Prostate surgery… How soon can I ride again?

[centauro]

I had prostate surgery about six weeks ago and have stayed off the Guzzi. I have a 1200 sport with the stock seat. When could I get back to riding? Anyone go through the same experience? Any thoughts?

Assuming your surgery was the Robotic removal of the prostate, like I had back in 2005, You should be pretty much up and running in a couple of weeks, provided that:
You are no longer taking prescription pain relievers (narcotics), the catheter and bag have been removed, and the pain is manageable. Of course, you should not do anything strenuous, like manhandling your bike around. The wound is internal, in this type of surgery, as opposed to the 6" cut below the belly button for an open conventional prostatectomy. So, it would take about 6-8 weeks to heal completely, depending on your general physical shape.
My surgeon had me walk around the ward the day after the surgery, and released me after 2 days. Told me to walk as much as possible even with the catheter and bag in my pants. I walked 2 hours daily for 2 months, and I was actually riding my SP1000 after that.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[John Croucher]

4 K test is more effective blood test and no evasive than  a biopsy.  I have had high PSA for 40 years.

I take the anti cancer drug Albendazol 3 times a year.  I buy it in Mexico or Veterinarian supplier.   You will not find an American Doctor born and raised in the U.S. that is familiar with Albendazol.  Read NIH, WHO and CDC web pages on how it is a cancer treatment.

[ChuckH]

If you are 50 years of age get your PSA checked. If a history of prostate cancer in your family get a check at 40. It is a simple blood test.

My understanding is that at this time there is no positive test for prostrate cancer other than the biopsy.  The PSA test, particularly if it rises over time, and the digital exam (the finger check), particularly if there are hard spots or an irregular shape/feel, are just "indicators".  However, if the indicators are strong enough, then a biopsy should be recommended.

I agree --- it's a simple blood test, just another line of information (like the cholesterol info) from an annual physical blood workup.

[SIR REAL ED]

Many British doctors are loath to give PSA tests. Their argument is that the tests throw up too many false negatives or false positives, and that PSA stands for "promotes stress and anxiety". But when pressed, a consultant urologist I was talking to conceded that too many men come to him too late for him to make a difference.
I have a number of friends who've been found to have the cancer as the result of the test, and insist on having one every year as part of my annual checkup.

Yeah.  I had a false positive a few years back, so I get mine checked during my annual physical.  going in for a re-check in a couple weeks since my PSA was at 10 the last time.  A few years back it was higher, 16 IIRC, but the biopsy showed no cancer.

An older friend who died of cancer had numbers between 400 and 1200 if I remember correctly.

My doctor believes in checking PSA, but also says that "If a man lives long enough, he will die of prostate cancer."

Women are vastly under represented in the group of people with prostate problems.  It's much lower than the 50/50 split one would expect to find....

[Ted Town]

My doctor believes in checking PSA, but also says that "If a man lives long enough, he will die of prostate cancer."

My doctor agreed with my take on this, that I will probably die WITH prostate cancer, but not OF it. Always get a second opinion, I guess.

[centauro]

Yeah.  I had a false positive a few years back, so I get mine checked during my annual physical.  going in for a re-check in a couple weeks since my PSA was at 10 the last time.  A few years back it was higher, 16 IIRC, but the biopsy showed no cancer.

An older friend who died of cancer had numbers between 400 and 1200 if I remember correctly.

My doctor believes in checking PSA, but also says that "If a man lives long enough, he will die of prostate cancer."

Women are vastly under represented in the group of people with prostate problems.  It's much lower than the 50/50 split one would expect to find....

A single PSA blood test result is just a snapshot in time; what matters is the 'doubling velocity" of the PSA level. This means that the PSA test should be done several times during the course of one year to see if it is trending higher. If, after checking it at least 3-4 times in a year, the PSA level doubles, from a normal of < 4.0 to twice that value, or 75% higher than the first one, then the probability of cancer is substantial, and an ultra sound-guided biopsy is a reasonable thing to do.

