Hello Friends and Family,
Yes, another week has passed and a good one it has been too. I am doing so good, thanks for all your thoughts and especially your prayers. The surgery seems to have corrected the issues of blockages and retention and when it comes to peeing, things work perfectly. There are still some minor control issues and leakage but that too is getting better and I am doing my "exercises" even as I type this! Erectile function is progressing and the doc has given me samples of Cialis to try and see if there is any difference. After a week or so, I see no obvious difference.
This week will be a good gauge as to how much strength I have back. I will be working as a volunteer at the Quail Hallow Championship and playing golf every day Wed - Sun with my family in from Dallas, TX. I did work a full hard day on Thursday and Friday and by Friday nite, was passing a little blood but none since. Perhap it was an isolated incident ....that's my story and I'm sticking to it !
Thank you ALL for your continued prayers. Please continue to pray for all those that are sick and hurting and especially those dealing with Prostate Cancer. You are the greatest friends and family a man could have. Enjoy the beautiful weather..... thank you again for your love and prayers and..
Thank You Lord for Your Blessings on Me
Mike
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Friends and Family,
Good Sunday morning...this is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!
Sorry I have not updated this blog in a few days but it was by design. I wanted to wait and see just how things were gonna be and how successful I might guage the most recent surgery. Well, I am happy to report....IT IS GREAT ! I am able to pee like I did several years ago, before BPH became an issue and certainly better than any time since surgery. I kept the catheter til Friday morning. It was like Christmas morning for me..got up and was setting on ready to get it out. We (B and me) irrigated the catheter and put one syringe full into my bladder, deflated the balloon that holds the cath in place in my bladder and then pulled it out uneventfully. I promptly eliminated (peed) out the same about that was put in with the syringe. Since then, things are working great. I have had some leakage issues and really need to concentrate on my kagel exercises to strengthen the muscles that allow me to "hold it" til I can get to a toilet. I am confident it too will happen. There has been some burning and soreness but nothing bad at all. I have mowed the lawn, worked outside and done most anything I want without a problem...GOD IS SO GOOD !
Am off to church and Sunday School now, confident that I am running full speed on the road to complete recovery. I am however mindful of the many men and families that are still suffering with prostate cancer and related issues that has turned their worlds upside down. Please pray with me for those in need of healing and wholeness.
Thank you ALL for your love and prayers and... Thank You Lord for Your Blessings on Me.
Mike
Good Sunday morning...this is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!
Sorry I have not updated this blog in a few days but it was by design. I wanted to wait and see just how things were gonna be and how successful I might guage the most recent surgery. Well, I am happy to report....IT IS GREAT ! I am able to pee like I did several years ago, before BPH became an issue and certainly better than any time since surgery. I kept the catheter til Friday morning. It was like Christmas morning for me..got up and was setting on ready to get it out. We (B and me) irrigated the catheter and put one syringe full into my bladder, deflated the balloon that holds the cath in place in my bladder and then pulled it out uneventfully. I promptly eliminated (peed) out the same about that was put in with the syringe. Since then, things are working great. I have had some leakage issues and really need to concentrate on my kagel exercises to strengthen the muscles that allow me to "hold it" til I can get to a toilet. I am confident it too will happen. There has been some burning and soreness but nothing bad at all. I have mowed the lawn, worked outside and done most anything I want without a problem...GOD IS SO GOOD !
Am off to church and Sunday School now, confident that I am running full speed on the road to complete recovery. I am however mindful of the many men and families that are still suffering with prostate cancer and related issues that has turned their worlds upside down. Please pray with me for those in need of healing and wholeness.
Thank you ALL for your love and prayers and... Thank You Lord for Your Blessings on Me.
Mike
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Just another day of surgery.....
Friends and Family,
I'm home again, safe and sound, my little friend (a catheter) tagging along beside me and doing quite well I think. The surgery was pretty much routine and I feel pretty good...just a bit tired and sleep comes easier than usual when I sit down. God is so good and blesses me in so many, many ways. Thanks to all of your for your prayers. Thanks to B and David and Rick for being there at the hospital and....Thank You Lord for Your Blessings on Me.
