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User
Posted 15 Oct 2018 at 13:55

Progress at last. Pre op on the 17th Oct and actual Brachytherapy op on 25th Oct.   Should I be pleased? Well sort of, mixed feeling really!

John

Gleason 6 = 3+3 PSA 8.8 P. volume 48 cc Left Cores 3/3, Volume = 20% PSA 10.8 Feb '19 PSA 1.2

Jan '20 PSA 0.3 July '20 0.1 Jan. 21 < 0.1 Dec 21 <0.01 June '22 <0.01 April '23  <0.01

User
Posted 15 Oct 2018 at 15:07
Good news - fingers crossed everything moves smoothly now.
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 15 Oct 2018 at 19:25

Hope all goes well and to plan.

Ian

Ido4

User
Posted 16 Oct 2018 at 00:47
Good luck,it sounds like you have an excellent plan and I am very interested in following your story.
User
Posted 24 Oct 2018 at 21:41

I left the hospital after my pre-op appointment with a prescription for tamsulosin, antibiotics and a prescription for a product called 'MoviPrep,' which comes in a box large enough to hold a microwave
oven. I will discuss MoviPrep in detail later; for now suffice it to say that we
must never allow it to fall into the hands of terrorists.

Having read the MoviPrep instructions I spent the next few  days  sitting around being nervous.

Then, today, the day before my Brachytherapy, I began my preparation. In accordance
with my instructions, I stopped eating at 1600 hours and started MoviPrep at 1700 hours, this has been planned like a military operation, hence the time format.
You mix two packets of powder together in a one litre plastic jug, then you fill it with lukewarm water. (For
those unfamiliar with the metric system, a litre is about 32 gallons). Then you
have to drink the whole jug. This takes about an hour, because MoviPrep tastes -
and here I am being kind - like a mixture of goat spit and urinal cleanser, with
just a hint of lemon.

The instructions for MoviPrep, clearly written by somebody with a great sense of
humor, state that after you drink it, 'a loose, watery bowel movement may
result.'

This is kind of like saying that after you jump off your roof, you may
experience contact with the ground.

MoviPrep is a nuclear laxative. I don't want to be too graphic, here, but, have
you ever seen a space-shuttle launch? This is pretty much the MoviPrep
experience, with you as the shuttle. There are times when you wish the toilet
had a seat belt. You spend several hours pretty much confined to the bathroom,
spurting violently. You eliminate everything. And then, when you figure you must
be totally empty, there is a final burst just like the end of a fireworks display, at which point,
as far as I can tell, your bowels travel into the future and start eliminating
food that you have not even eaten yet.

Tonight I will sleep in two pairs of my extra thick M&S cotton underpants with a towel under me. I took the old ground sheet off the bed, on reflection it was a bit over the top.

Finally, the downstairs toilet being occupied I was forced to make a run for the upstairs toilet this was during the finale spurt.  I nearly made it, the stairs carpet should clean up with a good shampoo but my favourite  corduroy trousers may need replacing.

The brachy op tomorrow should be a doddle after the MoviPrep!

John

 

Edited by member 24 Oct 2018 at 21:44  | Reason: Not specified

Gleason 6 = 3+3 PSA 8.8 P. volume 48 cc Left Cores 3/3, Volume = 20% PSA 10.8 Feb '19 PSA 1.2

Jan '20 PSA 0.3 July '20 0.1 Jan. 21 < 0.1 Dec 21 <0.01 June '22 <0.01 April '23  <0.01

User
Posted 24 Oct 2018 at 21:44
Ha ha ha ha - the best description of Moviprep I have ever read.
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 24 Oct 2018 at 22:00

Sparrow

Might be a bit late now but my advice is "dab" don't wipe. My moviprep was for a colonoscopy, my first litre 13 hours before the procedure had no effect and at 2300 I went to bed the second litre was 0500 at 0600 the eruption started .A few minutes before the colonoscopy was due they cancelled the procedure. 

