A Fresh Start

User

Posted 24 Sep 2015 at 10:55

Hi Steve

My Steve is also on Prostap and has had no problems, he was taken off of his anti platelets 12 months after his heart attack and has just continued with aspirin for the last 4 years.

Hopefully you will get your meds reduced when you have a cardiology review, he managed to lose 2 drugs from the original 8 :-)

All the best

Maureen

"You're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think." A A Milne

User

Posted 24 Sep 2015 at 18:52

Prostap is a much better injection, no pain ,Iget mine in the armhttp://community.prostatecanceruk.org/editors/tiny_mce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif

Edited by member 24 Sep 2015 at 18:53 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 24 Sep 2015 at 22:43

Hi Steve
I've been on Prostap since Jan 2015. My ink is in the stomach, no issues.

User

Posted 07 Oct 2015 at 22:35

Hi,

Thanks for the suggestions of possibly changing to prostap.

I think because Zoladex is working so well for me, I'd rather stick to that in spite of the bleeding problem. It only tends to happen when I have the injections on the right side of my stomach anyway.

Today I had to ring Kate, a MacMillan nurse, who helped me a few months ago. I really needed to talk to someone as I wasn't having a good day. I felt a little happier after our chat. We discussed me joining the local Wellbeing exercise course again as well as having some additional therapy. I pulled out of the last sessions because of transport problems but this time, I will attend a more local centre. I hope this helps to get me back to a more regular exercise programme.

Steve

User

Posted 07 Oct 2015 at 22:48

Hi Steve

Pleased to hear you are being more positive after all your difficulties.

Arthur

User

Posted 08 Oct 2015 at 05:34

morning steve
give it a go mate it all helps

nidge

run long and prosper
'pooh how do you spell love'
'piglet you dont spell love -you just feel it'

User

Posted 08 Oct 2015 at 11:33

Thanks.

Great news this morning about the new test for heart attacks. Could mean that I won't get admitted so often into hospital (five times in the last year). I told them that I'm not going to go in next time because it's such a waste of time, blocking a bed and costing the NHS a fortune. They weren't happy about that because they told me I can't take a chance with my heart.

Steve

User

Posted 08 Oct 2015 at 12:08

Glad you're back to thinking of the wellbeing course.

Your wellbeing is also in your hands as well as that of the experts, who can only do so much for you.

Is it wise do you think to say you won't go in again next time an attack happens? Yes you might block a bed for a while and cost the NHS but
A) they aren't going to let you block a bed un-necessarily and

B) Did you not pay your National Insurance contribution. Isn't your situation what we all pay in for?

You're not just taking a chance with your heart, but also that your wife loses her much loved husband, your children their father and denying your grandchildren the chance to get to know you.

I know it's all a pain (no pun intended Steve) but you do nobody any favours, especially yourself, by refusing what is on offer to you.

Right lecture over, lunch is finished off I go. Chin up young man !!

Edited by member 08 Oct 2015 at 15:53 | Reason: Not specified

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

User

Posted 08 Oct 2015 at 15:48

Good to see you posting again Steve, hope that you are feeling a little better and can look forward to some special days over Christmas with your lovely grand child and another on the way I recall?

What could be better than that?

From your photo you look slim and sounds like you have always been pretty active, so that should set you in good stead to get that ticker working well again. Take all the help you can get. Enroll on as many courses as you can, meeting people in a positive environment will help and give you lots of new things to chat about with friends and family and may even take your mind off the P Ca!!

All the best

Alison

User

Posted 09 Oct 2015 at 01:16

Thanks Sandra & Alison,

Just typed out a long message on my mobile and have just lost it. So fed up.

Steve x

User

Posted 14 Oct 2015 at 16:45

Hi,

One year today since I began my radical radiotherapy. I was very nervous at the time that my entire future depended on the success of those four weeks of treatment.

My PSA at diagnosis in June of last year was 48.85. The results from my last PSA test was 0.040 so something's working right. I only have to wait until the end of next year to know if the radiotherapy was a success when I come off hormone treatment.

Of course, if I die as a result of another heart attack, it will really bu@@er up my cancer treatment plan. http://community.prostatecanceruk.org/editors/tiny_mce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif

Steve

Edited by member 14 Oct 2015 at 18:26 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 14 Oct 2015 at 17:12

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Hi,

Of course, if I die as a result ofanother heart attack, it will really bu@@er up my cancer treatment plan.

Steve

REJECT THAT THOUGHT STEVE!

User

Posted 14 Oct 2015 at 19:56

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Hi,

One year today since I began my radical radiotherapy. I was very nervous at the time that my entire future depended on the success of those four weeks of treatment.

Steve

Glad to see that the PSA is coming down Steve.

