Pain & side effects after prostatectomy

Igor the tiredness is something that most of us can relate to and most of us also had a certain level of pain, although not everyone. My only pain in the lower extremeties felt like a blot clot but it only lasted a couple of weeks, so not really sure what that was about. Pain in the stomach area for sure and I still have some discomfort there. Your hand problems should clear up if indeed it was caused by the IV line.

Sounds like there are some good things going for you as in the incontinence department. Get with your Doc about the ED med to make sure it wont cause any heart problems. Most everything else should pass with  time and keep us posted on your pathology report.

Michael

Hi Igor,

You are only about 4 weeks out from MAJOR INVASIVE surgery and you went back to work!? I don't know how much physical effort is involved in you job, but you should be taking it very easy for several more weeks and do very little physical activity except for lots of walking and some kegels. I was told by my Dr. not  to lift anything heavier than 5 lbs for several weeks after surgery. The tiredness after surgery seams very common and is the effect of the body trying to heald. I hope you didn't do anything to strenuous and interfered with healing process. Just take it easy and give your body a chance to heal. The initial report of your surgery seams very promising and I hope that your first PSA test will be a big zero.

All the best to you.

Magaboo

Igor,

My surgery was in May of 09. it took me awhile to figure out how to add all that info to my signature, which is below our comments. Stomach problems now are likely problems with nerve damage but shortly after surgery it was probably due to gas build up from everything pumped into me at the time of surgery. Avoid constipation and use stool softeners if you are having problems with bowel movements. Keep us posted on your PSA.

Michael

Igor

Yes, I'm surprised you are back at work so soon. The robot only leaves little scars on the outside, but it is major surgery on the inside.
I was told that after a RALP the earliest an employer in Holland is allowed to expect you back at work is three months after surgery. Not much help for the self-emplyed I know, or for those like me whose work is at home, but then again it depends on how much physical effort the work entails.
The effect of abdominal surgery on abdominal muscles etc should not be underestimated. On the other hand, while work is not exercise as such, there is that delicate balance to be achieved between not doing the wrong type of exercise and doing just the right amount of the right exercise to bring about speedier recovery: the right gentle exercise may help deal with some of the aches one gets after surgery.

Alf

I think the pain after surgery is a very individual thing. I did have some abdominal pain, however it was minimal. The worse part of the whole experience for me was the gas that they pump into you. The next worse part was the catheter. It caused me a lot of pain for the last three days I had it.

The typical routine for me my first week after surgery was to:

Get up and have breakfast and watch about 30 minutes news.
Take a nap
Get up and have a cup of coffee and watch about 20-30 minutes of tv.
Take a nap
Get up and have lunch
Take a nap
Get up have something to drink talk with wife or watch tv for about 30 minutes
Take a nap
Get up for about an hour for dinner
Take a nap
Get up for about 30 minutes
Take my meds and go to bed for the night.

The second week a I stayed up longer between naps.

I went back to work begining of the third week. The first two days were 6 hour days, the third one was a 7 hour day and after that I am back to full 8 hour days.
The most strenous thing I do is pick up a coffee cup and a telephone hand set.

Seriously, I did nothing but sleep for two weeks, I think that is one of the reasons my recovery has gone so well. My wife claims I look better now than I did before the surgery.

I would not push anything faster than what the body can handle. That is one lesson I have learned the hard way a long time ago.

Oh my goodness, Ivy!  Good to hear that your husband is on the mend and starting back in the gym.

Woodworker, I looked at your schedule and didn't see any walking times on it.  Isn't walking suggested?  I am taking notes here!

Aimzee

Aimzee


I didn't clarify very well in my last posting. My schedule did include mostly sleep with a little walking the first week. The second week the walking was kicked up quite a bit. The third week, I walk about 30 minutes a day as well as the gardening 2-3 times a week.