a wild 57 days

okay, I might share TMI so you might choose to speed read through some parts. July 1st, surgery, hospital, Cystoscopy July 20th, woke up with a stricture, 6am| full bladder | can't pee | oh shit! | I forced out the blockage, made it home from Boy Scout Camp. (I led a group of 23 scouts on our annual summer camp...it was fun all week) July 21, I cannot self catheter, off to the emergency room, catheter put in, MRSA infection caught July 31, catheter comes out Aug 4, stricture | emergency room again, in goes the catheter (okay men, if you're not hanging by the ceiling right now, you're doing good) Aug 4, travel to Dallas for QBR, leg bag attached, fun Aug 8, catheter removed Aug 15, Cystoscopy planned for in office, unable to get past the bladder neck, let's schedule surgery # 2 Aug 23, surgery, Cysto, walking again with my new friend the catheter and leg bag. (party on) Aug 26, removal of catheter....Blood pressure, 185/125..just a tad high Aug, start hypertension medication (isn't life a party? :)) Why so many problems? well, four yrs ago when I was diagnosed, I had radiation first (a lower dose) before my surgery. My Urologist said my bladder has damage from the radiation and my body (particularly at the bladder neck - exit point) is full of scar tissue and it continues to try and repair itself, causing more scar tissue. More scar tissue = blockage. Daily cath = 'trauma'. Trauma = blood clots. Blood clots = repairing. repairing leads to ? (another stricture?) What's next, daily catheter to try and keep my scar tissue from closing. only time will tell. In the meantime, work is a nice distraction. You know what, through it all, my mom said to me "I can't believe how positive you are" to which I said, it's just in my DNA I'm guessing if you made it this far, you've had enough details. Hope you all are well and you've had a great summer. until next time, cheers

2nd Cysto in the last 7 weeks

It's getting a little old...and the hospitals are getting rich. The word from my surgeon is the radiation I had 4 yrs ago had cause a good amount of damage to my bladder. No wonder I've had the issues I've had to deal with. It's still a lot less than the challenges other cancer patients face so I have to keep that in perspective. Follow up in 10 days to discuss long term options because I can't keep doing this every 60 days. Later

Emergency room, again

This,is getting a little old and more of an inconvenience. July 21 - stricture, emergency room, catheter July 24 - Urologist appmt, can't remove cath due to urinary track infection July 30 - Catheter comes out, begin self cath once daily Aug 4 - another stricture, emergency room, leave with catheter Depressing, frustrating, inconvenient. Off to Dallas for a few days, most likely back with urologist on Aug 8.

Stricture, sucks

Recovery was going good until yesterday. Woke up, had a stricture. Full bladder, can't go, catheter doesn't help. Siting in the emergency room Cancer sucks!

minor surgery yesterday went well

It's all part of the follow up maintenance. I look at it like it's a car and you need to tune up/fix up as needed as time goes on. This is the second time I've had this procedure done and most likely I'll need it again in 2 years or so. It's called a cystolitholapaxy. frickin cancer, it won't take me down, no way. Hope you all have a fantastic 4th of July Holiday weekend be safe bob

another example of "the real deal" High Risk aggressive prostate cancer

this is why I urge everyone to get tested

Ups and downs and fighting on

Well, back on the hormone meds (Lupron), its doing its job and lowering my PSA which is awesome! On the other hand, it's kicking my ass. Fatigue Hot flashes (you have to see them to believe how dramatic) Weight gain Mood swings(no chick flicks please) To keep things in perspective I would rather deal with that RSI effects than have the cancer active and spreading, that's a no brainier. Another drag, my inside sales partner has had a reoccurrence of breast cancer and faces two surgeries and about 3 months off. In keeping things in perspective, she has a much harder road than I do. S please join me in sending prayers her way. Tanny is awesome and I know she'll beat this damn cancer once again, She's a fighter. If you're reading this, help us raise awareness, we need to find a cure fore cancer. Thx, until next time.