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Surgery

Statistics and stories about scalpels, sutures, and surgeons -- everything you want to know about prostate cancer surgery.

Members: 61
Created By: Arnon Krongrad, MD
Latest Activity: Jun 24

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15 Comments

jack robbins Comment by jack robbins on June 24, 2008 at 8:47am
What can i say, from the day i received a call from my urologist,who matter of factly said you have cancer (great bedside manor). i set out to learn all i could about my options, once i made the decision to remove the prosate, i then started my research
on what surgeon i would use and where i wanted to spend my recovering time in, as we live in Florida and New York
i interviewed three doctors, the first two had performed 250 operations each over a three year period, Dr Krongrad stopped counting at 1200.
During my conversation with one of the doctors up north , when i mentioned Dr. Krongrads name, he said, if you can get in with him, do it, he is the guru.

When i met him, i knew he was the guy i was going to allow to operate on me., the feeling my wifw and i had after meeting ruth and hope was we just found some long loss family, to this day when i call to say hello, they are just so delightful to speak with.

At 65, with stage one,with very postive attitude, i had lined up up the best and all the pieces were going to fall into place, fortunately i was right, i was back working at my computer within two days,

i am happy to say that my recovery was pretty easy , within four months all the parts working again,
Ron V Comment by Ron V on June 13, 2008 at 1:14pm
Like Jack, I also had no incontinence post surgery. OK, one morning I didn't get to the toilet in time and a few drops came out accidentally, But really, I bought a huge pack of depends pads and used maybe six of them with no leaks at all. At 39 years old, I'm a tad more concerned with ED anyway.
Jack Comment by Jack on June 1, 2008 at 4:36pm
I did not experience any incontinence after my surgery.
Steven Hess Comment by Steven Hess on May 15, 2008 at 10:33am
What a difference time makes. My LRP was done 5 weeks ago and for the first three weeks I was so mentally "down" my psychiatrist wife was starting to talk about treating "depression." "Woe is me" was my daily mantra. Today, 5 weeks or so post-op my mind set and my body have had a remarkable turn around. No, I am not a happy camper about it all, but I feel great, incontinence has morphed into a minor inconvenience, (daytime only) and I am down to tackling ED issues which I feel can be resolved one way or another even at 70.

What have I learned?

You must be the primary advocate for your health and seeking out
a surgeon such as Dr. Krongrad or for me here far away in Rochester NY, Dr. Jean Joseph, must be viewed as as a life or death decision because it can can be. You must do your homework or have it done for you (in my case my MD wife). Anyone less than top notch and incredibly experienced, tested and proven is a fool's bet on your future.

Exercise is a key ingredient to recovery and feeling well. I NEVER exercised before and now do so only because of fear and panic. But I sure feel better, much better in fact

Ditto for diet. Pizza was a major food group for me but now I watch everything I eat. I have lost 10 lbs (probably as much due to the whole thing rather than just portion control, but nonetheless).

Attitude: the toughest one for me. I am a born "glass half empty" person but I am convinced now that a positive attitude is a major health benefit. Personally I feel that exercise is a factor here, as well.

Support: Being married to a doctor is clearly fortuitous at a time like this but more important, having a very supportive, loving person there to help you pick up the pieces of your life (not to mention the soaked underwear) was critical for me. I can't imagine what it would have been like going through it alone or in a less that excellent relationship.
Oktay Comment by Oktay on May 6, 2008 at 2:42pm
Hi, surgery, do you know what does it mean for me? my life style. When the world stops turning around, ı leave surgery :)
Juergen Koehn Comment by Juergen Koehn on May 5, 2008 at 11:13pm
Dr.AK performed LRP one year ago to the day.On the beach the day b/4 surgery and back on the beach 24 hrs later.Incontinence quickly became a "no issue" and ED is slowly gaining traction.Dr AK,and his team,Ruth and Hope,simply the best.

Juergen Koehn
Shirley Bricker Comment by Shirley Bricker on April 30, 2008 at 11:52pm
Dave's LRP was on a Wed. (in Sep. '06), and he was released the following day. We were blessed to have the use of a condo from a friend, and we stayed there following the surgery enjoying Miami. 9 days after surgery we drove to the Keys and went snorkling with our sons before we all flew home to Indiana. (The bag hid well under the trunks he borrowed from our son. His were too short. :)

Dr. Krongrad is the best. Top notch all the way!
Joseph Morin Comment by Joseph Morin on April 28, 2008 at 11:10pm
I was done may 17th 07.The caheter was no preblem for me.I did not like the leg bag,I prefered the long tube and large bag which my teenaged grandchildren (boys) named it "Wilson". When I went for walks I carried Wilson in the fancy blue bag provided by Dr AK. I did wear the leg bag to fly back to Maine.I was using 8 pads per day,none at night.For 3 weeks I couldn't hold for long.Things improved rapidly from then on.By the end of July I was down to 1 pad per day.I can hold now with no leaking.I wear nothing at home but when I go out I feel more at ease wearing a pad,although it remains dry.As far as ed things are waking up and I'm sure with "pills" it would work. Though at 73 I have other more pressing things to do. I never had to use the donut,and with colace had no bowel problems,and never took anything for pain
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Gilbert "Gil" Ackerman Comment by Gilbert "Gil" Ackerman on April 23, 2008 at 3:44pm
OK, its 5 weeks since my surgery. The recovery is taking longer than I expected.
I was warned about the incontinence, not to mention the ED. I was able to deal with both these issues.
What I didnt know is the level of disconfort or pain I would have.
Needless to say the first 10 days were misery personified with the catheter.
Once removed, The pain caused by constipation, even with the colace. As the days passed (very slowly) the pain turned into disconfort. To this day I am unable to sit for prolongued periods (even with the doughnut).
The frequency of disconfort due to incontinence has dwindled, at first I had to get up every hour to change, now its down to twice a night.
Please share YOUR expiriences if you like.
Jeff Comment by Jeff on April 21, 2008 at 6:50pm
At 46 year old, finding out I had Prostate Cancer was definately a scare. I was determined to find a way to get rid of the Cancer and after much research I was led to Dr. Krongrad, Ruth and Hope. They were great and I highly recommend anyone who has been diagnosed with Prostate Cancer to contact them and they will answer all your questions. The surgury went great with no pain, back to work in a week and catheter out in 10 days which was an experience but worth it. I was told that cancer was in both sides of my prostate which was more than the biopsy told me and that Dr K saved my nerves which even though function is slow coming back, it is coming back. Incontinence is an issue I had to adjust to also and over time with a little patients things have gotten much better. Now 15 months post surgury I have had two clear PSA tests and thanks to Dr. K I am Cancer Free and very grateful.
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