DaVinci done - hubby doing well

The surgery was last Friday, and according to the doc, went well.  The nerves were spared, and margins were clear, but stated that the path report needs to confirm it.

Spent one night at the hospital and couldn't wait to get out of there.  Can't believe all the noise and commotion - how does one rest?  Discharge was chaotic - only 1 resident on duty (Saturday morning) - took almost 4 hrs for paperwork.

I worked myself into a frenzy the last few weeks, and am relieved.  The hardest part was seeing him wheeled away into the OR.  I burst into tears but he didn't see me, thank god.

He felt great at the hospital, but by the time we got home, he was a little nauseous and exhausted.  He said he only slept about 3 hrs during the night.  Had those pump stockings on his legs, and the machine was very noisy.  Yesterday was very trying, and learning the catheter thing was no picnic.   The small bag filled up so fast he switched to the big one, and that one filled up in 4 hrs.  I set my alarm for 3 a.m. so I could check to make sure it wasn't full, and it wasn't.  Lasted til 6:30 this morning.  No leaking or spasms so far.

So now, he's feeling a lot better having had some sleep.  Hasn't taken any vicodin, but it is hard to get in and out of a chair/bed.  Not much appetite - has only eaten jello and brown rice.  Drinking lots of fluids.

The bucket is his buddy now and carries it on his walk around the house.  He actually laughs about it which is good.  Company's coming, so back to the leg bag in the afternoon. 

He's enjoying the new plasma/surround sound we bought after the dx.  (might as well start spending our money, he said.)  Now, I just need to get some rest.  It's hard work being Nurse Bedelia.

Will post updates.  Thanks to all of you for your encouragement.

Dear Bedelia,
This is all great news. You must be relieved (as much as possible prior to pathology confirmation) with the clear margins. Go glad the surgery went well. You have your hands full but it all sounds as though you are both managing really well. It is good to resume keeping company - we were ordering pizza within a few days of "release" and after the bowels were completely functional! (I'm not recommending a post op pizza diet - please don't think I am - LOL)..
There is a lot of good advice on the previous forum posts about early recovery and catheter management. Good luck and post any questions as they happen as it is a stressful time, so glad you are keeping busy. My experience was pretty similiar to yours - the best news is that you have him home, and the sight of him being taken off will fade in time. The tears are good, but yes you have to stay strong for him so glad you gave into them - if only that once! The drainage is pretty much determined by the amount you drink which is good to drink plenty to flush, and also if not eating much to keep well hydrated. Your husband will be exhausted physically but probably unwilling to admit it. It is important that he rest and slowly now increase his walking, resting for periods in between. If he falls asleep all the time, let him!
Take care and see if you can get some sleep too. All the best for a quick and non eventful recovery for your husband. Kind regards, Lana

That's great news, and sounds like he is having an uneventful recovery. Mobility will come back quickly, now's the time for him to not rest on his laurels, so to speak, but to get up and walk a little and often. The cure for things now is walk, rest, drink, repeat as able and in ever increasing doses each day. The walking and drinking will really help him recover quickly, and in a week of doing so, he should feel like an almost new man again. Take time for yourself also, get rest and watch that you eat properly.

Bedelia,
I second medved's sentiments. The ladies here are doing what we guys are reluctant to do sometimes ~ and that is ask for help.

Here's to hoping for a full recovery and a life free of cancer.

Tony

Bedelia,

Glad the immediate pathology looks so good.  I know what you mean about just wanting to get out of the hospital.  I had my appointment with "Dr. DaVinci" just five weeks ago, and I am grateful to say recovery has gone much better than I had hoped and that I feel great.  I had hip surgery a few years back, and that was a much slower climb back to mobility.  They took the catheter out one week after surgery, and I viewed that as graduation day.  One humorous note of caution  regarding  the catheter tube to the big bag.  Your husband should be sure not to snag it on anything.  I managed to "hook" a knob on a dresser drawer while walking laps around the house on a rainy day.  That certainly got my attention very quickly.  Best wishes on a speedy recovery.

  

NewsPaper Lover

 

Age 66

PSA:  6.0  on 07/31/09 having risen from 4.2 on 12/02/08.  Free PSA 23.5%.Other PSA History: 4.3 on 05/01/08; 3.3 on 11/15/07; 3.1 on 05/20/07; 4.0 on 11/30/06; 3.40 on 09/01/05.

 

Biopsy:  09/04/09  13 snips;  two positive.  Right Mid  4+3 = 7 and 15% of the total volume.   Right Lateral Mid 4+3 = 7 and 20% of the total volume.

 

DaVinci robotic surgery:  11/05/09.  Post surgery pathology:  margins clean, no invasion of seminal vessels, no upgrade of the Gleason scores, no evidence of cancer outside the prostate capsule.

 

Cathether removed one week later:  11/12/09.  Very minor dribbles for two days.  Stopped using pads after three days.  No pads or incontinence at night.  After years of an enlarged gland, nice to get a solid stream. 

 

Future:  02/02/10.  First post surgery PSA test scheduled.  Hope to join the 0.00 club.

 

 

 

Bedelia,
Great news. Happy to know all is well with Hubby. I know how important it is to have the wife's support as we travel on this journey. Hopefully the pathology report will be a good one.

Best wishes on a speedy recovery! I had to chuckle when I read about company coming. I hated the leg bag and pretty much kept to the Large Bag. Even for company. Figured if they didn't like it to bad...I good squirt them with the hose if they complained! Another side note that brought humor was some good friends came over and brought their VERY CUTE 16 year old daughter. She was so fascinated with the cath bag she actually followed me into the bathroom to watch me empty it! First time I've ever had a 16 year old girl in the bathroom with me! LOL. She still jokes with me about my bag and watching me go pee!

Larry

Today he's feeling even better than yesterday.  Appetite is definitely returning, as he had chicken soup today that my sister made.  Also a chocolate chip cookie his sister baked.

He had a BM the day he got home, and each day since.  Still taking colace, but no pain pills at all.  Still drinking a lot and walking the laps around the house.

We both had a good night's sleep which makes the world of difference.  Counting the days til Monday when the cath comes out (we hope).

 

When the cath comes out, which is no big deal, he will be a new man. It is a great day when you can be rid of that.