Fingers crossed for the end of year report

Yep, that would really poke the cancer in the eye wouldn't it. Of course it wouldn't do you much good long term eh!! so you'd better plan to avoid the attack http://community.prostatecanceruk.org/editors/tiny_mce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif

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

User

Posted 14 Oct 2015 at 20:21

Hi Steve
That's a nicely low psa value. As you say it shows that something's working.
My last reading was in the same region, it does give you some satisfaction
My next blood test is 2 November so I hope mine stays in this region.

You must be looking forward to the chance of coming off HT end of next year, I wish you well.
I'm looking forward to your next good news post

Paul

Ps don't go dieing of a heart attack for goodness sake we need you here. 😎

User

Posted 15 Oct 2015 at 23:48

Thanks Arthur, Sandra and Paul for your replies.

I have to be realistic, I do have heart problems. My PSA is low but it could mainly be due to the HT. I often feel I fighting a battle on two fronts.

A new challenge tomorrow, I have my first appointment at the local ED clinic! Not sure if it will do any good, I lost my "Mojo", days after starting HT.

Steve

User

Posted 16 Oct 2015 at 07:48

Well Steve, perhaps view the old "mojo" as mislaid rather than lost.

If it's caused by HT then any help you get offered now means there's more of a chance of him bouncing back in the future.

Give it a go,what have you got to lose, rather think what you might gain !!

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

User

Posted 21 Oct 2015 at 09:31

Hi,

My "ED" appointment was interesting. Very pleasant doctor, someone you could have a good laugh with, which we did.

The bad news is that Viagra and Cialis are out for me, due to my heart condition. I politely declined using the injections or pellets in the penis. So the only option is the pump, which is what I was after in the first place. Anyway, I'm being referred to the pump clinic where I'll see the same consultant who gave me the full diagnosis of my cancer in June of last year .

I did leave with some medication because I have Phimosis (look it up), which has been treated in the last couple of months, but not very successfully.

Steve

User

Posted 21 Oct 2015 at 21:19

Hi,

Great News this evening! My grandson took his first steps!

I'm so proud of him.

Steve

User

Posted 21 Oct 2015 at 21:36

Time to start moving things up onto shelves then! 😉

"You're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think." A A Milne

User

Posted 21 Oct 2015 at 22:40

That's so special Steve - hope that has given you a lift

Arthur

User

Posted 21 Oct 2015 at 23:23

Already! Why do they grow up so quickly!

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

User

Posted 21 Oct 2015 at 23:57

Hi,

Alex walking is a definate highlight of recent months. Alex is going to have his first birthday the week after next.

Also my son's wife should give birth to our second grandchild in the same week.

An exciting time, just hope my coronary angiogram goes ok.

Steve

Edited by member 21 Oct 2015 at 23:57 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 22 Oct 2015 at 02:17

one thing is for sure their will be plenty of great pics and videos

nidge

run long and prosper
'pooh how do you spell love'
'piglet you dont spell love -you just feel it'

User

Posted 25 Oct 2015 at 13:05

Thanks.

I was just thinking how great some companies are when it comes to customer service.

Sky rang me up this morning to see how things were going with me, they know I'm ill, (I had the cancel my Sky TV after my heart attack last November due to reduction of income) and they offered me the service back again for 12 months, totally free of charge. I can cancel it at any time and don't have to continue beyond the free period. Now that's service.

Steve

Edited by member 25 Oct 2015 at 16:34 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 25 Oct 2015 at 13:16

ONCE you get hold of them Sky are brilliant I agree . And they will always try to keep you with freebies . We tried to cancel movies due to costs and they gave us 6 months for free !
Premier Inn were absolutely wonderful to me when I had to keep cancelling my accommodation because my Oxford PET scan kept getting cancelled . Even though I paid the lower price which stated no amendments , they let me cancel twice .
Hope you feeling well Steve

User

Posted 25 Oct 2015 at 13:49

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Thanks.

I was just thinking how great some companies are when it comes to customer service.

Sky rang me up this morning to see how things were going with me, they know I'm I'll, (I had the cancel my Sky TV after my heart attack last November due to reduction of income) and they offered me the service back again for 12 months, totally free of charge. I can cancel it at any time and don't have to continue beyond the free period. Now that's service.

Steve

It's good to see that big business does have a heart, even if there is possibly something in it for them in the long term. Gives you a warm glow eh?

Onwards and upwards Steve. No worrying about the Angiogram un-necessarily. It will be what it will be.

Concentrate on Alex and the new little one.

Best Wishes

Sandra

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

User

Posted 28 Oct 2015 at 19:21

Hi,

When you so often hear of delayed treatment and appointments, I had the opposite happen to me today.

I had a phone call from my Cardiac Consultant's secretary to ask if I wanted to go in tomorrow for my coronary angiogram, instead of next Monday (when I'm due to go in).

