Month 13 - Lucky Number?

So I'm sitting in San Diego International Airport hammering this out as I wait for my flight back to Indiana.  Bah-humbug! 

I had this week of vacation scheduled for nearly two months, but no real destination planned.  At the last minute, I was able to get some tickets and decided to head back to the land of never-ending sunshine.

*     *     *

I read an interesting article this week that talked about a new program to increase prostate cancer screening and awareness among men by training barbers to talk about the topic while giving haircuts.  That's an interesting approach and, if it gets a couple of guys to get checked out, then all the better.

BIOLOGY AHEAD

The last month has been good for me physically.  The stress incontinence doesn't seem to be as bad when I sneeze of cough, although when I feel a sneeze or cough coming on, I do my best to tighten those pelvic floor muscles in advance, and that seems to help.  I also seem to do better at controlling things while sitting; when standing or walking, it becomes more difficult and I'm likely to leak a little more.

As far as sexual function is concerned, I can feel things wanting to come back to life without chemical assistance (Cialis), but there's still a long way to go. 

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Things I'm thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day:

Family, friends, and being cancer-free.

'Nuff said.

Happy Thanksgiving!

One Year - 11.11.11

Wow.  Hard to believe that it was a year ago today that I was sitting in the doctor's office being told that I have cancer. 

There hasn't been a day in that year that I haven't thought about cancer and the effects of its treatment.  But I don't necessarily dwell on it or worry that it will come back.  I think about the practical aspects of living after the prostatectomy; about educating others and increasing awareness; and about what's next in my life now that I've been given a second chance at it.

So let's break this posting into manageable chunks.

Worry about cancer returning

Nope.  I can't say that I do.  Getting through the six month PSA test was a bit unnerving, but the results were great.  I'm sure that I'll get worked up before each future PSA test, but I think that the whole reason for having the radical prostatectomy was to get all those little bugger cancer cells out of my body, and that approach seems to have worked.

Sure, the surgeon told me that I may have a one in five chance of having the cancer come back in 10 years, but that little tidbit of information stays pretty well sequestered in the back of my brain.  It doesn't rule my thoughts.  It doesn't run my daily activities (but maybe it should--more on that later).

Daily Life After the Prostatectomy

Getting all of those little bugger cancer cells out of my body wasn't without costs.

If you've been keeping up with this blog, you know that I'm not 100% "dry" when it comes to the incontinence or that my sexual function has not yet returned. 

The incontinence is limited to sneezing, coughing, or performing some sort of physical activity (squatting or lift something heavy at an odd angle--something my herniated lumbar discs don't appreciate, either!).  It's a nuisance more than anything, but it can be a frustrating nuisance.

It's that frustration that has been gnawing away at me; my patience just isn't what it should be, I guess.  Yes, the doctor told me it could take a year or better for things to get back to normal, and it's been 10 months since the surgery.  My overachieving self wants perfection.  NOW! 

Is it so bad that I would recommend not having a radical prostatectomy to someone?  No.  But it is something that I would share in detail with someone who's considering his treatment options. 

And that brings me to my next topic...

Educating and Increasing Awareness

Obviously, it wasn't long after the surgery that this blog turned from a means of keeping family and friends informed into something intended to educate others diagnosed with prostate cancer.

It was really helpful for me to have a couple of first-hand accounts of going through this journey, and I knew that I wanted to return the favor by sharing my experience here.  If it helped just one person understand what they might encounter, then I consider this blog to be a success.

There's no shame in having cancer and, as you can tell, I have been very open about discussing my experience.  (Too open, according to some.)  But too many people are afraid to even utter the word "cancer," let alone have an in-depth discussion of the disease, its effects, and its treatments.  Shying away from it does no one any good--the patient, his family, and his friends.  Quite the contrary, for me, talking about it openly was helpful and therapeutic.

October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month and--without disparaging anyone with the disease or who has worked on a cure--it really irked me that you couldn't turn a corner without seeing something pink to increases awareness, while in September, I didn't see a single blue ribbon promoting Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.  So I've kind of made it my personal mission to try to increase awareness in my little sphere of influence.

No, I don't walk up to a guy and ask, "When's the last time you had your prostate poked?" But I do let guys know that I was one who followed the rule, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," and had not been for a physical in a couple of years.  I encourage them to get checked and also let them know that I'm available to talk with if they want.

What's Next?

Heck if I know.  Really.  And that's the one thing that's caught me off guard.

Trying to figure out what to do with this second chance at life has been an onerous task.  Of course, the analytical German Capricorn in me is what's making it so onerous.  Paralysis by analysis.  A year has gone by and I'm still in the same place, doing the same job, and doing it alone.

Of course, there is no rule that says if you're given a second chance, you must do something different with your life...

So I've been gathering thoughts and ideas, and have been trying to prioritize them in a spreadsheet to help me find the answer to "What's next?" 

But there's that little tidbit of information in the back of my brain telling me that there's a one in five chance of having the cancer come back in 10 years.  Maybe I should move that tidbit to the front of my brain as a catalyst for action in both my daily life and for the long haul.  Dump the spreadsheet and just do something!

*     *     *

One thing that will be on the agenda is to continue with monthly updates here on the 11th of each month, so stay tuned...

And speaking of the 11th, today is Veteran's Day--hug a Vet if you see one.

11.11.11

Month 11 - Colds, Allergies, Confusion & Disparity

So it's hard to believe that it was a year ago last week that this adventure began with my doctor feeling a mass on my prostate during my routine physical on 7 October 2010.  My how time flies when you're having fun!

*     *     *

So two days after last month's posting, I came down with a nasty head cold that knocked me out of commission for a week or so.  On that Tuesday afternoon, I was toast and went home from work early; I stayed home Wednesday and Thursday.  Friday, I dragged my butt back into the office, but that probably wasn't the wisest move, because Saturday and Sunday I was in bed the whole weekend.

Once the cold was over it seems that my seasonal allergies have managed to kick in, causing runny noses and sneezing. 

BIOLOGY AHEAD

Those experience proved to be a step back as far as the ol' plumbing was concerned.  With nearly every sneeze, cough, and pressure used to blow my nose, there was some leakage on the other end.  It was frustrating to have to go back to wearing pads for about 10 days; I was hoping that that chapter of this story was behind me.  Apparently not.

I'll have to admit that the experience was a bit depressing and made me want to have my prostate back.

