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User

Posted 13 Aug 2015 at 19:53

First posting on the forum;I was diagnosed in February with a Gleason 7 but thankfully it had not spread therefore I was recommended to have a radical prostectamy, at the time this was daunting as a very fit and otherwise healthy 52year old.My wife of 28 years researched all the procedures to be better informed and we ( I stress the "we" as if really was a joint decision) decided on he robotic procedure using the Da Vinci robot, as i live in N Wales our health authority does not have access go God robot so we decided to go private and were recommended a brilliant surgeon Mr [Name removed by Moderator] in Broadgreen, Liverpool, after a consultation we agreed on a date to fit around holidays, work and availability of the 16th July 2015' exactly 4 weeks ago.The operation went well and I was home within 24 hours which in itself was a little scary but always God to be home, catheter came out 11 days later and within 2 days of that date I stop wearing the Tenaman pads and was started on a course of Zcialis 5mg a day to help the healing process, these have caused a lot of pain in my shoulder and I have had to stop taking them, the side effects are listed but God it hurts and still is, it can take as long to clear the system as you have been taking them.Luckily last weekend I have been able to have full strong erections and have managed to have sex, I am absolutely delighted, surprised and elated that things are working normally and I am achieving this on a daily basis, I am not gloating or boasting but just trying to prove that thus is possible to anyone thinking of Gavin's this done. I have today Ben on my bike gif 30 minutes and intend to increase this every day to get back to where I was pre op, I pig thus down to being gig going into the op and more importantly the expertise of my surgeonI am not clear yet but things are feeling great and go Vick on September 9th did the blood test results so fingers crossed Stay positive it helps and good luck to everyone who up going through this Gary

Edited by moderator 13 Aug 2015 at 20:09 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 13 Aug 2015 at 20:27

Yay! Hope for us all by the sound of it. Good for you Gary. Bit early yet for me but a post like yours is a good tonic.

Envious Dick

User

Posted 13 Aug 2015 at 20:31

Hello Gary and welcome.
Glad the op went well and that you are on the road to recovery, including sexual functon

Wouldn't want to be a wet blanket, and I may well be corrected by others, but isn't it a little soon to be back on the bike.

Your body has undergone some massive trauma and although I can respect and understand your keeness and desire to return to pre-op levels of fitness, you could and I stress could, put yourself further back by trying too hard too soon.

Have you had the advice of your surgeon regarding the cycling?

Please don't cycle just before you have your September PSA check as it might affect the result and disappoint you. Likewise, leave the sexual celebrations until after you've had the PSA as it can also affect the result and you don't want shocks like that when you are doing so well.

Never feel the need to apologise for good results. They are always encouraging to others. I'm not saying our men would feel envious, some of them will but because of the nice bunch we are , we can also rejoice that one of us has kicked the PCa up the backside eh?

We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails

User

Posted 13 Aug 2015 at 20:43

Excellent news Gary,

But awful use of paragraphs and smell checker!!! ;-)

Reading your post was like deciphering, I now know what Alan Turin felt like all those years ago.*

As Johsan says no need to apologise for your good fortune. Without some good news, and there is some good news out there, anyone diagnosed and reading posts here would think it was all doom and gloom post diagnosis. And it's not Well not for everyone.

You have apparently made remarkable progress so far, in every aspect of your recovery, the quickest I have read or heard about, and I hope it continues to go well for you.

I have no idea where or not the cycling could do, or is likely to do you any harm, but as it has been mentioned by someone who has knowledge about PCa and the after effects and recovery, I would look into it and ask your GP or cancer specialist. Better to be safe than sorry, especially as you are doing so well so soon.

edited to add for the benefit of anybody else, the majority of us men here, who do not make such a quick and instant recovery, that can take and still be improving over 2 years down the like that my recovery EF wise has been improving steadily atb

dave

* Idon't mean Gay, although there is nothing wrong with being Gay, if that is what you are like, or like to be like, like, it's just not what I like or like being like, like, like if you like it, go ahead with it like. Phew, think I, like, got away with that without anyone like noticing, like. :-)

Edited by member 13 Aug 2015 at 20:59 | Reason: Not specified

All we can do - is do all that we can.

So, do all you can to help yourself, then make the best of your time. :-)

I am the statistic.

User

Posted 13 Aug 2015 at 20:51

Wow.

Incredible recovery! I'm 12 months on From the prostatectomy. I'm delighted with 2 pads per day & self injections for ED.

My consultant has advised this is probably as good as it's going to get for me & to be fair, I'm over the moon.

Us fellas are a resourceful bunch & find ways n means ;-)

On the bike. I got a special seat for mine. It's like a U shape which takes all the pressure of the urethra & surprisingly comfortable.

I got it from Halfords. It was around £70 but for me was totally worth it.

Good luck with the future mate

Life's a Marathon. Run in peace.

User

Posted 13 Aug 2015 at 21:23

Generally the advice is not to cycle for 6 months after the op in order to give the best chance of recovering some sexual function. As Gary is already getting erections, there seems no reason for him to delay getting on the bike.

Lucky you Gary, best wishes for your results

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 13 Aug 2015 at 21:24

Grrrr --- erections 4 weeks . I already dislike you ! Really ony joking . Very Very pleased for you mate . Im putting two and two together here and thinking you had the same surgeon as someone else on here recently who is on daily erections at 4 weeks . But obviously ( the rules ) don't name the surgeon / specialist etc .
Im genuinely so pleased and hope this post inspires others to not fear surgery so much , although as Dave rightly says us mere mortals may have to wait up to two years for function to return -- even with full nerve sparing
Chris

User

Posted 13 Aug 2015 at 21:26

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Lucky you Gary, best wishes for your results

Bu***er , why isn't that in the literature heh . Or is it common sense ( short of )

User

Posted 13 Aug 2015 at 22:53

Amazed by the responses guys and apologies for the waffle and bad grammar, iPad's are not really meant for writing on lol

As for the early cycling I was told try it at 4 weeks and your body will tell you, so far it's telling me it enjoyed it but thanks for the advice, I will not be pushing too hard I promise.

One thing I have found since being diagnosed is that we are not alone and nearly everyone knows some whi is or has been touched by this and also sharing experiences do boost moral.
Good luck to us all and here's to dry days and hard nights

Gary

User

Posted 14 Aug 2015 at 00:34

The chance of getting erections at 4 weeks post op is minimal; only 10% of men can get an erection without assistance at the 6 month mark. To be back at pre-op size is nearly a physical impossibility so did you have a particularly small prostate, do you know?

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 14 Aug 2015 at 10:18

Lyn
I am feeling fortunate in light of your comments, as for having a small prostate i am not sure about that, i didn't have any symptoms or any illness going into the operation as it was picked up on a routine medical, the biopsy showed the cancer in one side but all indication were that it was slightly enlarged, not sure if that helps.

I will know a little more when i see the surgeon early September and will ask the question about the size then.

User

Posted 14 Aug 2015 at 14:19

Gary

Thank you for sharing your good news.

As for strong erections and full sex after 4 weeks you are indeed a very fortunate chap. Boy am I envious of you! Seriously though I am genuinely pleased for you and wish you well.

I hope your next blood test comes back with equally good results and you won't need any further treatment.

I wish you all the best with your recovery.

If I was you I would be celebrating again in the best way, if you get my drift...lol!

User

Posted 15 Aug 2015 at 18:30

Gary that is incredible, you had the same surgeon and hospital as another recent poster. Both of you have had comparable recoveries.
It is very rare to hear of such a terrific recovery in such a short time scale.
Really happy for you.
Xx
Mo

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