at one month -- thoughts, questions , . . .

[CRS907]

tomorrow is four weeks after surgery. i'm more or less okay with my recovery. again, reading of others' journeys, progress, thoughts, questions and answers in this venue continues to be a great resource to me and i'm grateful to all. i especially feel a comaraderie [sp?] with the class of april '07 here. comparing thoughts, apprehensions, coping tecniques, progress and so on has really helped. nothing can prepare one for this exprience, except the journey itself. does that make sense?

- my top three issues continue to be fatigue, fatigue, and fatigue. i wake up each morning thinking i could go back to the office at any time, but by noon i'm wondering if i'll be ready to go back in june. [i've made arrangements to be off through may, and with the long weekend that means until early june.]

- by the end of the day the deep internal soreness manifiests itself anew. this is annoying, but i can deal with it. i'm eager for this to go away. i won't feel okay to resume bicycling, running, and so on until this soreness is history.

- i'm still restricitng my activity, on my own. i'm still avoiding physical activity, including lifting, except for walking. i've also avoided going to the ballpark, but i think i'm ready. i've still not had any beer or wine, but i think i could resume in moderation.

- continence is pretty much fine. i'm okay with where i am. most days, i don't even think about it. here's a high water mark: i can fart without fear of leaking. this skill came in handy when i was in elementary school; i hope i don't have many occassions to use the skill now. :-) btw, have any of you guys tried the thighmaster-style exercises described here in a recent posting? is the thinking here that one should continue some form of the exercises forever? [btw, overall, the plumbing works better than it has in years.]

- impotence: seeing some signs of life. not ready to declare recovery in this area yet, though.

- i'm very happy with johns hopkins people and with the support i continue to get. also, i'm eager for the six week mark and a PSA test

again, thank you, everyone. [i realize that this is a vanity post. :-) ]

[Flyfisher]

It helps to see where other people are in their recovery. As an April class member (April 13) with robotic surgery, I am experiencing many of the same things you are. Stamina is not normal yet though my wife says it is up to normal for a person half my age (You might infer I am normally pretty active). I did my first "work" last week, a two week consult that has occurred weekly for many years. I also have begun preparation to return to my regular work, which is only two days a week, next week. Mowed the yard, with my wife starting the mower and emptying the grass catcher. Want to go fishing and stand in the middle of the river with rod in hand, but don't have the stamina yet. Some of that deep soreness when active, continence pretty much under control, starting Viagra and have some, stirring, though it may just be engorgement. Continue to do Kegals, eat out, drive normally, etc. Doing most everything, just at a slower pace and with less intensity. We sound very similar.

[Flyfisher]

Oh, one thing that is different. My doctor did not prohibit alcohol. Over the past several years, I have typically drunk a glass of wine perhaps four nights a week and maybe an average of a beer a week..........no hard liquour other than four or five martinis a year with meals.
I have had one beer since surgery, one celebratory martini with a meal, and the equivalent of two bottles of wine in the 3 1/2 weeks since surgery, no more than two glasses in a 24-hour period. No problems from this with continence at all. I have not returned to taking aspirin or Naproxin since surgery, though.
Have been taking 25 mg. of Viagra for a week, with today being the first day to take a 100 mg. tablet.

[GiGiof2]

Hi there CRS have been meaning to pop in since I read about you wanting a beer last week somewhere in a thread I say GO FOR IT!!!!! Hubby was dying for a cold one also ( class of 07 April 2nd here) and 2 weeks ago we went out for dinner and he had a couple and then there was lunch one day and a few that day and NO PROBLEM!!!!! So go for it and ENJOY!!!