Jonesing For The Journey

The first four weeks at home after my prostatectomy brought a lot of things I wasn’t fully prepared for.

Leakage. Protecting the bed at night. Walking when I didn’t feel completely steady. Managing a Foley catheter. Constipation and gas. And sometimes just trying to feel clean and normal again.

In this episode of Jonesing For The Journey, I’m sharing 7 things that genuinely helped me through prostatectomy recovery weeks 1–4, along with several bonus products, practical ideas, and lessons Sue and I learned along the way.

This is not a shopping list.

It’s a preparation list.

We talk about:

• Daytime leakage protection
• Nighttime protection
• Walking support
• Having somewhere to stop and rest
• Compression socks
• Bowel and gas management
• Easier ways to clean up during recovery
• Managing a Foley drainage bag
• The little things Sue and I wish we had thought about before surgery

One of the biggest lessons I learned was that recovery wasn’t one giant problem we had to solve.

It was dozens of little problems.

And every little problem you can prepare for ahead of time leaves you with a little more energy for the one job that really matters:

Healing.

These are things that helped during my personal recovery. Your experience may be different, and your surgeon’s instructions and discharge plan should always come first. 7 THINGS THAT GOT ME THROUGH PR…

You can find many of the products I’ve used during my journey in the Jonesing For The Journey Amazon Storefront:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/jftjjourney

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Purchases made through affiliate links may provide Jonesing For The Journey with a small commission at no additional cost to you.

6 Things Nobody Warns You About After Radical Prostatectomy

https://youtu.be/C2_zxAR85_w

That video goes deeper into the gap between what we talk about before surgery and what everyday recovery can actually feel like once you get home.

https://jonesingforthejourney.com

Real Life. Real Journeys. Real Hope.

If you’ve already been through prostatectomy, I’d love to hear your answer:

What was the one thing you were really glad you had at home — or the one thing you wish somebody had told you to have ready?

Your experience might help the next person preparing for surgery.

And so…the adventure continues.

🛒 Products & Recovery Resources▶️ Related Video🌐 Jonesing For The Journey

Before prostate cancer radiation treatments can begin, there's another important step: radiation mapping and simulation.

But what actually happens during that appointment? Does it hurt? How long does it take? And what are they doing while you're lying on that table?

In this episode of Jonesing For The Journey, I take you through my own radiation simulation and mapping experience as I prepare for 39 radiation treatments. I share what the appointment was like from a patient's perspective, what surprised me, how I prepared, and some of the questions worth asking your radiation oncology team before treatment begins.

I'm sharing my experience not as medical advice, but because knowing what to expect can make an unfamiliar part of the cancer journey a little less intimidating.

If you're preparing for radiation—or supporting someone who is—I hope walking through this part of my journey helps you prepare for yours.

Ask one more question. Take an active interest in your own rescue.

Real Life. Real Journeys. Real Hope.

And so…the adventure continues.

The journey just got a new home.

In this episode of Jonesing For The Journey, I share why we built jonesingforthejourney.com and why this next step is about so much more than having a website.

It’s a place to bring together the stories, resources, patient advocacy tools, community, shop recommendations, and future projects that have been growing around Jonesing For The Journey—beyond what YouTube alone can hold.

This is still about real life, real journeys, and real hope. It’s about creating a place people can return to when they need information, encouragement, or simply a reminder that they are not walking their journey alone.

Visit jonesingforthejourney.com to explore the new home of the journey.

Real Life. Real Journeys. Real Hope.

And so…the adventure continues.

After HOLEP surgery, I thought my prostate problems were behind me. For years, I believed that chapter was essentially closed.

Eight years later, I was facing Stage 4 prostate cancer.

In this episode of Jonesing For The Journey, I share what happened between those two moments, what I misunderstood about PSA and prostate health after HOLEP, and why my experience completely changed the way I think about follow-up care and asking questions.

This isn't about blaming a procedure or a doctor. HOLEP and prostate cancer are not the same thing. It's about what I wish I had understood—and why I now believe we should never rely on a single number or assumption when it comes to our health.

