Hard and Dry After Prostate Removal

markinphoenix · Regular Joined: 04 Jun 2008 Posts: 24

I'm moved by the good experience and results I had with my prostate surgery to tell others with prostate cancer to investigate all your treatment options and to find the best doctors you can. I searched this forum and the internet to find out all I could, and it paid off. On this forum I found out about the amazing results achieved by Dr. Ash Tewari and his robotic procedure. He uses a unique procedure to reconnect the bladder that reduces incontinence. I went to the extra trouble and expense to travel to New York from Arizona to have Dr. Tewari perform the prostate removal at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, located in New York City.

I had the surgery on August 6th and was out of the hospital on August 7. I was up a walking about 7 hours after the surgery. I felt good enough on August 8th to walk around New York for about an hour, per doctors orders. The catheter was removed after only 7 days. I had a little incontinence at first during the day but that went away after a couple of weeks. And I've had some leakage at night on 3 nights in the 2 weeks since taking out the catheter. I've been able to achieve erections sufficient for intercourse and had orgasms. But the erections are slower to develop and take more stimulation than before. It's been 3 weeks since the surgery and I expect things to improve over time. The biopsy for the removed tissue indicates the cancer was probably contained to the prostate and I have a 95% chance of it not reoccurring. I'll have a PSA test at 6 weeks.

It hasn't all been easy or fun, but I'm thrilled with the results so far because I've heard so many tales of men fighting incontinence and struggling with sexual function for long periods after prostate surgery. I'm 59 years old, had a gleason score of 3+3, 6 total, and a PSA of 4.9.

I highly recommend Dr. Tewari. His internet URL is http://www.theehealth.com/2005art/ His web page is very informative.

I wish you all the best. If you have questions I'll respond.

Hawk · Experienced user Joined: 22 Nov 2006 Posts: 82

Mark,

You have much to be happy about, from your Gleason score to your prognosis, to the surgical outcome. Erectile function will surely continue to improve for a minimum of 12 to 18 months barring some unexpected factor.

Now, enjoy life and keep us posted Wink

.
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History: PSA's 6.7 neg. biopsy - PSA 16.6 neg. biopsy - PSA's 8.2 - 8.1 - 8.7 Biopsy. 4+4 Gleason 8. Lap RP Apr 2004, age 52 All neg margins, nodes, and structures. (T2a). Post RP PSA: every 6 mo. <.1 until Feb, 08 (46 mos) PSA .1 - I then got sensitive tests (all in 2008) showing:
Feb .06 - May .09 - Jun .10 - Aug .10 - Nov .15 SRT

chas036

Mark,,,,I had my prostate out exactly one year ago and my experience is very similar to yours. Though I did not use your surgeon, I was lucky and had a surgeon who was very skilled and my incontinence only lasted about 3 months and now I only use a pad just to catch the occasional stress leak.

I am exactly the same as you with ED. I was getting hard erections within two weeks after the catheter was removed, and like you, I need a lot more manual and visual stimulaton to get an erection, whereas before surgery, just a simple thought was enough.

The only problem I seem to have now is that when i have an orgasm, I ejeculate urine. I ejeculate urine with more force now, than I ejeculated semen when I had my prostate. Isn't prostate cancer fun!!!! Too bad you can't take a pill to color your urine white Razz

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Biospy 4/2007 - 2/12 <%5 Cancer Gleason 6
RP 9/25/2007 Uni Rochester, NY
Gleason 6, Negative Margins

George59 · New User Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 8 Location: NY

Hi all,
Dr. Tewari performed my surgery about a week before yours. The day after dischsrge I was walking up 70th Ave and admiring the young ladies. I was walking slowly. Two days after the cath was removed I woke up with a usable erection. Continence is not where I want it to be but I get by on one pad per day. Dry at night. I do not ejaculate urine.
My Gleason was upgraded from 6 to 7 (3+4) and one positive margin.
Take care,
_________________
George

markinphoenix · Regular Joined: 04 Jun 2008 Posts: 24

The results of my first PSA test since my surgery 7 weeks ago seem to indicate Dr Tewari did indeed do a good job on my prostate removal. PSA was undetectable which hopefully means the cancer is gone. The only incontinence I'm having is little leaks once every few days that I really don't need a pad for. I'm able to get erections sufficient to have a sex life. My wife and I are thrilled with the overall results.

I want you to know that some things are actually better after having your prostate removed. No more prostatitis, no more difficultly urinating, no more BPH and the medications for it, no more mess during sex from semen. Your wife might think you are an even better sex partner because you most likely will take longer to reach orgasm, there won't be any mess to clean off afterward, and no need for a condom for birth control. I also found that after doing Kegal exercises for months that I am able to delay orgasm by contracting the pelvic floor muscles when I feel and orgasm coming, extending our sexual experiences. Many years ago in my youth I read about men that could indefinitely delay orgasm by doing something like Kegal contractions but it didn't work when I tried it. Now I know I should have practiced the exercises to develop the ability. Oh the pleasure that could have been achieved had I known about Kegals as a young man. So look at the bright side. Some things about your life might actually get better after surgery.

I hope no one was offended by any of my comments. I tried to avoid offensive terms and descriptions while telling you some positive stuff that I thought it might be helpful for you to know.

I wish everyone the best with their battle with prostate cancer. I hope you can resume a normal life quickly,

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