Something to be Thankful For

One Month Later -

The Doc’s office scheduled a follow up 1 month from the date of the surgery. I get to the office and learn real quick that things don’t change - ‘Here - go fill the little white cup - the Doc will see you shortly.’

So, I’m sitting there and watching the patients coming in and out, and I’m thinking ‘Some of these folks really look bad - damn, this is sad.’ One older gentleman came in and slowly made his way to a chair and, in obvious pain, sank into the chair. He caught my eye, nodded politely, and the faintest smile crossed his lips. Then his wife, I think, came in and sat beside him. She took his hand, gently patted him on the knee, and he slowly put his head on her shoulder. I damned near cried.

I saw the Doc for a few minutes, we discussed my progress, and he gave me some more news. ‘The retention caused some bladder damage. However, the bladder is very resiient and can heal. You’re doing great so far and both the bladder and your muscle control appear to be fine.’ ‘We’ll run a quick ultrasound for residual just to make sure and we’ll talk some more in a few minutes.’ So I’m now back in the torture chamber on an examining table and in walks the nurse. ‘Relax - no stirrups for you today but loosen your belt, unzip your pants, and roll your shorts down to just above your penis.’ GULP!

So I do as she says. Thank goodness I have trimmed my pubic hair. She slops on a glob of gel (ice cold) and proceeds to run an ultrasound probe over and around the lower abdomen and pubic bone. ‘Less than 50.’ ‘What’s that mean?’ I ask. ‘It means that you currently have about 50 ml in your bladder. Since you voided not too long ago when you provided the test specimen this is an indication of bladder efficiency.’ ‘What’s good/bad?’ ‘100 ml - we like to see as little as possible but 50 is good.’ ‘Here are some kleenex - use these to wipe off the gel.’ ‘You mean you’re not . . .’ - NO! and she gives me her evil grin as she leaves the room.

I’m just zipped up and the Doc walks in. ‘50 is good - It really pays to be healthy - I’ll need to see you again a year from now.’

To be Continued . . .

In Conclusion -

There are a lot of things I learned during this, not the least of which are some things about catheters. For example,

The Foley catheter is your friend. Treat it with kindness and respect. For example:

Never step on the drain line to your piss bag (you will do this only once) -

Watch out for cats (sneaky bastards all) - they especially like to wait in ambush for errant Foley catheter drain lines (where’s my gun) . . .

Watch out for 55 lb male SharPei that like to flump - especially if they flump down next to the easy chair you are sitting in with your piss bag setting on the floor hidden under the blanket you are using as you WERE taking a nap.

Keep the end of your dick lubed. A catheter will otherwise dry out, rub, and irritate the tip of the urethra. I awoke one morning with bloody shorts as I had pulled on the catheter in my sleep and it rudely came ‘unglued’ from the end of my dick. You will do this once.

Get a supply of jockey shorts liners - much easier than washing out blood stains.

If you get free of the piss bag and are allowed to use a plug, just make sure you roll it and the 6 or 7 inches of tubing that is hanging out of the end of your dick in the wasteband of your shorts so the plug doesn’t pull loose or you will get drenched. Again, you will neglect to do this just once.

Keep a bucket handy - enough said.

And, in the hospital, keep a sharp eye on your catheter and flushing system. The drain line should terminate in its receiver just below the level of the bed and there should always be fluid dripping into the feed line to the catheter. If that flow stops, either the supply bag is empty or you have a plugged catheter (bad, very bad). Nurses are very busy people - they can get distracted and forget. My wife was extremely vigilant and we headed off at least two situations with the flushing system before more serious problems resulted.

Some additional thoughts:

1) Embrace your condition, whatever it is. Pissing and moaning about it will not solve a thing. Getting educated about it as much as you possibly can will make a huge difference. It’s your body - it’s your condition - you did it or contributed to it. Take responsibility for it and deal with it in a positive way.

2) Seek a 2cd opinion. I shudder to think what would have happened to me if I had gone with the first doctor’s game plan.

3) Check out the credentials of your doctor. If you can, talk to nurses that work in the hospital that your doctor works out of. Nurses know.

4) A good doctor will listen to you and answer your questions. He will work with you as you are a team. I was fortunate enough to find not only a good doctor - I got a GREAT doctor. No BS, very patient, very careful, very methodical and very professional. And, he did his very best for me - and that’s what the nurses said, too.

5) Do your part - a good diet, quality supplements, and active healthy lifestyle kept me away from what could have been a much worse outcome. Also, I believe the conditioning from all of the PE work I had done made a huge difference in enduring the procedures and in aiding my speedy recovery. For example, a TURP probe is a piece of pipe about 1/2 inch in diameter that is inserted through your urethra and up into your prostate - and a French 24 size catheter is at leat 1/4 inch in diameter. Stretch anyone?