 

Do I regret having had the surgery instead of some other treatment option?  No, not really.  There can be risks and side effects with each. 

With the surgery, I'm cancer-free as of my last check-up.  Those nasty little cells were removed from my body completely.  With the seed radiation therapy, you'd know that the cancer cells are still there, and hope that the radiation is killing them faster than they're growing.  Having that little cloud constantly hanging over my head would be worse than occasionally leaking pee into my shorts.

While the direct beam radiation methods have gotten much better, the idea of possibly losing control of your bowels as a result of the treatment is, again, worse than a little leak now and then.

So when I do get a bit down or frustrated by the leaks, I remember two words: Cancer-free.

Going forward, I'll just have to take more vitamins, wash my hands every ten minutes, avoid contact with any people, and stay away from pollen...  :-)  Okay.  Perhaps a bit extreme.  I'll take care and keep a stock of pads on hand instead.  And keep doing my pelvic floor exercises.

*     *     *

Of course, after going through all of that, I really didn't need to get confused by this recent story about the effectiveness of using the PSA test for prostate cancer screening:

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/06/health/prostate-screening/index.html?iref=allsearch

Just in case the link doesn't work (not sure how long CNN keeps it up), here's the text from the article:

(CNN) -- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, the group that told women in their 40s that they don't need mammograms, will soon recommend that men not get screened for prostate cancer, according to a source privy to the task force deliberations.

The task force is set to recommend a "D" rating for prostate specific antigen, or PSA, testing. Such a rating means "there is moderate or high certainty that the service has no net benefit or that the harms outweigh the benefits," according to the group's website. The task force is set to propose this recommendation Tuesday, and then allow for a comment period before issuing a final recommendation.

According to a draft copy of a report released Friday, a review of studies shows screening with the PSA blood test results in "small or no reduction" in prostate cancer deaths.

The report adds that PSA testing is "associated with harms related to subsequent evaluation and treatments."

The PSA test, which is sometimes accompanied by a digital rectal exam, can help determine if a man has prostate cancer. The problem is that many of the cancers that get detected are so small and slow-growing, they'll never be harmful, and doctors have a difficult time discerning the quick, harmful cancers from the slow, harmless ones.

If you test 100 men over age 50, 17 of them will have prostate cancer, and only three of those will have a fast-growing cancer and die of the disease, according to Dr. Kenneth Lin, senior author of the paper.

If the 14 men with the slow-growing cancers are treated, they could be rendered impotent or incontinent from the treatment; or worse, the treatment could kill them. About one in 500 men who has a radical prostatectomy will die because of complications of the surgery, according to Lin.
Some prostate cancer patients were disappointed with the task force's decision.

A spokesman for the Prostate Cancer Foundation called the proposed recommendation "a tremendous mistake."

"You're talking to someone whose life was saved by [the PSA test]," Dan Zenka said.
But Lin says he believes testing does more harm than good.

"Maybe you should get tested if you have this horrible family history where everyone gets prostate cancer before the age of 50. But for most men, testing is harmful," he said.

Until last year, Lin worked with the Preventive Services Task Force as a medical officer for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. He says the task force voted in 2009 to give PSA screening a "D" rating, but it didn't announce it because of the uproar over the mammogram recommendation.

"I was so frustrated with the political interference, and this was the final straw," said Lin, who left the group in November and is now an assistant professor of family medicine at Georgetown University Medical Center.

CNN's Jennifer Bixler and Aaron Cooper contributed to this report.

I'm not sure how to take that report, especially on top of my experiences over the last month.

I disagree that the test itself is harmful.  It's a simple blood test.  It's the results of the test that can cause issues.

Knowing that you have an elevated PSA reading will likely cause some emotional strain, but is it better to bury your head in the sand and not know that cancer may be alive and well within your body?  Sometimes ignorance is bliss, but I don't think most men would think so in this case.

It's what you do with the PSA results that can cause the harm.  Perhaps if you had an elevated PSA without any mass felt during a DRE, you may want to wait and monitor your PSA over a period of time.

In my case, my doctors felt a sizeable mass on my prostate despite a relatively low PSA reading (5.0).  My prostate weighed 70 grams on removal; a normal prostate weighs 40-45 grams.  I was told the cancer was a slow-growing type (Gleason 3+3 = 6) but how much longer could I have gone without having the cancer escape my prostate and spread to my lymph system, bones, or organs given the size of the tumor?  Who knows.

Could I have waited a little longer between diagnosis and surgery (11/11/10 to 1/4/11) to see what would happen?  Perhaps.  Should I have?  I don't know.

If I apply the definition used in the article, I guess I have been "harmed." I have minor stress incontinence and my sexual function has yet to return. But for me, I can live with being "harmed" in return for being cancer-free ("live" being the operable word).

The only thing that I can say is that each case is unique, and each man's tolerance for risk is different.  In my case, I can say with confidence that I made the correct choice for me and my circumstances.  Is my choice the right choice for someone else?  That's not for me to say.

The one thing that is good about that article is the fact that it really makes you think about ALL of the options that are out there.  Still, that can be very confusing, so take the time that you need to evaluate what will work best for you.  But if you can analyze something until the 12th of Never, you also need to recognize that, at some point, you need to make a choice.  If you've done your homework, it will be the right choice for you.

*     *     *

One in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and there's a huge disparity in the amount of press each receive.

Last month was National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and I searched the archives of the Indianapolis Star to see how they covered it:

There were only three articles that referenced prostate cancer; one was an obituary and another was a two-line announcement of screenings being offered at a local hospital. 

Here's a snapshot of today's Indy Star during Breast Cancer Awareness Month:

A slight difference?

Don't get me wrong.  No one should have to introduce the word "cancer" into their daily vocabulary, male or female, and I'm not trying to discount all the wonderful efforts that have been made over the years to find a cure for breast cancer.  But seeing as prostate cancer will affect more men than breast cancer will affect women, I'd like to see at least a little more attention, awareness, and research paid to a cure for prostate cancer so that someday it's on a par with that given to breast cancer.

Call me childish.  Call me bitter.  Or just understand that I'm trying to do my part to advance the cause.



Month 10 - Reflection

Remember all those lost on this day 10 years ago.

And remember all those who have sacrificed so much bringing those responsible to justice.

*     *     *

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

Nearly one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.  If you have a family member who has had prostate cancer, your chances of developing the disease increase significantly.

Do yourself and your family a favor: Don't put off getting checked.

Month 9 - Still Cancer Free!

