Surgery issues

[sebbie]

In November, 2013, I was diagnosed as having two small tumors on my prostate and the best strategy (given that I am in otherwise good health and relatively young) was to have laproscopic removal of the prostate (which was causing me issues with BHP as well). That surgery happened early February. Then, in early April I tripped, fell on concrete, and cracked the ball of my femur at my hip. That was repaired with three screws the following morning. I went in a rehab facility for a week but have been recovering at home since then.

Yesterday, the orthopedist X-rayed my hip and concluded that the crack had grown completely back together in only 5 weeks from surgery. My hip still doesn’t quite feel like it did before the break but the doctors say not to worry and that I shouldn’t limit my activity. I had used an expensive NuStep machine in rehab a week after surgery. I had abandoned using a walker only a couple weeks after coming home from rehab, and was walking around unaided. Many of you know I am a big stationary rowing advocate. A couple weeks ago I got back on my rowing machine just to try the movement. I discovered I could row no problem with no pain in my hip and really no more stress on my hip that with the rehab NuStep machine. The orthopedists yesterday were truly impressed by how well my hip break had healed in such a short period of time. I told them a little bit about my “secret” method. A key to hip rehab after a break is to keep moving and to keep blood flow going around the broken area so the repair can get the nutrients needed to grow back together, and whatever I did really worked.

The rehab from the prostate surgery has been trickier. The surgery has a much higher permanent cure rate than the other options for prostate tumors such as radiation. The problem is the consequences of no longer having a prostate. If you have read my posts over the years outlining the stunts I have done that somehow involved my prostate you understand why I feel like I have suddenly lost a lifelong friend. Plus, there are some other things that happen as a consequence that can be disconcerting if not downright terrifying.

First, at least temporary incontinence in which urine flows freely in unexpected circumstances. In most cases, this situation gradually improves over time, but there are footnotes and asterisks to that one.
Second, when the prostate goes, the surgeons do a good job to spare the nerves that control blood flow to the penis, and they did that in my case. The problem is that the nerves are still traumatized and need time to repair and rebuild themselves, a lot of time, as in 12 to 18 months I read, minimum.

Third, in the surgical process you lose not only the prostate but all of the other glands that provide the fluid in semen, which means I can have dry orgasms without any significant erection, but they will be dry, and here comes one of the footnotes, above. If I get sexually aroused, even tho I have very few issues with incontinence otherwise, I will start leaking urine. This is largely because one of the functions the prostate had was to shut off urine flow from the bladder when sexual arousal occurs, and my prostate is no longer there. This is more than a little disconcerting, and can understand why it would be quite disconcerting in partner sex.

Late at night, about 4 AM, I can start to feel that my penis might be just beginning to fill with blood again, as it did before the surgery. I used to have nice erections at about 4 AM nearly every night, and my body seems to be just barely starting to get back in.

I can stimulate myself by rubbing my penis, and even without an erection this still feels quite nice. If I keep doing this (with a towel or tissue to catch any unwanted urine flow). I am pleased to report that even with only a minimal erection, the orgasms still feel very good. Not A-, but perhaps a “B-“

So, this past Wednesday I had my 3-month checkup from my urologist, and I outlined a number of the issues I was having. He felt that given I was only 12 weeks out of surgery, I was in a very good situation, and he reiterated the notion that I needed to have patience in rehab. (I gave my surgeon a copy of my book!) Not having a partner may actually make the rehab easier to work though, as I do not have to worry about what the other person might be thinking or wanting me to do.

A lot of you here know how much pure enjoyment I have had with self-pleasuring myself using a variety of methods from straps and cups, to Lycra, tight jeans, and of course to swim briefs. Given what has happened to me over the past few months, I have not lost my interest in any of this. I can now pull on a really tiny swim brief without any concern that someone else might notice my erection . I was playing around wearing snug jocks with a cup yesterday, and was still amazed at how wonderful the cup still felt pressed tightly around my groin and penis. A lot of the stuff that was really fun for me before remains way fun to me, and more important than ever. Today I am headed out in one of my tightest pairs of jeans, just for the fun of it.

