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Posted 9/14/2011 10:03 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all of the welcomes to this forum, what a great discussion group.I am six weeks out of the Radical . Some days I have tons of energy, but today I am very sluggish, question is what is the usual recovery time before you start feeling normal every day. Also has anyone changed their diets or to be more specific are there any diets recommended.

Thanks for all your input

jerryo

Posted 9/14/2011 10:32 PM (GMT 0)
 Jerry

I am 3 months from surgery and I still have some days where I run out of energy around 3pm and I just call it a day and leave work. At 6 weeks I tried to do as much as I could in my mornings as I was just worn out most afternoons as a result of both the summer heat here in the south and my surgery.

I am not on any special diet and my URO never recommended any after surgery. I have always kept my red meat consumption down to one time a week and we eat a lot of seafood and chicken all Organic or wild caught. I eat lots of fresh fruit and veggies. I also drink red wine 4 to 5 times a week with dinner which is good for my cholesterol too. Being in the water business, I do not drink any tap water and haven't for 10 years. I drink only purified drinking water.

The energy levels will improve with time and other than my ED problems at 3 months post op I can honestly say I feel better overall than I have in years.

Terry TWG

Posted 9/15/2011 12:15 AM (GMT 0)
With DaVinci, it is my opinion that a lot of the fatigue is mental. Because of the less invasive nature of the robot, little loss of blood, and short hospital stay, I really don't see a reason for prolonged fatigue.

That said, I too went through the PM fatigue. I actually went back to some work with my leg bag attached, and was working 6 to 8 hours a day after 2 weeks. I think the emasculation feeling, the fear of PC reoccurrence, incontinence, ED, and maybe even a little depression mixed together to make just want to lay down, take a nap, and forget about it.

I found in my own situation that once I got caught up in my work, I really didn't need the rest, and within 3 or 4 weeks, I was lasting all day.

Welcome to HW, and good luck on your recovery. My doctor was of the opinion if it didn't hurt, it was ok to do, within some reason of course. Not sure my reason was great, but I made it with no complications.
Posted 9/15/2011 3:45 AM (GMT 0)
Jerry,

I recovered most of my energy quickly--still fatigued easily at six weeks, but better by three months. By six months I was almost back to normal, but  I'd say it took me a full year to be back to where I was before surgery.

Regarding diet, anything good for your heart is probably going to be good to prevent prostate cancer recurrence.  Many of us are more conscious of our diet since getting PCa.  Nothing is off my plate, but I tend to eat more of the good foods, and less of the not-so-good foods nowadays.  I also take more vitamin and mineral supplements than I did before my prostate surgery.  My basic approach to food is still that it is primarily to be enjoyed, not solely a fuel source.  I like the Mediterranean diet. 

Take care and hang in there....Tim

Post Edited (Tim G) : 9/15/2011 1:17:26 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/15/2011 9:59 AM (GMT 0)
Recovery can take longer than you think based on just seeing six or seven little key hole scars on your abdomen.

The robot does just about the same amount of "damage" on the inside as conventional open surgery. The body uses a lot of energy resources, nutrients etc dealing with mending healing all that damage.

The surgery requires a lot of strong chemicals to be used and it can take many weeks for the liver kidneys etc to fully process them and flush them out of you. While they are in you they can make you feel different.

The mental stress side of things is very relevant, firstly the wait till the cath comes out, the wait for the post op pathology and the wait for the first post op PSA are all very stressful.

It can also be very tiring having a cath in for example, or not being able to sleep properly or even sit and lie properly, and thus not get adequate rest. Not getting enough exercise can actually make you fatigued.

Good diet and adequate exercise all help, but we must all be different as I still find I can be confronted by bouts of fatigue and I'm 25 months on from surgery and 15 months on from SRT. I find the trick is to get outside and move and thus remove the ability to fall asleep at a desk or on the couch. I do not however get in a car.

Alf
Posted 9/15/2011 12:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jerry, I am 6 weeks out also. Some days I have a lot of energy and some days I dont. But in my case, I feel the difference has to do with how I slept the night before. I am walking about 2 miles in the mornings, which I have never done in my life.

Heart healthy diet seems to be the general consensus with some going to extremes. I decided to eat more fruits and veggies, cut down on the beer and whisky, and learn to like red wine. I am also learning the hard way, not to go crazy and buy a lot of fruit in one visit to the store. You will end up throwing a lot of it away before you get a chance to eat it. LOL

I also quit drinking milk (Darn). But I still have my weekly steak although I am now enjoying sirloins rather than ribeyes, because I feel they are less fatty. I really like what Tim G said above about food should also be enjoyed, not just a fuel source. No matter what, moderation is the key.
Posted 9/15/2011 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
I just finished reading "Foods that Fight Cancer" by Richard Beliveau. Worthwhile reading for any cancer patients. Also read Dean Ornish's book "The Spectrum".

Personally, I've been following mostly a vegan diet with some fish. Occasionally I will cheat and have a small piece of chicken or turkey without the skin.
Posted 9/15/2011 7:04 PM (GMT 0)
I have always liked Tuna Fish (canned) - turns out Tuna is actually good for you. Unlike Chips Ahoy cookies and whole milk which I also enjoy ..but diverging ..

For Tuna Fish - instead of using mayo - use tartar sauce. Also take about three spoons of pitted olives - throw them in a mixer and grind up. add the olives to the tuna fish - It is really quite good!
Than have some red wine - just cause it tastes good!

Bud

Post Edited (Raddad) : 9/15/2011 1:07:56 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/15/2011 10:40 PM (GMT 0)
After my open surgery, I was feeling back to "normal" at about 10 weeks. Best of luck.

Eric
Posted 9/16/2011 12:19 AM (GMT 0)

Hi jerryo.

  Yes I could tell when three PM came around for about the first year after open surgery.  I guess it is a common problem.

Mika

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