Well, the headline just about says it all.  My PSA test came back undetectable!!  Woo-freakin'-hoo!

I have to admit that I really let this get to me over the last few days.  I was distracted and grumpy pretty much all week long as I thought about the "What if....?"

If the results came back showing an elevated PSA, that would mean a whole new ball game.  The PSA test is sensitive enough to detect the presence of cells containing the antigen, and those cells could be anywhere: the prostate bed (where the prostate used to be), the bones, the organs, the lymph system--anywhere.

So even though a PSA test can indicate the presence of cancerous cells, it doesn't tell us where they are.  We'd have to wait for the cells to multiply enough to where they may show up on an MRI, CT scan, or bone scan.  So selecting the right treatment option with the least short- and long-term side effects can be a real crap shoot.

Knowing that is why I haven't slept solidly since Saturday night.

The one thing that surprised me during the visit with the surgeon this afternoon was that he performed another DRE.  And I joked with him that he must be giving wicked DRE's because there were smelling salts taped to the exam room wall.  "Just bend over and lean on the table," he replied.

He wanted to make sure that nothing was growing inside that we needed to be concerned about.  There wasn't.  I appreciate his thoroughness.

So we go through this exercise again on Ground Hog Day (2.2.12) for the PSA test and the results on 2.9.12.

So I'll close with my version of a different kind of PSA (Public Service Announcement, not Prostate Specific Antigens):

*     *     *

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month!

Guys (and gals who love their guys), remember that September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

When's the last time you had your PSA tested or your prostate poked?  If you can't remember, then it's time to schedule an appointment with your favorite small-fingered doctor.

Thirty seconds of discomfort and a blood test saved my life.  They can save your life, too!

If you want to learn more about prostate cancer causes, prevention, and treatment, this book was particularly helpful in educating me:

Dr. Patrick Walsh's Guide fo Surviving Prostate Cancer

Month 8 - New Schedule

It was 8 months ago today that I received my cancer diagnosis (the last post was the 6-month anniversary of the surgery), and things are going well enough that you can tell I'm struggling to come up with things of interest for a weekly post. 

So based on that, I think it's time that I switch to a monthly update; look for them on the 11th of each month.  Of course, if there's anything of any great importance that pops up, I'll let you know through email and a posting here.

Next month's update just happens to be on the same day that I get my PSA results, so that will certainly be a newsworthy day.

BIOLOGY AHEAD

The only thing of note is that my allergies seem to be kicking in this summer, and that means that if I have a sudden sneeze, I have an equal and opposite reaction on the other end.  We'll see how that plays out through the rest of the summer.  I'm not sure that I want to be in a Benadryl haze or go back to wearing pads, but if I have to, I have to.  Oh well.

Six Months - Happy Independence Day!

Special Post

Wow.  Hard to believe that it was six months ago today that I was being wheeled into surgery on a competitor's stretcher!

Friday, I had an appointment with my personal physician to just follow up on all that's happened in those six months.  She was pleased with my progress and outcome and really had no significant concerns or suggestions for me.

In some ways, I was tempted to have her run a PSA test on me, but I'll be patient and wait for the 4 August 2011 appointment and the results on 11 August.  The surgeon really wanted to use the same lab to make sure that the process allowed for an apples-to-apples comparison with the February test results.

Another reason not to do it last Friday was insurance.  I'm still fighting with the hospital and insurance company over the second stay in January, and the last thing I need is for them to question why I have two PSA tests within a month of each other.  That would take until 2027 to resolve.  :-)

Finally, I added a new page to the blog, "Life After Prostatectomy."  It's really intended for fellow prostate cancer patients, as it's an open discussion of my experience with incontinence and sexual function.  If you don't want to know about that kind of thing, don't read it!  :-)

So that's it on this six-month anniversary.  More on Thursday.

Week 33 - Regression

So it's been a quiet week again... Same routine at work with not much new to report.

BIOLOGY AHEAD

A few weeks ago, I reported that the itchy feeling in my urethra--that gave me the near constant urge to urinate--had finally gone away.  It's been back again for the last few days.  I'm not sure what that means other than it may be a dip in the roller coaster ride that the surgeon forewarned me about months ago.

I'm not overly concerned about it for now.  It's still just a nuisance.  No pads are needed--I just run to the bathroom more than I really need to just to be safe.

Just before my surgery, my family physician scheduled a 6-month follow-up visit with her, and that appointment is tomorrow morning.  I'll mention it to her, but I really don't expect that she'll say much other than "talk to the surgeon."

In some ways, I'd like her to take the blood sample for the PSA test tomorrow, but the surgeon was pretty adamant about his office / lab doing the testing.  He wanted to make sure that the same lab did all the tests to eliminate possible inconsistencies between lab procedures that could alter the results.  That, or he's looking for a couple of hundred bucks for the test and consultation.  :)

Week 32 - Ho-hum

Yep.  Another quite week here in the cornfields.  At least as far as my recovery is concerned (no biology updates needed).  As far as work, well....

My boss was on vacation this week, so I was his designated back-up.  Between his scheduled meetings and my own, I spent from 7 AM to 3 PM in back to back meetings--even one that ran through lunch (11-1).  Ugh.

We also said good-bye to another coworker who opted to head to Seattle and a new opportunity there.

Maybe I should start a countdown...  7 weeks from today, I should have my next PSA results.  That's not all that far off.

So that's about it from here for now.

Week 31 - Bad Habits

Okay, I'm back in my bad habit of being late on my posting.  Last night was another farewell party for a coworker who's decided to pursue another opportunity, so I wasn't thinking much about updating my blog.

This is the third person (out of six in that role) that has left since the end of March.   I don't know that I need to say anything more about what's happening at work.

It actually was a pretty boring week here in the heartland.  Not much to report--not even on the biology front.  It makes me wonder if I shouldn't switch to a monthly format.

I may hold off on that until my next PSA test which is scheduled for 4 August, with the results appointment on 11 August.  Assuming everything's okay then, it may be time to just bring this journey to a close. 

Thoughts from the peanut gallery?  :-)

Week 30 - On Time!

Yea!  I remembered to update my blog on time this week!  Woo-hoo!  Of course, it helps that I'm sitting at home instead of in some airport terminal or on the road.

Yesterday I received a surprise call from the hospital I was in.  "Will you need financial assistance to pay off your $14,000 balance?" 

"HUH?!?!?"

