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Posted 8/6/2011 2:58 PM (GMT 0)
What is the average time after surgery at going back to work? I should add also that my job even though being a part owner I am also out in the field doing physical work.
Posted 8/6/2011 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
My uro/surgeon has a standard of 5-7 weeks before returning to an office type job on the "advice" sheet. I was actually back working remotely via computer the next week, but it was difficult to go to the office even 3 months later because of my extreme leakage. It was 5 months before I got to a steady 2-3 pads a day.

Then I started RT, which just messed everything up worse.

Posted 8/6/2011 4:21 PM (GMT 0)
Wow! 5-7 weeks? I'm hoping that I can return to work no more then 3-4 weeks even if it means just estimating and doing the customer contact part.
Posted 8/6/2011 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
Cmetalman,

Assuming no complications and a normal recovery (and you feel like it), my Uro recommended 10-14 days off for an office job. This was for a robotic. I work at home so without the stress of commuting, I was back to full time in a week, but would lay down every couple of hours for a short break.

Normally, my job requires periodic lifting but I was able to have someone else do it while I recovered and remember thinking that if I had a physical labor job like a delivery man or carpenter, I would have needed 6 weeks off.

Dan
Posted 8/6/2011 4:47 PM (GMT 0)
 Hey Metalman,

My URO totally discharged me to do anything I felt like doing 3 weeks after my RALP. First 3 weeks no lifting more than 10 lbs and starting the 2nd week I was making a few sales and service calls that didn't require any heavy lifting. I also own my own business and it involves lifting and installing some heavy water systems and by the 4th week I had no problems, but I tried to do all heavy work in the mornings as by afternoon and in our southern heat I was pretty worn out. By the 7th week I was pretty much back to 100%. I also found it easier to stay dry when I was out and about and not thinking about it, but I was lucky to be totally dry with no pads at 3 1/2 weeks.

Posted 8/6/2011 5:00 PM (GMT 0)
Being an owner and hands-on worker I do a combination of sales,PR, supervising, and a good portion of actual physical work. My partner/brother and I are hoping I can come back in 3-4 weeks to at least do the sales part.
Posted 8/6/2011 5:06 PM (GMT 0)
I looked at a pretty good size job last week and the first thought came to my mind was."I'm too busy to have prostate cancer its just going to have to wait".
Posted 8/6/2011 5:16 PM (GMT 0)

cmetalman said...
Being an owner and hands-on worker I do a combination of sales,PR, supervising, and a good portion of actual physical work. My partner/brother and I are hoping I can come back in 3-4 weeks to at least do the sales part.

Unless you have some complications you should not have a problem doing this after the 3rd week.

Posted 8/6/2011 5:25 PM (GMT 0)

cmetalman said...
I looked at a pretty good size job last week and the first thought came to my mind was."I'm too busy to have prostate cancer its just going to have to wait".

 

I Had a new customer, who I have been working with for 2 years to buy a new water system, call me 2 days before surgery to tell me he was ready to finally move forward and wanted the system installed the next week. My first thought was the same as yours but after I explained to him my issues and that it would be the first week in July before I could install his system, he said actually the first of July worked better for him.

Terry

Posted 8/6/2011 5:48 PM (GMT 0)
CM -

Same here. I was getting ready to be assigned on an overseas job. Then a generic blood test messed up the future for me. Post op pathology told us that I didn't make an error in going ahead with treatment. Maybe I'll get on the road again -

I was on a 5 pound lift limit for months. I also had some issues with the way the internal sutures dissolved - the fragments kept working to the surface on my belt line. It made wearing anything tight or with a belt very uncomfortable. But remember that it will take up to three months for all of the internal sutures to heal, so don't rely just on the appearance of the external scars.
Posted 8/6/2011 6:16 PM (GMT 0)
I'm afraid to ask when I can start weight lifting again.
Posted 8/6/2011 7:08 PM (GMT 0)

cmetalman said...
I'm afraid to ask when I can start weight lifting again.

After I was released at 3 weeks my URO said I could lift my water machines that weigh 70 lbs but not to do it all day. I would say lift weights when your URO releases you but just do not over do it.

