My Retzius sparing RARP + NeuroSAFE journey

Thanks lots John, it is great that AS is working out well for your friend! 

We looked into Nanoknife as well and I read that a Prof from UCLH also offers it in the UK? 

Wonder if you have read about MRI-guided transurethral ultrasound ablation (TULSA)? Sounds like by going through the penis, this would protect the surrounding tissues of the back-passage in the conventional HIFU method. I don’t know if anyone has any insight into this? Think it is only offered in the US at the moment though...

Hi TG, thanks lots for this. I spoke to hubby and seems like I had a misunderstanding of the word quadrant, I thought it meant one quarter of the prostate. He now says he actually has four quadrants with Gleason 6 but all in the same quarter. Were yours the same or on both sides of the prostate? 

I’m concerned about effect of focal therapy either hifu, or nanoknife or cryotherapy, would have on the back passage and it’s surrounding tissues, whether that would make it difficult for surgery further down the road and causing worse side effects etc. I have read that surgery is possible but with difficulty due to surrounding tissue damage. Wonder if you have any insight into this? Thanks a million! 

Quick update..Week 8.

Pad free now day and nights. Although I wear. Tena 1/2 when out as don’t want to risk it so the extra reassurance works.

I appear to leak a little after a few large beers/wine which to be honest was expected. Soon as I stop necking it the leaks cease so all positive. 

Morning erections strong and pretty much same as pre op. Very happy with this as assumed this would an aspect I would have to sacrifice post op.

Wounds nearly healed now and still slight amount of abdominal discomfort but don’t really notice it day to day.

First PSA’s due week 10 and Prof review meeting week 12.

Looking forward to getting back to the gym end of Feb :-)

Probably just as deserved John!

Sorry to hear about your back Tech guy. I sympathetic as I know how you feel having suffered myself for almost 15 years. Once you stop doing your normal routine it's really difficult to get going again without putting something out of wack. I am slowly building up the walking and light Yoga exercises but really forcing myself to hold back a bit. So far so good. Good to hear your continence is improving which must be a real positive. Hope you get sorted with your back and continue to make progress.

Cheers Dave

hope you improve and making good progress too.

yes back is a right pain and spending much time laying down. Trying some Pilates today but it’s been beyond that. Tens machine helps now so hopefully will loosen up a bit :-)

TG

John

Pour yourself a drink today mate. Without you and the folks on here I would never have found the Prof. My outcome thus far has been way beyond expectations. I’d seen the profs website a week before joining here but obviously didn’t know them from adam. When I heard about the positive experiences on this site it was like a lifeline. You guys basically to date transformed what was a tumultuous journey. After PSA results this week and now effectively week 12 post op I feel I can now get on with life. 

TG

So had my first hiccup last night. Skin full in town with friends celebrating post op thus far. Don’t remember exiting the pub and kindly given a lift home by one of the group. Woke up 6am having wee’d myself. Thankfully the post op setup of mattress protector and tena bed mats worked a treat. I think I must have been in a coma so I don’t think being post op had much of a bearing as did this ages ago after a heavy night on cocktails and shots. Usual trick is to stick to wine for me. No harm done and a lesson learnt. Those tena mats are epic as only soiled one as it sorted the leak without much issue. Scooped the bedding into washing machine a job done. Took 15mins to find my glasses and remote...... More importantly no leaks in the pub at all. I fell very blessed with the outcome and the magic hands of the prof.

happy weekend everyone!

TG

Bollinge

obviously a bad pint. Historically I’d experience this pre-op if I went very silly on the sauce every 5-8years or so...I had nocturnal enuresis up to ~20...Uni seemed to make me sleep lighter as the issue appeared to be that I slept in a virtual coma. Last night was just unlucky but good data to build on. I wondered what the limits would be. Last weekend we had a couple of bottles of SB and no issues. I think game changer last night was quantity on empty stomach. don’t remember much after the pub...on the plus side I didn’t wake on the cold kitchen floor...although that would have been logistically simpler. 

certainly a journey isn’t it but yet to leak when out post 6 weeks after op whatever I throw at it....can’t complain I guess. Bed is triple armoured based on my old data as a kid plus learning on this wonderful site. Tena mats is like super slurpers 

Week 13 Update:

Nothing much to report. Things settling. Back improving after putting it out the other week. The gym was needed for this so went down yesterday fully armed with tena lvl 2. Spend 30mins doing usually pre-op routine for back of around 80-100 late pull downs (cable machines). Taking it easy for obvious reasons(25-40kg). Also crammed in 3x10dips with 35kg offset. All felt ok but when I got home evidence of a few minor drips in pad. Will work out what triggered .....dips/lats. Pretty minor so not big issue. I don’t do much pelvic floor other than Pilates as normal continence. Will try to tension pelvic floor when in the gym again later this week and see what effect that has. Tbh if it means a tena 1 or 2 when doing resistance for rest of my life then cool as all fine outside of that 😎🤓😀

Hope everyone else is doing well post/pre op 👍

Updated (28/2/20): gym visit two. No drips or leaks with lat pull down. Appears trigger last time was dips which makes sense as puts a bit of pressure on pelvic floor. Will gets this next time while engaging.

Edited by member 28 Feb 2020 at 14:57  | Reason: Not specified

Hi Dave

thanks mate. Stay positive as I had many moments of doubt until the drips ceased. Easy to forget it just takes quite a bit of time after effectively prostate/bowel/bladder surgery.

hope you have a great weekend.

TG

Week 14 Update:

No problems at all and no leaks. Did the gym yesterday and forgot the precautionary pad but didn’t need it. All dry so very pleased. I can feel the healing progress on a week by week basis. Also slept right through last night without a visit to the loo.

Slight sore throat and head cold today. So taking it easy 🤓📺🤖🦾

Hope everybody else making good progress and have a fantastic weekend. 

TG

Thanks for posting. Interesting to me as my husband has also had 2 focal treatments - FLA in Florida in 2017 and focal HIFU in London earlier this year ( first post HIFU PSA due in April. 

Opting to extend QOL as a priority whilst controlling the PCa but met with surgeon before the focal HIFU who says removal is still on the table should things not go to plan

pleased ‘to meet’ some else who opted focal twice! 

Glad to hear the recovery is going quite well. Did you have any nerves saved? 

Cheers Lyn :-)

Thanks John, Thats my view. Don't panic until >0.1....less detail the better as ignorance is bliss at these levels. Sauvignon Blanc may be opened tonight...I have a reasonably valid excuse for a change :-o

I feel somewhat fortunate with post op functionality. It did feel odd taking a pic in my hotel the night before. The first thing I did post op when i got wheeled back to my room is check the sump. My female nurse walked in as completely the wrong time and I struggled to explain things. 'checking the oil' produced a confused face. The male nurse found it hilarious :-/

Cheers

S