I'm still battling with the insurance and hospital over my second admission back in January.  Anthem says they didn't do a pre-authorization for my trip to the emergency room, so therefore they're not going to pay until they get the medical records to review.  I've been on the phone with the hospital several times over the last few months to try to get them to do that, and it hasn't happened yet.

Then when I got home today, there was a bill in the mail from the X-ray service provider marked in big bold "PAST DUE."  I had spoken with them and they put my account on hold the last time we talked, pending the resolution with the Anthem.

ARGGHHH.

And that's all that I've got to say about that.

BIOLOGY AHEAD

One of the things that happened to me after the surgery was having a near constant irritation or itching in my urethra that gave me the sensation that I had to go to the bathroom nearly all the time.  I'd make frequent trips to the bathroom even though my bladder was relatively empty.  It got to be a bit annoying to say the least.

In the last week, that sensation has been greatly reduced for whatever reason.  As a result, I'm running to the bathroom less and feeling much more confident as I move around.  I hope that keeps up.



Week 29 - Grandson of Oops!

Man, I'm really slipping here, aren't I???

No, I wasn't traveling this week--finally.  I think I just got wrapped up in getting caught up from all the recent trips that I've made, plus work has been keeping me busy as we put the finishing touches on our first draft of our FY 2012 business plan.  In other words, I've been living in my spreadsheet.

That said, we reset our vacation calendar on 1 June, so I'm back to having 4 weeks of vacation on the books!  Woo-hoo!  :-)   Nothing planned yet, but wait...

BIOLOGY AHEAD

Not much has changed on that front, either.  Been pretty "dry" as of late, forgoing the pads for nearly a month now, except when I know I'm going to be much more active than I usually am.  I'm walking home for lunch (one mile each way) when the weather and my meeting schedule cooperates in order to help build up more control.

On the whole, things continue their slow and steady improvement.

Week 28.7 - Son of Oops!

Okay, I'm bad.  I was traveling again last Thursday (and through last night) and spaced doing my update until I was prompted by an email from a friend yesterday.

Perhaps I need to get on a monthly schedule now that things seem to have calmed down for the most part. 

Although I'll have to admit that, after writing the last update to this blog, boasting about going padless for several weeks, I went outside to pull a few overgrown shrubs out of the landscaping in the front yard and found that heavy physical activity can cause leaks.  But other than that, I remain relatively "dry" through normal daily activities.  Guess I just need to get a bit more active so my muscles can adapt and get stronger.

Week 27 - Windy City

Yes, I've been on the road yet again.  This time, it was back to Chicago for my oldest nephew's wedding on Sunday.

It was a very nice, small affair in an intimate chapel followed by dinner and one of their favorite restaurants.  The wacky Chicago spring weather could have cooperated a bit more.  Overcast, windy, cold (40-degrees) and rain before the ceremony.  Just overcast, windy, and cold after the ceremony.

Of course, with the wedding on Sunday, that meant that I just had to take another vacation day on Monday.

After having lunch with my sister, I took the scenic route back, stopping in the town of Warsaw, Indiana to check out a lakefront home of one of the relatives.  Very nice.  I contacted a friend in nearby Ft. Wayne to see if she might be available for dinner, but she was already booked.  (That's one of the problems with spur-of-the-moment ideas--not everything works out.)

Work has been busy as we're preparing the FY 2012 budget plan.  That meant another couple of days buried in my mega-spreadsheet.  (With more to come.)

BIOLOGY AHEAD

The incontinence continues to improve to the point where I've not worn a pad since the wedding on Sunday (and that was for insurance purposes).  No incidents at home or work, so that's good.  Still, I find myself running to the bathroom more frequently just to drain my bladder and make sure that there's only minimal "ammunition" available for a leak should one occur.  Given a bit more time, the confidence level will go up.

So that's it for this week.

Week 26 - Oops!!

Oops.  I forgot to post an update last night.  Not to worry.  All is well.

I was, in fact, just returning from another trip.  This time it was for work, visiting a supplier in the greater Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area.  It was a good conference that even included a trip to PNC Park to watch the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team get defeated by the Los Angeles Dodgers on a perfect weather spring night.  The last time I had been to a professional baseball game was in 1977 when I was in Seattle on a training cruise.  We saw the Mariners play in the King Dome.

Now that the weather has gotten better (far less rain), I’ve started walking the mile home for lunch.  It gets me out from behind the computer for 20 minutes each way, and will hopefully begin to pay off in being just a little bit more fit.

Today, the 13^th, is the 15^th anniversary of my joining my current employer.   My boss put together a great little ceremony this morning to mark the occasion.  It was very much in the format of “This Is Your Life.”  I was afraid of what was going to pop up next on the screen.

BIOLOGY AHEAD

As far as the incontinence is concerned, it’s finally turning the corner.

Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, I went without wearing any pads and did quite well.  I had a minor incident where I was in a garden filled with blooming flowers and my allergies kicked in.  I sneezed and leaked.  Tuesday evening, however, things deteriorated a little and I was back wearing a pad.  I guess my body was just tired.

Wednesday and Thursday at the conference I wore pads more for insurance than anything else.  I think I could have gotten away without.  (Except Wednesday night when a few of us went to a bar after the game.  After midnight, my body was getting tired and I’m glad I was wearing the pad.  Throw in a couple of beers, and that was even more reason to wear one.)

Today I’ve spent the day without one and have done fine so far. 

I’ll have to admit that I’m a bit more cautious in how I move without a pad in place than I am when I am wearing one.  Having a pad can act a bit like a crutch.  It makes me a little less apt to try and control my pelvic floor muscles consciously.

So I'm really pleased that things continue to improve.

Week 25 - Another Ocean

First, apologies for last week's truncated post.  I started it on Tuesday, forgot about it on Wednesday, and just hit the "Publish Post" button on Thursday as I was sitting on the beach in Coronado, California.

Yep.  I spread my wings and took my first post-surgery flight to San Diego on Wednesday night for a five day weekend in paradise.  Two weeks ago, I was pretty much on the Atlantic Ocean; this week, the Pacific.

I stayed near my old apartment on the island and just spent Thursday and Friday walking up and down Orange Avenue and the beach.  It was great.  Very relaxing.  On Saturday, I checked out of the hotel and spent the next two nights with some friends that I served with when I was in the Navy.  It was great to see them again.

Photos are available via the link to the right and below.