If my experience encourages even one man to pay closer attention, understand his PSA trend, or ask one more question, sharing this story is worth it.

Real Life. Real Journeys. Real Hope.

And so…the adventure continues.

Free Guide: Ask One More Question
A patient-advocacy guide to help you prepare for important medical conversations:

In this episode of Jonesing For The Journey, I share five questions I believe every patient should consider asking—questions about treatment goals, options, risks, side effects, what happens if you do nothing, and what you should be watching for.

My own cancer journey taught me that being a good patient doesn’t mean staying quiet. It means being informed, speaking up, and taking an active role in your care.

This isn’t about distrusting doctors. It’s about becoming a stronger partner in the conversation.

Ask one more question. It could change everything.

Real Life. Real Journeys. Real Hope.

Not Again: I Already Lost a Toe — Now the Foot Ulcer Is Back

I’ve been down this road before—and I know how quickly a foot ulcer can become something much more serious.

After a previous infection eventually led to osteomyelitis and the loss of my second toe, seeing redness, swelling, and a bleeding ulcer on the same foot brought all of those fears rushing back.

In this episode of Jonesing For The Journey, I share what happened next: the call to my podiatrist, antibiotics, bloodwork, an X-ray and culture—and the news that the infection was MRSA. Thankfully, the X-ray showed no bone involvement, the infection responded to treatment, and the ulcer is continuing to heal.

This is my personal experience with diabetic foot complications and the lesson I learned the hard way: when something changes with your feet, don't wait.

🎥 Prefer to watch? Find the original video on the Jonesing For The Journey YouTube channel.

Real Life. Real Journeys. Real Hope.

Description

Every 90 days, a blood test has the potential to change the direction of my cancer journey.

Living with prostate cancer means learning to exist in the space between appointments—the waiting, the uncertainty, and the knowledge that one set of numbers could change what happens next.

In this episode of Jonesing For The Journey, I share what those quarterly blood tests have come to mean for me, the anxiety that builds as another test approaches, and how I'm learning to live my life without allowing the next result to consume the days in between.

Cancer may force me to think in 90-day chapters, but I'm determined not to spend those chapters simply waiting for the next one.

Real Life. Real Journeys. Real Hope.

And so…the adventure continues.

Cancer changed our plans—but did it have to end the dream?

Before my prostate cancer diagnosis, my wife and I had a vision for retirement: an RV, the open road, and the freedom to finally explore the places we'd spent years dreaming about.

Then everything changed.

In this episode of Jonesing For The Journey, I talk about what happens to the dreams you made before cancer, the uncertainty of planning a future when life suddenly feels measured differently, and the question we're still asking ourselves: Can we still chase our RV dream after cancer?

Maybe the journey won't look exactly like we imagined. But that doesn't mean the adventure has to be over.

Real Life. Real Journeys. Real Hope.

And so…the adventure continues.

Cancer changed the way I think about one word: later.

We’ll take that trip later. I’ll slow down later. I’ll spend more time with the people I love later. Then cancer taught me an uncomfortable truth—later isn’t promised.

In this episode of Jonesing For The Journey, I share five things I’m learning to stop saving for someday: experiences, relationships, purpose, joy, and giving back.

This isn’t about ignoring tomorrow. It’s about refusing to miss today while waiting for life to begin.

Don’t just survive the journey. Thrive for life.

🎥 Prefer to watch? Find the original video on the Jonesing For The Journey YouTube channel.

There was one warning sign that almost caused me to underestimate how serious my prostate cancer really was.

In this episode of Jonesing For The Journey, I share the decision that changed everything and why asking one more question led to the discovery of my aggressive Gleason 9 prostate cancer. It's a reminder that while PSA is an important tool, it doesn't tell the whole story.

If you're facing a prostate cancer diagnosis—or supporting someone who is—I hope this conversation encourages you to become an informed advocate for your own health. Because sometimes asking one more question can change everything.

🎥 Prefer to watch?
Watch the original video on the Jonesing For The Journey YouTube channel.

Real Life. Real Journeys. Real Hope.