Best wishes Chris

User
Posted 25 Oct 2018 at 00:04
Yes, I have had it for a colonoscopy - drinking that stuff was my idea of hell so dealing with the other end seemed quite easy in comparison
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 27 Oct 2018 at 14:06

Well, I am now back home after my Brachytherapy on the 25th,  all went as to be expected and I had 74 “seeds” through 25 needle holes. I was left with the catheter in place for about 3 hours as there was a bit of bleeding into my bladder but I narrowly avoided a transfusion, so had to pass some large clots, by large I mean they were the size of a Titanic ‘berg. 

The boredom of hanging around was alleviated to some extent by walking around the other beds in other rooms ( I had the single bedded “Royal” room with TV and radio ) and enquiring as to how many seeds they had had. I won! The nearest to me was 68, a walk in the park to my 74. I believe I will save a fortune on torch batteries as the seeds warm up. The trip to the theatre was a bit disappointing, I was looking forward to a ride on a trolley with blue lights and two tone horn, but no, I had to walk, down the lift along the passageway up some stairs and round the corner, all in my dressing gown from Asda ( £14, A BARGAIN) and my stripey red  supportive underpants. I also  bought a pair of real leather slippers to complete the outfit (£12 from Asda). Then I had to take them all off and put them in a plastic bag, another £26 wasted, my old slippers and dressing gown would have done, I admit my old grey (they used to be white) M&S underpants were past it, so the new stripey underpants won’t be wasted. The shaving between my legs was expertly done but they forgot the aftershave lotion, but since I was under by that time I never knew who did it, they could have done my chest and back as well.

In keeping with my first class room I had fish and chips with mushy peas for tea, “Royal” food indeed, the food was very good considering it travelled 1 mile on a stainless trolley.

I had toast and peanut butter for breakfast but I couldn’t eat my shredded wheat as the kitchen had run out of milk! Anyway I was satiated by the two slices of wholemeal bread.

I have never exposed my willy to so many young ladies as on this occasion ( the Police reports are incorrect) , they had to check the catheter and urine colour of course, but I didn’t understand the laughter as they left? 

So, if you are going to have brachy, I hope this comprehensive and descriptive account will be of interest, feel free to ask if you need any further information.

John

Edited by member 27 Oct 2018 at 14:08  | Reason: Not specified

Gleason 6 = 3+3 PSA 8.8 P. volume 48 cc Left Cores 3/3, Volume = 20% PSA 10.8 Feb '19 PSA 1.2

Jan '20 PSA 0.3 July '20 0.1 Jan. 21 < 0.1 Dec 21 <0.01 June '22 <0.01 April '23  <0.01

User
Posted 27 Oct 2018 at 14:54
Not having bracky but thanks for the ammusing post. It made me laugh as I sit recovering from hernia op yesterday.

Cheers

Bill

User
Posted 27 Oct 2018 at 17:05

Many thanks Sparrow for your very amusing and entertaining description of your Brachytherapy experience.

I too had Permanent Seed Brachy nearly 2 yrs ago (only 55 seeds!) and fortunately my "clear out" was performed in hospital on the day of the procedure with the aid of a very large syringe!!

Good luck with the recovery

Regards Tom  

User
Posted 27 Oct 2018 at 18:37

Great post again.

Ian

Ido4

User
Posted 15 Nov 2018 at 13:09

Well, I have survived a good three weeks, some bruising around my scrotum and willy, I say some, actually I was mainly a dark blue /purple with my willy a strange but appealing striped effect like a blue and red zebra.  Unfortunately my wife was not impressed and forbade any attempt at rumpty tumpty in case of further injury. Not to worry, I doubt I would have been much good anyway.

The radiation seems to be working away in the background, I have little in the way of side effects, maybe it's a bit early yet and I have that pleasure to come?  The only thing that is bothering me is bowel control, yes, yes, I do have a thing about bowels and movements etc., but the fact is I am going for a poo about four or five times a day and I am frightened to go to far in case there is no toilet!

I wrote my GP a nice letter explaining the problem and requesting some more Tamsulosin and something for the loose bowels, she ignored the bit in my letter about bowels and just gave me a repeat prescription for Tamsulosin.

