Robert Patterson's Page

Since I just joined the group today, I thought I had better give all of you a little background. I am 61 and was diagnosed with prostatitis over 30 years ago. Initially it was defined as acute but it kept repeating itself and by the time I was 35, I knew it was chronic. The urologists threw all sorts of antibiotics which helped for a short period of time and eventually started to make me sick. I suffered continually with the pressure, pain etc. and tried to keep it under control by using anti-imflammatories, anti-biotics and massages. I believe I have had over 1500 massages in my lifetime. The massages helped to make my life more comfortable but were only temporary solutions. 10 years ago I was told I had some BPH and had a bladder neck operation which did very little to help. 4 years ago I went to New York and tried direct injections which were extremely painful and worked for a very short time. I was in such pain, I called the Ford group in Detroit and they told me they would not do a radical prostatectomy until I could produce a biopsy which showed cancer-no compassion there. My urologist then agreed to do a TURP which did help for about a year as it seemed to allow the prostate to drain. However, this year things became much worse and I was in constant pain. The massages were no longer working. In fact, I think they made the pain worse. I could not sleep on my back and had to take strong pain killers so I could sleep. I am active in the business world but found myself basically tied to home working out of the house. I was becoming inactive and even golf became difficult as exercise either made the attack worse or started another one. Life was basically very tough and the quality of my life was at an all time low. My youngest son found Dr Krongrad's website and after doing all the necessary due diligence, I went to Miami and had a radical prostatecomy just over 3 weeks ago. Everything on the laprp.com website is 100% accurate. The service was second to none and the operation went exactly as planned. I am now relatively early in the recovery stage. Here is what I know at this point in time.

(1) The pathology report indicated that my prostate was cancerous-gleason 5. This was no surprise to me as I believe most of the chronic prostatitis sufferers will develop cancer eventually-sorry fellows.

(2) I am no longer taking any pain-killers. I still have some perineal pain but it is decreasing as I heal. The pain is localized and no longer going down my legs. I am hopeful that over time as I heal this will go away. With the exception of the annoyance of (2) below, I am more comfortable than when I went to Miami.

(3) I do have incontinence when I move around and am on my feet. I am completely dry at night and have reasonably good control when I am sitting around as long as I remember to hit the washroom as soon as I get up. Dr Krongrad has indicated that what I am experiencing is within the norm and should disappear over time leaving me with a good recovery in this area.

(4) I have already had some stirrings and am confident that over time I will be able to produce erections again. I am sure it will take patience. Dr Krongrad was able to save the 2 major nerve bundles that surround the prostate. If you have any questions re. these nerves ask Dr Korongrad.

I will be as open as possible, in answering any questions that may be directed my way.

Bob