inplant was to be done under epidural anesthesia, i requested
that it not be administered at Fourth & Fifth lumbar because of
arthritis, the anesthesiologist agreed, when i got on the table, he went
directly to the L4 & L5, that i was afraid of, the pain was
excruciating, after 5 more attempts he succeeded at a higher level. I
was then given some intervenous medication that knocked me out

Awoke in the recovery room , where with great difficulty i urrinated &
catheter was removed, Ten minutes later i developed left upper chest
pain (sticking type pain), felt that i was getting a coronary. Blood
enzymes and EKG were normal, although my blood pressure was high 150 /
90. They decided to keep me over night for observation. Very difficult
night with extremly painful urination. Catheter was put in again, and i
was discharged (Thursday)  4/26/06 at noon with a leg bag (lovely
experience);
Although i have the catheter draining the urine, i get urges to urinate
(spasms) with the catheter in that are extremly painful. Taking Cipro
500mg twice a day, Flomax 0.4 mg at bedtime. hytrin 10 mg twice a day,
phenazopyridine 200mg, three times a day, proscar 5mg day
Taking hot baths that offer some temporary relief. Spoke to Urologist he
suggested that i might want to remove the catheter, but cannot give me
any assurance that the painful spasms would stop. Thinking about
removing catheter on Sunday, and will see Urologist Monday morning.
Will this nightmare ever end ??????
PS- They knocked my back out of wack during the procedure, so i now have
back pain in addition.
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I have been on proscar for several years,for bph, so my psa results
always need to be doubled to get true value. PSA- 10/7/04- 0.70
PSA-1/10/05-1.06
PSA- 5/2/05-1,20
PSA-8/8/05-1.40
PSA-11/7/05-1.77
Biopsy - 1/9/06
PSA-2/6/06  2.44
PSA - 7/10/06 - 0.025
PSA - 10/9/06 - 0.010
PSA - 2/23/07 - 0.044
PSA - 5/14/07 - 0.051
PSA ` 9/18/07 - 0.058
PSA - 12/31/07 - 0.068
PSA- 5/31/08 - 0.046
Stage - T1a
Biopsy- 1/9/06 -Gleason of 7, (4 +3 =7) 2 cores in right lobe, (3 +4=7)
i core in left lobe) (Adenocarcinoma found in 5% of involved lobes)
2/4/06 - Bone Scan - Neg
2/11/06-Cat Scan- Neg
3/13/06- started casodex-50mg, for 30 days. 3/20/06- 700 cn. rad
radiation to chest to prevent gynecomastia. 3//20/06- 30 mg injection of
Lupron.- Will last for 4 months. 7/17/06 - Second & last Lupron 30 mg
injection.
(Contraversey between Urologist & Radiologist ), on necessity for short
term HT, i decided to take it because of the gleason of 7.
4/25/06-Scheduled for Palladium Seed.
Approx. 45 - 60 days after will have 25 RT (IMRT)
  Age 71, history of Diabetes & heart disease (auricular
fibrillation) , Right Bundle Branch Block (taking atenolol).