Rendezvous with Destiny

Just came back home from my RALP that was conducted yesterday at U. Penn Presbyterian by Dr. Lee.  I guess the operation went well, at least that's what they all told me. I don't remember anything after getting "something to take the edge off" in pre-op until I woke up in my room later in the afternoon. The operation apparently took about 70 min and Dr. Lee said both nerves were spared. Urine was bloody yesterday, but was clear today so I guess that's a real good sign. My abs are a little sore around the wounds, but are very tolerable. Although I didn't eat anything solid until breakfast this morning, it was enough for me to say that hospital food sucks and that's enough of a reason to get out of there. My only disappointment, if you can call it that, besides the food was the fact that they didn't say much about keeping the catheter lubed. Had it not been for this message board, I don't think that I would have asked for some.

So, I guess this is where the real journey begins?

Bill

Bill, glad it's over. I was surprised to read that your surgery apparently took 70 minutes as most RALPs take 4 or 5 hours (my husband's was slightly more than 5 hours and he also had both nerve bundles spared). Could be that another surgeon opened and closed and that Dr. Lee came in only for the "main event."

Regardless, congratulations on having the surgery behind you. And yes, now the true journey begins - I hope that you will have years and years and years of nothing but good results.

Glad your home Bill and that was just a quick trip for you with 70 minutes in surgery and 22 hours and 50 minutes trying not to eat the food. Keep it luped and my wife really helped out with that and cleaning the cath bags. Keep us updated and rest and drink a lot of water.

Michael

Bill, welcome to the other side. You know the routine, drink water, walk, rest, repeat as often as you can, and extend the walking each day, just a little farther. Take advantage of the fact that you can pee anytime, while doing anything, a gift you haven't had since you were a toddler...lol,,,, drink lots to flush out the residue , gunk and junk, and pee away...lol

congratulation drums - i have my day on june 15..getting pre-surgery anxiety and up and down mood swings.
let me me know if you have any suggestions from your experience on managing them.

my docs says the operation should take only 70 mins..he has done over 2000 robotics and says just gets shorter with experience
keep me posted on post recovery learning

what had you docs protocol of ed...

i am 48, atheletic, 3+3 gleason

Ask your doc for some anxiety meds - I was really loosing it about ten days before , couldn't fall asleep or stay asleep- one night on the anit anxiety med and I felt like a new person ready to face what the robot

chitown said...
congratulation drums - i have my day on june 15..getting pre-surgery anxiety and up and down mood swings.
let me me know if you have any suggestions from your experience on managing them.

my docs says the operation should take only 70 mins..he has done over 2000 robotics and says just gets shorter with experience
keep me posted on post recovery learning

what had you docs protocol of ed...

i am 48, atheletic, 3+3 gleason

Here's my latest update from RALP to one day past catheter removal. Bottom line up front - surgery no problems, catheter had it's issues, but in general all is going ok. o    19 May 2010 (Wed) - Robotic Assisted Laparoscopy Prostatectomy at U. Penn Presbyterian by Dr. David Lee. §   Lasted about 80-90 minutes. Dr. Lee indicated he was a little delayed since I brought in a regular DVD for recording the surgery and they had to get their audio-visual guy to switch back from HD. §   Don't remember anything from pre-op when I was given "something to take the edge off" to waking up in my hospital room. Don't even remember seeing the robotic setup, although the nurse says I saw it. §   clear urine the morning after surgery (i.e., no blood) §   first BM on Fri, two days after surgery §   coughing, sneezing an issue (need to press firmly on abdomen). The only wound at issue is the large one for prostate removal. The other five wounds are totally non-consequential. §   Used Advil a couple of days just to relieve discomfort from coughing (mostly from the pollen in the air, but initially from intubation during surgery), but it was otherwise not necessary to take any pain meds. §   initially refrained from bending over for the first couple of days, but no problem by day three. §   only used stool softener for two days, but it does help while needed. §   walking two miles daily on treadmill without difficulty. Started off breaking the walks up in half mile sessions, but extended them over time. §   sitting in one place for long is uncomfortable. A pillow or donut are helpful on hard surfaces. o    25 May 2010 (Tue) - catheter removal §   catheter did not come out easily, so the nurse had to use a little extra pull, which made it a slightly painful experience, but it was only for a few seconds. The nurse indicated it usually comes out pretty easily. §   Had difficulty getting a stream of urine prior to leaving the doctor's office. Mostly a bunch of drips, but eventually a short weak stream. §   The remainder of the day I didn't have any stream of urine and also experienced pain near the base of my penis, but I believe that was due to some trauma due to the catheter removal. Called the nurse and she said to take an anti-inflammatory (so I think she also believed it was due to the trauma). Took Advil. §     Levaquin (antibiotic) caused some gas and BMs were a little watery. §   That night, I had additional pain on an hourly basis starting at about 11 pm. Felt like strong urges to urinate, but the best I could do for much of the night was just drips of urine. Took additional Advil. By 5 am the next morning I had a weak stream and no pain. o    26 May 2010 §   Urine basically under control. When I feel the urge to go, I go, but I have to go right away or else it starts without me. Going on a regular basis prevents any problems. But first urination of the morning was extremely painful when the flow stopped (no pain during urination). The pain lasted for a long minute or so. Afterwards, no pain at all. The post-catheter instructions said urination would be painful for a couple of days, but I figured it would be a burning sensation during urination, which was not the case. Took an Advil. The pain may have been due to the catheter removal, because I didn't urinate as hard later in the day and there was no pain, burning, etc. §   Wounds from the surgery are not an issue at all. Have scabbed over. Minimal bruising. §   restarting Kegels (had started back in Feb when first diagnosed) §   starting on half a 20 mg Levitra every other day.

Great news -

 Did I understand your post correctly- Dr Lee filmed your surgery for you?

Ray

Thanks all.

Dr. Lee filmed the operation and put it on DVD. Movie night!

For the last couple of days my urination stream has steadily improved. At least now I have a stream. A couple nights ago it was more a bunch of drips. There's still some pain during urination.

Hi Bill...........a little late to the party on this one, but congratulations on a good outcome. A good 3-4 week delay with Lee's office on the path report, but I'm sure it'll be good as well. Hey, maybe Ray, Mark, you and I can have a group movie session to view your surgery on movie night! Was that something you suggested and he agreed to? Lee's skill in reattaching urethra to bladder neck is amazing. I only had to use one pad per day for a while after surgery, and could have gotten away from them earlier than I did, which was at 3 months. As others have said, walk and drink water now and in the coming days, and give in to the naps/rest. It's all good! Welcome to the other side, and keep us posted..........(i'll bring the popcorn)

Arnie in DE

I wish i would have known - that would be very interesting - considering how little any of us remember from the operation.

Ray

Bill Welcome to the other side!. Sorry to hear about the leaking but as you say better than the pain. Keep up the walking and get yourself healed.

Cajun Jeff

Bill,
Balance kegels and walking through the day - that helped me a lot.

Changing when wet/uncomfortable, not waiting till sopping "full pad", helped me shut down the Urinary tract infections and rashes - took three to learn that. Probably that was the reason I was often 10 pads a day instead of the 7 or 8 that I could have gotten by with if I "filled" them.

But finally I'm at one, so something worked, or at least got better.

It will get better -