Thanks to all for the good wishes. It's really a pick-up to have a lot of
local and long-distance friends for support.

The RRP went as the doc predicted, which was simple RRP, sparing nerves and
not removing lymph nodes. Pathology showed a small focus of 3+3 cells in
the right apex, and a possible smaller focus in the left apex which will
need special stains to detect. We're all happy about that.

Some comments to add to others' reports:

I had a "Q ball" delivering pain meds directly to the incision. Never heard
of it before but it's nice. It's a little plastic ball in a fabric pouch
with a shoulder strap that slowly pushes pain meds until it's empty. Mine
ran out the morning I was discharged. I had none of the "out of it" effects
that come with IV pain relief. Check out
http://www.i-flowcorp.com/3_PRODUCTS/ACUTE_PAIN_MANAGEMENT/onq.html. Pain
slowly changed/increased for a while, and is getting better now. I'm a
stoic about pain, so I haven't taken anything after discharge.

My wife set up a cot and stayed with me. She works at this hospital. The
first thing she did was put up signs on the door and wall saying "Please
wash hands before touching patient". I thought this was a little over the
top, but found out there was an MRSA case (resistant staph infection) a
couple of doors down and things occasionally migrate from room to room if
people aren't careful. She was also paranoid about things touching the
floor that will later touch your body. She's seen a lot of sh*t
(literally), blood, and you name it, go on those floors. I also learned
from her to be careful that the nurse knows what they are dosing you with
and that it's what you're supposed to get. She more or less chased a
student nurse out of the room who didn't know what "injection" she was
about to give me.

It's nice to have a knowledgeable advocate and companion to help you. The
staff was very good, but they're always busy.

I started walking the next morning. Didn't take but about 200 feet to get me
tired, and this after running 9 miles the previous Saturday!

I also got a sore back after walking the first time. The doctor said it was
from bending me over backwards on the operating platform. Hasn't happened
since.

The first night after the IV was removed (day before discharge) there was
much less urine and seeming much more blood in it. The doctor wasn't too
concerned except he wanted me to drink lots to keep it diluted. Blood in
the urine has been with me pretty much from starting walking or other
activity like BM's. It's getting much better now.

There is occasional slight blood/urine bypassing the catheter which oozes
out and looks terrible. That sounds normal since the urethra-bladder
stitching is on the downstream side of the catheter.

Briefs are more comfortable for me than boxers. The only thing better is the
hospital gown my wife borrowed (she works at the hospital). Neosporin
around the entry into the penis is taking care of lubrication and infection
ok so far, but without it there are occasional sharp pains because the tube
inevitably slides in and out a little as you change position.

The doctor set up the catheter with a "relief" loop that forms an "S" curve
taped to the leg to prevent a potentially damaging yank on the anastoma
(hole in the bladder).

Trim/shave yourself at home. Make yourself look like a porn star. You'll do
a better job, it hurts less, and you can clean up afterword (slap on a
little aftershave?). Given the chance, hair will wrap around the catheter
where it enters the penis and stick. They didn't shave me where they taped
the catheter tube, so I did that at home after feeling like I was on a NADS
commercial. The tape sticks better to bare skin and doesn't hurt when it
comes off.

Keep the tape and other stuff the nurses use and sometimes throw away -
you've paid for it as soon as they open it. I got a nice pair of scissors
the doc cut the drain stitches with!

My wife bought a replacement leg bag for me tonight (< $10) with strong
elastic/velcro straps and an extension tube that will allow positioning it
anywhere on the leg. The one the hospital sold me (they don't "give" you
anything) had very flexible elastic straps fixed with little buttons. The
buttons were hard to work, and the bag would slide down the leg with any
fluid in it. I just kept the night bag on today instead. The coat hanger
under the mattress trick works nice.

Mr. Willie looks like a dachsund made by a balloon artist at a kids birthday
party! Bulges all over the place that change from day to day. The scrotum
was pretty big and uncomfortable to sit on for a while, but all this is
improving day by day. Can't tell yet if I have the shortening syndrome.

Lucky to have found it; glad to have it behind me; ready to help others yet
to go through it; looking forward to lots of near-0 PSA's in the future.
This has got to be the best NG on the 'net!