From Diagnosis to Prognosis
November, 2018 – PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) high. Taken as part of blood work for annual physical. Retested a few weeks later and it went down, but on the low end of high.
November, 2019 – PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) high. Taken as part of blood work for annual physical. Retested a few weeks later and it went down, but on the low end of high. This time, my primary doctor recommends I consult a urologist.
2020 – COVID-19 hits.
March 17, 2020 – My first visit with the urologist is the last day they are doing – appointments due to the COVID-19 quarantine. We discuss options and his opinion is for a biopsy to rule out whether or not there is something to worry about. I decide to schedule the biopsy because of how drastic the treatment was for my grandfather at age 83 with advanced prostate cancer.
April 28, 2020 – Prostate Biopsy.
May 7th, 2020 – Results from biopsy showing cancer in 8 of 12 samples taken. Surgery is the next course of action. It is supposed to be July, but COVID-19 has everything backed up, so it isn’t scheduled until the end of August.
August 21, 2020 – Surgery. Robotic Assisted Prostatectomy.
August 21, 2020 – Hospital stay extended due to volume of drainage from the abdominal drain tube.
August 23, 2020 – Hospital stay extended again because my bowels aren’t waking up after general anesthesia.
August 24, 2020 – Finally released from hospital and come home.
Sleep first two nights in the living room recliner, second night not as good as the first.
August 26, 2020 – I start this blog.
Sleep third night in portable recliner in my room, it is better for a nap than a full night’s sleep.
Sleep fourth night on the futon in the living room. The ability to stretch out flat is uncomfortable at first, but the ability to roll onto my sides is WONDERFUL!
August 28, 2020 – One Week Post-Op, fifth day home.
August 31, 2020 – Removal of catheter, scheduled for morning.
- Pathology results of my prostate. They are favorable.
- Next year after the fourth quarterly PSA test, I should be cured if the PSA is zero or flat-lined.
- About five hours after I got my catheter out I felt the need to pee. I was able to pee standing up without making a mess. I’ve been able to exercise my pelvic floor muscles most of my life, so I think that helped, plus I was doing those exercises up until surgery.
September 2, 2020 – My drain tube incision appears to have quit weeping. I put a dry bandage on it, just in case.
September 3, 2020 – My drain tube incision finally is staying dry. So I finally quit bandaging it. The incision on the lower right abdomen is still weeping, so I put a dry bandage on it.
Also I had better bladder control overnight. My current capacity appears to be reached in about 2 hours. I got though the night with one pad and did not replace it so made it with one pad of disposable underwear.
September 7/8, 2020 – I slept for six hours straight. I felt great when I first got up a little before 6:00 AM, but ran out of steam after work. This was my first day back to work after surgery. Also, the last to incisions that were weeping finally dried up!
September 12, 2020 – Wearing jeans without having to keep unbuttoning them is getting more comfortable.
September 13, 2020 – This is the last day that I took acetaminophen for pain. I still have point tenderness in my abdomen on and by my incisions, but it is minor.
September 16, 2020 – My pants finally feel like they fit right again. I can bend over to tie my shoes without unbuttoning my jeans. This is a great things.
September 20, 2020 – Resumption of heavy lifting. I was restricted to 10 or 20 pounds for the first four weeks. I will attempt simple things to avoid hurting myself. I am able to pick up my granddaughter again.
September 20, 2020 – Mowed the lawn with push mower without pain. I felt more stiff and sore in my back and legs. The next day I felt it more in my abdomen.
October ??, 2020 – End of blood in urine. This is from clots breaking up from the former location of the prostate and bladder reconstruction. Mowing the lawn and yard work have caused more blood in my urine. It takes a few days for it to go away.
December 2, 2020 – First quarter post-op PSA test. My PSA is basically undetectable, which is great news.
March, 2021 Bladder control returns – Six weeks to eighteen months. It’s not perfect, but I could get by without a pad if I wanted. I still have unexpected issues.
March 3, 2021 – Second quarter post-op PSA test. My PSA is still undetectable.
March 22, 2021 – My first post-op bicycle ride, seven months after surgery.
May 7, 2021 – 1st Anniversary of Cancer Diagnosis.
May 13, 2021 – Diagnosed with diabetes.
June 2, 2021 – 3rd Quarter PSA test. PSA is still undetectable.
June 9, 2021 – Third quarter post-op urologist visit to discuss my PSA test.
August 13, 2021 – Diabetes follow doctor visit. AIC almost normal.
August 21, 2021 – 1st Anniversary of Prostatectomy. Sleeping without a bed pad and without a continence pad.
September 2, 2021 – Diabetes Update III. 1 shot per week and glucose testing only once a day each morning.
September 9, 2021 – Fourth quarter post-op PSA test. Still undectable.
September 13, 2021 – Fourth quarter post-op urologist visit to discuss my PSA test.
March 11, 2022 – First bi-annual post-op PSA test.
March 14, 2022 – First bi-annual post-op urologist visit.
May 12, 2022 – Message from urology practice that my urologist is moving out of state June 3, 2022, so I have to change doctors.
May 12, 2022 – One year anniversary of diabetes diagnosis.
May 19, 2022 – One year follow up on diabetes diagnosis.
August 21, 2022 – Two year anniversary of surgery.
September 12, 2022 – Second bi-annual post-op PSA test.
September 14, 2022. – Second bi-annual post-op urologist visit. Hopefully I am declared cancer free and cured. I will still need to have my PSA checked annually
End of March/Beginning of April, 2023 – I finally caught COVID. The first two days I felt like I was hit by a truck. I went through 3 boxes of Kleenex all by myself in just under two weeks.
April 11, 2023 – Six month PSA test.
April 13, 2023 – Urologist says that since I’m showing no signs of PSA that I am now cancer free. I will still need to have an annual PSA test as part of my annual physical, but I won’t need to see him again unless I have a detectable PSA level or another problem.
June 30, 2023 – Trip to ER with scary symptoms but sent home after all tests showed normal.
August 21, 2023 – Three year anniversary of surgery.
WAITING FOR:
August 21, 2024 – 1st Anniversary of Cancer Free.
August 21, 2024 – Fourth year anniversary of surgery.
?? Sexual function returns – Takes longer than bladder control. If I start having erections, wait until the end of the four weeks of limited weight lifting to avoid aggravating or damaging incisions.
Men's Health in My Perspective 