Wifeywife,

I just had my Brachy done last Friday, September 21st. Here's a copy and past from my thread:




"Hi everyone - I'm back after my LDR Brachytherapy today. Right off the top, I feel, incredible - physically and mentally! Here's the rundown of my day:

Arrived at the Chicago Prostate Center in Westmont, IL at 11:00 a.m. Was given the paperwork to read and sign in the waiting room, and then Dr. Moran came out to welcome us and bring us in.

Nancy the pre-op nurse took all the vitals and so forth, and explained what would be happening. She then hooked up the three-mix cocktail I.V. and we waited for Dr. Moran to come back in. Dr. Moran then also explained what would be happening and as always reassured me that everything would be fine; he also engaged in small talk that was very calming overall - and as I have come to know is simply what he is all about.

At 12:30 I was wheeled into the OR where a full staff including the anesthesiologist , nurses and technicians and of course Dr. Moran. I'm not sure but less than 10 minutes later I was in ga-ga land. Next thing I know I'm looking up and asking the staff what time it was - 1:20 p.m.! I was given a total of 61 Iodine 125 seeds at 0.382 mCi per, for a total seed activity of 23.30 mCi.

After coming back around for about 10 minutes the urologist / Jane took me down to radiology to perform a cystoscopy to ensure correct placement and quantity of seeds - but first I was shown to the men's room and asked to pee in a bottle so they could observe that I could pee o.k. and also review the volume and color. My first pee after procedure was totally normal - no frequency, burning or uncomfort at all; my results were almost 500 cc's and light, which was my "get out card." The cystoscopy was quick, some scans on my back and more on my side. Jane showed me both views and explained things to me on the spot, everything good and as expected. I requested a copy of the scans and she gave me one on the spot, pretty cool stuff.

At 1:40 I was taken over to the recovery room and hooked up with my wife and friend who had accompanied me today. Post Op nurse Susan spent a significant amount of time with us, explaining everything that had occurred, what to expect today, tomorrow, two weeks and answering the "50-questions" I posed. We of course were given copies of everything. I was also given post-op meds that included Medrol 4mg (steroid to help in reducing the swelling of the prostate from procedure) - 21 tablets that start out at three a day and over the course of 12 days is weened down to 1 per day; Rapaflow 8mg - 1 tablet daily to assist in urinary function, and even though my initial post-procedure pee was uneventful I'm still going to take this one as cheap insurance. It is supposedly the newest version of Flomax and Susan was good enough to give me a one month supply; Cipro 500 mg - antibiotic 2 per day for 2 days. Dr. Moran gave me his home phone and cell phone and told me to call at anytime with any questions or concerns. I will get a follow-up call on Monday and then the next visit will be in about 12 weeks for a follow up with Dr. Moran and a PSA draw.

After all the explanations were given I decided to pee again before leaving, this time about 275 cc's and light colored and again no issues. On the way out I signed out and then asked the receptionist Lili for copies of all of my records to date for my files, which she printed out for me on the spot.

So then I guess in summary - qualifying this with I do not yet know how this will all come out - I am beyond appreciation for how this entire process went today with Dr. Moran and his staff. You may have noticed I used everyone's name in this summary - it's because that is exactly how they make you feel, incredibly comfortable both in the professionalism and experienc each of them provide for this process as well as how they treat/interact with you.

As we left we decided to stop next door at Pappadeaux's Seafood Kitchen, which is essentially next door to the Chicago Prostate Center. Had an awesome dinner of fresh grilled fish-kabob and other than some very minor dull pain in the perineum it was like any other out to dinner. . . . some 2 hours post procedure."






In the past several days post treatment I have essentially no SE's at all. My flow is what I would best term "slower" than normal, not like "a racehorse" but also getting better each day - but again, really non-issue! Yes, you will be able to go to Legoland on Saturday - they say walking is a good thing but intersperce that with a few rest periods as it's the first day after treatment. Work on Monday should also be a "go" - I too had my Brachy on a Friday and back to work on Monday. I was a little sore on the bottom, but that was about it. As I'm sure you've read, this beast is different in all of us, as are the results of treatment - some have virtually no SE's, others deal with some major issues and everything in between. SE's with Brachy however, based on my research and now my own experience, have been absolutely minimal. I do understand that as the seeds will be at their "hottest"/most potent over the next few weeks I could still experience more in the line of urinary SE's, but so far I am ecstatic!

Best of luck and let us know how it goes!

Thank you so much for your rendition of what has happened with you ao far.

It is good to hear from someone who has gone through this. Text books and doctors telling you something is one thing but coming from someone who has gone through it is so reasuring.

