Jack is back...day 3

Ok…Jack is back! Home last evening. The ride in from St.Louis was more than I wanted. My wife did the best that she could but it is amazing how much you get bumped around when in a car. You just can’t understand how much unless you’ve been surgically assaulted.

The folks at Wash U and Barnes took good care of me. I really can’t add much as related to my experience from what I have read on this site except to say that my post op pain was less than I expected. The incision pain is what caused most of my discomfort oh….and that Foley catheter thing is a constant unpleasant feeling but not so much as to cause me the need to take pain medication. The removal of the JP drain which the young physician informed me terminated in my pelvis, was the most unpleasant procedure that I have had post op to date. But I’m not sure that it was particularly painful or if I was just real anxious or some combo of both. It took place at 6am post op day 1.

As Sleepless has instructed I am drinking, walking, drinking walking… Seems to be working. I am optimistic that by the weekend I’ll be back to near normal status.

The surgeon stated that no gross evidence existed of extension of cancer however cautioned that we need microscopic pathology to actually make that determination.

I still think I made the correct decision but this has been an interesting event. On another note I got home to the news that my water heater has shot craps (surprise!!!). fortunately I have 2 brothers here to get that taken care of. My wife and kids have been very wonderful and have intervened frequently to make sure that I’m taken care of.

Thanks to all of you.

Peace
Jack

Glad you are back on the other side, the recovery side, Jack. Sounds like you already had a pretty decent event. Each day forward, you will get better and better.

Yeah, take advantage of being a surgical cripple, at least for a few days, make your eyes get big and sad looking, look pitiful, and you will find friends and family wanting to wait on your hand and foot, loll.

Really glad you are doing so well, heal brother, rest brother.

David in SC

Good deal, Jack. You've been well prepped for what is to come, so take it easy and let your body determine what you do for a few days.

Weclome back Jack: I was looking for this report. Sounds like you are on your way.....Take some time to heal....Walk as much as you can with comfort.

Jeff T

Welcome Back, Jack!

You and I had our surgeries within a month of each other. Brothers and cousins, kinda like the boys up in the hollers of Western Kentucky. ;-) Well only not that gross.

I'll be watching for your post-op biopsy and PSA reports.

At 3-1/2 weeks I'm up to 5 miles a day power walking. You know you can go anaerobic walking? Blew me away 163 HR at 55 yo. Right on the edge of O2 debt.

Stairs, too. They'll let you do stairs pretty quick, too.

10-lb dumbbells is all I'm allowed, but they'll keep me in tone until I'm cleared for more.

Washington U, eh? Good place. I know one heck of a cardiologist there. Gerald Dorn. Smart.

Enjoy yourself.

OBB

It is great to hear that you have now joined us on the other side. You have been getting good advice but there is always room to add more.

You have been through Major Surgery and just because they only made small holes on the outside doesn’t mean that there weren’t major excavations and re-plumbing on the inside. So listen to your body, not your macho inflamed brain (ask your wife)

Problem solve. There is a lot that the doctors don’t know about the little details of recovery, so what ever your issues are approach then with a positive and innovative attitude. Of course, feel free to ask. (Later on, brother Jeff will explain how to use third order differential equations to make pretty charts of your return to continence that you can hang on your refrigerator.)

Enjoy. That is a strong medicine for healing.

billye said...
any questions, pick up pat walsh's book for 18 $-----he's the Ted Williams of Prostate Cancer. over 7,000 prostate operations. read his book. the very best. don't overdo the kegels.

Pat Walsh had his head frozen?????

Welcome home Jack. I can recall that ride home in my wife's 4 wheel drive Subura Forrester, and understood why people but BMW's. That 90 mintue trip felt like 4 hours. If you are back to normal by this weekend please let me know as I will have to ask my Surgeon for a partial refund. Do take it easy and enoy relaxing. Take in a good movie at home and walk  every so often. But your report sounds great.

Michael

Glad you're back Jack. I have been looking for your post. Kinda nice your water heater goes out while you're all laid up! Now you don't have to mess with it! Ha ha! Get better!

Kelli

Welcome back, Jack

Don't count on being back to normal by the weekend.  Take the time to let other people do the pitying, pout a lot, look miserable, in other words, milk it for all it's worth.  You don't get many chances like this, thank goodness, so take it easy.

Bob

Greetings men...I had robotic prostatectomy on 7/14 this summer and all went fairly well...Here I am some 15 weeks after surgery and still have fairly regular blood in my urine. Full urinary control but often quite urgent..no real sign of sexual function returning yet but.we'll see. I am 55 years old Post op gleason score 3/4. Post oppathology was very successful with all cancer contained to the prostate with no invasion of any other tissue or glands and all surgical margins were negative.

Does anyone else have the same or other continuious bleeding issues?

Any redsponse would be apreciated

Buzz in Vancouver BC