Fairwind's on the other side- Congrats

Fairwind posted in another thread, but since post surgery 'on the other side' posts are important, I am moving it over here for it's own reading. Oh, welcome to the other side and your first few steps of recovery and the next stage in your journey, Fairwind.

Fairwind says:

Hello! Post Prostatectomy, day two..My anesthesiologist also gave me the long-lasting pain shots in the back, but I don't remember any of it..Four hours later, I found myself staring at the ceiling lights, more than a little confused..Things slowly came into focus, no pain, and they wheeled me up to my room..I was up and walking around that evening. They had some leg squeezers on me to prevent blood clots..The machines action prevented any real sleep that night.. I was discharged at 10am the following morning...The day went not too bad, I was nauseous, could not eat much, liquids mostly, stomach felt full of gas but could not burp..Tried to take a pain pill, pain was not bad, but I had the pills...Ten minutes later I barfed but felt better..Anesthesia left my throat sore and dried out, full of phlegm which resulted in painful coughing. They gave me one of those breathing gizmos to play with.. Went to bed around 8:30pm and was able to sleep, getting up at midnight, walking around, drinking some water, clearing my throat..Guts started making a lot of noise, big farts, felt good...

Got up this morning (Sunday) feeling much better, was able to eat a LITTLE breakfast, oatmeal and some melon and juice. Zero appetite, stomach feels "full"..Throat and lungs pretty much cleared up, much less coughing..I have five "bullet holes" in my gut and a 1.75" incision directly above my navel..They are sealed up with some kind of waterproof "glue".. No drips or drools from them and they have withstood the coughing as the surgeon said they would...

As soon as I can get back to eating half-way normally, I'll be in pretty good shape. The Foley is a pain in the butt, no real pain now, so the waiting game begins...Thanks for the encouragement and good wishes.. Bob S.Age today: 68. Married, 6', 215 pounds, active, no health issues.
PSA at age 55: 3.5, DRE negative. Advice, "Keep an eye on it".
PSA at age 58: 4.5
PSA at age 61: 5.2
PSA at age 64: 7.5, DRE "Abnormal"
PSA at age 65: 8.5, DRE " normal", biopsy, 12 core, negative...
PSA at age 66 9.0 DRE "normal", BPH, Finesteride. (Proscar)
PSA at age 67 4.5 DRE "normal" second biopsy, negative.
PSA at age 67.5 5.6, DRE "normal" U-doc worried..
PSA at age 68, 7.0, third 12 core biopsy positive for cancer in 4 cores, 3 cores Gleason 6, one core Gleason 9. Finesteride discontinued, still no urinary symptoms, never had any..From age 55 to 65 I had no health insurance.

I have a date with the robo surgeon on Sept 3 but I'm keeping my options open. I'm also looking at seeds combined with IGRT which seems to be having good results with high-risk patients..

So glad that you are safely on the other side, the recovery side. Hopefully, it will be uphill from here. Don't overdo anything, listen to your bodie's signals closely, take the pain meds as needed - no prize for being tough, lots of water, stool softeners, etc. I think you know the routine, and walk modestly when you can, and rest lots the rest of the time. You body just went through a major war inside, give it a chance to heal, and your head a chance to catch up to everything you have been through.

my best to you

david in sc

Fairwind,

Keep up the walking. It'll get the bowels moving even quicker. Careful with the catheter, you'll only need to snag it on something once.

Good luck and hope your recovery is uneventful. Keep posting and let us know how you're doing.

Mike

Fairwind...... Glad your surgery went well, hope your recovery is smooth sailing!!! Good Luck

Fairwind, Best of luck to you for a speedy, undetectable, dry and ED free recovery.

Don't know about you but that Foley was great for me, first full nights sleep I'd had in a long time. Kind of annoying during the day but at night it was my best friend.

Congratuations. As some have said above, keep the walking up but do not over do it! 

Fairwind, sounds like you've done pretty well.
I wish you all the best for a speedy recovery.
Once you do start eating, don't eat too heavily till after the first bowel movement. It's something we learnt the hard way.

An

Fairwind, I asked about your surgery on the other thread and I am glad you followed through and are now on the other side!

My husband's sutures were also sealed up with some kind of waterproof "glue".  Aren't most?  That use of a small pillow was an excellent idea.  My husband has used it many times.

Wishing you a complete recovery and good results on the pathology report.  Take your time with the walking great distance, rest, eat properly, and all the other things already mentioned.  Glad you came back to share details.  Good luck to you!

Aimzee

Hi Fairwind and welcome to the other side. Glad to hear that everything went well and that you're feeling ok considering your recent ordeal.

Wishing you a speedy and complete recovery.

Mag

Good luck Fairwind,

I ate a lot of fruit and used STOOL SOFTENERS.

I remember being surprised that I'd need them, but they worked well for me.

Catheter removal day is probably something you'll look forward to.
And was surprisingly easy, for me anyway, I never felt a thing.

As others have said already "Walk, walk, walk..."

Fairwind

Glad your surgery is over and everthing went well.  As everyone said walk and drink its the best thing for you.

Jerry1

Best to you going forward and good healing, of course herein you have Healing-Well
as the support system and free to any patients whom drop in.

Fairwind, I am delighted for you.

It's great to hear good news!

Mimi in Wisconsin