Category: Prostate Cancer

Day 27 – Routine

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Today was a pretty routine day without much to report. There were no lasting side effects from yesterday’s fun event, which was good.
I’m not overly anxious about meeting the surgeon in 48 hours. I feel well-prepared and ready. Of course, that will likely change on Thursday.
You may recall that I spoke with a coworker who’s been through the surgery, and I asked him in an email last week how long he was off work after the operation. Three weeks. When I’ll be able to drive depends on how quickly I recover and when the catheter comes out. Of course, my sister will be here for the surgery and the days immediately after the surgery, and I’m guessing there will be some limit as to how long she can be away from her job.
That’s got me thinking ahead to the logistics of being stuck in the house for 2-3 weeks. I’ll have to stock the pantry and freezer much better than I do now, and I may have to take you up on your kind offers to run errands for me.
And that’s got me thinking about how to coordinate it all. I’d hate to have six people bring dinner over one night, and no one show up for the next seven nights. Do I post an online calendar for scheduling? Do I leave a sign up list at work? Is it any wonder that my doctor asked me if I’m slightly OCD after showing her my list of 37 questions for the surgeons? Probably not.
Don’t worry. I’m not losing sleep over the logistics. But if the doctor says on Thursday or Monday, “Let’s operate Tuesday,” I may go into full panic mode at that point. That’s pretty unlikely, I suspect.
Still, I’ll want to get as much of this organized before the surgery so I don’t have to worry about it after. Plus, it distributes the load among everyone who’s offered to help and allows them to plan their own schedules. The only unknown is what I’ll be able to do for myself—or when I’ll run out of bread—and when.
I’m sure you’ll see more on this topic as we get closer. And, no, I’m not OCD. Just my Boy Scout training coming through—Be prepared!

Day 26 – Life Experience

On By DanIn Prostate Cancer2 Comments
So another life experience is behind me. Colonoscopy #1: Check.
I’ll spare the details other than to say that MoviPrep tastes awful, despite their best efforts to put some citrus flavoring in it.
It kept me pretty well occupied from 6 PM to nearly 11 PM, and that concerned me because the morning dose was supposed to be taken 4 hours before the procedure. If I spent 5 hours with the effects of the first dose…. Well, the math just didn’t add up, so I added another hour just to be sure and was up at 4:30 AM taking my next dose by 5:00. That worked out perfectly.
I’ll have to admit that the biopsy experience taught me not to get worked up about this procedure. I was going to be out and not feel a thing.
I was hooked up to the IV for the anesthesia, rolled into the procedure room on one of our company’s stretchers, and juiced up. They told me that it would be “conscious sedation,” meaning that I may be able to see and hear what was going on. Nope. I was out like a light. Or, if I was conscious, I don’t have a clue that I was. Isn’t anesthesia wonderful?
The doctor came in after the procedure and complimented me on my cleansing job. Gee, thanks, Doc. He had no problems navigating through my colon, and was able to find one small polyp which he removed for biopsy.
Based on the size and nature of the polyp, he was pretty confident that it was benign. Of course, the pathology results should confirm that in another week or so. He even thought that it was the type of polyp that would allow me to come back in 7 years instead of 5 years.
A friend from work drove me home and I spent the afternoon sleeping off the anesthesia, but not before wolfing down a quick sandwich to put some food in my completely empty stomach. Hopefully the nap won’t cause me to be up all night long. I don’t think so because I’m still feeling a little groggy.
So time to throw dinner together.

Day 25 – Starving

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Okay, so this not eating any solid foods a full day in advance of the colonoscopy sucks. I’m starving!! (I know, I could afford to skip a meal or two, but this isn’t my idea of a fun Sunday.)
The colonoscopy is tomorrow, so keep your fingers crossed that they don’t find anything out of the ordinary. I told the nurse when she called on Thursday that I was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer and to look extra closely. At least with this procedure, I’ll know pretty much right away whether the doctor found any polyps that had to be removed for testing (of course, if there are, I won’t know those results for a few more days. The ol’ waiting game.)
It’s been a snowy, quiet day around here. A good day to get caught up on laundry and some other odds and ends around the house.
Well, time to drink a liter of MoviPrep… Good thing I had a good night’s sleep last night. Who knows what’s in store for me tonight.