I wrote " my bowels have been objecting to the radiation and have been voiding themselves without my direct control up to five times a day. As you know Doctor I am not one to complain without good cause, and I wonder if you could prescribe one of the 20 or so Antidiarrheals ( I had to look that one up) for me?"  What is there to ignore there? Quite polite and to the point I thought.

Anyway, I have requested an urgent phone call from the duty doctor, when I will make my point about being ignored.

 

John

Gleason 6 = 3+3 PSA 8.8 P. volume 48 cc Left Cores 3/3, Volume = 20% PSA 10.8 Feb '19 PSA 1.2

Jan '20 PSA 0.3 July '20 0.1 Jan. 21 < 0.1 Dec 21 <0.01 June '22 <0.01 April '23  <0.01

User
Posted 15 Nov 2018 at 13:44
Best of luck obtaining the ‘stoppers’ John, or better still, some ‘slowers-down’! You may find a used Champagne cork efficacious in an emergency....

We do sometimes like a laugh in the face of adversity, don’t we?

Cheers, John.

User
Posted 15 Nov 2018 at 14:36
Fybogel helps with controlling my bowel movements. (Yes, I know it contains fibre but it apparently works for loose bowels too by helping the excreta form properly!) My cancer centre prescribed it during radiotherapy and I have continued taking one sachet most days.

Ian

Ido4

User
Posted 15 Nov 2018 at 15:28
Fibogel also works for me having had long term IBS for many years. It contains soluble fiber rather than non soluble fiber, so creats bulk and can work for both condtipation and diahria. Worth a try.

Cheers

Bill

User
Posted 15 Nov 2018 at 17:03
The Doc. phoned she has prescribed "Loperamide" up to eight a day!! I doubt I will need that many.

OK on the fibre based remedies, I do have some Laxido that is soluble fibre based, I am a bit reluctant to give it a try though, I have had a rather trying time with laxatives recently!

Interestingly the Doc suggested Codeine as an alternative but they are addictive and no doubt I would finish up "mainlining" and "on the streets" so I opted for the non addictive alternative.

Another trip to the pharmacy tomorrow, I am becoming well known there, I must account for a sizeable part of their turnover.

John

Gleason 6 = 3+3 PSA 8.8 P. volume 48 cc Left Cores 3/3, Volume = 20% PSA 10.8 Feb '19 PSA 1.2

Jan '20 PSA 0.3 July '20 0.1 Jan. 21 < 0.1 Dec 21 <0.01 June '22 <0.01 April '23  <0.01

User
Posted 15 Nov 2018 at 18:27
We are off to Egypt next month for two weeks, so Loperamide will definitely be in our toilet bag in the case of ‘Gyppy Tummy”.

I think you are best to avoid opioids such as Codeine. Its stronger counterpart, Co-Codamol carries a warning not to use it for longer than five days.

I am on an oral Corticosteroid for a skin problem, and the long information leaflet warns of dependency, and I am to be weaned off it over the next three weeks. It also warns of suicidal tendencies and mood swings as side effects - rather frightening - no sign of the former, but Her Loveliness thinks I have become much more of a Grumpy Old Git than usual!

No change there then.

Cheers, John.

User
Posted 16 Nov 2018 at 17:05
Enjoy Egypt John, my beloved will not go anywhere that she regards as "suspect" and that is most of the countries outside the EU!

I get eczema and use various ointments for it, strangely my wife thinks I am a grumpy old git as well! Must be the drugs.

I can confirm that the Loperamide is doing the trick, no more having to stand having a wee with my buttocks firmly clamped together! Not an easy job I assure you.

John

Gleason 6 = 3+3 PSA 8.8 P. volume 48 cc Left Cores 3/3, Volume = 20% PSA 10.8 Feb '19 PSA 1.2

Jan '20 PSA 0.3 July '20 0.1 Jan. 21 < 0.1 Dec 21 <0.01 June '22 <0.01 April '23  <0.01

User
Posted 16 Nov 2018 at 17:55
Thanks for your amusing posts John, they've made good reading

My John had 58 seeds put in in June 2014 but without the overnight stay and we came home by train and tube!!

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