Been away for awhile

Carmine, Yes indeed you have been missing on the forum,,,I always feel like those who initially ask before surgery about things and never come back are lingering in space or something..but you are back now and I am sorry to hear about the embolism,,,, your one lucky guy,, glad your here, and your neo is working, thats great, I am so happy to hear from you,,,recovery takes time, you seem to be on schedule,,, your friend, Gene

carmine

i think preparation is the key. that'll give you the confidence to stick your neck out in the early days. i went on a flight to the states recently and rather arrogantly didn't take a pad or anything in the cabin. really regretted it! didn't sleep a wink for fear of wetting myself! if id just had some bits and pieces i would have enjoyed the flight more. but its amazing i did it at all! days i feel 100% "normal" now. im sure you will too. please PM me or post to the board with any queries. no question too embarrassing for me.

all the best

Thanks Tim, thst's encouraging news. Right now, I feel like I will always have a pad, but as soon as I can, I will go on without it.
Carmine

carmine

welcome back. its funny how it just starts working! all being well, you will just improve from here and be able to get rid of that pad too. its largely a matter of confidence once the equipment is working like it's supposed to. i hung on to my pad a few weeks longer than i should have done. i think the next step for me was no pad but a spare in the rucksack and some emergency underpants! nights are still a bit of a challenge for me but definitely not making me unhappy - a bit tired sometimes!

all the best

tim

Hi Everyone!
I haven't participated alot, but I recieved some of the most helpful info. from a few here, and I am sooo grateful. The last time I did participate was before my pre-op chemo. I had a pretty rough time of it, mostly dehydration. Not long after my chemo treatments, I got a pulminary embolism (blood clot in my right lung) that almost did me in. My Dr. said it was the largest he's seen where the patient survived. It also came with an "A" Fibrilating or irregular heartbeat. I spent 7 days in the hospital and I am still on blood thinner and heart regulating meds. That happened on Valentine's Day. Two months later I went into surgery for my RC. I had it done with the DaVinci robot assist at Fox Chase in Philadelphia by a great Dr. by the name of David Chen. I was terrified before the surgery, but it went really well. I spent 12 days in the hospital. After 3 weeks, I went back to Fox Chase to have my drainage tubes removed, and the foley catheter removed a couple of weeks after that. I had no control of my new neobladder and then, Sunday last week it just started working. I was very happy and still am in the way it is working for now. I have a few dribbles when I stand up and some short squirts if I laugh, cough, sneeze or lift anything over 5lbs., but I am in regular underwear with a pad. I still need to go to the bathroom and void every 2-4 hours (3 seems to be right for now) to keep from having any accidents. There are volumes of other related experiences that go along with this, but I've said enough already. I just wanted to let you know where I've been for a few months, Joe, Tim, Zach, Wendy and Gene as well as a few others.
Thanks,
Carmine