Posted 8/6/2011 10:13 PM (GMT 0)
I told my wife my goals are to be by next year (12 months) as healthy as I am now without the cancer. At least thats my wish.
Posted 8/6/2011 10:29 PM (GMT 0)
I was back to work in three weeks - as long as I promised not to lift anything for 6 weeks. I remember pain when I mowed the lawn at 5 weeks - sitting on a lawn tractor. But that too apssed.
Posted 8/7/2011 12:34 AM (GMT 0)
I has open surgery dec 8,2010 and returned to my desk job dec dec 20.
I recall it was a little uncomfortable but most of the time I was too busy to think about it, in about 6 weeks I didn't have any pain sitting or standing
Posted 8/7/2011 1:24 AM (GMT 0)
Metalman,

Other than my ED problems, I can honestly say today at 8 weeks post surgery I feel better than I DID PRE SURGERY and which partly I attribute to not having to worry about having cancer and facing surgery. I think 12 months is a goal that is way to long if you have a good surgeon and no complications and get a good post op pathology. Just this week my bladder has gotten to the point that I can actually go several hours during the day and most of the night without having to pee.

Posted 8/7/2011 2:32 AM (GMT 0)
It's not black and white. You don't one day wake up and say, Great it's 15 days, off to work I go. I had the catheter in 2 weeks, and although I felt ok I wasn't going anywhere carrying my bucket. A week after it was out I was good for 3 or 4 hours work. In other words, I could have gone and estimated a job or made a sales call, gone back to the office with the paperwork, and then gone home for a nap. I needed a nap every day for months.

I agree, we were all too busy for this. Oh, the annoying part was no lifting for several weeks. If you're in a job where you normally do that, it's a hard instinct to overcome.
Posted 8/9/2011 1:26 PM (GMT 0)
I have a sit on my butt office job. I was out two weeks. The first 2 days back I worked 6 hours. The third day back I did 7 hours and after that it was 8 hour days. I have about a 45 min commute each way. However, for abuout 3 - 4 weeks I would be down for the count almost as soon as I got home.
Posted 8/9/2011 3:26 PM (GMT 0)
....one important thing to keep in mind, it was sort of touched on earlier: when the doc gives you a weight maximum lifting limit, this is not ONLY for the abdominal wall that is healing, but ALSO for the internal connections that need to heal back.  overdoing stuff and getting your belly sore is not fun, but messing up your urethra would be a particularly BAD situation!!  just food for thought...

bob

Posted 8/11/2011 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
Da Vinci Robot on 7/21/11

I was told that i could go back to work in 2 weeks post op.

No lifting over 10 lbs for a total of 3 wks

then after 21 days i could resume ANY activity that i wanted to...( well except one)  even working out vigorously and weight lifting... My surgeon who is very experienced said that after 21 days ,   I could not hurt anything....  i could do whatever i felt like....

bottom line....   as far as working out goes.... " i don't feel like it "  LOL

Posted 8/11/2011 4:59 PM (GMT 0)
I have a desk job and at my one week post op appt (this week), my uro said that he could release me that day if I wanted but recommended a month. I chose to take the advice, rest and enjoy my family. I typically have been a company man most of my career. Now I'm going to focus on getting a better life - work balance which my boss fully supports. My only restriction is lifting to no more than a gallon of milk. Back at work after Labor Day and expect to be fully recovered, refreshed and relaxed.
Posted 8/11/2011 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
aerie3 and BDCyclist, first congrats on your successful surgery.I am going to do as my urologist advises, I'm just hoping to get moving as day say "sooner rather then later". The weights will just have to sit and collect dust.I'm looking it as September13 being a new beginning.
Posted 8/11/2011 7:20 PM (GMT 0)
Sometimes if you don't ask , they don't tell you.

I had to climb on an overhead crane a week later, with my leg bag strapped on.

I think there is a lot of common sense on this issue. Sometimes a cough or sneeze can be more damaging to your bladder stitches than picking up a 10 pound weight. If it hurts, don't do it. Whatever you do, do it slowly.

I can't recall hearing too many guys here who have done serious damage by working too soon.
Posted 8/11/2011 7:57 PM (GMT 0)
cmetalman,

I wish you the very best in your upcoming surgery and hope it goes as well if not better than mine. My biggest issue now is that I feel so good I have to remember not to over do it. Going to a Sugarland concert tomorrow night.

I second the advice from goodlife, do it slowly and if it hurts, don't do it.
Posted 8/11/2011 7:59 PM (GMT 0)
Goodlife,

I remember more than one hernia being discussed here. Seems like that would be the larger of the risks.

My Uro and GP were concerned about pulling internal sutures, which I would not realize until "too late". I had bits and pieces of suture material coming up through my skin like a rash almost three months after surgery.

I am a bit amazed by the variety of advice reported as given by the surgeons. Perhaps mine was very conservative, since he is also my uro and would have to deal with the problems later. He won't be able to sell me that bionic willy if I'm mad at him over a hernia.

  idea

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