My experience with Prostatitis has really been a journey with many turns. I felt that something was wrong in the summer of 1993 when all of a sudden I went to the bathroom and passed blood along with my urine. I went to the hospital emergency department (ED) and was treated for UTI and discharged. At that time, I do not have a clue about prostate concerns. In 2000, I had vasectomy done. In 2002 I was diagnosed with Prostatitis and BPH. At that time my PSA level was 2.0 and consequently my prostate was biopsies and the test result was negative for cancer. Throughout this period I was being treated with all kinds of Antibiotics which included direct antibiotics injection into my prostate. This particular treatment which took me all the way to New York City provided me with only less than 2 weeks relief from my Prostatitis symptom. In addition to all the antibiotics I was taking, I was also undergoing prostate massages twice a week as advised to help relieve my pains. In 2006 I reversed my vasectomy because I thought that the vasectomy procedure was probably contributing to my pain and discomfort. In 2007 I had cystoscopy done and I underwent TUMT procedure as treatment to the urinary retention symptom. The TUMT really did help me to start emptying my bladder better than I was doing before the procedure but I was still having perineal discomfort which I was taking 50mg of tramadol daily for pain relief. For all of these treatments I was going from one urologist to another. I actually was treated by five to six different urologists and each one of them prescribed new antibiotics disregarding my complaint of having been taking antibiotics regularly for over 5 years. Throughout my ordeal with Prostatitis, I experienced daily pain, generalized weakness and sometimes urinary symptoms that included weak flow, retention which continued after some weeks following TUMT and discomfort after ejaculation, but I never had any erectile dysfunction or concern with my sexual performances.
My freedom from chronic prostatitis came as I was searching internet web looking for availability of cure. I noted at Prostatitis Foundations web site that Dr. Arnon Krongrad is conducting Laparoscopic Prostatectomy for Chronic Prostatitis Phase II Non-Randomized clinical Trial. To me, it was like God sent because no surgeon agreed to perform LRP on me based on prostatitis instead they offered to do PVP, TUNA, TURP and TUMT (which I eventually did without any cure). However, I called Dr. krongrad office in Aventura, Florida and expressed my interest to participate in the on going clinical trial. Ruth and Hope at Krongrad Institute were very nice and helpful. They advised me on what to do and I immediately enrolled to have LRP done January 29, 2009 at Aventura Medical Center in Florida. My surgery went well and I was discharged the next day January 30, 2009. I took two regular Tylenol (650mg) for minimal discomfort I was feeling post operatively. That was an unbelievable heavy turnaround from pain for a guy who literally live on Tramadol 50mg once or twice a day for more than three years. More also I had my first erection in the morning after surgery when my wife was bathing me. Today Feb 6, 2009 I continued to have non-stimulant erection but being a healthcare provider (Registered Nurse), I know the consequences of having early ejaculation after LRP. I believe “patience is virtue”. Also I believe that having good or expected results after LRP depends on the experienced hands of surgeons like Dr. Arnon Krongrad and the clients previous health history. I will recommend Dr. Krongrad to anyone who is seeking positive outcome. In 1999 Dr. Krongrad pioneered LRP in the United States. He’s well experienced, companionate and has disciplined hands. From a healethcare providers perspective, I will also add that "his bedside manners to his patients is the best I have seen"
Lest I forget, I was shocked by my LRP pathology result which indicated that I had prostate cancer. The microscopic examination of the prostate specimen read positive for moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma involving right and left lobes, gleason grade 6 (3+3=6). The cancer was ecapsulated within my prostate glands. Unbelievable, isn't it?
I will continue to bring update as I recover from my LRP surgery. Right now my discomfort and debilitating pain is gone, hence the title of this essay "FREE AT LAST"
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