This has been the most difficult to get my head round but I am speaking to the specialist nurse this week to look at my options.
I understood I would put on weight and not be able to go to the gym as often as I used to and so I started back training after 3 months and had lost a lot of strength. I have just started short runs about 2k after 6 months. I still take it easy and stop if I start feeling discomfort. I took regular strong painkillers until I could cope with just paracetamol. I slept whenever I felt tired.
From diagnosis to procedure I felt I was just carried along and didn't have time to think. I did have difficulty sleeping and was worried and tried to be strong for my wife and kids. I feel more emotional and depressed afterwards now it has sunk in and I am trying to get myself back to how I was before the operation.
6 months later I still can't sit for long periods. I'm still not as fit as I was and my sex life is difficult. I'm sure things will change in time but it's still depressing. I was worried about leaking but I did the pelvic floor exercises and from the day the catheter was removed I have had no real issues apart from first few weeks where if I coughed hard I might pee a little.
Yes
I would rather be here with the few issues I have and have undetectable PSA levels than choose any other treatment and have to monitor it and wonder every few months if it is going to be worse.
About 25% of my erectile nerves were removed. I still get an erection but not enough for intercourse. The prostate and andrology nurses have been brilliant and I am currently trying different medications to resolve this.
The discomfort below still happens 6 months post surgery. I tried riding a bike recently and that was uncomfortable. I put weight on as j couldn't go to the gym for 3 months or do cardio for 6 months as advised by nurse. I am gradually building muscle strength back up and building cardio back up again.
I am depressed more due to erection issues and not being as fit as I was before surgery. I'm glad it was caught early and I feel like I was carried along with the diagnosis and prostate removal surgery and now afterwards I have realised how lucky I was and all the emotions have caught up with me. I just try to get on with living life and moving forward.
My sex life and mental health about my body and weight and erection issues. I do feel more emotional about all this 6 months after surgery as I am now getting clear PSA results I have more time to think about these side effects.
Yes
It was the most radical but at 54 it was the procedure that would give me longest life and remove the cancer. A lot of the side effects I was worried about such as leaking etc didn't happen but I did and still do pelvic floor exercises before and after operation which I think helps.
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