The pain is somewhat lessened now. It is in the area where the
prostate had been. There is a fullness when I sit on any kind of chair
so I am using pillows, etc. and spend some time each day on a heating
pad. Like some of the others on the site, I am only pain-free when
lying down.

Because of blood loss and transfusions, I had to take iron
supplements. I had continued to take a stool softener with those. Now
I am using prunes. Bowl movements aren't painful but are quite intense
-- it is sometimes hard to go. And sometimes it is only a tiny bit but
it stil requires quite a bit of work to get it out. I am trying not to
strain.

I am 46. I had a RRP on Jan. 6 after an 11/24/03 biopsy confirmed
cancer in the right lobe. Post-surgical showed it was organ-confined.
My PSA's had been 3.7 in July 03 and 4.7 a month later. A DRE was
inconclusive by my family doctor but the urologist who later did the
biopsy reported a slight swelling.

I won't meet with the urologist again for over a month for my followup
PSA and consults. Other than the pain, my recovery has been excellent.
I had minor leakage after three weeks with the catheter and I now wear
a Light Days pad just because sneezing and coughing can prove
interesting. No erection, yet, of course, but I have had some very
minor and surprising stirrings.

I was really glad to find this Web site and all the support and
balance information. I haven't responded because it seemed to take
several days before my post was up.

Thanks gang.