The "Yesterday .... All My Troubles Seemed So Far Away! : Part VIII - The Final Chapter!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Recovery from prostate cancer is just about complete, but for a few odds and ends.  My constant aide throughout my recovery, besides by wonderful and loving wife and my constant lap resident Creamsicle the cat, was my MacBook Air.  I have written over two dozen stories during my recovery and after going back through my iPhoto files, found photo after photo I had taken during the past year or so and more or less didn't do anything with until I discovered they would work great for a few of the stories.  My urologist had given me the name of a former patient of his, Bill, who I called numerous times and who helped answer many of my questions as I progressed through the procedure of attempting to rid my body of prostate cancer.  My hope is that these eight posts during the past few weeks will be an aide to those who may walk in my shoes and help answer questions that you may be afraid to ask or may be too embarrassed to ask. Well, today it has been 15 days since my surgery and another constant companion, my catheter, will be removed.  Thank goodness!!  I have caught the hose of the catheter on the kitchen drawers and cabinets numerous times with bloody results a few times.  I knelt on the hose the other day and stood up before it was free and once again made a mess.  I entered the doctor's office about 9:30 am and shortly he rushed in with a big smile on his face asking, "Are you ready?" As he sat next to me I said, "Bill told me that he had his catheter removed, but had to return later in the day and have it reinserted since he couldn't pee.  He told me that was the worst part of the entire procedure.  What are the chances of that happening to me?"  He got more serious and said, "I've had that happen less than a handful of times since I've been doing Cryo.  Your procedure went well and you will be fine.  The nurse will come in and take it out and I'll be right back."  His nurse entered, placed a pre-measured amount of water into the catheter which went into my bladder.  She then removed the catheter (which I didn't feel at all), I urinated the measured amount into a container to be measured to see if it matched the amount she placed in me, and then Dr. Seiber returned.  "Everything looks good.  I want you back in a couple of weeks to see how you are doing.  Any questions?"  "Yes, can I go on vacation to the Caribbean in a month and get in the ocean?  Also, can I sit in my air-jetted tub at home?"  Answer to both was yes, then I had one more for him.  "When you did the procedure, you went through the rectum, correct?"  "Well, yes, but ... only my probe, or camera, was placed in the rectum.  The needle that I used to place the nitrogen gas into the cancer area entered in the small area between the scrotum and the rectum.  Then when I finished, I put something like crazy glue on the area to seal it shut so it wouldn't bleed."  My reply was, "So that's what I felt when I took my first shower.  I thought it was dried blood under there and tried to pull it off.  Good I couldn't get it off."  "Probably wouldn't have mattered anyway since there were only a few real small holes."  We talked about why Cryosurgery isn't used more often and he told me that at first the needles used were too big and too hard to maneuver.  He said he didn't begin to use the procedure until he felt it was a safe way to treat prostate cancer.  I will admit, everyone whom I have talked to who have had Dr. Seiber for their urologist, love the guy.  You can add me to that number.  I enjoy his demeanor, his humor, the time he spends with me as well as the knowledge he possesses.  If you can't trust your urologist, you need to see another one.  If you happen to live in Lancaster County, PA, I would recommend Dr. Seiber to you, but I'm afraid he will be too busy to see me, so I won't mention his name again.  My journey, as far as these stories, is now complete.  I may add some notes as time goes by to let you know how I am progressing, but if you have a question for me, type it in the "Comment" area at end of any of the 8 stories and I will send you an answer or perhaps will agree to be a coach to you.  LIfe's too short to not have your questons answered early.  Take control of your health as I did.  You'll be gald you did.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.