It just gets better

I've just been for my 6 month check up and everythings working fine.Yesterday I drove from Glasgow to Rhyl (JUST UNDER 5HRS)without needing to stop,brilliant.

Back at work

Yesterday I returned to work following the all clear at the hospital last Thursday.Life is back to normal.

12 Weeks

Today marks 12 weeks since my operation. The time has flown by and all being well I will be cleared to go back to work next week. The operation has been life changing for me, no longer do I have to plan my every day life around the needs of my bladder.This morning I drove from London to Rhyl, a journey of just over 4 hours, without stopping or feeling uncomfortable. This would have been unthinkable before the op. I still steer clear of coffee and coke, but generally I can drink what I like, whenever I like. Beer is a different matter, as everyone knows once you start going to the toilet after a few pints the trips are endless.I would recommend that anyone suffering as I was should take steps now and see their GP.Don't be embarrassed into suffering in silence.

Normal life

It seems that , apart from being knackered every day, that life is getting back to normal now.I'm not sleeping too well at the moment but I can travel freely and go for long walks without worrying about my bladder any more, those of you who have suffered with a prostate problem will know how it affects your life.I'm due back at the hospital on 5th July and all being well I'll be back at work on 9th July, perhaps I'll need to re-train !!

On a clear day

Well there's no blood now for a few days so I think I've cracked it. I've been doing a lot more excercise and some gardening and I don't feel as tired as I did a few weeks ago.The next thing I have to do is try and lose the weight I've put on whilst recovering from the op.Hopefully I'll be back at work in a months time and the weight should start to come off !

Measure of success

Last Thursday (31 May) I drove to London to see family. I was stuck on the motorway outside Oxford for 2hrs in stationary traffic.Before the operation I would have had serious difficulty in a situation like that but I was fine.On Sunday I noticed some blood in my urine and on Monday I was still showing blood.On Tuesday, on my return home, I passed a lot of blood and some scab tissue, today I'm clear so far !

Good nights sleep

At last I've had a good nights sleep.I slept like a log last night for what feels like the first time in ages and I feel pretty good today,hope it lasts.

Wasted again.

In an effort to try and regain a level of fitness, after taking it easy for 6 weeks, I walked for a couple of miles yesterday.I didn't rush but it wiped me out and I had to have a lie down on my return home.Today I remain tired and also in a bit of discomfort.I feel like an old man, a poor nights sleep hasn't helped, hey ho, onwards and upwards !

Fighting the urge

The past two days I seem to have taken a step backwards.When I feel the need to go I really have to try hard to hold back,not easy but I'm just about coping !

Another sunny day on the sick !

I'm still feeling pretty good, 6 weeks now since the op, where has the time gone ? Another 6 weeks I'll be back at work.

Feeling better

Well,the past few days I've been feeling a lot brighter, I must have had some sort of bug last week but now I feel quite normal, if a little bit tired.The flow rate at the moment is excellent and I'm training myself to ignore the first signs of needing the toilet and can manage a further hour before I really need to go.So far the operation has changed my life for the better and I'm glad I had it done. The sun's out, so it's back to the garden with another Andy Mc Nab best seller.

Increased volume.

I couldn't get to sleep again last night and I didn't want to try sleeping tablets again so I took two painkillers as I was in a bit of discomfort.I went out like a light and I woke up a couple of hours later and passed a massive 400mls. A new record for me, thank god I woke up to pass it !
I followed that up with 2 passes of just over 300ml each. No wonder I've been feeling rough if thats been held up somewhere.

Five weeks on.

The last couple of days I've not been brilliant but I don't feel as jaded as I have been. I've tried taking sleeping tablets to re-establish a sleep pattern, I suppose after getting up so often in the night, my brain continues to wake me in case of accidents ! I'm walking more each day to try and retain a level of fitness but an afternoon nap is inevitable.The 5 weeks since the op have flown by, although some days it seems a bit of a drag.After 5 weeks I can start doing a bit more in the garden so if it ever stops raining I'll be out there ! For now it's back to reading.

Slow down

Today I'm feeling pretty crap,yesterday was worse, I feel really jaded and i spent most of Saturday lying down I felt so poorly.I don't know if I've been doing too much too soon but I'm going to have another relaxing day, trouble is I'm not sleeping too well at night.

Flow test

Went to the hospital today for a follow up visit.Everything is progressing normally, although because of the amount of fluid I had to drink for the flow test and the bladder scan,I have been peeing for Britain this afternoon ! I go back in 2 months for another check up.

Ebb and Flow

Yesterday, being a month on since my op, I decided to do some light gardening.Today I'm absolutely shattered,the thing is that I feel better than I really am and it's hard to sit and do nothing all day.Tomorrow I'm at the hospital for a check up so I've completed a questionaire and I have to arrive at the hospital with a full bladder for a flow test.The last time i did that I parked the car and ran straight in to the hospital toilet ! I'm confident however that I will be able to hold on for the test this time.I'll let you know how it goes and how it flows.

