Good prognosis…

The day I have been looking forward to following surgery had finally come. It is the day of my catheter removal, thank God! Also, the day I'll find out the pathology on my prostate cancer.

While waiting for my appointment I sat in the office wondering what the doctor would say. However, I also felt fairly sure I knew, because I previewed the pathology report which in my opinion looked pretty good.

The Doctor, in his discussion with me, simply verified what I assumed, that the cancer was contained within the prostate and had not spread anywhere. This was the very best news I could possibly hear.

Next, the nurse came in as it was time for the catheter removal. I wasn't exactly looking forward to this procedure but thankfully it was quick and mostly painless. I was at last free of the catheter and what a relief that was!

So it looks like I won't have to have any other cancer treatment because there was no spread. Once I follow up with my PT to help build up my pelvic floor strength, it will be time for us to hit the road again. Hallelujah!

I am hoping that we'll be able to travel sometime after July 4th. It surely is hot here as the number of days over 110° F are climbing. There isn't a whole lot one can do outside when it's 110° or higher.

So now it's time to rehabiltate and get my body back in shape. I've been told that I'll be near normal after 2 weeks, which I believe since it has been 12 days post surgery. I am feeling better, about 75% normal, but my lower stomach is still in some pain.

In another 8-10 days or so I think I'll feel much better and be ready to resume my normal life. If not we'll stay a little longer but man, am I ready to escape this heat!

Thanks again for following and for the words of encouragement.

Update in the medical saga

Well, it's been awhile since I've updated the blog here on Facebook. On June 17th the day of my surgery, we arrived at the hospital around 11:00 a.m. for my scheduled 1:00 p.m. surgery. In the 2 hours prior I was prepped for surgery and given anesthesia. I would wake up some 6 hours later. Surgery lasted about 5 hours, as expected.

When I awoke and was coherent, the doctor came in and told me that the surgery was a great success and that in his opinion it didn't look like any of the cancer had metastasized. What great news!

After I fully recovered from anesthesia, they rolled me into a hospital room where I would spend the night with my new buddy, the catheter. Sharon stayed with me overnight in the M.D. Anderson/Banner Health Hospital.

I loved my surgeon and thought he did a great job and was very compassionate. I did find out that he graduated from University of Texas Medical School, the rival of my former alma mater Texas A&M University. I guess this means I'll have to cheer for the University of Texas in sports now a little bit more than I used to.

My overnight stay in the hospital was mostly uneventful as the anesthesia was still taking charge of the pain. I was still unable to do anything other than lie there in the bed and was disappointed when they came in and told me that I couldn't eat regular food until the next day.

As the second day arrived I was treated to a big breakfast and was thrilled, especially since I hadn't eaten for a day and a half. I had no issues with solid food so they had me get out of bed to walk around the hospital wing I was staying in.

They fed me lunch and dinner and I did a few more walks. This may be too much information but when I started passing gas I had finally passed the test to be discharged. Just after dinner I was discharged and they let Sharon and I go home.

I have been home a week now and although it was rather rough the first few days, things are improving incrementally day by day . At first I felt like I was in a car wreck. Everything hurt so it was very difficult to get up and move around much less walk. I made myself do so as I was told this was the best therapy.

By the fourth day of recovery, I was outside walking a third of a mile several times a day. The pain is still there but not nearly as bad as the first few days. It sure was great knowing that I had the care and support of my wife Sharon who helped me with many things that I have normally taken for granted.

Now here I am a week post-surgery and I would say that I'm now about 70% normal. I walk about 3/4 of a mile several times a day and the pain is finally to the point I no longer have to take any meds.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow since it's my follow up doctor's appointment. It is also the day that I will get this catheter out which was attached to my bladder. We will also be shown the detailed pathology on my prostate cancer.

I must mention that so many people have reached out to us. We have felt the love fully and these messages lifted us up. Thank you all so

much!

Just waiting...

So it's summertime... and here we are, not where we had planned to be in Mesa Arizona in the middle of the summer. Why would anybody be here now if they had a choice?

Well, for us it's obvious why we're here as I must have surgery on June 17th so we will hang around. Temperatures are rising and it really doesn't matter if it's 110 or 115 as both are not very conducive to our active lifestyle. We are finding ways to work around it. Today it will be 110 as we await the moment which will change our lives a little bit and determine what we do for the rest of the summer.

What have we been doing since our last blog? Mostly working on a routine and going to lots of pre-op appointments. Who would have thought that there would be so many pre-operative appointments before a surgery? Now I know....

Other than the heat, it's been pretty pleasant. We've done some birding, some hiking, hitting the fitness center, enjoying the resort pool, going to happy hours and simply enjoying life as best we can.

Before we know it, it'll be June 17th. My life will change a bit as I will experience some pain and I will be in recovery from a surgery which hopefully will expunge me of a cancer.

From what I understand, rehab won't be that bad, I'm hoping that's true. I expect 7 to 10 days of recovery and a few more days after that before we're able to actually consider going back on the road. I do look forward to that opportunity.

Where will we go? I don't know yet. It obviously depends on the outcome of the surgery and how well I rehab. Stay tuned, because we plan to hit the road as soon as we can. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers, they are appreciated.