This is what happened to me, after 4 tests. I had a biopsy, and sure enough, cancer was detected in 5% of the gland.
Now, before submitting a blood sample for PSA, any activity that stimulates the prostate in producing more PSA should be avoided; this includes sexual activity, horse riding, bicycle and motorcycle riding for at least 72 hours.
My first PSA test was requested by a female doctor who did the finger probe before the PSA test. This resulted in a 4.5 PSA level, which triggered my skepticism of its validity. Needless to say, I never went back to her. After leaving her office, my "doubling velocity" consisted of riding my Guzzi home twice as fast!

And, BTW, women don't have a prostate and produce no PSA. They don't get prostate cancer; however, breast cancer is very similar to prostate cancer, and women are more likely to get breast cancer if their father has had prostate cancer.

[sib]

...Needless to say, I never went back to her....

And, BTW, women don't have a prostate and produce no PSA. They don't get prostate cancer; however, breast cancer is very similar to prostate cancer, and women are more likely to get breast cancer if their father has had prostate cancer.

On the other hand, women do tend to have thinner fingers.

[n3303j]

On the other hand, women do tend to have thinner fingers.

...but they are more often wearing rings (or wristwatches).

[centauro]

...but they are more often wearing rings (or wristwatches).

Also, the majority of Urologists are men, not women. Urologists cater to the urological health needs of BOTH men and women. Women have their reproductive system taken care of by OBG/GYN doctors, which are, often, men.
So, I see that women tend to have the upper hand in their uro-genitary health compared to men.
Unfortunately, many of us guys tend to neglect or downplay the importance of our urinary and reproductive health due to a macho attitude.
After the initial scare of the possibility of having cancer at age 51, I did deep research into this subject by reading books and medical journals. I wanted to get smart on this and become empowered in guiding my urologists in working with me.  This resulted in me firing 3 of them before having confidence in the chief of urology at the UAB Birmingham.
After 17 years since I was diagnosed and treated for prostate cancer, I have been cancer-free.

[Chuck in Indiana]

ultra sound-guided biopsy

I had many negative biopsies. Still had steadily increasing PSA, though, and that test was the one that found Geason 7. It was less than pleasant  especially when the machine broke down in the middle and it took much longer than normal.
Probably a little DeOxit would have fixed that stupid machine..

[redrider90]

And, BTW, women don't have a prostate and produce no PSA. They don't get prostate cancer; however, breast cancer is very similar to prostate cancer, and women are more likely to get breast cancer if their father has had prostate cancer.

Women do produce PSA in their breast tissue. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10234897/
"PSA has been shown to be expressed in many forms of female tissues. The breast is a major female organ able to produce PSA. PSA is detected in both normal and abnormal breast tissues, as well as in various breast fluids including milk, nipple aspirate, and cyst fluid. Androgens and progesterones, via their receptors, regulate the production of PSA in breast tissue."

[redrider90]