*     *     *

BIOLOGY AHEAD

I did have some concerns over getting through security at the airport with an absorbant pad shoved down my pants in case I got the full body scanner treatment, so I took a chance and went to the airport without wearing one.

As fate would have it, I did get the full body scanner screening and made it through just fine without it.  Afterwards, I asked the TSA agent what would happen if I had to wear the pad through the scanner.  He explained that I would be taking into a private screening area and be given a more thorough personal screening in there.

Even though I had extra pads in my carry-on bag, I opted not to wear one during the entire flight and, save a cough-induced leak, did quite well.

For the return trip, I did the same thing, but I could tell that it might be a leaky day, so I took a pad out of my carry-on, hit the men's room, and put it in place.

Walking several miles in an afternoon didn't seem to bother me too much at all.  I need to do more of that if the rain around here would only stop.

Things are getting better with time...  

So that's it for this week.

Week 24 - Soggy

And, no, I'm not talking about my incontinence.... 

We've had rain and storms for 9 of the last 10 days, putting us well above our average rainfall for April (3 inches/8 cm)--we've had over 12 inches/30.5 cm so far and the month isn't even over!!  In fact, it's the rainiest month on record for Cincinnati--ever. 

Needless to say, everyone's getting a little fed up with the weather lately.  I spent pretty much the entire three-day Easter weekend hanging out around the house.

Week 23 - Road Trip

Most of the last week has been spent on the road.  Yep.  I managed to take my first post-surgery road trip and it went pretty well.

I actually left on Wednesday night (and used the scheduling feature to automatically post my blog post on Thursday) and headed south into Kentucky.  I spent the night in London, KY and Thursday morning headed to Cumberland Gap National Park.  The dogwoods and redbuds were in full bloom, so there were explosions of white, pink, and purple mixed into the forests that were just beginning to turn green.

I stopped at the Abraham Lincoln Museum on the campus of Lincoln Memorial Universaity in the tiny town of Harrogate, TN before heading off to Charlottesville, VA to visit Thomas Jefferson's home at Monticello.  Impressive.

From there, I became reacquainted with the Beltway traffic in the greater Washington, DC area as I visited a former coworker and her husband, and a college/Navy buddy whom I hadn't seen since around 1989 (we guessed). 

On Saturday, we hit the Museum of American History (part of the Smithsonian) and saw the Abraham Lincoln exhibit; the actual Star Spangled Banner that was flying over Ft. McHenry and inspired Francis Scott Key to write his poem; and saw the ruby red slippers that Judy Garland wore in the "Wizard of Oz."

On the way home, I stopped to see Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpiece, Fallingwater, in Mill Run, PA.  Awesome.  I spent the night near Pittsburgh and then headed home Tuesday afternoon.

You can check out photos from the trip using the link to my photos to the right.  (Don't worry--there's only 43 of them!)

*     *     *

BIOLOGY AHEAD

Physically, I did pretty well most days on the trip.  I could tell that I need to walk more to build up my endurance.  Most of the days, the incontinence was minimal, but there were one or two days where, after an extended period of walking around all day long, my body got tired and the minor leaks increased.  Again, take it gradually and build up my strength.

*     *     *

Finally, it's been a sad day, as today marks the fifth anniversary of Mom's passing...  We miss you, Mom.

Week 22 - Sneezy

Funny.  I'm struggling to come up with anything of real interest that happened in the last week.

Friday my head got all stopped up again, but I think it was from the explosion of pollen in the area.  Nearly every fruit-bearing tree is in full bloom, lawns are being mowed, and trees are popping leaves.  My allergies just didn't like it at all, I'm guessing.

Saturday rained a good chunk of the day so I spent the day indoors working on my spreadsheet for work.  Yes, I'm not keen on working at home on the weekend, but sometimes I can get more done in four hours at home with no interruptions than I can in eight hours at work with all the distractions.

Sunday broke temperature records here--we hit 85 degrees.  I had opened the windows and I think Saturday's rain knocked down some of the pollen. 

I tossed and turned Sunday night because it was a balmy 74 degrees when I went to bed.  The comforter was peeled off and I seriously debated turning on the air conditioning.  I left my window wide open and brought in a fan instead.  That helped cool things down a little.

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday--all pretty routine days at work.

BIOLOGY AHEAD

I did see the optometrist on Friday and he gave my eyes a clean bill of health.  No signs of glaucoma, cataracts, or optic nerve damage.  It was the last that I was worried about from taking the Cialis.  He was okay with me resuming it, but after his comments about "catastrophic vision loss," should something happen, I'm not so sure I want to take the risk.  He had never seen or heard of someone who went through that, so the likelihood is "infinitessimally small."  But when you only have one set of eyes and the damage is irreversible...  Gives one something to think about.

The incontinence over the weekend and early this week was minimal.  In fact, I went the whole weekend without guards except for about 6 hours Saturday evening.  I had a giant pollen-induced sneeze that caused me to leak enough to warrant changing clothes and put a guard in place. 

But Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday were all decent days.  Let's hope the trend continues.

Week 21 - Puzzled

Sorry for the later-than-usual posting... It was so nice, I drove to Cincinnati for dinner and a little shopping.

*     *     *

A while ago, a friend at work told me how he liked to work on jigsaw puzzles.  I had an old puzzle that was of a topographic map of Yosemite National Park--no easy task to complete with all the contour lines and similar colors.

When he returned it, he gave me one of his puzzles to do.  It was a brilliantly colored image of birds in a tropical rain forest.  I started on the puzzle about 5 weeks ago, getting the border in place and some of the inner pieces put together.

Sunday evening, I decided to tackle the puzzle in earnest while I was doing a load of laundry after dinner.  The next thing I know, it was 11:00 PM and I was only about 40% done.  I returned to the puzzle Monday night after dinner and kept at it.  When it was nearly 11:00 PM again, I only had 30-40 pieces to go, so I kept at it.  I finished it shortly after midnight.

I'll have to admit that the last time I did a jigsaw puzzle was the Yosemite Puzzle when I was living in San Diego in the late 1980's.  It was fun, frustrating, annoying, and a great diversion from work, the Internet, and television.  Plus, you actually get to see what you accomplish each time you sit at the table.

*     *     *

My spring cleaning bug has continued, at least on the inside.  I really need to get outside and do some work around the yard.  The weather has been a bit whacky thought--warm, cold, sunny, rainy, windy.  This weekend is supposed to be in the low 80's already.

