GregJ’s Journey - To Infinity And Beyond! - - Page 8Advanced or metastatic cancer

User

Posted 17 Jul 2023 at 19:05

You lucky lucky b_gger :) :)

Well done, unfortunately I will never get another one unless anyone who has not had nerve sparing can tell me otherwise.

Mind you, I did find this awesome willy massager that works on floppy willies.

Did they tell you that your op was nerve sparing?

Well done!

Steve

User

Posted 17 Jul 2023 at 20:41

Hi Greg J,

Well done you 😀.

Yes, buy that extra Lottery ticket!

Best wishes,

JedSee.

User

Posted 17 Jul 2023 at 20:42

Cheers Steve

Let’s see if I can keep it up, pun intended. Could be just beginners luck.

Yes, the surgeon said after the op that he managed bilateral nerve sparing and my post op printed letter that I was given on discharge also said that.

He did say, in my pre-op discussion, that he was sure he could manage BL nerve sparing but I obviously was a little anxious that things could change once he was in there rummaging about.
Of course the most important thing is the result of my first PSA test in a few weeks.
Cheers

Greg.

User

Posted 17 Jul 2023 at 20:43

Haha, thanks JedSee

I think I should

cheers

Greg.

User

Posted 17 Jul 2023 at 22:11

That must have been quite pleasantly surprising for you Greg after all you’ve been through.

Congratulations ….and onwards and upwards seems VERY appropriate! 🤣🤣🤣

as my Pharmacist said to me as he handed over my Viagra ‘All the best!’😊

Derek

User

Posted 18 Jul 2023 at 09:24

Haha

Was certainly a surprise Derek, sort of a mixture of surprise, shock, joy and horror! 😂

I still have a lot of dark purple bruising all over my pelvis and sides and my old man, although definitely better than just after the op, still resembles an aubergine 🍆 🤣

Cheers

Greg.

User

Posted 19 Jul 2023 at 12:35

The pain and aching in my lower abdomen and pelvic region hasn’t got much better in the 3 weeks since my surgery.

I’m sure some of it will be the hematoma I had but that’s mainly to the left of my navel and down into my pelvis. The ache is across the whole area really.

I guess this is just normal healing from the surgery?
Anybody else experience the same post RP?

cheers

Greg.

User

Posted 19 Jul 2023 at 14:23

It's normal. A lot of flesh has been cut, burnt and bashed around. The brain can't quite process where the pain is coming from as the nerve endings start to heal.

Pain is also your body's way of telling you if you are doing too much.

Edited by member 19 Jul 2023 at 14:24 | Reason: Not specified

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 19 Jul 2023 at 15:27

Thanks Lyn

I was hoping it was common and normal. It feels like it’s been 3 months, not 3 weeks.
Been the longest 3 weeks of my life so far. 🥴

Thank you 😊

Greg.

User

Posted 22 Jul 2023 at 20:35

Hey Greg first of all thanks for posting your journey. I’m new to the community and found your information and the replies very helpful. Sorry to hear you had some additional complications - hope all ok now

I’m just over 2 weeks post op. I had my catheter and clips removed last Monday.
Plenty of pads being used still but last night I was relatively dry.

I was interested in this particular post on the pain. I’ve had two days (including today) where the pain was very bad. It’s in the ‘undercarriage’ or perineal? area and just feels like the whole area is ‘raw’. That has lead to awful stinging pain in my urethra today. I’m not used to having constipation and that seems to have added to the discomfort and an inability to pee.

Had blood on my pad for first time today.

I checked in with my nurse yesterday and she explained that such pain is normal and it’ll ease off eventually. I guess it’s part of the healing process.

I’d agree with many of the posts about taking it very slow and listening to the body signals. I went back to working from home on Tuesday and Wednesday for a few hours each day and hit a wall on Thursday.

But I always think back to the fact that we are lucky that surgery was an option. Small price to pay I feel.

Nice to hear from Lyn that we are burning 4K calories a day while healing! Silver lining!

Stay Strong

User

Posted 22 Jul 2023 at 21:35

Hi Al

I hope you keep going from strength to strength as each day passes 😊👍

I’m still in quite a bit of pain down below. It’s very hard to pinpoint exactly but definitely inside and toward the rectal area. As you and Lyn said, a lot has happened down there during surgery so it’s going to take some time to settle.
I feel it most when I sit on a chair that isn’t soft, like a dining chair.