 I was diagnosed age 53 with 10% of one stick positive with Gleason 3+4= 7 in 2001.
I was told by 4 urologists to have it out immediately. One even said if I waited I would die in 5 years. All po-po the idea of radiation or vigilant watching.  I believed then and I still believe that P.C is over diagnosed and over treated. At least today's standards now lean towards considering a Gleason 6 as not PC whereas in 2001 they treated all G-6 as cancer.  I consulted with an oncologist who was a survivor himself of very aggressive PC and also saw only men with PC. I had further evaluation by an MD who specialized in using Color Doppler ultrasound back in 2002 which gave a much improved picture of the prostate than the standard black and white ultra sound used at that time. He said he would not even have biopsied me with a PSA of 4.3 because I had such a large gland. None the less I did come to him with a biopsy that revealed a small amount on cancer in one median lobe.  Today's diagnostic tools are far far more advanced than I experienced in 2001.
That said I proceeded on a program on vigilante surveillance of my prostate which included blood work every 3 months and yearly exams by the oncologist and further exams by the color doppler. 6 years after diagnosed in 2007 my already large  BHP prostate continued continued to enlarge(I was up 6x per night) but the color doppler now revealed a small localized area on my median lobe. My digital exam was negative.
My PSA had continued to rise with a slow doubling time but it was now time for treatment. In June of 2007 I began an 18 month program of using high doses of estradiol (E2) synthetic estrogen patches  used to bring my levels of testosterone to castrate levels. In a matter of months by PSA was 0.44 and still dropping. At the 12 month mark my very large gland has shrunk from 110 ccs to 75ccs. June 2008 I went to Dattoli cancer center in Sarasota Fl who at that time treated only PC. I had 47 treatments of IMRT external beam radiation which included radiating all my abdominal lymph nodes.  Seeds were not an option due to the way my pelvis is shaped. They would have caused EXTREME inflammation that would have  severe negative side effects. So by Sept 2008 I completed the IMRT and then had 3 more months of E2 hormone treatment. There is a synergy between suppressing T and using radiation for improved outcomes.
I am now 21 years post diagnosis and 14 years post treatment and my PSA continues to drop slowly. My latest PSA is 0.341. It is not unusual to see some PSA after radiation. I never consider myself cured. I have known men with 20 years of PSA tests of 0.0 and have it recur. As someone said doubling time is extremely important and if I had a fast doubling time when I was diagnosed I would have to have treated it sooner. I am still orgasmic but need some help on getting blood into the boy to get hard. Scar tissue it a problem with reducing erections.
Statistically they still have not decreased all mortality rates with regular PSA testing over not testing. At least now they are offering options of watching certain men vs automatically treating them.
One more thing about doubling time. It is very easy to figure it out. If you start with a PSA of 0.01 which is very low and have a doubling time of 1 month which is very fast then in 12 months you will have a PSA of  20.48 which is trouble. Yet you can start PSA of 2 with a doubling time of 3 years and in 6 years PSA will be 4 which not that bad. 

[SIR REAL ED]

On the other hand, women do tend to have thinner fingers.

Call me old fashioned, but I'm opposed to women checking my prostate, especially on the first date.....

[SIR REAL ED]

I had many negative biopsies. Still had steadily increasing PSA, though, and that test was the one that found Geason 7. It was less than pleasant  especially when the machine broke down in the middle and it took much longer than normal.
Probably a little DeOxit would have fixed that stupid machine..

Some machines can sense a Moto Guzzi owner a mile away...   

[SIR REAL ED]

And, BTW, women don't have a prostate.....

Hopefully, that statement won't upset any of the regulars around here and make extra work for Danny.   

[SIR REAL ED]

Now, before submitting a blood sample for PSA, any activity that stimulates the prostate in producing more PSA should be avoided; this includes sexual activity, horse riding, bicycle and motorcycle riding for at least 72 hours.

I almost certain this is where I screwed up the first time.  I knew you weren't supposed to choke the chicken while you were in the lobby waiting for the hematologist to take your blood.  But 72 hours!!!   

That would be 3 of the longest days of my life!   

Next PSA test is in 5 days.  I gonna try to abstain for 5 days this time.

[Huzo]

Seek the advice of your doctor would be recommendation👍

Could you take the thumb away from your reply Dan…?
There’s a hundred lines and I can’t use one of them…

[Huzo]

Call me old fashioned, but I'm opposed to women checking my prostate, especially on the first date.....

Ask for two fingers, if she says why…?
Just say you’d like a second opinion..

[John Croucher]

I almost certain this is where I screwed up the first time.  I knew you weren't supposed to choke the chicken while you were in the lobby waiting for the hematologist to take your blood.  But 72 hours!!!   

That would be 3 of the longest days of my life!   

Next PSA test is in 5 days.  I gonna try to abstain for 5 days this time.

I agree.  It was hard after 3 days.  Finally made it in for blood work today. Told the wife to be waiting for me to get home.  She was, ask what took so long. 

I have been on TRT for 10 years.  It works great. 

[Huzo]

It was hard after 3 days.

Well that’s a good start…

[Ncdan]

Ok gentlemen, let’s remember our members varies.
Thanks

Dan

[Huzo]

Ok gentlemen, let’s remember our members varies.
Thanks

Dan

I’m out…….