HIFU Focal Therapy

Hi Robin, thanks for the update.  I'm sorry to hear about the side effects, but I'm sure that the exercise will help.  It's made a big difference for me (plodded along 8miles on Sunday with dog).  That's interesting what you say about urinary flow.  Immediately following my prostatectomy the flow was great but is now noticeably poorer.  I am to visit London again shortly for a cystoscopy to see what's going on.  Leakage is also a nuisance - sneezing inadvisable!  But early days yet.

Good luck & I hope all goes well for you.

kind regards

Kenny

Hi Kenny

Sorry to hear of the issues. Hopefully they will sort it out with a cystoscopy.  It's probably just some scar tissue. I remember that years ago I had a bladder problem and just by having the cystoscopy it sorted out the problem.

Re the sneezing, in these Covid times its probably something you don't want to be doing!

Hope all goes well in London

Kind regards

Robin

Hi Robin,

just wondering how you are doing now at 23 days after your brachy.

How’s the exercise going? What about the muscle loss that you said about? And most importantly, the swelling of the prostate?

I have my date for the seed implants now, early May, and I’m very concerned about the procedure now being done without general anaesthetic. I think it’s with epidural. Any advice with that?

All the best and thanks for posting with your updates.

All appears OK. Tiredness has increased which I suspect is due to the body dealing with the radiation and of course the medication, but flow is OK..  I am sure that the Tamsulosin helps a lot as I take it in the morning and find that sometimes in the evening the flow is a little slower once the effects wear off a bit, but it is not that bad.  I am now getting up in the night for a pee, which I didn't have to before, but its not every night and hope this will be temporary.

DO NOT get concerned about the procedure being done by a spinal anesthetic (lighter than an epidural), I was and would have opted for a general, but if I had the choice again, it would definitely be a spinal.  My only advice is what I posted before, they give you a purgative, Picolax, take it several hours earlier than they say, as the effects can hang over to the day of the procedure, which is best avoided.

Good luck in May, but the team at Guildford are fantastic and the proof so far is that my side effects are minimal. 

Thanks for the reassurance, Robin, and glad to hear that you are doing well. Fingers crossed it continues that way!

all the best to you.

Hi Robin,

just wondering how you are progressing now, 1 month or so after your brachy seed implants? Also, a couple of things that you may be able to advise me with....

Kegel exercises. Are they important with brachy? I’ve been doing the stop/start thing sometimes when I take a pee, but not sure if that is enough?

Holiday. We have holiday dates about 8 weeks after my brachy seed implants. I have been told different things about taking a holiday while the seeds are radioactive, just wondering what your view is on this. Do you feel well enough to travel now? Do you expect to feel otherwise in another month?

Anything else that has taken you by surprise, Robin?

Hope you don’t mind me asking these questions, your postings have been very helpful and reassuring so many thanks for that!

Wishing you all the best...

All OK, with tiredness being the main issue particularly during/after exercise & lack of libido.  Starting to get small blood clots coming through my urine, which I am sure is just the residue from the mini turp, but no problem and flow has remained as before - so some room for improvement there.

Have I done the Kegel exercises? - No!  Should I? Probably, yes, as it will only support a good outcome and not do any harm.

I felt well enough to travel 48 hours after the op and were it not for the current restrictions, I would have driven down to our Italian house by now, albeit with probably a few more stops.  So, yes, go on holiday and the only issue is setting off scanners at airports and they give you a card explaining that.

Hope that helps

Hi Kenny

How did it go with the cystoscopy?

Kind regards

Robin

Hi Robin

I'm sorry to hear that you're suffering from tiredness, hopefully exercise will help.    

I travelled to London last week & the procedure was quick - great viewing, looking as your insides on the TV.  Expected a wee mini-sub, or scuba divers to come round the corner a la James Bond.  Anyway the surgeon said all was well and as you suggested I seem to be peeing better since this rather embarrassing procedure.  I still have slight leakage after 3 months and should be working more on the Kegel exercise more but to be honest it only becomes an issue if I'm out and desperate for the toilet, or if I sneeze with a full-ish bladder.  It is cosmetic in relation to what was, and the surgeon says it just needs time.    

Again, we move on.  I force myself out at weekends for a run with dog & did 8 miles at glacial pace last Sunday, followed by a kip.

I also have a home gym which has been sadly neglected but I'm building myself up, mentally if not physically to using it more.  Soon!

I hope you get to your Italian home in the not too distant.  We've had some great holidays there and I have fond memories.

Best wishes.

Kenny  

Hi Kenny

Glad to hear that all is proceeding OK and that the cystoscopy/pipe cleaner was a success. As you say, we just have to give it some time and keep up the exercise - just tackled a 5M rambling rose, so done mine for the day - where are the plasters?

On a completely different matter, during the last 12m of lockdown & PC, I have spent my time learning how to become a YouTuber and Video editor.  Still loads to learn, but have built the foundations of an educational channel that is now starting to grow.  So I have just been thinking about launching a new channel, charting the journey from PC diagnosis, weighing up the options, HIFU and final decision.  What do you think, good idea or not? Or would the audience be too small?

Kind regards

Robin