heartfelt thankyous for such great support and advice

 I can't even say how much we appreciate all the support in this pre-davinci week ! Rod and I are doing ALOT that was mentioned (thanks for all the good advice) and plan on a sunny relaxing memorial day weekend. I will post with smiles of relief after the 27th and try to hang tight until then. Please say a prayer for him and I will keep you all with me as our cheering squad in the waiting room! Annie  

You will get through it O.K. We all had those same jitters and fears. Shortly all thoughts of the op will be past history as you both charge forward in his recovery. Then it's on to the next step.......worrying about upcoming PSA results. Like all here you will take those in your stride as well. Good luck and hang in there. Onward and upward!
Bill

I just went in for my first post op follow up appt with my doc this morning.  The da vinci is the way to go.  My doc has done both open and da vinci and firmly believes he can do a da vinci better.  I believe him.  I had the da vinci surgery on 4/8/08.  I was back at work for a few hours 16 days after surgery (only 6 days after the cath was taken out).  Then 1/2 days a week later....then full days the last couple of weeks.  Incontinence was a bit of a problem for the first week after the cath was taken out, then 3 pads, 2 pads, 1 pad over the last couple of weeks.

I suppose I looked at it like I really had no choice....at my age, overall health, physical condition, and activity level surgery was the only way to go.  Then it became a choice of which method. 

Good luck....although you (your husband) really doesn't need good luck....you just need a good doc and good anatomy

Annie: I'll try to summarize what I said in my first email that disappeared. I am 19 days post-op right now.
1. Pre-op: Eat, drink & make merry, but be prepared to cut it off two nights before the surgery. I had to fast, and I spent most of the last day drinking a gallon of foul stuff that cleaned me out. I was not a happy camper. ** If you live far from the hospital, consider staying in a hotel the night before and the night after surgery. We did that. We walked to the hospital Monday morning, and after I was settled in Monday evening my wife walked back and got a good nite's rest. We spent a chunk of change, but it was worth it for her.
2. I've had knee & shoulder surgery and this is nothing like that. This is almost pain-free in the surgical area. I was doped up Monday nite, on Tylenol3 + Codine Tues, and I was down to regular Tylenol by Thursday. Major issue for me was butt pain. I STILL cannot sit comfortably. The Dr said that was normal. Not sure why. If you have any kind of donut pillow, or even a child's swimming inner tube, that could make the ride home a LOT more comfortable.
3. Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning were not a lot of fun, but I really did not have much pain. I woke up with 2 IV's, a drain, and a catheter coming out of me. Everything but the catheter was gone by Tues afternoon. The catheter is particularly bothersome, but it is more inconvenient than anything thing else. For me, the leg bag was almost worthless. I just carried the "big bag" around the house with me all week.
4. The patient will be fine before & during the surgery. He'll be knocked out and won't feel a thing. Just be supportive and positive and as calm as possible, and you guys will sail right thru it. Good luck, kcragman