*     *     *

I'll have to admit that I've been a rather withdrawn and reflective mood as of late.  I'm not sure why.  Perhaps it's the approaching five-year anniversary of my mom's death; or some of the challenges at work; or just trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up.  I don't know.  Puzzling, eh?

*     *     *

BIOLOGY AHEAD

I continue to ride the incontinence roller coaster.  Yesterday and today have been two of my better days, and I probably could have gotten away without using pads.  Monday, I wasn't so lucky.

When I compare the nuisance of having to wear a pad versus dying from cancer, I'll put up with the nuisance every time.  Of course, in a perfect world, I'd be dry (in prostate cancer lingo), padless, cancer-free, have a full head of hair, and be a Powerball winner.

On the really positive side, I can pretty much sleep through the night pad-free now.  That's a good thing.  Of course, when you stay up doing puzzles till midnight, that means I only have to make it through 5-6 hours.

Tomorrow's the optometrist appointment and I'll learn if I can resume the Cialis.

Week 20 - Spring Cleaning

Success. 

You already know I'm a spreadsheet geek, so it wouldn't be a surprise that I created a monster spreadsheet about two years ago to manage the program I'm in charge of at work.  Well, our new leadership wanted to see our numbers presented in a different way, so that caused me about 25 - 30 hours worth of work restructuring the spreadsheet to meet the new requirements.  (Told you it was a monster!) 

Anyhow, by Friday morning, I had completed it and it tied off dollar-for-dollar with the old spreadsheet.  I let out a not-so-quiet "Woo-hoo!!!" when I finished the validation.  At the end of the day, I wound up at the local watering hole celebrating with two of our financial analysts.  I'm now an official honorary Finance geek.  But an old one.  Their combined ages was still less than my age.  Ugh.

*     *     *

For some reason, over the last few days I've had a spring cleaning bug.  Unfortunately, the more I cleaned, the bigger the mess I had.  That's not how it's supposed to work.

It started on Saturday with me searching for something in my file cabinet.  The next thing you know, it looked like a paper explosion hit my home office.  I had crap everywhere.  Old bills, reports, notes from grad school--you name it, it was there.

I fired up the shredder and got rid of a lot of it, and reorganized what was left.  I still had a stack to shred on Wednesday night.

Saturday, I also got out and messed around with a little photography for the first time in a long time.  It was sunny, but colder than I expected, so I didn't stay out too long.

*     *     *

Sunday was tax day.  I had started them in late January/early February when I was still on leave, but sat on them until now (in part, because the IRS wasn't accepting itemized returns until after mid-February.)  I'm glad to have that monkey off my back.

*    *     *

BIOLOGY AHEAD!

Healthwise, I'm doing okay.  The head cold I had as all but gone away.  I still have a little tickle in my throat that will cause me to cough now and again (and the associated equal but opposite reaction down below).  Others who had the same cold said it took about two weeks for it to fully clear.

The incontinence continues to improve.  Not as fast as I'd like, but it's getting better, slowly but surely.  In fact, I spent Sunday around the house doing taxes and some other odds and ends, and I did it without wearing an absorbant pad all day long.  I found myself moving just a little more carefully to make sure that nothing happened, and it didn't.  Monday at work, I probably could have gotten away without the pads; Tuesday, probably not.  I can still get through the night without them.

And speaking of getting through the night... The multiple runs to the bathroom throught he middle of the night have all but stopped (except when I'm stupid and drink too much too close to bedtime).  That makes me a much more pleasant person during the day when compared to the sleep-deprived version of me.

Next week I finally have my appointment with the optometrist to check my eyes.  You may recall that I stopped taking the Cialis because listed side effects were blurred or complete loss of vision.  I'm not sure if he'll be able to tie the two together or not--or if it's just the fact that I spend 25-30 hours looking at one spreadsheet!

So that's been the last week.

Week 19 - Almost Forgot!

Dang.  I almost forgot to post something this week!  Sheesh.

So the head cold that I told you about last week kicked in full-force.  I missed work on Friday and spend the entire day in bed.  Saturday and half of Sunday, too.  I've had worse, but I'll have to admit that the post-surgery side effects made this one a little different.  Nearly everytime I coughed, sneezed, or blew my nose, I had an equal but opposite reaction at the other end.  Not fun.

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday weren't too bad at work.  Each day was a little better.  I think letting my body have all that rest over the weekend was a good thing--it put the cold behind me for the most part.

The weather here had been great up until yesterday--a balmy 74 degrees.  Then the storm came through and it was 32 and snowing this morning on the way to work.  Ugh. March in Indiana.  It's supposed to stay cold through the weekend.

I did talk to another prostate cancer survivor at work yesterday, and we compared notes.  He went through the full-blown slice you from your navel to the pelvic bone surgery 5 years ago.  He reminded me to keep doing my Kegel exercises and to be patient.  He still does his every day 5 years later.  It will get better.  I sure hope so.  He also reminded me that it beats the alternative.

He also told me that he hadn't been to the doctor "in 20 years" prior to a free wellness screening offered at work.  That's how they discovered his cancer--an elevated PSA test.  His family physician had him wait a couple of months and retested, and the PSA was higher and that caused them to do the biopsy that confirmed the cancer.  He said had it not been for the wellness screening, he wouldn't be around to have this conversation.

So guys reading this: Once again, get tested!  Especially if it's been a year or two or twenty.

Have I made the leap on a new car yet?  Nope.  The head cold kind of put that on the back burner.

So that's about it from here.  I think if the weather's going to be as bad as they say it is this weekend, I feel a date with the IRS and Indiana Dept. of Revenue is in the works.  I need to finish and file taxes.

Week 18 - Everyone's Irish Today!

So I'm writing this on Wednesday night because it's supposed to be 70 degrees here for St. Patrick's Day tomorrow.  I have a funny feeling that I may not be available to put this together tomorrow night.  Something was said about green beer after work tomorrow...  (Where's that catheter and two liter drainage bag when you really need it?!?)

It must have been a pretty boring week, because I'm struggling to come up with anything of interest.  Oh.  I continued to kick tires on new vehicles. 

When I dropped off the car that I was allowed to take home on Thursday night, I asked if I could take a different model home on Friday night.  "No problem."  Off I went, in another new vehicle on just a handshake.

Have I made a commitment yet?  Nope.  Not yet.  The salesman worked up a price on the second car (much more of a joy to drive), but we're going to have to put some negotiating skills to use before signing on any dotted lines.  Plus, selecting the right options is akin to selecting a surgeon.  (Yes, only I can make a decision that painful!)

