May 30, 2007: A Qualified Success!!

This was a milestone day! I had an appointment with my urologist/oncologist/surgeon. I had news for him.

I have worked diligently on my exercises. As I said last time, I can see some progress each day. I had only a spot on my pad when I showered on Monday. I decided to try a day without pads. I always was able to work under pressure. You know the "write the report the night before it was due" syndrome. It is common to all us procrastinators. I thought the pressure would keep me cognizant of my requirements. It worked! I was dry all day!

Tuesday I decided to push my luck and go another day. I was astounded again. So Wednesday morning I took a pad with me; but, I didn't wear one. We sat in the reception area for about a half hour. Then Barb called my name and Sally and I went to room two. We waited there about fifteen minutes.

Becky came in to update my chart with the usual. Same medications, how you doing? stuff. I told her of my leg pains and some blood in my stool, but that this is the third day I have gone without a pad. Becky was pretty excited and said she was going to put an exclamation mark in her notes. She said the doctor would be in since I hadn't really seen him since surgery and left the room.

It was just a few minutes until the doctor came in asking, "How are you?"

I said, "Better!" I'm cancer free and this is my third day without a pad. He was pretty amazed too. He had a big smile on his face and said how great this surgery is. We talked about my leg pain and he thinks it is probably back related, not related to my surgery. I thought as much. The blood is hemorrhoids. They should resolve themselves. I told him I had worked pretty hard on the exercises and was amazed that I could see daily improvement.

He asked if I'd had an erection yet. I would call it one. Doctor Goldrath asked if I thought I was capable of intercourse. I said no it wasn't that good. Maybe 60%. He said it is just one month today. That is very early! It is encouraging and will improve. To have this much function this early is very encouraging. All the nerves and muscles are inter-related. They take time after surgery to heal and resume normal senses.

There are some studies that show improved results when treated with a regimen of Viagra. The sooner it is started the better the results. He prescribed a quarter tablet everyday for six days and a whole tablet once a week. This promotes revascularization and enhanced blood flow. The instructions were difficult for the pharmacy to translate to their system for insurance billing. They came up with 10 tablets as a seventy day supply which cost me two co pays.

I came home to figure out what they were doing and to call the insurance company. It seems that they thought it was a quarter tablet daily upto 1 tablet per week. So that would be 1 tablet every 7 days so 10 tablets equals 70 days. The pharmacy wouldn't call the insurance, but they called the doctor for explanation. They then under stood .25 tablets each day for six days. (1.5 tablets) and 1 tablet on the seventh day. (2.5 tablets per week) Repeat. That is ten tablets for 28 days or four weeks. That is one (1) copay. Half price to me. That took four trips to the pharmacy and we didn't finish until 4 pm.

But who cares! I have made three days without leaking. I'm set to return to work Monday the 4th of June 2007. Cancer FREE!! And almost as important to me, with dignity and dry!