I'm with Dan and the other folks here on this. Apart from the weightlifting
, Vin, you're asking all the questions we all probably ask when making this very important decision; can i still ride a bike, swim, travel etc. The answer is probably yes to all of them. I'm now 6 weeks out of surgery and doing most things I did before quite satisfactorily if a little slower. But I KNOW it's going to improve. My neo works fine too and, though I'm still stretching it to full capacity (you do it slowly over a period of months by leaving longer between each pee on a week by week basis), peeing feels a lot like it did before. You'd be amazed. Sex I haven't got round to yet but a few things tell me that the nerve sparing has worked at least partially and, like Dan, I reckon medication (levitra, cialis and viagra) will sort the rest.
Even at this early stage, I'm very positive about my surgery outcome and, athough the worries cannot completely vanish (you need to keep an eye on upper tracts; ureters and kidneys) after this surgery, I'm so very glad to be out of the BCG/cystoscopy labyrinth. In a years time, all being well, I'll be on to yearly checks. Now that's something worth fighting for Vin!
I live in UK. In the last 3 weeks I've been to two Cathedrals, Christmas shopping, Stonehenge, two dinners at friends, a visit to the movies with my girlfriend (she visited the bathroom one more time than me!), cheddar gorge (where the cheese comes from!). I'm off down to Cornwall for a week to stay in a cottage next week. Can't wait. My Girlfriend is Australian and I fully expect to go and stay with her for 3 or so months next year. I feel fit enough to do the odd days work even now. but i'm going to chill out til the new year.
Downsides are wetness at night. Actually last night I was dry nearly all night. And the odd squirt if I let my bladder get too full in the day. In addition, lest I get too cocky, there can be late complications and indeed early ones with this surgery. And the week after surgery in hospital was really bloody challenging. And the week after that when I came home. There are certainly dark times to be had with this surgery and you think they won't end. But they do.
As with Dan, I'm wary of telling you what to do also as it is your decision alone. Actually not even your docs. I can only tell you the truth of my experience in a smilar situation which, with a good surgeon, has so far been a lot more positive than I expected. That said, it was the toughest, scariest, loneliest decision of my life and it took me a year and a half to make it.
Your bladder may indeed be spared with BCG. But it is gamble and the stakes couldn't be higher. I'd probably do the last year the same again, using the BCG as a delaying tactic. Get up on nutrition, be happy, exercise and give your body the edge in the hope that things will turn out well. But as mountaineers do, have a strict turnaround time and if you haven't reached the summit by 2pm then turn around and go back. That's what i'd do. If you catch my drift.
Im an IT support worker
I feel fine walking around but, so early on, am still aware of very slight leakage chance in day. you learn muscle control for this which I can feel is gradually becoming unconscious
I intend to restart work at beginning of March. But I could start in Feb I reckon. My surgery was 19th October
Pads are great these days. I wear these "pant style" pads at night which keep my bed dry (a bit touch and go in the first week!). As Dan says, the day pads can be incredibly thin and even the wearer doesn't notice them a lot of the time. Again, this comes with a little time.
Any questions. Any time mate. Feel free to mail me if you don't want it on the board.
Tim
