I’m obviously not much good at this blog stuff – almost 6 months since my last blog and much has happened.

Moved to Wellington NZ ! This was not expected. KJ got a job here. Wellington is windy and cold – nothing like Bali. I do miss the beauty of Bali – but also wonder if we would ever really made it our home. Wellington is quite stunning, but it is tough moving to a new place and trying to make friends and find things to do that are meaningful. There’s only so much volunteer work one can do. Still, we are committed here for at least 3 years – so we will make the most of it.

Another grandchild ! Tody – a grand-daughter – born yesterday to Josh and Maddie. Josh is 39 – I had 4 kids when I was 39 – the youngest 4. I had my 39th birthday in Wisconsin – we had just arrived there. What an interesting time that was in the USA, and life- changing. I’ve always been sceptical of people who say they don’t want to have kids because the world is a bad place to bring them up. But the world is surely in a mess right now. Trump in America and likely to win another election – how much more damage can he do. Boris in UK and likely to win – election tomorrow. Scomo in Australia – what a clown – and a dangerous one. And the world’s climate changing in a bad way at a rapid pace. Hopefully, the next generation can do something about it – because surely the current one has failed.

On the prostate front – PSA remains at zero. Not much else happening. Got a close friend dying of cancer right now. It’s been so quick and we will surely miss him – the type of guy you want to spend time with.

Xmas will be spent here in NZ. I will miss not being with at least one of my kids – Xmas is not the same without them. But Xmas will be followed by Lach and Katie’s wedding – so that will be a great catchup – with some people I haven’t seen for 10 years. What a blast.

I hope 2020 is great for everyone ! XX

They say only 30-50% of men fully recover their erectile function and it could take 2 years.  I have one friend who is back to normal after one year.  Another who isn’t after more than 2 years. How long will it take and how do you speed it up?

It’s all a bit of guess work from what I can gather.  The research is certainly not conclusive. The specialists give you no certain approach.

I’m on drugs (Cialis every second day) and Viagra once a week.  Why? These drugs work within the tissues of the penis helping the sexual chemical response and thus erection. None yet for me – not that I am expecting any yet – it’s early days.

Vacuum pump: This keeps blood in the right tissues of the penis, though doesn’t create an erection.  But I need to keep these tissues functioning – so they tell me.  It’s “use it or lose it.” I use it most days. (No photos of this!)

Penile injections – well – not yet.

My men’s health doctor (politely referred to as the “Dick Doctor”) tells me that there are 3 sets of nerves that create the sexual experience. They are all part of the cavernosal nerve system which comes from the lower spine (see diagram courtesy of Amicus Visual Solutions). They are the:

• Somatic nerve: which as far as I can gather controls sensory feelings, such as touch – though I’m a bit unclear about it.
• Parasympathetic nerve: this is the one that was wrapped around the prostate and has been damaged or traumatized.  It’s the one that creates the erection. My surgeon tells me that there was little damage to it but it will still take time to recover.  How much? Time will tell.
• Sympathetic nerve: this one creates the orgasm. So orgasm without erection is possible. I’ve experienced this in the past, but not sure how to make it happen now.

There is really little literature or advice on how to get these nerves functioning.  You’d think you would be encouraged to work on the 2 that haven’t been damaged, but how.

Then there are all the alternative approaches available here in Bali.  More on them later.

The locals are feeling the cold today – it’s 22 degrees Celsius! Beautiful Ubud.

Wearing man-pads is no fun – though the women don’t give us much sympathy. I’m expecting the incontinence to be over by 2 months – is that reasonable? I know some people take much longer. I have good and bad days.  Some days I don’t need a pad til 5pm; others I leak all day. Nights can also be good or bad, though I try to go pad free at night. I’m doing my pelvic floor exercises 3-5 times per day: rapid fire, tight and hold. About to start adding the plank, curl-ups and squats. Also started yoga again yesterday – needed the pad. What else can one do to speed up the recovery process?

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton