I have set up a new version of this blog at https://guysprostate.com . So I won't be updating this one. Please update your links.
The new platform has all the content previously posted to this one. I hope the commenting works better as well; I know it has been atrocious on this one. I will keep the existing blog here for a few months to let everyone catch up.
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Saturday 16 December 2017
Tuesday 5 December 2017
Doing their business in great waters
I know I can appear a little obsessed at the moment with knocking the dew off the lily (see previous post: and do pay attention!). However, if one goes from never thinking about urinary continence, to its being actively a problem, it is quite a transition. One can start avoiding social activity, because it can lead to embarassment. And you all know that social engagement is a marker of health.
These thoughts were prompted by seeing the physio from Jeremy's practice this morning. I had seen this lady previously to learn that I did have a pelvic floor, actually, and I had to get it into shape for post-operative duty. (At the risk of repeating myself, these muscles have to take over urinary and faecal continence from the prostate.) So this was a follow-up visit. I had a fairly mixed report card to relate. I have been able fairly much to engage the PFMs when getting up, and for long enough to reach the bathroom. Sneezing, coughing, laughing etc. are all pretty well under control. However, standing up for any time definitely brings about leakage. The habit of pre-emptive loo visits to head this off is to be discouraged. (The idea is to get back to going when the need arises, and holding on between.)
This consult was encouraging in giving me some techniques to practice and develop that will help bring this about. The physio also reminded me that PFMs, like any other muscle, get tired, particularly toward the end of the day. It was a judicious mixture of encouragement and stuff to concentrate on. I am liking this team approach to medicine, where after the specialist does what they uniquely do, their team gets the patient back to full functioning.
These thoughts were prompted by seeing the physio from Jeremy's practice this morning. I had seen this lady previously to learn that I did have a pelvic floor, actually, and I had to get it into shape for post-operative duty. (At the risk of repeating myself, these muscles have to take over urinary and faecal continence from the prostate.) So this was a follow-up visit. I had a fairly mixed report card to relate. I have been able fairly much to engage the PFMs when getting up, and for long enough to reach the bathroom. Sneezing, coughing, laughing etc. are all pretty well under control. However, standing up for any time definitely brings about leakage. The habit of pre-emptive loo visits to head this off is to be discouraged. (The idea is to get back to going when the need arises, and holding on between.)
This consult was encouraging in giving me some techniques to practice and develop that will help bring this about. The physio also reminded me that PFMs, like any other muscle, get tired, particularly toward the end of the day. It was a judicious mixture of encouragement and stuff to concentrate on. I am liking this team approach to medicine, where after the specialist does what they uniquely do, their team gets the patient back to full functioning.
Sunday 3 December 2017
Dash for a slash
OK, time for another select list of sinful synonyms. This time, featuring an activity dear to the heart of anyone who has had a prostatectomy. To make it more interesting, you can guess what the activity is. A couple of clues to keep you going:
- Urologists primly refer to it as "voiding" (as you will see, not for any want of alternatives); and
- It has been alluded to in several blog posts, especially those featuring incontinence pads.
- Arthur Bliss (one for the musical cognoscenti);
- bangers and mash;
- bubble and squeak;
- Christopher Lee;
- cousin Sis;
- dingo's breakfast, AKA swaggie's breakfast (in Partridge's succinct gloss, "an act of urination and a good look around");
- fiddlers three;
- goodnight kiss;
- lemon tea;
- Lilian Gish;
- Mark Ramprakash (one for the cricket fans);
- mimi (yes, lower case "m": according to Partridge, "from the Maori");
- peter heater (act of urination in a wetsuit).
- knock the dew off the lily; and
- couldn't organise a urine sample in a golden shower (according to Partridge, "used of an inefficient person or organisation").
Saturday 2 December 2017
Noah's got nothing on us
Well, after a week of thirty plus temperatures it's rained for two days solidly. Victoria is supposed to be getting a month worth of rain in three days, and it feels like that. (It is really coming down now.) There have been eight people, from memory, admitted to hospital after falling off ladders. (Clearing out the gutters is a good wheeze, but not if you injure yourself in the attempt.) I hope no-one is getting flooded out among my extensive readership.
We set off on a shopping expedition this a.m., about which I am enjoined not to say too much, other than that it was successful. Then a quick whiz around Coles for mineral water, proper milk (the lactose free kind tastes a bit peculiar in coffee), rice cakes, Nuttelex and other staples. En route home we stopped off for a couple of pies, which we had for lunch with a baked potato and some green beans. I was happy not to venture out after this in the rain and general pre-Christmas hysteria. Then a bit of cricket and a lie down; this is supposed to be good for encouraging healing in the abdomen.
On tummy-related matters, we are having a totally low key Christmas, neither doing anything nor going anywhere. The food at one of those banquets, e.g. at a hotel, is generally bad for der Fisch, and the whole thing is generally rather drawn out and tiring. The sisters do a wonderful job having the family around on the day; in recent times my niece has drawn the short straw, with equal success. I am still getting on top of the urinary continence, however, and standing by to hear what the next treatment might be following the PSA test I am to have mid-month. I am happy in the circumstances, therefore, to skip the travel on crowded roads and have a ham sandwich with my beloved. Both introverts, we can rise to the occasion for large group get togethers, but quite irrespective of the personalities involved, these can be draining when one is Not Quite Right.
Outside (3.15 am) it is 13 degrees and 95 per cent humidity! I have never seen a humidity number that high. Am taking a break from Godel, Escher et al and reading American kingpin, by Nick Bilton (about the man who founded The Silk Road web site) and an interesting essay about Phillippa Foot .
We set off on a shopping expedition this a.m., about which I am enjoined not to say too much, other than that it was successful. Then a quick whiz around Coles for mineral water, proper milk (the lactose free kind tastes a bit peculiar in coffee), rice cakes, Nuttelex and other staples. En route home we stopped off for a couple of pies, which we had for lunch with a baked potato and some green beans. I was happy not to venture out after this in the rain and general pre-Christmas hysteria. Then a bit of cricket and a lie down; this is supposed to be good for encouraging healing in the abdomen.
On tummy-related matters, we are having a totally low key Christmas, neither doing anything nor going anywhere. The food at one of those banquets, e.g. at a hotel, is generally bad for der Fisch, and the whole thing is generally rather drawn out and tiring. The sisters do a wonderful job having the family around on the day; in recent times my niece has drawn the short straw, with equal success. I am still getting on top of the urinary continence, however, and standing by to hear what the next treatment might be following the PSA test I am to have mid-month. I am happy in the circumstances, therefore, to skip the travel on crowded roads and have a ham sandwich with my beloved. Both introverts, we can rise to the occasion for large group get togethers, but quite irrespective of the personalities involved, these can be draining when one is Not Quite Right.
Outside (3.15 am) it is 13 degrees and 95 per cent humidity! I have never seen a humidity number that high. Am taking a break from Godel, Escher et al and reading American kingpin, by Nick Bilton (about the man who founded The Silk Road web site) and an interesting essay about Phillippa Foot .
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