I had to say no because I have a really important job booked in for tomorrow, on Friday I'm working in Cardiff and doing a twelve hour newspaper shift on Saturday. If I'd agreed to go ahead for tomorrow it would have meant I couldn't drive for 48 hours and even longer if they decided to put anymore stents into my heart. They didn't mind me sticking with the original appointment but told me I was probably working too hard. Easy for them to say, they don't have to pay my bills.

I had quite a long chat with my GP yesterday, he thought that I ought to have a bypass operation if offered because he feels it would be better for me to have it while I was younger rather than wait. I'm not really that keen. I've already turned down the chance to have one after my heart attack. I suppose if it meant I had less angina attacks, it would be worth it. Anyway, I'll see what my consultant says on Monday. Has anyone on here ever had one?

Steve

Edited by member 28 Oct 2015 at 19:25 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 29 Oct 2015 at 00:16

Hi Steve

You've had such a hard time, but I hope you take the medical advice you are given. It may seem a hard way of putting it, but you can't earn any money when you pass over to the other side. Easy for me to say, but reading between the lines, the op could well give you much improved opportunities in the future. Could be a case of taking 2 steps back for many going forward.

Paul

Stay Calm And Carry On.

User

Posted 29 Oct 2015 at 05:45

hey up
a bloke at work had a by pass just has regular check ups now, found he had PCa from one of his checkup blood tests

nidge

run long and prosper
'pooh how do you spell love'
'piglet you dont spell love -you just feel it'

User

Posted 29 Oct 2015 at 12:10

My FIL had a bypass when he was 65 and lived until he was 90 with no other heart problems, it gave him a new lease of life and probably saved his life, as prior to the op he was a heavy smoker.

He was monitored with respect to his weight and took warfarin every day.

Since that operation 25 years ago, techniques and safety must have improved so much.

Seriously think about it Steve.

ATB

Alison

Edited by member 29 Oct 2015 at 12:41 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 30 Oct 2015 at 11:07

Hi Steve, I had a Quadruple bypass in 2007 after having 2 heart attacks. I must admit I was terrified when I got the appointment to go into hospital, but here I am 8 years later with no heart problems. Not going to bull you it's hard work for a couple of weeks after operation but do the exercises and it is worth it. Can forget the heart problem after that and do what I do, concentrate on beating PCa.

Trevor

User

Posted 30 Oct 2015 at 23:41

Hi,

Thanks everyone, for the advice.

I really need to ask questions on Monday to find out what would be best for me. I am very curious to find out the present state of my heart. I have great faith in my consultant. I just hope I'm given the time. I'm sure he will be very busy given that it's a Monday.

Steve

User

Posted 31 Oct 2015 at 00:04

Hope you get the answers you are seeking Steve

Bri

User

Posted 31 Oct 2015 at 11:15

Good luck on Monday Steve.

Firstly, it is essential that you get answers to your questions in order for you to make a decision for the future.

Your consultant WILL be a very busy man, bound to be - too many patients - too little time but.........

you are important too so make sure that you have the questions either firmly fixed in your mind (you won't ! most of us wouldn't) or write them down, you know the drill after all this time!.

Make sure you have all the answers he can give.

I appreciate that some of the answers will be dependant on tests etc but he should be able to give an informed opinion based on what he knows of you as well as your history.

It won't be any good getting home and kicking yourself because you still don't have the answers and therefore don't know what to do.

As usual, fingers crossed for you.

Edited by member 31 Oct 2015 at 11:16 | Reason: Not specified

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

User

Posted 31 Oct 2015 at 21:28

Good luck for Monday Steve, ask away and get those answers.

Cheers
Allison xx

User

Posted 02 Nov 2015 at 07:28

Good luck for today Steve

Don't deny the diagnosis; try to defy the verdict

User

Posted 03 Nov 2015 at 01:06

Thanks everyone for your good wishes.

Went into hospital early this morning for my planned angiogram. Ended up first on the list. Longest procedure I've had so far. They really checked out that things were working ok. The result was that they found out that the stent in my right coronary artery was failing and needed to be opened up again. That could explain why I've not been feeling very good in recent months.

Anyway, it's fixed now, for the time being.

We discussed what my consultant thought would be best for me in the future and he said he was happy with what had been done so far but said he would consider the possibility of a bypass operation if things became any worse. I was happy with that.

I was discharged at about 5.30pm, and taken home by my daughter and wife, through very heavy traffic.

I started to feel quite ill in the car, headache, sickness and minor chest pains. When we arrived home, as soon as I got out of the car, I found I was very dizzy and collapsed onto the pavement. My wife and daughter called an ambulance and our kind neighbours brought out blankets and a pillow to make me more comfortable until the paramedics arrived. I felt such a fool. I just wanted to try and get into my house but no one would let me move. I haven't collapsed like that since I had my heart attack last November.

So now I find myself back in the Cardiac Care Unit again, feeling fed up and frustrated.

