any pre-op advice??

Steve,

Anything that you can do to be more physicaly fit will only be of benefit and that includes good dietary habits. Good luck and keep us posted.

Michael

Steve,
I do 3 and 3 but lifting anything heavy is a no-no for at least 6-8 weeks. I just walked a lot even though I am a runner. Just had to do something but I can still remember my first run after surgery and I used a cane. Nice looking back at it and with time it will be just a memory for you. Goes by pretty quick.
Michael

Steve,

Aside from being in good shape and starting Kegels now just to understand what they should feel like, I would ask if you have made your home "invalid proof", and have arranged for a minimum of incontinence supplies.

I am, and was, a single person in an apartment, so getting things ready had a completely different meaning.

So here are some questions, asked in an aggressive tone, just to get your attention -

1) Do you have the appropriate foods in the fridge and cupboard to eat with a minimun of cooking effort? You will be told to avoid the kitchen (beyond the microwave) if you are on pain meds. If you try to cook, and you set yourself on fire, you won't notice because of the meds.

2) Do you really understand that when they tell you not to lift more than 5 pounds, it means if you do, you will suffer brutally? I did (suffer).

3) When they tell you not to drive for a period after surgery, they are serious. I could not put enough pressure on the brakes to stop the car 10 days out, but my neighbor was helping, and killed the engine. It was three weeks before I tried that again.

4) Do a walk-around to see if you can move in your home with a catheter tube hanging out. Snags are, in the polite sense, a real show-stopper.

5) Look at EnlishAlf's list at the top of this forum for things we have found to be issues.

None of these things are difficult with 10 minutes of preparation and a trip to Wal-Mart, but will mean you are truly shafted if you are alone when you realize you didn't plan ahead.

I wish you the best results. I did not have them, so am the poster boy for where you do not want to be. Factor that in to my responses -

Last thought - if you have a better half, exercise little willy as often as possible. It will help the mental state on both sides.

Hey Steve. Welcome to HW. I have very simple advice:
As often as possible, do kegels and empty your prostate.
Jeff

I think this question is about what to fit in before the op, not what to do afterwards.

So
I'd say number one is Have Lots of Sex

Even if you have helpers, partners, etc get your larder stocked with non-perishable foods so that all you need to shop for is fresh stuff.

Sex is a must

Make sure someone nearby has a set of your house keys before you go for the op. If you go out for a walk after the op it is possible that for one reason or another you will find your have not got your keys with you and you end up facing a locked door. Also handy for others if you can't get to the door to open it. (One of my sisters was bed-ridden and upstairs after an op and my other sister went to visit, and could not get into the house. Sick sister couldn't even open a window to throw out a set of keys.)

Have lots of sex

Charge your phone and any other important battery devices.

have some sex

Exercise

use "Little Steve"

Get your car serviced

Have a bit more sex

Get some books, magazine, puzzles, DVDs or whatever keeps you ticking over so that if you get stuck in the house you have something to do

Don't forget the sex

DO NOT decide that this is a good time to fix the roof or cut down that tree or go skiing parachuting etc, injured guys get their surgery postponed

Did I mention the sex?

Alfred

Wow, you all are AWESOME. I'm scared ____less and hearing the voices of experience makes all the difference.

steve