Mike
I'm home again, safe and sound, my little friend (a catheter) tagging along beside me and doing quite well I think. The surgery was pretty much routine and I feel pretty good...just a bit tired and sleep comes easier than usual when I sit down. God is so good and blesses me in so many, many ways. Thanks to all of your for your prayers. Thanks to B and David and Rick for being there at the hospital and....Thank You Lord for Your Blessings on Me.
Mike
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Surgery Eve (again)
Friends and Family,
Well, it is just after 11:00 on Tuesday nite and about 12 hours from my date with Doc Polsky in the O.R. at Lake Norman Regional. I am a tiny bit anxious but very pleased that we are getting something done that I believe will get me one step closer to normal again. The "stuff" that blocks my urethra at the neck of my bladder is going to be removed tomorrow. Whether by scalpel or by laser I am not certain. I have 100% faith and trust that Doc Polsky will do whatever is best.
So, I will be down for a day or maybe two, I will have my old friend "Mr Catheter" tagging along when I come home but just a short visit I hope, a day or two.
Please keep me and the docs in your prayers. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful Family in the Faith....I love you ALL.
I hope to be able to update you tomorrow evening with some good news but dont fret if it takes me an extra day or two. II Corinthians 12:9 reminds me of WHO is in total control and
Romans 8:28 assures me that everything will be OK.
Talk to you again soon......in the mean time...
Thank You Lord for Your Blessings on Me
Mike
Well, it is just after 11:00 on Tuesday nite and about 12 hours from my date with Doc Polsky in the O.R. at Lake Norman Regional. I am a tiny bit anxious but very pleased that we are getting something done that I believe will get me one step closer to normal again. The "stuff" that blocks my urethra at the neck of my bladder is going to be removed tomorrow. Whether by scalpel or by laser I am not certain. I have 100% faith and trust that Doc Polsky will do whatever is best.
So, I will be down for a day or maybe two, I will have my old friend "Mr Catheter" tagging along when I come home but just a short visit I hope, a day or two.
Please keep me and the docs in your prayers. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful Family in the Faith....I love you ALL.
I hope to be able to update you tomorrow evening with some good news but dont fret if it takes me an extra day or two. II Corinthians 12:9 reminds me of WHO is in total control and
Romans 8:28 assures me that everything will be OK.
Talk to you again soon......in the mean time...
Thank You Lord for Your Blessings on Me
Mike
Monday, April 13, 2009
UPDATE: April 13th
Friends
Saw the doc today and had the scope procedure done and we have agreed that we need to get that "stuff" out of me. So, on Wednesday morning I will have a procedure, under anesthesia to have this blockage removed by laser. I am 100% OK with this plan and remain hopeful it will take care of this issue I have been dealing with for months.
Please keep me and the doc and nurses in your prayers. I am excited about getting this part of the journey behind me.
Thank You Lord for Your Blessings on Me
MR
Saw the doc today and had the scope procedure done and we have agreed that we need to get that "stuff" out of me. So, on Wednesday morning I will have a procedure, under anesthesia to have this blockage removed by laser. I am 100% OK with this plan and remain hopeful it will take care of this issue I have been dealing with for months.
Please keep me and the doc and nurses in your prayers. I am excited about getting this part of the journey behind me.
Thank You Lord for Your Blessings on Me
MR
If April Showers.......
Friends and Family,
If April showwers bring May flowers.....we are gonna be seeing ALOT of flowers next month! Rain is good, I'm not complaining. Well, let's see....s'been a week since my last entry and do believe it was before the NORTH CAROLINA TARHEELS became National Champs. (just in case anyone did not know) Enuf said about that !
It has been an OK week. I am still having to cath myself atleast twice a day and some times as much as 4 times. It is not painful nor uncomfortable now, I got it down to a science. BUT....I should not have to do this so often! I actually took my "cath kit" to work with me and had to do it at work one day. The kids came in this weekend for Easter and the "boys" played golf on Saturday. I made it through 14 holes before I shut down and the discomfort was more that I could deal with so we left. I got home, was able to cath myself and things were OK for the rest of the day/night. Yesterday I was going about every 10 minutes and finally had to cath again. I am thinking I need to talk to the doc again and make some arrangements to get things "fixed" up there. I just dont have alot of confidence the material blocking my urethra is going to desolve and go away on it's own. Am thinking I may go and see my favorite doc again today or this week?