So, I hope to use this site as a means to help me with my prostate surgery rehab. Right now I am getting semi-erections in the 3 ¾ to 4 inch range, but hope to still do better than that as the coming months pass. In the process I hope to learn some things that could ultimately be helpful to other guys in prostate surgery rehab. I have another appointment with my prostate surgeon in 6 months, and will be interesting to see where I have gotten at that point. This site has become my “rowing machine” for prostate surgery rehab. I don’t want this to be depressing for any of you. Feel free to ask me questions about any of this. I always loved it when I pulled a little suit on and immediately got a little quarter-sized spot of pre-cum on the suit at the very tip of my penis. Not being able to get to do that ever again is the specific part I am saddest about.

All for now.

Sebbie

[Byron]

Most interesting post Sebbie and I am sure your maintained optimism is pulling you through gradual but good recovery.

The ball and socket of the femur is well known to surgeons as a problem area in falls but you indicate a complete healing of the bone and subsequent ability to go on the rowing machine again without pain. I should be very interested to hear therefore what the surgeon said about your synovial membrane - you seem to be lucky with that remaining intact when arthritis otherwise results for so many if artificial replacement surgery is not undertaken.

LOL - I also read this as an anatomy lesson as I had always wondered where is the little valve which says urine or semen shall pass along the urethra.

[NJHunkguy]

Speedy Recovery !!!

[sebbie]

I'm coming along in all respects, I think! I walked about a half mile yesterday.

[Lap Counter]

Best wishes for a speedy (Speedo?) and full recovery. Your chronicles of your experiences are a resource for all of us as we age.

[Byron]

....a resource and an inspiration I would add

[sebbie]

My hip is back to normal now, or nearly so. I wish I could say the same about the erection issues following the prostate surgery, but that supposedly takes time as in 12-18 months.

I think the stationary rowing really has been speeding the recovery of the hip. I remain a big fan of that.

Sebbie

[SwimTeamSpeedo]

Sebbie, I am glad you are getting your workout routines back. Sorry to hear about the one issue. I wish you continued good news and great progress.

STS

[sebbie]

STS, my surgeon is confident that the prostate tumors are completely gone and he was able to spare the nerves that are key to getting erections. But not only the prostate but the other glands that supply fluid to make semen are gone. I knew that was going to happen going into the surgery. I opted for the surgery rather than radiation because the long term cure rates are substantally better with the surgery. The problem is that the nerves that control erection and blood flow do not automatically go right back to normal after the surgery, but it takes time for them to repair themselves. 12 months is more-or-less the average wait, but it could take 18-24 months or even longer. In the meantime, I do not have to worry about getting an erection getting into a Speedo tho there are some other weird issues. There are some studies that suggest that Viagra aids in restoring blood flow, and my surgeon gave me a few pills to try, tho I am waiting for the nerves to heal a little more before I run the experiments.

There are some other surprising consequences of the surgery. A classic problem is incontinence, but for me that cleared up quickly for the most part in a matter of weeks after surgery. Except that the weirder problem is that w/o a prostate to shut off urine flow, when I touch myself on my bottom or even wear a thong I an liable to shoot a small steam of urine. Indeed, if I get sexually aroused for any reason that can happen too. I am glad I am not in a relationship as this could really be an issue with a partner.

Having said all of this, even w/o a significant erection, i am easily able to have really nice-feeling orgasms, tho without semen any more. These still feel really great, thankfully.And I also think I am starting to feel the beginnings of blood flow return to my penis, if only slightly. Some of the things I am doing with straps, compression shorts, etc are in part therapy experiments to check out exactly what I am feeling and what is happening in the entire groin area post-surgery especially when I get myself tighty strapped in and my penis is in a very confined space.

Patience! Patience!

Sebbie

[SwimTeamSpeedo]

Sebbie,

Your surgeon sounds awesome. Glad he/she is so open about your desires and needs. You have me curious about the feel of a dry orgasm. Stay positive.

STS