THERE WAS NO RESPONSE TO AN UPDATE REMINDER IN 2015 SO THERE IS NO UPDATE.

I have Atrial fibrillation and take a Beta-blocker for it. One of the side effects is ED. That was never a problem but at age 45 every now and then it would rear it's ugly head. I asked my cardiologist to prescribe some as it is a listed side effect but he instead said he thought a urologist should approve. I was a little put off he just didn't write the script. My wife and I were away at nice B&B the next weekend and it happened again. Alright that's it - I called the urologist.

Once there I of course got the full work up. I have never had any symptoms and all DREs (Digital Rectal Examinations) felt normal (at least to the Dr!). I get a DRE every 2 years as part of my mandatory DOT physical and never a problem.

A few days later, on a Sunday no less, the Dr calls and says my PSA is 8. I ask if this is bad as I have no idea what it means and he says to get re-tested the next day. I get retested and it is still 8. A biopsy is scheduled for April 2008. I was more nervous about the biopsy (having researched it) than having cancer at that time. Two days later the Dr called and reported 0 out of the 12 cores came back malignant. That was a relief! I got checked 6 months later still an 8.Then I forgot about it - other guys get cancer not me.

After a year my wife guilted me into making an appointment so I did, but the day before the Drs' office called saying I needed a new referral. So after an insurance paper work nightmare I got a new PCP. I saw him in April 2010. As he was getting the lab order I mentioned I had a high PSA so he ordered that also. When the labs came back everything was great except the PSA, which was now 13.59.Damn!I immediately called the urologist and saw him in late June 2010.He did a robust DRE - normal, I still have no symptoms of any kind. A biopsy was penned in for July 7 2010.This one's worse than the other because a pretty nurse is working the probe, etc. The Dr says he'll get the results in 36-48 hours.

The next day the phone rings and my son says "Dad it's your Dr." Oh-oh, I think, he's not calling to discuss the Red Sox game. He tells me 2 of the 12 cores were malignant and for my wife and I to come to the office in two days to discuss options. When my wife came home from work I told her and she took it pretty hard.

We went to the Dr and he showed us the numbers: Gleason(4+5=9)pretty bad, but the 2 cores were in the top left so it seemed localized.I got the CAT and bone scans, all fine except for a cyst on a kidney. If needed, that will be dealt with later. At this point the Dr said the prostate has to come out and gave us three surgeons names. We talked to two, who both said the exact same things so we didn't see the third.

We chose Dr Wang at BU Medical Center because we both "clicked" with him. He was able to fit us in for August 23rd. Both surgeons recommended waiting 6-8 weeks post biopsy so the prostate swelling would go down, so this was perfect.

I underwent the Da Vinci surgery on August 23rd at 3 pm, with lymph node dissection. Each surgeon also said because of my Gleason score and the two cores on the left side, that nerve sparing on the left side was not a priority. Both also said the priority is get rid of the cancer, cure the incontinence, deal with the ED, in that order.

I awoke post op around 7 pm in pain and my wife by my side. After post op I was brought to my room where I slept/passed out for a few hours at a time. I wanted to get home as soon as they would let me so in the am I got right up and walked around. Quite uncomfortable with the catheter! But the sacred gas passing happened rather quick thankfuly! Later the nurse gave me the catheter instructions and I was discharged around 4pm, right in time for Boston rush hour. And I thought the roads were bumpy before I had the operation, Yikes!

The first few days were quite tough but I have been feeling better every day, although I have to keep this damned catheter in until my appointment on Sept 7! What an annoyance! Hopefully the pathology is good and there will be no radiation needed. Will update then.

Later: Had the pathology and catheter removal appointment September 7 2010. The catheter took 2 seconds to remove; more on that later.The pathology report was great! The Gleason was lowered to 3+4=7 with one core a 5. All lymph nodes were clear. The gland had 40% cancer. Had I waited to age 50 to be tested as is the norm I would have been a goner. [It is unlikely that a man with this pathogical profile would have died in three years without treatment. Studies indicate a disease specific survival rate for this type of diagnosis of about 95% or better at ten years]. My first post PSA test is October 7 2010 so I'm cautiously optimistic all will be well!

After the catheter was removed, I still had pain at the entry point and along the inside. This has abated daily and I hope to be clear of it in a few more days.The incontinence is not what I thought. I can "stop the flow" while going no problem; it is the constant leaking that gets me. Even when I don't feel the need to go, the squirting and dribbling goes on. Last night, day 3 post catheter, was better so I'm looking (and hoping) for some improvement everyday.