All other things in life are OK. Did you see the bunny this past week....No, not the Easter Bunny, the Energizer Bunny in the full moon! But I hope you saw the Easter Bunny too. He visited our house this weekend (the kids were here)....don't you think they should make those Reese's peanut butter eggs all year?
OK, time to go and try to do something today. It is raining so can't go to work but there is plenty to do here. Hope you all have a wonderful day. Tell someone you love them....I know it will make them smile. I LOVE ALL OF YOU !
Thank You Lord for Your Blessings on Me............................. Mike
If April showwers bring May flowers.....we are gonna be seeing ALOT of flowers next month! Rain is good, I'm not complaining. Well, let's see....s'been a week since my last entry and do believe it was before the NORTH CAROLINA TARHEELS became National Champs. (just in case anyone did not know) Enuf said about that !
It has been an OK week. I am still having to cath myself atleast twice a day and some times as much as 4 times. It is not painful nor uncomfortable now, I got it down to a science. BUT....I should not have to do this so often! I actually took my "cath kit" to work with me and had to do it at work one day. The kids came in this weekend for Easter and the "boys" played golf on Saturday. I made it through 14 holes before I shut down and the discomfort was more that I could deal with so we left. I got home, was able to cath myself and things were OK for the rest of the day/night. Yesterday I was going about every 10 minutes and finally had to cath again. I am thinking I need to talk to the doc again and make some arrangements to get things "fixed" up there. I just dont have alot of confidence the material blocking my urethra is going to desolve and go away on it's own. Am thinking I may go and see my favorite doc again today or this week?
All other things in life are OK. Did you see the bunny this past week....No, not the Easter Bunny, the Energizer Bunny in the full moon! But I hope you saw the Easter Bunny too. He visited our house this weekend (the kids were here)....don't you think they should make those Reese's peanut butter eggs all year?
OK, time to go and try to do something today. It is raining so can't go to work but there is plenty to do here. Hope you all have a wonderful day. Tell someone you love them....I know it will make them smile. I LOVE ALL OF YOU !
Thank You Lord for Your Blessings on Me............................. Mike
Monday, April 6, 2009
No Big Deal...but the valium was great......AGAIN !
Friends and Family,
Hope life is treating everyone well. I am OK too. Went to see my favorite Doc today and I never even had to take my britches off! I have been cathing myself everyday for almost two weeks now and yesterday began a 6 cath day for me, having alot of problems keep a flow going. The scar tissue (obstruction) in my urethra is being stubborn and not dissolving as quickly as was expected or needed. I have NO problems with the cathing process and so long as I can still do it, no retention issues coming up, we are going to wait about 5 more weeks and re-evaluate .....possibly considering laser surgery to remove/eliminate the material blocking my urethra. OK, I am sure you may be asking, "why the heck does he not just do in and take care of it now?" Well, the truth is we are taking a more conservative approach as the blockage is very near of part of the area where I bled for 4 weeks causing me to have to wear a catheter for so long. NONE OF US want to see that area dramatized again to a point of causing bleeding that would again put me in a catheter for weeks. I love Doc Polsky and believe he wants what is best for me so, I'm waiting, cath in hand if I need it!
On other fronts.....I am experiencing a nagging little headache that could be cause by the Viagra. It is a common side effect. While it is not debilitating and does not interfere with daily life, it is a bit of a nuisance. So...we are gonna try Cialis and see if it can produce the same "positive" results without the side effects of headaches or back pain. I will keep you posted on that. I am pleased with erectile function at this point and if I choose there are other options I can use including a vacuum device and something the doc drew on paper that looks very much like a "zip tie". Be assured that before I allow anything to be cinched around any part of my body (especially my penis) things will have changed significantly. Right now I am OK with how things are in that department, after all I am still less than 6 months out of surgery.
Time to go. It's back to work tomorrow and hopefully bragging about my "Heels". If I can't brag about them I can always brag about the wonderful people in my life and how much I am blessed.