A good nights sleep !

Last night I managed a full nights sleep,from 11.30pm till 7.30am,with no toilet visits and I hope this is the start of better things.It's almost a month since my operation took place and after the first couple of weeks the recovery has been good.I'm passing increasingly greater volumes at less frequent intervals,which has to be a good sign that the operation was a success.I'm re-training my bladder so I don't have to visit every toilet I pass "just in case " I'm due to visit the hospital this coming Friday for tests to see how things are progressing.One thing I must say is that when I was signed off for 12 weeks I did think it was a long time to recover but over the past week I've been trying to do small tasks, like a bit of weeding or some cleaning and I've been shattered an hour or so later and really felt unwell.From now on I'm going to take it easy like the doctor said !

Normal Life

Well, the last couple of days I have been trying to live a normal life,not paying much attention to my bladder, and it seems I'm getting on fine.I no longer have to think "Can I walk into town and back safely,without needing a toilet ?" I can drink what I want when I want.There are no traces of blood in my urine and only a slight discomfort which is fading each day.In the 3 weeks since my operation I think the progress has been pretty good.

Another Sunny Day

Oh well life just stays tough ! It's another warm sunny day and all I have to do is enjoy it.Last night I slept from my 1.15 toilet visit until 8.00 am before passing a brilliant 350 ml of urine ! My bladder is obviously recovering well and I'm still remaining positive about the small show of blood.Must go and top up my tan !

It just gets better !

Hi, well life moves slowly back to normal,I've got another 2-3 weeks of taking it easy and another month or more after that before I can go back to work.The sun is shining and it's frustrating to just sit and relax in the garden (honest !) Almost no trace of blood in the urine but I've no idea when it will be clear,I'm still getting up only once in the night so I feel far better in the morning but I'm hoping for a complete nights sleep soon.

Almost clear

Well, last night was another single trip at about 2.30am but without the blood content I've been troubled by.Given the amount of fluids I drank yesterday in order to flush out my bladder,I'm well pleased.During today I've been able to forget I ever had a problem,except for the fact I've got to take things easy for another few weeks.I feel much more positive today and the lethargy that has affected me since the op is finally beginning to lift.

More blood

Saw quite a lot of blood yesterday,slightly worrying so I phoned the hospital and was told to monitor the situation and see my GP if there's no improvement.Got up twice last night,blood seems to be easing,I'll see how it flows today.

Too much blood ?

Once again I only had to get out of bed for one toilet visit last night but I'm still finding blood in my urine almost two weeks on, is this normal ?

Go with the flow

Last night I only went to the toilet once and I passed 350ml, almost clear so I'm well chuffed.I still feel lethargic during the day, perhaps it's the lingering effects of the anaesthetic,still, I'll be able to drive at the end of the week, so I've got something to look forward to and today is pay day !

Moving on

Tuesday 17th April.
After coming to terms with the prospect of 12 weeks off work I decide to take the medical advice and take it easy,the weather is on my side but walking slowly instead of my usual pace is a bit tricky.In a couple of weeks I can start driving again and maybe enjoy the time off with my wife who has been taking good care of me since the operation.I start a log measuring my daily fluid intake against how often and how much I urinate.
On Wednesday night (18th April )I got up during the night 4 times, not much change there !
On Thursday night it was down to 3 times, but Friday evening I had 3 pints of bitter and I only got up twice during the night,could this be a record ? No , it gets better, sort of. On Saturday evening I passed a heavily bloodstained 300 ml together with some mean looking blood clots. It gave me a real fright and had me looking through the post-op information.Hopefully it was a one-off but iff it happens again it's back to the doctors.During Saturday night I only got up to the toilet once, I can't remember the last time that happened !
Today (Sunday 22nd April) I have been drinking lots of tea but have been managing 3hrs between toilet visits and the volume has increased from 200 ml per time to 280ml, I'm impressed and there is only a slight bleed at the start of urination and minor discomfort.