I can get semi-comfortable a lot of the time now, through shuffling to find the best position, so things must me starting to find their place again. I’m 3.5 weeks post op now … been the longest month of my life, truth be told! 😁

I definitely have other pain which is related to the hematoma, I can feel it especially when I lie completely flat. I’m still sleeping in one of the electric recliner chairs in the living room as it doesn’t go completely flat so it’s a lot more comfortable.

Look after yourself and good luck with a speedy recovery 👍

cheers

Greg.

User

Posted 22 Jul 2023 at 22:20

Hi again Al

I meant to say, I’ve had blood every day near enough since the op, up until 2 days ago.
It seems to have stopped now, which I’m glad about.

3 days ago I had the worst blood I’ve ever had, the toilet bowl was deep dark claret coloured …which was an absolute shocker I have to say. Then after that, touch wood, there’s been nothing. 🤞

Cheers

Greg.

User

Posted 22 Jul 2023 at 23:00

Yep Greg, you’ve described exactly the pain I’m feeling and that general area too.
A bit of twisting and turning in seats is needed to get comfortable. I’m with you!

Hope it gets better for you soon

User

Posted 22 Jul 2023 at 23:06

To be honest Al, I think it is a bit silly to be trying to work so soon - the pain and fresh bleeding should be telling you something! Not giving yourself time to recover can be more than just tiring - you can actually impede continence recovery and also worth noting that men who overdo things after keyhole / Da Vinci RP are at a vastly increased risk of hernia.

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 22 Jul 2023 at 23:09

Ouch that must have been a shock at first?
Did I see a comment that it’s a result of the repairing and ‘bits’ falling away from the scars etc?

With me at it feels like my urethra is on fire 🔥 and a few times it went into spasm or cramp.

Such fun eh!!
Think of the cold beer

User

Posted 23 Jul 2023 at 08:40

It certainly was a shock to look down and see that I have to say. Luckily it seems like it was the final swan song …. All clear since 🤞🤞

I also had and still occasionally do have pain in my urethra so I know exactly where you’re coming from there. It has also eased over the past few days and it’s now only, say, one in ten visits to the toilet as opposed to every time.

I hope you see some improvement very soon 😊👍

cheers Al

Greg

User

Posted 23 Jul 2023 at 09:54

Thanks Lyn, yep I do know that in a perfect world I’d be work free for 4 to 6 weeks. But unfortunately I need to find a balance - just maybe more skewed towards rest than I had in the last few days.

User

Posted 06 Aug 2023 at 13:02

Hi Greg,

We haven’t heard from you for a while. How are you doing?

Derek

User

Posted 06 Aug 2023 at 15:03

Hi Derek

I’m ok, I think 🤔 😊

Nothing much has changed so I didn’t have anything to post on my journey thread.

The main thing is that the bleeding seems to have completely stopped now. I’ve passed no blood, clots or debris in my urine for a good week or so now, so that’s a good and welcome result. 👍

My heart rate is still a concern to me. It regularly goes into the 110+ area when I’m standing and walking. Sometimes even when I’m just sitting, which is worrying.
I have spoken to my GP and my first PSA blood test is due next week but he is going to do a full bloods test at the same time to see if my red blood cell count and hemaglobin are still going in the right direction, after the internal bleed and the anemia.

I don’t know why my heart has decided to increase its rate so much. It was up to 100+ in my pre-surgery assessment, something the anaesthetist picked up on, so I can’t just blame the bleed and the anemia for it.

I also have my first appointment with the surgeon at the end of this month to discuss the pathology result, fingers crossed for that.

I still can’t lie flat for a long time because of the pain from the hematoma so I’m still sleeping in a reclining chair every night, which is not exactly ideal. I am getting some sleep but I’m sure it’s probably not the best quality sleep.

Hope you’re keeping well? 😊👍

Cheers

Greg.

User

Posted 06 Aug 2023 at 17:01

Hi Greg,

Glad to hear that things are progressing….hopefully all will be well when you meet the surgeon. From what I hear it seems that you just need to let your body tell you what you should and shouldn’t be doing.

Im doing ok thanks, we’re out in our place in Fuerteventura with the grandsons at the moment, trying to keep my mind off the up and coming PSA test (first one since RT) and Onco meeting on 23rd. Anxiety is building but I’m trying to stay positive….helped by 2 VERY active boys🤣🤣🤣….and fantastic weather😎

All the best and keep in touch,

Derek

Notification

GregJ’s Journey - To Infinity And Beyond!

Join the online community now.