OH is, as is usual for him, doing a weeks worth of work in two days so I have been sitting here for a couple of days worrying and talking to the cat (very good listener by the way   ).

I will put an update on later and we will see how Legoland goes

Once again thank you.

 

I took some time off work and took it easy, but didn't really need to. I hope everything goes well for you.

You can read what I went through by clicking on the link in my signature.

Good luck to you and let us know how he does.

Oh how frustrating for you.
Fingers crossed all goes well and you can get him home soon.
Susan
x

Wifey - sorry to hear about the way they handled that, really surprised at that kind of response. Of course the main thing is that the procedure itself goes well. Try not to let it bother you that someone at the front desk ticked you off, focus on the medical staff that I'm sure will take care of hubby.

Been thinking about you guys all night, please keep us posted, we're all here waiting with you and I'm sure it will be fine.

Thanks everyone.

4.30pm and still waiting :(

At least now I know he is fine and they are just waiting for him to pee lol

brachy itself was very easy for me.  i went home with a catheter but had it removed the next morning.  a couple days later i was wiped out physically and that persisted for months.  but i was also on lupron and a couple of months after brachy also had IGRT.

the procedure was a breeze though.  i took a couple of days off from the gym but felt i could have went right back.

ed

 

Wifey - I'm now at day 12 post brachy and I feel 100% normal! In fact, in some ways as strange as this may sound, I feel "better than normal." The SE's for the first couple of days will include the feeling of "sitting on a golf ball" but I got through that with Extra Strength Tylenol the night after the procedure and then the next night, that was it. The "slow flow" when urinating is getting better every day and was never really an issue. As Susan (aka overthepond) mentioned be sure he drinks plenty of fluids, especially water, to keep everything clean. I'm guessing they will also put him on Flomax or an equivalent (I'm on Rapaflow) that will also keep the stream flowing.

Other than that it's pretty much life as normal, other than the restriction of not lifting, pushing or pulling anything greater than 10 pounds for the first 2-3 weeks, which isn't much more than a gallon of milk! (:

We're all here waiting for the good news - keep us posted! Also feel free to e-mail me if you guys want to talk in more detail or need anything - I've got a whole 12 days of experience on you in this!!!!

4:30 p.m. your time was 10:30 a.m. my time in Wisconsin - are you guys somewhere in Europe?

Thanks for the update Wifey, good stuff so far and again even though there may not have been much personality out of the facility the main thing is the procedure and now afterwards. Have hubby get a little rest in tomorrow and then have a good time at LegoLand on Saturday!

Keep us posted on what's happening!

My best to you both!

Hello Wifey, and sorry to hear hubby is having some issues with peeing. This type of side-effect is probably due to the swelling of the prostate following the procedure as well as the irritation of the
prostate and bladder lining due to implanting the radioactive seeds. This should be temporary and will settle in time. Medications can help ease - for example an "alpha-blocker", such as tamsulosin (Flomax®), Silodosin (Rapaflo) or alfuzosin (Xatral®) should help this - hopefully they gave you a prescription for one of these? The alpha-blocker works by relaxing the muscle within the prostate gland and helps to reduce the narrowing of the "water pipe" (urethra) as it runs through the swollen prostate, thereby reducing urinary symptoms.This is best taken in the early evening. I have been on Rapaflo starting the day of my procedure and as I've mentioned the only side effects I noticed was a "slow flow."

Also an anti-inflammatory painkiller, such as diclofenac sodium (Voltarol®) or even an over the counter like Extra Strength Tylenol II can be helpful to help with the pain.

Hopefully this will be a very temporary situation; obviously if the pain gets to the point where he really cannot handle it you should call the physicians office immediately - but again I would be surprised if that is the case.

Hang in there and keep us posted! I was thinking of you guys all night and got here early this morning (6:30 a.m. in the central U.S.) to look for your post.

Best to you.

Hi Wifey, just checking in, must be post supper time and wind down before bed over in your neck of the woods. Any update yet? Thinking of you guys. . . .

Hi Carol, thanks for the update, been waiting for the good news that he's doing better by the hour! Yes, the bit uncomfortable when sitting after Brachy has been "fondly" referred to as "like sitting on a golf ball!" And I can relate to that! I can also tell you guys that it will get better each day, and after a few days will be gone. Not sure what the rides are like but he may want to stay away from that on this trip to LegoLand - they recommend things like not riding a bike or motorocyle, or anything that would be bouncing his bottom around.

Tell hubby that with each passing day it will get better and better; there is the chance of side effects, particularly urination, for the first couple of weeks as the seeds will be their hottest/most radioactive - but for me I'm one day short of two weeks after my Brachy and I feel great!

Continued best to you guys!!!!