On the ED front it is still early, but as the surgeon had to get very close to the left side nerve, this one may take awhile. With the catheter in, I had dreams about sex and even got semi-hard a few times (those were painful) [This is quite a common occurence and is due to the presence of the catheter. It may not be predictive of a recovery of erectile function.] Since the removal, probably because of the leaking, I've had none of those moments. I was given a 2.5 Cialis for daily use but so far not much movement down there. I guess is that is too low a dose, as before I took a 50 Viagra if I needed a boost. I did take the ol' rig out for a joyride and while not fully hard, the job was done to completion! I had a very watery ejaculate, so I wonder if that was what was left in the plumbing or was urine or was both. [This may well have been urine - a condition known as Climacturia, which occurs in an estimated 50 per cent of cases.]

Of course,the big concern is that the first PSA test comes back undetectable, and as I said before, I think it looks good, but until the results are in, it will be in the back of my mind.

Will post again then. Best to all!

I had my first Post Op PSA on April 4, 2010 and it came back zero. That is a big hurdle cleared. I will hold off on any radiation until if/when it ever shows again. I will be tested every three months until further notice.

The incontinence issue is improving. I stay pretty dry at night, but during the day, after liquids, I still leak at times, especially during activities, this too is improving weekly. I still get the burning sensation at the end of the urine stream. Also, at times I feel an urgent need to go, but only pass a few drops and have a burning feeling.

On the ED front, although it is still early on, my wife and I have had sex several times, but I have not achieved a very hard erection. I take a Cialis 5 daily, but so far it's not working as well as I had hoped. The orgasm sensation is quicker then before and sometimes there is a burning feeling. Because of all the horror stories I've read about and been told of, I'm not ready for the shot yet. I'll try to give it a year and see if it improves, as a lot of men have reported that happens.

There is still a feeling of something missing, a certain void that I hope time will fill. The important thing is, as of now, everything has hit the optimum goals and things went off without any bad surprises.

I will update after next test. Be well all.

Hello to all

A lot has changed in my life since undergoing the DaVinci Robotic prostatectomy on 8/23/10, some good some not so. My wife of 20 years and I divorced six months after the procedure. It was a pretty bad exclamation point to a pretty bad year. I figured I could either wallow in self pity or go on the offensive. I decided to go on the offensive. I joined a gym, have lost 40 pounds, quit alcohol, only eat red meat once a week and eat a lot of (no soy - too much estrogen) plant based proteins. I was never obese, but I went from 198 lbs to 155 lbs in six months by nothing more than diet and exercise. When I got to about 165 lbs a funny thing happened: the ED basically went away. No more pump or daily Cialis. I was also waking up with erections many days a week. I still will take a Cialis on the weekend if I have a date (wink,wink), but everything is so much better than I dreamed after the surgery. My doctor was very big on the "use it or lose it" school of thought, so I channeled my inner 16 year old as soon as I could after the catheter came out. That's much more difficult than it sounds but I think this helped greatly, along with the vastly improved lipid profile and blood circulation due to the weight loss and dietary changes. Incontinence has never been an issue after 3 months, so I'm lucky in that regard.

I can't stress enough to everyone to take control over their own health. There is no magic to it - it is up to us. We have to be pro active in our health or we will become just another ward of the pharmaceutical industry.

Good luck and best to all

Almost 3 years post surgery I still have no side effects and am doing well. If I feel like I may be in an ED mode, (seems to fluctuate, probably a normal age thing) I take a cialis and everything is fine. No leakage or even the need "to go" feeling. I still maintain a very healthy diet and exercise program and keep my bad cholesterol under 100, (it's 85) I think this is very important in the ED department, besides other obvious reasons. I have spoken with some of you and hope all is well.

Best to everyone, you can do it.

It's been 4 years out since the surgery (8/23/2010) and I must say, except for the dry orgasm and a few small scars I have absolutely no side effects. Right after the procedure I never thought I would say that because for awhile, as we all unfortunately know, things are pretty grim. But as I previously have said, I turned my lifestyle around. I lost 40+ plus pounds, which I did by exercising daily, limited red meat to once a week, if that, and get most of my protein from plant based sources. It really did wonders. My older brother is starting to deal with an elevated PSA so in the next ten years he too will probably have a decision to make. Best to everyone.

M's e-mail address is: bonz10k AT verizon.net (replace "AT" with "@")

NOTE: M has not updated his story for more than 15 months, so you may not receive any response from him.