*     *     *

Both at work and at home, I've been playing with a lot of data and computer files this week.  I'm overhauling a massive spreadsheet that I use at work to accommodate a new reporting format, and I've probably got 25 hours invested in updating it, and I'm still only about halfway through it.  Fun. 

*     *     *

BIOLOGY AHEAD

About 48 hours ago, I noticed that I was getting a little bit of a sore throat, and it's continued to intensify since Monday night.  Luckily, there's no serious coughing or congestion with it.  If there was, I'd be in trouble.  Every time I cough, I leak.  Every time I blow my nose, I leak.  (You've seen my nose.  It takes considerable force to clear that puppy!)

There has been a good side to the sore throat.  I've taken NyQuil the last two nights, and I've slept from about 10:30 PM to 6:30 AM without interruption!  And without incident!  That makes me hopeful that I'll get back to a more normal sleep pattern eventually.  And, no, I won't turn into a NyQuil junkie--I value my liver too much.

Otherwise, I'm doing fine and more than ready for Spring to finally arrive.

So that's it on this St. Patrick's Day Eve. Enjoy!

Week 17 - On Track

Hello again, everyone!

It's been a pretty good week.  Work has been hectic and I think I'm finally settled back into the routine, as "routine" as things are these days.

On Sunday, I made a trip to Chicago and back to attend the visitation for my brother-in-law's mother; she passed away on Thursday after 88 years on this Earth.

Both my sister and brother-in-law instructed me not to make the 4-hour drive because the weather Saturday night was crappy--rain, freezing rain, and snow.  Oh.  And because I wasn't "normal." :-)  I guess they meant that I haven't fully recovered from the surgery.

I told them I'd check the weather in the morning, and if it looked good, I'd come up anyway.  I wanted to be there to support them (and to prove that I am "normal").  Everyone was surprised to see me and told me how well I looked (I need to buy them glasses).  I guess people think that I should look differently as a cancer patient.  Maybe it's that stereotypical image of the patient who's gone through chemo or raditation that gets lodged in people's minds.  I don't know.  Regardless, they were all glad to see that I was doing well and up and about.

I did stop for a good ol' Chicago Italian beef sandwich on the way out of town.  Mmmm-mmmm.  No one around here makes a sandwich like that!

So it made for a long day--4 hours up, 3 hours there, and 4 hours back--but I'm glad I did it.  It was a good test to prove that I can travel some again.  It wasn't without its differences though.  Before the surgery, I'd typically just make one "pit stop" at a rest area, but on both trips I had to make three.  No biggy.

*     *     *

BIOLOGY REFERENCES AHEAD

From the incontence perspective, it was a week where I don't feel as though I made much progress.  In fact, on Saturday, it seemed like a setback.

I was just working in my home office on some things for work, and it seemed that no matter what I did, I sprung a leak.  Blinked an eye.  Leaked.  Reached for a pen.  Leaked.  Stood up.  Leaked.  Hair fell out of my balding head.  Leaked.  I was quite annoyed at the situation and even a bit worried about what would happen on the trip to Chicago the next day.

Nothing.  Nothing happened.  I had one of my driest days in a while on the trip up and back.  Go figure.  Monday was fine.  Tuesday was fine during the day, but Tuesday night, I was doing chores around the house and it was Saturday all over again.

*     *     *

One of the reasons I'm posting this later than I planned was that I had my follow-up appointment with the surgeon late this afternoon.

We reviewed my case and he says that I'm on track and nothing seems out of the ordinary:

• The 2-4 trips to the bathroom in the middle of the night are typical for the first 6 months.
• The increased leakage late in the day is normal as the body is fatigued.
• There will be good days/weeks and worse days/weeks.

All-in-all, he was pleased with my progress and reminded me that the infection really did a number on my system, slowing the normal recovery process.  We've scheduled the 6 month PSA test for 4 August and another follow-up for 11 August to get those results.  Hope for another undetectable reading.

*     *     *

POTENTIAL PURCHASING REFERENCE AHEAD

Okay.  Another reason that this is a later than usual posting is, after the doctor's appointment, I stopped by my favorite car dealer to take a spin in a car that they've got on the lot that I've had my eye on for a while now. 

Rather than have me take it for a normal test drive, the salesman let me take it home overnight.  I told him that I have to stick around the house tomorrow for a delivery, and that I may not be able to make it back by their 6 PM closing time tomorrow night.  "That's okay.  Just bring it back Saturday morning," he said. Pretty nice of them.  (One of the reasons it's my favorite car dealer.)

It's a pretty sweet ride, but I'm not sure I'm going to make the leap on that particular car.  (It's a different model than my current car, and I wanted to check it out because I really haven't had any experience in that model.)  We'll see.

And, no, this isn't a true impulse buy--I've been thinking about this well before the surgery.  Of course, that assumes that I go forward with either model.  When it comes to something like this, I'm never impulsive!  I think I annoyed the crap out of the salesman who sold me my car 6 years ago for nearly 18 months.  :-(

So that's it for this update.

Week 16 - Making Progress

Last week when I wrote my first weekly posting, I actually came home each night and jotted down the notes from the day.  In essence, I was keeping my blog going each night without publishing it.  That kind of defeated the purpose of going to a weekly update so I could have more time to play.


This week is different--it's all from memory.  Of course, I can't remember what I had for lunch, so this will be a short blog.


I'll begin with general stuff, and then get into some detailed biology (a word of warning to those whose minds aren't so inquiring).

*     *     *

It's good to be able to get around more.  On the weekends, I've been able to get out and do things that I haven't done in a long time.  I ran to Jungle Jim's International Market in Cincinnati and one of the salesmen there convinced me to try Grimbergen Double Ale--a Belgian beer.  Very nice.  (He had to twist my arm--hard!)


I also managed to test drive a couple of cars on Saturday, thinking that I may deserve a "Life-is-too-short-and-I-kicked-cancer's-ass" present for myself.  Of course, a week earlier, my sister reminded me that people who go through major life events--like cancer--shouldn't make any major decisions for at least a year.  I'll give her advice due consideration.  Alpine White or Black Saphire Metallic?  J


I enjoy seeing the people at work again, but I think I returned at a crazy time.  There's a lot of new activity happening since I was out, and that makes getting caught up and refocused a bit more challenging.