Thank You Lord for Your Blessings On Me........................................ Mike
Hope life is treating everyone well. I am OK too. Went to see my favorite Doc today and I never even had to take my britches off! I have been cathing myself everyday for almost two weeks now and yesterday began a 6 cath day for me, having alot of problems keep a flow going. The scar tissue (obstruction) in my urethra is being stubborn and not dissolving as quickly as was expected or needed. I have NO problems with the cathing process and so long as I can still do it, no retention issues coming up, we are going to wait about 5 more weeks and re-evaluate .....possibly considering laser surgery to remove/eliminate the material blocking my urethra. OK, I am sure you may be asking, "why the heck does he not just do in and take care of it now?" Well, the truth is we are taking a more conservative approach as the blockage is very near of part of the area where I bled for 4 weeks causing me to have to wear a catheter for so long. NONE OF US want to see that area dramatized again to a point of causing bleeding that would again put me in a catheter for weeks. I love Doc Polsky and believe he wants what is best for me so, I'm waiting, cath in hand if I need it!
On other fronts.....I am experiencing a nagging little headache that could be cause by the Viagra. It is a common side effect. While it is not debilitating and does not interfere with daily life, it is a bit of a nuisance. So...we are gonna try Cialis and see if it can produce the same "positive" results without the side effects of headaches or back pain. I will keep you posted on that. I am pleased with erectile function at this point and if I choose there are other options I can use including a vacuum device and something the doc drew on paper that looks very much like a "zip tie". Be assured that before I allow anything to be cinched around any part of my body (especially my penis) things will have changed significantly. Right now I am OK with how things are in that department, after all I am still less than 6 months out of surgery.
Time to go. It's back to work tomorrow and hopefully bragging about my "Heels". If I can't brag about them I can always brag about the wonderful people in my life and how much I am blessed.
Thank You Lord for Your Blessings On Me........................................ Mike
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
S'been a long week....
Friends and Family,
It has been a week since my last posting, good news is there is no medical reason for my lack of responsibility in keeping this updated. It has been a busy week with "stuff".
On the medical front, I think I am doing OK. It is not perfect but good for the most part. I am still experiencing severe urgency and am cathing myself atleast once every day and at most three times. While it is not something I want to have to live with forever, it is something I could learn to live with forever. I see the doc again next Monday and I suspect we will set up some time to go in and remove the material that is obstructing my bladder neck and urethra. When I do the self-cath, even I can feel the obstruction and a little "push" is needed to get past it. I feel blessed that I can do this and allow for some relief when it gets tough.
I missed this month's Support Group meeting as we are having services at church this week. I hate that I missed but I will get there next month. I guess there is no new news. Life is pretty good and it seems like my daily routine now involves things I never thought would be a part of my life. I wake each day, knowing I am cancer free and THAT is a blessing I can't begin to measure.
Thank You for your continued prayers and support. Please continue. I have heard stories this week of other men who are suffering or have been recently diagnosed with prostate cancer, men that I know. Prayer is the most powerful medicine we have, knowledge is the most powerful tool we could ever use. Pray for God to help us to take care of ourselves and each other.
I Love You ALL .... Thank You Lord for Your Blessings on Me
Mike
It has been a week since my last posting, good news is there is no medical reason for my lack of responsibility in keeping this updated. It has been a busy week with "stuff".
On the medical front, I think I am doing OK. It is not perfect but good for the most part. I am still experiencing severe urgency and am cathing myself atleast once every day and at most three times. While it is not something I want to have to live with forever, it is something I could learn to live with forever. I see the doc again next Monday and I suspect we will set up some time to go in and remove the material that is obstructing my bladder neck and urethra. When I do the self-cath, even I can feel the obstruction and a little "push" is needed to get past it. I feel blessed that I can do this and allow for some relief when it gets tough.
I missed this month's Support Group meeting as we are having services at church this week. I hate that I missed but I will get there next month. I guess there is no new news. Life is pretty good and it seems like my daily routine now involves things I never thought would be a part of my life. I wake each day, knowing I am cancer free and THAT is a blessing I can't begin to measure.
Thank You for your continued prayers and support. Please continue. I have heard stories this week of other men who are suffering or have been recently diagnosed with prostate cancer, men that I know. Prayer is the most powerful medicine we have, knowledge is the most powerful tool we could ever use. Pray for God to help us to take care of ourselves and each other.
I Love You ALL .... Thank You Lord for Your Blessings on Me
Mike
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