prostate operation

Hi Stukno

sounds like your doing well my op was 14th June and my incontinence all of a sudden improved dramatically about the 9 weeks mark I am coming up to 12 weeks since my op and I am pretty dry most of the time, like you I leak a little when I am under pressure but generally I have good control. keep the pelvic floor exercises up I do think they help and also try to let your bladder fill up as much as possible I was told at the incontinence clinic this helps the bladder get back to normal. I am also living in hope that my sex life gets back to normal but as you say having the cancer removed is the main object.

You sound a pretty positive person I certainly think it helps your recovery if you have a good outlook on life and not to let it get you down.

Cheers Stukno.

Edited by member 11 Sep 2018 at 16:52  | Reason: Not specified

General advice is that natural erections should return within 2 years otherwise it won’t happen at all. Not strictly true as in our house it was 3 years post-op but John does have natural erectile function now. Much depends on keeping the penis healthy in the meantime - are you using a pump regularly (daily) to prevent atrophy?

Hi Eddy,

I had my op at a similar time. As you suggested I too found a sudden improvement in incontinence and now, 5 months on apart from stress incontinence when doing heavy lifting, I'm pretty much over all of that.

On the ED front, a different story, I've only just in the last week (12/10) got into the local hospital Urology dept (in my post code I cannot be referred to the specialist clinic)  I wasn't very impressed. They have prescribed capsules and made an appointment in November to be 'trained' for a pump. It was all a bit dismissive though.  Soon after the op - having absorbed the info on here and having been told that I wouldn't get an ED appointment until mid October, I went to my GP and requested daily 5mg Cialis which he prescribed no problem.

On Monday 15/10 I saw the surgeon and too the opportunity to discuss ED. He reckoned that the capsules would do no good at all and injections were the best bet.

I have therefore decided to pay for an appointment at the specialist clinic in the hope of getting the best advice - and then twist the arm of the NHS when I go back there to get what I want.

Without going into too much gory detail, I find that I can orgasm really strongly but its difficult to get there when there's not much to work with. Even a partial erection would be a help.

I also got the news that my PSA levels, which were at 0.1 at 6 weeks post op were now 0.2 and therefore some further treatment radiotherapy will be needed - which is a bit of a bugaa…. but there it is. There should be a thread started by me asking for advice on what to expect in this situation.

In all other respects, I feel good, I just hope that the radiotherapy / whatever does change that.

regards

stu k

Over the past 6 weeks I have been having problems with my left leg swelling up, I went to see the doctor and she said I had Lymphedema and it was a side effect from my operation, I casually replied the op had left me with a few problems her reply was it's better than dying of Prostate cancer I agreed 100% and went on my way with a smile. Anyway I am wondering how many of you out there have the same issue and if it was short term.

cheers 

Eddy

Coming up to 5 months since my op and after a terrible start with my incontinence I have had my first completely dry day. Not a leak at the gym, washed my car and did some gardening, and not to forget I took the dog for a walk. I am hoping this is the start of things come and the end of using pads. Back to the hospital next week for my second PSA test fingers crossed it's clear again. 

The weeks fly by 5 months after my op and I have  just had my second check up and this time asked all the right question. The good news is that my cancer was down graded to T2 from T3a, and the Doctor implied he would not expect any further problems with the cancer (fingers crossed). I discussed my ED with the Doctor and I am having an appointment made for me at the ED clinic regarding a vacuum pump to help keep my length!! .I found out today that I did not have nerve sparring surgery so this is the only down side to the operation. I had my blood test today but am waiting for the results of my PSA the last two were undetectable so I will update on that when I get them. I have been pad free for two weeks now, but I am still hitting the pelvic floors daily so recovery going really well in that area. My mood swings have been all over the place lately some days very happy then the slightest thing and i'm off on one, I mentioned my mood swings to the doctor and he recommended i visit a support group to see if this helps, has anyone else been to one and did it help. 

Edited by member 16 Nov 2018 at 15:09  | Reason: Not specified

Just received my latest PSA tests and after two undetectable tests this one is <0.02 ug/L. I was a bit concerned at first but I think this reading is still very good as it seems to be very low indeed

Edited by member 28 Nov 2018 at 17:25  | Reason: Not specified

The time has arrived had my regular PSA test today hopefully it's good news again when I visit the consultant  next week.

On a different note I had no nerve sparing when my prostate was removed so have no ability to fire up down below, I decided to try the vacuum pump to keep my equipment healthy so after 3 weeks of use I would totally recommend this to anyone else out there with the same problem, it's not the same as getting a normal erection but it's a great feeling seeing your manhood standing erect again, so anyone thinking about using one don't be put of by the thought of manually getting a erection give it a go and take it from their. A big thanks to Lynne for her advice.

Hi stu k

thanks for the thumps up, sorry to see you needed further treatment and your cancer was upgraded, not what you want to hear when you go for the operation but hopefully the follow up treatment gets rid of the cancer for good. I was lucky my cancer was down graded and totally contained in the prostate so hopefully I don't have any further problems but it's still a worry every time you go for a PSA test that the dreaded thing has returned. As for the pump it's a bit of a come down when you can only get a erection using this contraption, I find it works well and can maintain a erection using the rings, it is a bit of a passion killer when you have to pump it up (haha). I was reading about the Invicorp injections do they work straight away or is it similar to using the pump and how long does the erection last. 

thanks again Stu k and good luck with your treatment hope all goes well.

eddy.

The stats at the national urology conference in 2017 - 10% of men who had full nerve sparing never have an erection again. The % for men who had partial or non nerve sparing is obviously worse.

I communicate with a wife whose husband had full nerve sparing at the same time as John. He has tried everything; even the pump failed to produce any kind of response. Sadly for some men, nothing works and, as is the case with men who are left with permanent incontinence, it is important not to suggest that they are simply not trying hard enough or have given up too easily. 

Had my 12 month appointment today with the consultant that did the operation. My PSA was undetectable for the 4th time and I have now been put on 6 monthly checks at my GP, the consultant said he didn't expect any further problems  so all in all I too am quite happy  John, just have to cope with the impotence but I must say the vacuum pump does work and is keeping my equipment healthy.

That sounds like very poor blood supply to the penis (assuming correct pump usage). It does happen in men who haven't had PCa where it can be an early sign of cardiovascular disease, commonly preceding the first heart attack or angina by about 3 years.

NHS stats are (were) that approximately 10% of men never have an erection again. Nothing wrong with his pump technique that I could ascertain and he was mid-50s at dx. Nine years on the husband in question hasn't yet had a heart attack, there is no diabetes and I am not aware that anyone has raised questions about cardiovascular disease, he was just one of the unlucky ones, it seems. It didn't help that he lived in the area of a small Trust and travelled out of area for private RP - his local NHS then refused any kind of ED support or treatment so there was a significant delay in dealing with it which probably led to major atrophy.