So, what am I thankful for at this time of year?

1) A life partner/lover/best friend that stood with me and helped me through all of this - I can’t say enough praise for what all she did - nor enough thanks;

2) The joy of walking my only daughter down the aisle just a few weeks after this episode - I was there to give her away - and there at the reception to toast the bride and groom, a most poignant and high moment in my life;

3) A wonderful doctor;

4) Loving and caring family and friends;

And, I’ve got a cock that works. Fully functional and, no retrograde ejaculation either.

So, to all the great community at Thunder’s, please know that all the council and advice on PE that you all have so generously shared has helped me immensely. To all of you, each and every one, I wish a Happy and Joyous Thanksgiving.

A Truly Thankful

MrTiPS

Wow! MrTiPs, I almost started to cry. Thanks for this thread and I am happy for you and your family. Isn’t it funny how we see life in a different retrospect after events like this? To good health my friend. Take care and may God be with you.

Not in any way to diminish the importance of the other things you are grateful for, I think the take-home message here is that you had some basic knowlege going in with your problem that gave you a basis for some good decision-making and the guts to be proactive in your own treatment.

An enlarged prostate does not necessarily mean cancer, as you knew, and your PSA was not wildly out of whack at 5. Good for you that you went on to find another doctor who was willing and intertested in looking at the larger picture.

You had a good outcome. And thanks very much for taking the time to tell your story. We men can all learn something from it.

Hi Rousseau,

Thanks for your post. If you read the entire thread I hope you went away with a better feeling as I really had a good outcome. One point among many for posting my experience is to provide a bit of encouragement and support for someone that might be reaching out.

All the Best,

mrTiPS

Hi tnt,

Thank you - that is very kind and thoughtful on your part. Yeah, I had a peak into the abyss and was fortunate enough to step back from the edge. Sobering . . . very much so.

All the Best,

MrTiPS

Hi Avocet8,

Thanks for your kind post and for all the contributions that you have made and continue to make. I hope this story helps a lot of people stand their ground and participate more in their own treatments.

All the Best,

MrTiPS

It was quite amazing to see how you remained so calm and composed throughout what could only be described as an absolute nightmare and quite enlightening to witness how your great determination could play such a positive role in shaping your destiny.

I am sure I am speaking for everyone here when I say I am so proud of you sir and truly honoured to know you.

I’m sure it will MrTips, because it certainly should and I hope it does, give me a week and I’ll let you know.

Crikey it turned out even better than I imagined it would, Happy Days :gulp:

Sorry MrTips, I didn’t notice this until I went back to read it all again. It was good of you to take the time to reply and I really am so relieved at the excellent outcome, both for you and for your family.

I was sitting on eggs, I really was :gulp:

I read the whole thread and all I can say is that you did a great job researching your problem and controlling your emotions in the face of a serious health condition. Great job and I am really happy this worked out positively. I also think that avocet makes a great point about becoming knowledgeable independently of your medical practitioner. Your knowledge probably saved from you a lot of problems, including lifelong erectile dysfunction.

Hi Doggmann,

Well thanks, you’re very kind in your response. I had done a lot of research and reading as I guess I’m wired that way. I, by nature, don’t seek out confrontations but both the ER Doc and the first Urologist really got me steamed. Yet, the ER nurse and most of the nurses and support staff otherwise were really nice and very helpful. So, when I got glowing reports on the Doctor I ended up with from nurses, I paid attention. During the course of treatment, I can’t think of one thing this Doctor said that didn’t ring true in my mind with what I had studied.

And, you are 100% dead on about the ED concern. The forums are full of horror stories about prostate treatment side effects. In all, I was extremely fortunate.

All the Best,

MrTiPS

Mr Tips, thanks for sharing your story. I also have heard a lot of horror stories about prostate issues and this definitely gives me some perspective.

Best wishes to you and your family.

Hi Figaro,

Thanks for your post and the well wishes.

All the Best to You and Yours,

MrTiPS

Noticed you indicated that your kidney stats were better after vit c and q10 increase. Your creatinine levels decreased.

You should have upped your dosage even more for vit c and q10, to 800-1200 mg q10 and as much as 30 gm sodium ascorbate a day.

And waited to see your blood work.

Remember.. Medicine is a business.. Not saying your doc didn’t have your business interest in mind, but overall r/r is not that favorable for the patient ( considering the lingering side effects of the procedure). Just saying.