Steve

Edited by member 01 Apr 2016 at 12:20 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 03 Nov 2015 at 02:53

You really do suffer Steve - enough to get anybody down. I know virtually nothing about hearts but I have a friend who had a bypass about 27 years ago. The scars were considerable but it saved his life. He still has regular check ups and only recently gave up flying model planes on a control line at 79 as his planes were making him revolve so fast! (He held the National speed class record at one time). Incidentally, he has PIN with PSA hovering around 7-8 so also is regularly monitored for this too. So I hope like him should you decide to have the bypass, you will still have a good and active life.

Barry

User

Posted 03 Nov 2015 at 06:31

Hi Steve
Sorry to hear your news, you have been through the wars.
Wishing you all the best and a speedy return home.
Sandy.

User

Posted 03 Nov 2015 at 07:17

heres to a quick hospital visit all the best
nidge

run long and prosper
'pooh how do you spell love'
'piglet you dont spell love -you just feel it'

User

Posted 03 Nov 2015 at 07:27

Steve

Keep your chin up mate.

Love Chris and Dawn

User

Posted 03 Nov 2015 at 07:37

Thinking of you Steve,

User

Posted 03 Nov 2015 at 08:23

Our wishes are with you Steve! My dad had a triple bypass at 65 and is now 73 and going well. Take care.
Chris and Elaine

User

Posted 03 Nov 2015 at 09:03

Hi Steve

You've certainly been through the mill. Hoping for a speedy return home for you

Need you to be fit and well for the Flyer event!

Best wishes

Arthur

Edited by member 03 Nov 2015 at 09:33 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 03 Nov 2015 at 09:09

Feeling a fool? !!!!! What ??

Were you just pretending then to get a bit more attention??

Honestly, sometimes I could shake you my friend.

If you were so faint that you collapsed on the drive and your wife and daughter were so concerned they called an ambulance and THEY were so concerned you were carted back what does that tell you.

Feeling foolish doesn't come into it does it. Without your heart your dead, end of.

Any risk with that, like insisting on staying at home would then indeed make you a fool and you are (usually!!) far from that.

Perhaps a blessing in disguise, the fact that you will be double checked.

I suspect it may have been a result of the trauma of the day, getting used to the "new" you with the stent now cleared. After all, you've felt unwell enough recently haven't you. Perhaps your body was just adjusting to the increased blood flow and initially was struggling to cope.

All of this is beyond your control (provided you are doing all the right things healthwise) so please my friend stop feeling as if everything you do turns to ashes and makes you a fool.

Collapsing on the drive after the day you had is not as embarrassing as collapsing on the drive after a night on the booze now is it. Your neighbours were concerned for you and your wife and daughter and wanted to help in anyway they could.
Well done them.

When you get back home and they start asking you how you are don't feel the need to make grovelling apologies for behaving like a fool. Accept the enquiries as general concern for you and just say a grateful thanks.

Chin up young man. I bet you feel better today, well I hope you do.

Now are we listening you are not a fool.

Best wishes
Sandra

Edited by member 03 Nov 2015 at 09:13 | Reason: Not specified

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

User

Posted 03 Nov 2015 at 09:30

Sending my thoughts and love at what must be such a difficult, frustrating time for you,

Fiona.x

User

Posted 03 Nov 2015 at 10:48

I must add my very best wishes Steve, somehow I think you are going to be ok.

Stay Strong, you are stronger than you think.

User

Posted 03 Nov 2015 at 12:03

Hi,

Thank you for your kind messages.

I've just been seen by the duty consultant and told that I could get out by tonight if I manage to walk around without feeling dizzy. Not really happening at the moment but I'm sure things will be fine later.

He said that my troponin level tests (which can indicate if you've had a heart attack) came back as being over 900. The normal level is anything up to 14 but because I'd just had the angioplasty earlier in the day, he said the high troponin levels were probably due to the damage caused by that rather than another heart attack. Anyway, it was right for me to go in because how I felt, was exactly as I did when I had my heart attack. It's only because my BP is back to normal and chest pains have gone that he believes it probably wasn't caused by another heart attack.

Unfortunately, I will miss my grandson opening his presents on his first birthday (today) which I feel really sad about, but I suppose, at least, I'll be here for his next birthday (fingers crossed).

Thanks everyone for your kindness. I know these incidents are nothing to do with PCa but tend to be quiet important in my life. I need to get things off my chest sometimes.

Steve x

User

Posted 03 Nov 2015 at 22:08

Hi,

Home now.

The doctors and nurses rushed my discharge through because I mentioned that we were having a family party for our grandson's first birthday.

I'm really pleased I made it there. It was great to see him open his presents and cards (with help).

Great to be home. Tired.

Steve

User

Posted 04 Nov 2015 at 06:27

No place like home.
Take care.
Sandy

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