My wife and I came to the conclusion that surgery was the best way for me to go considering my age and all. Plus they thought the cancer was just on one side and very small.  I had to set up and give my own blood. 3 pints over a 3 week period of time. But first I was on high doses of iron pills to build myself up for 2 weeks. I took the iron pills up until surgery. The week after my last blood donation I just rested and got ready to go see my daughter and grand kids on the east coast. They couldn't come and see me, and I had to see them before surgery. So the next week I went for a great visit with them. Then I was home for my final week of pretests and hospital registration. My son came home that week to spend the next 2 months. He is helping me with all that I can't from surgery. What a great son, it sure was nice and it really helped my wife out too.

  I checked into the hospital that morning at 7:30 and they took me to a prep room, and my wife and son come along. We were all together until they took me to the operating room at about 9 AM. They went to a waiting room and I went to surgery. The surgery lasted 4 and 1/2 hours and then the recovery was 2 and 1/2 hours. It was a very long day for them. It only seemed like a couple of seconds to me. My family was kept informed the whole time on how all was progressing. All went well. I did find out through the pathology report that the cancer was on both sides and further along then originally thought. But the report said all cancer was removed with clean clear margins. So everyone seems to be really pleased. I started walking right away the same day and that night. I felt real good and I was ready to go and to heal right away. The next night I started to come down with a high fever but they got that under control. Gas was building up in my stomach and that started to get very uncomfortable. The walking helped but I did have a hard time trying to pass the gas. Once I did I felt great. My surgery was on tuesday and they let me go home that friday before noon. The stitches are a little sore and my bottom is sore also. It feels like a very large lump was left in the left side of my butt. And when I sit down it hurts. It sort of feels like a foot or something when it goes to sleep. All tingly and like pins and needles. The nurses and all at the hospital were really nice and very helpful.

  The ride home was kind of bumpy but I did fine. It sure is nice to be in familiar surroundings. My gas left and I was allowed to start eating anything so I just keep on getting better and better. The stomach drains are a pain to take care of along with my catheter. The following monday I went to see the doctor for my 1 week check. I was told I was healing really fast and great. They removed the stomach drains ( Painful--WOW ) But I am glad they are gone. Then they took out my stomach staples. He said that my incision looks especially good for only being 1 week. Now I got to stay clean till my 3 weeks are up and the take a cystoscope test to see if my inside healing is good enough to remove my catheter. Once that is gone I will have a lot more freedom. The catheter is really annoying to no end. I have to constantly lubricate it to keep it from sticking and making me bleed on the inside. The tube is a little larger than normal so the scaring won't block the urine passage. This hard tube is my worst enemy. I couldn't hardly wait for the 3 weeks to go by. Some of the longest days in my whole recovery..While I was at home recuperating I just didn't feel to much like company as I couldn't sit to long and my catheter was bothering me, I kind of felt like frankenstien.With all the tubes and all coming out of me it was real hard to sit up straight so that put a strain on the back and my tail bone. They have been sore forever also. BY THE WAY THIS IS NOT FUN ...I was counting the days and then I went to counting hours till I got rid of the catheter. One I got it removed I felt a big relief, that was the most discomfort I have ever had in my life. One more check up on the 1 month from surgery said I was doing well and I was allowed to start work on a part time basis..Now I am working on my inconstantence. I had to wear pads for only 3 days and then I was OK to go with out no more accidents. Nights it seems that you are asleep and so relaxed that it took me 1 month more to have complete control and no more accidents. The accidents I did have was very small and minor any ways. So by the time my 3 months check up came around I was all complete and doing GREAT. My blood work and digital inspection said I was fine and that even the inside is doing really well. There is some more personal things we talked about and if you need to know just e-mail me and I will talk to you.

    Well the first week I put in 4 and 6 hour days. It was OK at first but by the end of the week I was really tired. I just looked forward to the weekends. This lasted for about a month then I kept getting stronger and stronger. I know I am not healed up all the way because if I try to pick up something's or jump I can feel my insides telling me to 
  STOP THAT .  It takes awhile to learn that but your body never forgets it. It was a good thing I was not in Heavy Construction  when I had this or I would not be able to go back yet at 3 months.There is alot more to it than meets the eye that you never hear about. It does pass and it beats the alternative alot. It sure does feel good to be working once more as sitting around the house is the pits.
 
 
 

   Well the first 3 months check up was fine like I said earlier. I now went back again at 7 months and again my blood test came back 0.00 so I am still fine and the digital test was good also. I am feeling pretty well now and I am trying to get back into shape as all the lack of exercise has slowed me down especially at this age. But I can do anything again, I will just have to work back into it. The doctor and I feel that the danger is all gone and I am on my way to old age...Well I had my first problem here in June, My bladder would not drain so I had to go in and get some scar tissue removed from inside my ureatha tube and bladder. Just a few cuts and all is well again. But it can happen again as scar tissue does grow and if it grows to much it will block the passage from the bladder..Well  here it is my 1 year check up now and I am GREAT.  Things are working fine and I am still a little weaker than I used to be but I am getting back to where I was quickly. This does make me slow down and think about life more, and to keep taking care of my self.