I've been able to reconnect with folks over lunch or dinner, and that's been good (although it takes me off my post-cancer diet sometimes--I really am trying to eat more healthful foods!).


My boss was a bit surprised when I reminded him last Friday that I have 10 vacation days remaining that I have to use before 31 May.  I'm working on plans on how to use them.  I don't see a European adventure in my immediate future. I'm not quite up to that physically right now.

*     *     *

BIOLOGY AHEAD!

On the recovery front, things are progressing steadily.  With the incontinence, each day seems to be a little better than the one before, and as long as I continue to see progress, I'm happy.  Of course, there are moments of regression that temporarily annoy me. 


I feel as though I'm getting closer to the day where I may be able to abandon the absorbent guards that I use.  In fact, since the weekend, I've stopped using them at night without incident and, on Sunday, I went without during the day as I did things around the house.  I had only one minor incident.  It's still premature for me to go without at work--I'm more active there than here at home. 


I do notice that later in the day the number of incidents seems to increase.  Perhaps it's just that my body is tired after the long day, or perhaps it's because I've been drinking water all day long, or perhaps a combination of both.


I still have nights (like last night) where I'm running to the bathroom 3-4 times through the night.  And then I'll have a night where I can go 6 or 7 hours without having to make a run.  Those multiple run nights make for a fun and grumpy next day.

*     *     *

For several months now, I've been noticing that my eye glasses don't seem to be effective as they used to be, meaning that it's time for an exam and an updated prescription.  However, in the last few weeks, the problem seems to be gradually increasing, especially in my right eye.


Under normal circumstances, I'd say that it's merely me getting older, or the additional eye strain of sitting in front of a computer all day long again after being off work for 8 weeks.  I'd go for my checkup and get an updated set of glasses.


But one of the known side effects of taking Cialis is blurred vision and--in rare cases--complete and permanent vision loss.


So, being perhaps a bit overly cautious, I stopped taking the Cialis early this week and set up an appointment with my optometrist (unfortunately, the first opening was 7 April).  I also called my ophthalmologist this morning to get their take on the situation.  They wanted me to call my surgeon to get his advice, so I did.


My surgeon agreed with stopping the Cialis for now, waiting a couple of days to see if things get better, worse, or stay the same, and if they get worse, to get to the ophthalmologist.


Again, I think I may be overreacting and it's as simple as me needing an updated prescription.  Still, why risk permanent vision impairment for the sake of a boner?  Right?


I've had a routine surgery follow-up appointment scheduled for some time now (next Thursday).  I'm sure we'll talk about all this then.


Otherwise all the drain holes and incision points have healed nicely and there's no pain or sign of lymph fluid accumulating again.  Things keep progressing...

Week 15 - Back in the Routine

Welcome back!  I’m really not sure for the best way to format these weekly updates, to I’ll just try a chronological summary of the week for starters.  We’ll see how that goes…

*          *          *

Friday was probably my best day at work all week long.  I had virtually no discomfort in my groin, which told me that I was sore simply from using muscles that hadn’t been used in a while (as well as having had holes poked in them!)  I was walking at a normal pace (early in the week, it was painful to walk too fast), and just felt great.

When I got home, I fixed dinner and decided to throw a load of laundry in the wash (to free up more time on Saturday).  As I went to get my dirty laundry, I was suddenly attacked by an spring-cleaning urge to clean out my closet.

I pulled out clothes and shoes that I hadn’t worn since the Roosevelt administration (Teddy).  Those that seemed to have good life in them (although out of style) went into a bag for Goodwill.  The rest went into my rag bin or the trash.

To celebrate the end of taking my antibiotics, cleaning my closet, and the end of my first week back, I opened a bottle of Sam Adams—my first since the holidays.

*          *          *

With my chores out of the way Friday night, I decided to head to Indianapolis on Saturday for the first time since Christmas.  I did it in the name of research.

I’m still a bit nervous about being out for extended periods of time with my mild incontinence.  I want to make sure that nothing silly will happen on longer trips, so each time I go out, I try to make it a little longer just to see what happens.  So far, so good. 

I’ll have to admit that when I see a restroom, there’s a good chance that I’ll take advantage of it while I’m there.  I’m probably being a bit too cautious, but there are still a few occasions where my bladder tells me “Go NOW!” and I really don’t have a lot of time to find a bathroom.

*          *          *

Sunday was a pretty quiet day around the house.  It got off to a slow start. I woke early to use the bathroom, and the next time I looked at the clock, it was after 11:00 AM!  Yikes.  I guess that first week of work and activity caught up with me.

*          *          *

Work on Monday was pretty much the same as it was 8 weeks ago.  I opened my spreadsheet at 8:00 AM, started doing updates, and had my report out by mid-afternoon.  I’m not sure if it’s good to be back in the routine (rut) or not.  J 

Monday night was a bit hellish.  I just kept running to the bathroom: 12:00 AM, 1:15 AM; 2:30 AM; 4:30 AM.  When the alarm went off at 6:30 AM, I knocked it across the room and rolled over for a few extra minutes of sleep.  Next thing I know, it’s 8:00 AM.  Ooops!

Not sure why I had to run to the bathroom so many times…  I stop drinking in quantity after supper just to prevent that very thing from happening.

*          *          *

After Monday night’s episode, Tuesday was a long day at work, especially considering there were two hour-and-a-half long meetings and another hour-long meeting in the day.

The day ended with a run to Kroger to restock groceries and another load of laundry (I try to do a load a night during the week so I don’t have to worry about it on the weekend).

*          *          *

Wednesday started with my weekly meeting (there’s that routine (rut) thing again), and lunch was spent with a friend trying to solve the world’s problems.  No solutions.  Yet.  Another load of laundry in the evening (whites).

*          *          *

And that brings us to today—Week 15.  It was another day of conference calls and meetings.  But I did try one thing different.

Many of my little incontinence episodes through the week occurred when I stood up from a seated position.  To try and minimize them, I had been standing up rather slowly, doing my best to follow my Kegel exercises and contract my muscles to prevent anything from happening.

Last night and today, I said the heck with it and just stood up.  Guess what?  I seemed to have fewer incidents.

And I'm wrapping up the evening with a load of colors in the laundry,

*          *          *

All in all, it was a good week.  Things seem to keep getting better, even though the pace is slower than I’d like.  I’d also like to figure out a way to keep from running to the bathroom all night long—that’s getting a bit old and quite tiring.  Patience.