Why can’t they treat my Lymph node PCa

Well that’s the CT scan out of the way. The aniseed tasting liquid wasn’t too bad. But took the nurse 5 attempts in different places to get the cannula in. So got plasters all over the place. 
Last time I didn’t really notice the contrast dye going in so much, but this time it was very weird. It felt like loads was going in and I got really hot for a few seconds, which is when you think you’ve wet yourself. 
My back is still really painful and my GP has put me on 30mg Co-codamol which is pretty powerful. It’s working but doesn’t last so I have a period where I’m using Ibuprofen to dumb it down. 
Just hoping it’s Sciatica as my GP thinks and not PCa spread.

Take care everyone 

Phil

Hi Phil,

I hope things settle down for you, Christmas can be a hard time, especially all the hype and family stuff, as lovely as it is it can sometimes result in a bit of a post  holiday letdown. Getting back to routines will hopefully help stabilise your life a bit. Getting that appointment may help too.

We both had planned holidays and stuff, but I managed to get a chest infection that seemed to hang around far too long. Thankfully David didn’t get it. So our plans were royally scuppered. 
Let us all know how you get on. 

I hope 2024 is as good as it can be for you and your family. 

Leila. 
 

Hi Guys. Well I just received my next appointment at the weekend for this Thursday. That makes it a bit tricky to get my blood test done before. I’ve tried phoning the hospital, no answer so left a message. Also no blood test form in the letter. So in the end I will just go up there tomorrow ( they don’t do blood tests on a Monday) and say I need a blood test form and the test. Maybe he doesn’t need a blood test anymore and will just use scans for reviewing spread. 
My consultant said he’d leave it for 8 weeks last time but this has come at 5 weeks so I’m a bit worried what has shown up on those scans.. 

To say I’m a bag of nerves would be an understatement 😬. I feel very selfish feeling like this as I know I should appreciate every day that I am still relatively healthy. 

Take care everyone, hope you’re all good 👍

Phil

Hi Goalhanger,

You have nothing to apologize for, and you are not being selfish by being concerned about your own health.  Why shouldn't you be?  Yes, it's good to be glad for every day that we live, but if we're enjoying life then we want it to continue.  So, anything that reminds us of the precarious nature of our existence often brings on anxiety. 

Be kind to yourself.  Hope all goes well at your review.

Best wishes,

JedSee.

Thank you so much for your lovely messages of support. Really appreciate it and it does help. 
On my last counselling session we talked about being kind to yourself. My first counsellor told me that, and I don’t think I really understood what she meant. I think I finally got it on that last session with my next counsellor . I have to accept I’m not perfect and make mistakes. I think I’ve always thought more of other people and not myself. So maybe it’s time to be a little bit selfish ….. 

Thanks guys. I really appreciate the support. 

Take care

Phil

Hi guys I went to hospital today and told them I needed a blood test for my appointment Thursday… she looked at my form and said this is for July and it’s not for your consultant 🤦‍♀️… I looked again and realised it’s for ED clinic…. What a wally… 

The letters all look the same and it’s hard to tell what they are for… 

So, haven’t got my consultant appointment yet , gotta wait some more…

That’s not so good Phil, the op you’re talking about I think is more common in India, as the medication is too expensive for some men there, but maybe it can be done here. 
I'm keeping my fingers crossed it’s a blip. Maybe think about some of the supplements and stuff we talked about, just a thought. It’s helped David immensely. 
Take care.

Leila.

New Avatar is me and the missus on the paddle steamer last year. 

Hi Phil,

The op you’re thinking about is an orchidectomy. I’ve been reading through your profile and this thread Phil, and am sorry after everything you’ve been through that the results are not as good as you hoped.

If I’m ever in a position where I face a lifetime of HT I would seriously consider orchidectomy. If you’ve followed my journey you will see that Prostap certainly DOES NOT agree with me and I did wonder if switching to Zoladex would improve my side effects, although my CNS told me that Prostap was one of the kindest for side effects! Scary😱 

Some people say that it’s the lack of testosterone rather than the drug itself  that causes the side effects but I’m not convinced.

One thing that this disease has taught me (for the better I might add) is to enjoy every day as best you can and I’m pleased you are doing that too. Spending time with my family is so important to me and I’m lucky(some might say unlucky!🤣🤣🤣) that we have my son and our 2 grandsons living with us part of the time. It keeps my wife and I very busy and the laundry is through the roof, but you know just having them around has helped me get through this.

All the best,

Derek

Fabulous photo Phil. It's nice to meet your wife. 

PS: I hope they're not concrete steps you're sitting on. My mum used to say to us as kids, "Sitting on cold floors causes piles." I wonder if I could get her to join the forum, and impart more of her medical expertise.

Edited by member 01 Feb 2024 at 14:33  | Reason: Additional text.

My mum used to say to us as kids, "Sitting on cold floors causes piles."

My mum used to say “ don’t lay in bed once you’re awake or you’ll get bad thoughts” .  I can’t imagine what she meant 🤦‍♀️🤣

Phil

Phil, it's bad enough feeling down, and its twice as bad, when you're feeling knackered.

I admire your resilience and hopefully the longer days and a bit of sunshine will help you feel brighter.

Adrian.

Edited by member 13 Feb 2024 at 13:17  | Reason: Typos again!

Excellent news Phil. I'm sure if you manage to string together a few nights of good kip, it'll lift your spirit. enormously.

Best of luck with your next consultation.

Good lad. Why the hell not

Hi Phil,

Enjoy your evening, we shared a decent bottle of red last night, and had an evening  with friends earlier in the week. This PCa isn’t easy for you lovely lads, you have my utmost respect. Sometimes in the small wee hours I think about the future, then remind myself to value each day. I am not a good sleeper, so I have a few wee small hours to think, not all negative thankfully.
Managing emotions and feelings is such a complex process, and has so many layers to deal with, and harder for some than others. 

Take care Phil, you are in our thoughts . 

Adrian, I remember years ago, collapsing at our kitchen table. Out like a light, but it was down to too many bevvies. Embarrassingly it was the first time, I'd ever met the step-monster-in -law. Took months to live that one down.

That must’ve been soo embarrassing 🤣🤣 

I worked in Pubs from age 8 to 17 so never really got drunk as I’d seen it all. But I went on holiday with my mates once to Spain when we was youngsters. I got off with our Spanish dinner waitress and we’d all been out and got back to the hotel and I went and got a round of drinks on a tray. I was showing off but very smashed and I ended up letting the tray go about a foot above the table. So many hands came out to try to save their drinks 🤣🤣. Still makes me laugh now. Bacardi and coke - still can’t drink it now. 

Phil

Adrian, I can remember, the next day, being on the phone  to her for almost an hour. 

🤦‍♀️… I can imagine … ! 

My MiL is magic. Met her daughter when she was 15 and I was 24 but she never made me feel unwelcome. And we’re still married 45 years later. MiL is still around too 👍

Adrian,

Adrian,  I suspect that, being quite a bit older than my wife, makes dealing with this disease a little more difficult. 

Yes it’s definitely on my mind. Probably partly jealousy as she could have another 30 years with someone… I find that hard but want her to be happy .