The Operation

On Wednesday 11th April , I was wheeled down to theatre where I again met the anaesthetist who injected various potions into my hand via a canular device.I woke up 2 hrs later on ward 6.
I was on oxygen,had a drip in my arm and a catheter to my bladder.I felt surprisingly good (must have been the drugs !) and was in no pain. The nursing staff were excellent and encouraged me to drink plenty of fluids to flush the bladder.
The catheter bag contained what looked like a full bodied red wine.Later in the afternoon the consultant visited me and explained that the operation had been a success and that I could possibly be discharged the same day.That wasn't to be however and the catheter was removed on the following day, my first visit to the toilet following the removal of the catheter was uncomfortable but the second visit was,I have to admit,a real frightener.The pain was incredible and I barely made it back to my bed.Again the nurses were great and a couple of pain killers later I was on my feet and braced myself for another trip to the toilet.
This time there was no discomfort or pain and a decent flow,I was impressed.That night I continued to pass water every 40 minutes,I didn't bother getting into bed,I just lay on top.
On Friday 13th April following a bladder scan that showed my bladder was emptying correctly I was discharged from hospital.
I didn't need anti-biotics or any other form of medication.I was advised not to drive for a week or so and that I should take it easy for 4-5 weeks.
Once home I did as I was told and took it easy.I took the time to read up on the internet and the Prostate handbook what happens next. The symptoms don't disappear overnight and it could be months before I notice any improvement in my bladder but already I have noticed that my flow is much stronger.
On Monday 16th April I contact my GP for a sick note and some pain killers (just in case).She re-iterates what I had read about recovery times and tells me to take it easy as a full recovery takes about 3 months. I get a sick note valid till 9th July.

Good news

In March 2007 I was contacted by the hospital and asked if April was a convenient time to enter hospital for the op on my prostate.I readily agreed and subsequently attended a pre-op examinatioin on 30 March 2007 at Glan Clwyd Hospital,Bodelwyddan.Apart from a low blood presure reading I was fine and the operation and it's after effects were explained in detail to me.On the morning of Wednesday 11 April I was admitted to ward 6 and spoke with the anaesthetist who gave me a choice of either, a spinal injection to make me numb from the waist down but awake during the operation or a general anaesthetic.I chose to be knocked out !
The consultant came to see me and explained that I was going to be a pioneer,I was to be the first patient at Bodelwyddan to undergo a Laser TURP.This in effect means that the laser cuts away and vapourises a section of the prostate,causing less blood loss and easier healing.
"Greenlight laser photoselective vaporisation of the prostate (PVP)
This is a recent alternative method of treating BHP. A laser emitting green light is used to vaporise a passage through the prostate instead of an electrical current. Advantages are the fact that it causes less damage and bleeding, and there are fewer complications "

After a few months I was referred to the urology consultant, after a course of medication failed to relieve my symptoms,a nurse did the now customary finger test and another flow test was carried out.By this time,on advice I had stopped drinking coffee.This had two side effects,the first was that I suffered headaches and became irritable for a few weeks whilst my metabolism came to terms with the drastic reduction in caffeine.The second side effect was more welcome,less frequent visits to the toilet during the day !
I could now manage an hour, sometimes 2 hours without visiting the toilet.This perhaps was aided by very little consumption of fluid,putting my kidneys at risk.
Over 12 months after visiting my GP I went for a procedure whereby fluid is placed in the bladder and cameras are inserted via the anus and penis to monitor the bladder function.Brings tears to the eyes !
Next was another visit to the Consultant last September (2006) and I am placed on the NHS waiting list for a Transurethral Prostatectomy (TURP).
By now I am getting up 4-6 times a night and a good nights sleep is a thing in the long distant past.My working day is planned to take advantage of any toilet facilities I can find.My flow is now down to a dribble and it takes ages to pass water,but there is no pain,just embarrasment.How long is the waiting list,who knows ? My case is prioritised below cancer patients which is as it should be,I'll just be a patient patient.
Off to the toilet again !

Prostate Problems

Hi,my name is Steve and I'm recovering from prostate surgery.
I've started this blog to share my thoughts with others who are going through similar experiences to me.
Let's start at the beginning,most men go to the toilet frequently on a night out after a few beers and it's accepted as part of the night out.After a while when you are in your early fifties or late forties however you start to notice that the visits to the toilet at night are more frequent,even when no drink has been consumed.Day trips become uncomfortable after an hour (earlier in some cases) and frequent "comfort" breaks are needed.
How about those office meetings where you sit cross legged hoping for a tea break so you can empty your bladder ? Trips to the theater or the cinema become a nightmare,"Would you like an aisle seat sir ?"
As adults it's easy to think "I can handle this,it's no great shakes" Well shaking doesn't always prevent the "dribble"
I suffered for several years, leaving the office at 40 minute intervals with a bladder that just wouldn't take NO for an answer, when you've got to go you've got to go.
Finally, 2 years ago, at the age of 52 I sought help from my GP.
On my first visit to the doctors surgery I was naturally worried, the fear of prostate cancer is always at the back of your mind.
My GP put me at ease and explained what was going to happen,I would have a blood test to check my PSI levels, then a flow test , which entails urinating into a funnel shaped bucket attached to a pressure measuring device and after the good old "finger test " A bladder scan at the local hospital.
A friend of mine gave me a useful publication"The Complete Prostate Handbook "by Anne Charlish published by Carnell PLC ISBN 1-85779-887-2.
More soon,I'm just off to the toilet !!!