GregJ’s Journey - To Infinity And Beyond!

Another totally dry night, which I really appreciate. 

It seems if I’m sitting still, watching TV or laying on my back to sleep, there is zero leakage. I can cough, sneeze and stand and walk a few steps no problem but then say I’m making a cup of tea, half way through the kettle boiling there will be a little leak. Seems so random really. 

I’m using two pairs of disposable pants per day, I could probably get away with just using one but I like to feel fresh so I wash often and change the pants half way through the day. I got the pants from Age UK, only £4.50 for a pack of 8 (9 for the medium size) so a great price. They are amazingly absorbent and feel dry instantly after a small leak. 

I’m two days post catheter removal now so although my ridiculously impatient mind is telling me I want to be perfectly dry now, I keep telling myself I should be happy with where I am right now. 

Called my main contact nurse to check I should definitely be on the Tadalafil tablets now and waiting for her to call me back after checking with urologist. 

My abdominal muscles still hurt and ache but I guess this is just normal healing from the surgery. As Stephen Fry said after his RP … you’ve been stabbed 5 times, all be it under anaesthetic, you’ve still been stabbed! 😊

After all said and done I’m definitely in a far better place than I was even just last week after the second hospital stay for the internal bleed. 

Onwards and hopefully “upwards” to infinity and beyond! 😊👍

Greg, I am never sure about saying normal, it is frequently mentioned and I was still passing a small amount of blood, scabs and debris at least six weeks after surgery. A few weeks after surgery I also passed a kidney stone, that got my attention.

Brown blood is again frequently said the be okay, and bright red blood should be checked out.

Thanks Chris 

TBH Greg, I think many of us feel a bit abandoned after treatment is finished. I know I do, but I think youve got to be proactive in addressing any issues you have to get them sorted.

You know about my issues with Peyronie’s disease, I would have waited probably at least a year to get an an appointment with a Specialist on the NHS, which is why I decided to go ahead and pay privately to get a diagnosis…and now I’ve got what I need to try and get it fixed….on the NHS🤷🏼‍♂️

Also my joint stiffness and aches were really beginning to really affect my QOL…every joint in my body was affected. I searched high and low for a solution as it was getting to me. I’ve come to the conclusion through my own research that the joint ache is caused by muscle loss because of this damned HT treatment. I was already going to the gym but my son told me you have to push yourself as far as you can to build muscle, so it’s not reps that count but the weights you’re lifting. Also asking for advice on here someone mentioned swimming…so I’m now doing that several times a week. I can honestly say I am really beginning to feel a difference. In my view anyone on HT should be given advice and even prescribed a gym membership along with a strict program to adhere to to prevent muscle loss. if you’re in a manual job(we have a landscape gardener in our Maggies Group) you’re  probably working your muscles every day…but if your retired like me maybe not. I was cycling a lot but now I think that maybe that I was exercising wrong so hopefully this new regime will help me.

so, I’m going to keep pumping and pushing in the hope it’s sorts both these issues. I can live with the rest😊

So, if you’re worried about ANYTHING, do you own research and try things out to help. Maybe it shouldn’t be like this but that’s what I’ve found. 

All the best…and keep smiling, it helps immensely 😊

Derek

Edited by member 15 Jul 2023 at 17:55  | Reason: Not specified

If you try to do too much too soon, you can delay your recovery. The risk of hernia is also significant. Try not to stress so much; it isn't very helpful.

I would say you certainly ARE heading in the right direction Greg. When you think where you were after surgery it seems to me you have done very well.
I hope nobody thinks I was suggesting you start running marathons(or doing anything physical for that matter) when I said I think you need to be proactive with your recovery! What I meant that before and during treatment I was given lots of information, but since RT finished I feel I have been left to myself to deal with the side effects of the treatment. Only by being proactive in finding information and taking appropriate steps to aid my own recovery have I managed to deal with some of them. This forum and Maggies have been an immense help in doing this.

I obviously can’t speak from personal experience, only from the many guys I have met through Maggies that have had surgery and they ALL say the same…you need to be patient and not expect too much too soon,.

I’m sure you will begin to see real improvement soon.

Right, off to watch the tennis…come on Carlos!

Derek