Day 24 – Ho-hum

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A pretty routine day today after a good night’s sleep last night.
I ran to the bank early; cleaned my home office in mid-morning; and ran to Staples to buy some office supplies.

I’ve also been trying my best to follow the diet prescribed in advance of the big Roto-rooter exercise on Monday. No solid foods after 11 AM Sunday morning. Fun.

One of my cousins sent me a link to a pretty neat video, so I’ve linked to it under the “Fun Links” to the right. The note that came with the link read:
This video was done by 5 sound engineers who went around the world recording individuals performing this song. They then blended them together into one song and video, which is, IMHO, wonderful.
I agree. And thanks again to all of you who have stood by me the last 24 days.

Day 23 – Back

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Well, I’m back amongst the living.
Today was the best day of the week, and not just because it’s payday and Friday. I was far less tired and pretty much fully functional once again. I’m not sure what happened earlier in the week that caused me all the sleepless nights, but I hope it’s behind me.
My doctor and I talked about my cancer, the surgeon selection process, and the timing of the surgery. She provided some valuable insight in how to think about it all. We also talked at length about my sleeplessness.
We discussed options from pretty much doing nothing to going all the way to putting me on some big-time anti-depressant medication. We agreed to slide into this by trying Benadryl before bed to help me sleep (she didn’t like the idea of Tylenol PM because of the potential impact on the liver if taken for an extended period).
With some rest this weekend, I hope to be back on an even keel for Monday’s big event: The Colonoscopy.

Day 22 – Change of Plan

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This day did not go as planned. At all.
The plan? To work from home while awaiting a FedEx delivery that required my signature, and then go in to work once it arrived.
The reality? Yet another essentially sleepless night had me at 100% exhaustion when the alarm went off at 6:30 AM. That’s three nights in a row of me not being able to stop the thoughts running through my head for any period of time. My body just said, “Nope. No more. Not gonna do a thing,” and basically shut down.
I stayed in bed into early afternoon and was able to get caught up on some sleep, but not without interruption by more of those random thoughts and a phone call from one of the doctor’s offices. I feel better this afternoon, but still not 100%.
The FedEx package didn’t arrive until nearly 3:00 PM, and at that point, I decided not to go into work. I’ll be marking today as a vacation day on the calendar. Instead, I used the time to take care of a few errands that I otherwise would have had to take time off for.
I ran to the urologist’s office late this afternoon to sign a release form to release my records to the surgeon in Indy, and I stopped by the BMV at 4:00 PM to renew my license plates. Merry Christmas, BMV!!
On the positive side of all this lost sleep, I do have a list of 18 questions (with 17 sub-questions) to ask the surgeons. 🙂 I’m sure they’re going to love me. Inquiring minds do want to know…

Day 21 – Zonked

On By DanIn Prostate Cancer1 Comment
Déjà vu.
Last night was worse than the night before. I’m guessing I got about 3 hours sleep total—and not consecutively, either.
I’ve never been keen on the concept of taking pills, but I’ve set up and appointment with my doctor on Friday to discuss the cancer, surgeon selection, and my inability to get a good night’s sleep. It’s taking a toll and I know that I can’t go into surgery as physically drained as I am right now. Maybe a sleeping pill will turn off the thought train screaming through my brain for 6-8 hours so I can be well rested and more functional.
Speaking of surgery, another coworker was diagnosed with prostate cancer about the same time that I was (maybe a week or two earlier), and I heard through the grapevine that his surgery is scheduled for 9 December. I don’t read anything into that without knowing the status of his cancer.
I picked up my medical version of Liquid-Plumr ™ to clean out the ol’ pipes for the colonoscopy. I just can’t wait till Sunday!! (That’s sarcasm just in case you didn’t pick up on that.)
I also picked up a copy of my bone scan on CD-ROM. It’s pretty cool. I can plug it into my optical drive and check out my skeleton from head to toe. Isn’t technology wonderful?? Of course, I have absolutely no idea of what to look for, but it is fun to look at. The surgeon in Indy wanted me to bring it along for the appointment.
So when this load of laundry is done, I’m going to crawl into bed and try one more time.

Day 20 – Forms

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Steamrolled. That’s a good word to describe me right now.
Last night was another with me staring at the clock from about 3:15 AM on. Of course, the first thing that pops into my head is questions that I need to be asking the surgeons. Good thing I keep a pen and pad on the nightstand.
The rest of the day went pretty well, but when I got home, I was drained of energy and had a headache the size of Montana. After a quick dinner, I crawled into bed for about 45 minutes, being careful to just relax and not fall completely asleep. If I did, I’d be up at 2 AM tonight.
I did contact the insurance company to make sure that I’m covered to see both surgeons, and I am. That was a good thing to hear.
I also spent half an hour filling out forms for the surgeon’s office in Cincinnati. Interestingly, the papers are identical to the ones that I completed for the biopsy procedure (both doctors operate out of the same office). Hello left hand. Meet right hand. I’m supposed to get another pile of paperwork from the second surgeon in the mail. Yippee.
Last night, I took a serious look at the instructions for the colonoscopy on Monday. There are some serious dietary restraints for the last few days before the procedure, including no solid food for 24 hours before the procedure. Ugh. If you think I’m a grump now…. Steer clear on Sunday!!
So I’m out of energy for tonight.

Day 19 – Reality Check

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Monday. Back to reality.

And I’m not talking the reality of being at work after being off for four days. I’m talking the anxious thoughts of cancer came flooding back this morning for some reason. Most centered around this whole ordeal of selecting the guy who’s going to poke holes in my pelvic region, root around for the bad ol’ prostate, snip it out of me, and sew everything back together, hopefully, with no leaks or no spare parts left over. “Hmmm… Where does this go??”

I feel like Indiana Jones in The Last Crusade: “Choose wisely.” Pick the right chalice, and I live happily ever after; pick the wrong one, and I’m condemned to a hell of peeing in my diapers and never getting a woody again. (Sorry, at some point the conversation had to go down that path—it’s part of my reality.)

A bit dramatic? Perhaps. But that’s the way my mind is operating at the moment.

I know that I need to do this, and I know the chances of the hellish outcome are quite small, and most important, I know that having the surgery will give me the best chance of long term survival, so all of this should be a no-brainer.

I guess part of this anxiety may be realizing that selecting a surgeon and scheduling a surgery date takes this whole adventure one step closer to the very real. But, as a coworker pointed out at lunch today, it also takes me one step closer to being cancer-free. I have to keep that perspective in mind and let it be the driving force of my thoughts.

She understands, as she’s a cancer survivor herself.

It was really helpful to talk with her today and she helped bring me back to thinking more positively and more logically about the entire thing.

Even amidst all my angst this morning, I did manage to call the second surgeon in Indianapolis and was able to schedule an appointment to see him (Monday, 13 December). Now, I just need to get all of my records sent up to him before then. Somehow, I have a feeling that that won’t be the easiest of tasks.

So the forecast for the next two weeks includes a wintry mix of distraction, emotion, and anticipation. What’s next:

Monday, 6 December – Colonoscopy
Thursday, 9 December – Cincinnati Surgeon Appointment
Monday, 13 December – Indianapolis Surgeon Appointment
Tuesday, 14 December – Toss executive decision making aid (Heads = Cincinnati; Tails = Indianapolis)

Day 18 – Nothing

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Yep. That’s it. I got nothing.

That’s the kind of day it was. Read a book on photography in the morning, played with the photos from Thanksgiving, shopped a little in the afternoon, and relaxed in the evening.

That was my excitement for the day.

Oh. And we’ve exceeded 500 views on this blog. Amazing. Most are from the U.S.; 8 views from France; 3 from Germany; 1 from Denmark; and 1 from Russia. I can explain the 8 from France and 1 from Denmark (traveling coworker) and the 3 from Germany (relatives), but the one from Russia has me stumped. An errant mouse click, perhaps?