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My Davinci Surgery - 36 Hours Report

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Posted 10/28/2011 1:37 AM (GMT 0)
Well. It is done. Had my DaVinci performed by Dr. Wilson at City of Hope yesterday (Wednesday). So far my experiences with Dr. Wilson and City of Hope are nothing less that fantastic. The nurses and staff are great. You do not have to request anything. They seem to anticipate your needs and are always checking on you. Dr. Wilson was very caring and saw me three times. I started walking within 4 hours out of surgery.

First night, I could not sleep from back pain (bad back) and abdominal pain. They gave me Percocet and things seemed to improve. Since all rooms are private, my wife was able to spend the night with me. Today, the pain from gasses started and it became strong in the shoulders and upper abdomen. I am trying to walk as much as possible. They released me at 1:00 PM today and I am now just dealing with the gasses pain and the infamous catheter (I hate this thing). I started taking stool softener and other meds.

I have to say that this site and its members prepared me well for what to expect. Will continue reporting.
Posted 10/28/2011 1:52 AM (GMT 0)
krm,

welcome back, and welcome to the recovery side. since i had open surgery, never had to deal with the gas thing that so many of your robotic guys talk about, doesn't sound fun. hopefully you won't be with catheter for long. good luck in your recovery, the hardest part is behind you now. listen to your body. and get well.


david in sc
Posted 10/28/2011 2:05 AM (GMT 0)
Gas and bloating were the worst parts of the hospital experience for me. My stay was 3 days.  The catheter wasn't much fun either. 

Here's hoping the gas pain resolves quickly and that the catheter comes out as soon as possible.  Don't over-exert yourself; listen to your body, and let the healing proceed.  Congratulations for all you've been through, and best wishes for a great pathology report.

Posted 10/28/2011 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
krm, be sure to keep walking and drinking water. Walk and drink, walk and drink. I also put the 'bag' in a pail during the night and tried to sleep on my back. The catheter issue is certainly a pain but if you do everything right, it'll come out before you know it and it will only be a bad memory. Good luck with your recovery.
Posted 10/28/2011 2:22 AM (GMT 0)
krm: Welcome to the other side.. Now walk and drink and walk and drink. On to healing. :)

Cajun Jeff
Posted 10/28/2011 2:51 AM (GMT 0)
Wow, you hated the catheter? Really??? We all loved ours! turn

It gets much better from here. Rest up, heal up and pamper yourself for a while. You'll feel a lot better soon.

Welcome to the other side.
Posted 10/28/2011 3:03 AM (GMT 0)
krm:
congrats on getting through the surgery - wishing you all the best in your recovery - gentle hugs, Bronson
Posted 10/28/2011 3:03 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you guys.cant say too much about the quality of the people here. Feels good to be home. It is weird how fast all the doubts about the decision go away. Now to the next step to recovery.
Posted 10/28/2011 3:30 PM (GMT 0)
Glad that you are at home KRM and hpefully the gas pains will pass fast. I had a lot of pain, but none from gas. Eat well, drink water and walk as possible. I had strange cravings, but a cautionary note, stay away from Cheetos.

Michael

Posted 10/28/2011 3:39 PM (GMT 0)
I'm exactly two years out from my date with DaVinci, so time and tide have helped fade most of the memories post-surgery....but, I do remember that the gas pains in my shoulder/upper chest were distracting and took nearly 48 hours to dissapate (the gas needs to be absorbed by your body, not expelled).  And -  the catheter (which I had for 9 days) actually provided a benefit:  for the first time in years, I didn't have to get out of bed two or three times a night to go to the bathroom (because of the enlarged prostate).  I really counted that as a plus.  As everyone says, drink and walk.  Don't get discouraged by whatever continence issues come your way...they will improve eventually.  I actually took 18 months before I felt 99% confident. 

Take care...

Chris in San Diego

Posted 10/28/2011 3:40 PM (GMT 0)
So glad everything came out OK and now you are on the other side on the way to recovery. The Davinci surgery is a piece of cake and never as bad as anyone imagines. Part of the back pain may be from laying on the metal operating table and is a common complaint after surgery and not related to your bad back. I had some pain in my back that went  away in a couple of days.

Terry

 

Posted 10/28/2011 4:32 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks all. What I have is pain in the shoulders and my abdomen is bloated and painful.
Posted 10/28/2011 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
Krm001, welcome to the other side. Only pain I had was at the hospital from trying to watch the tv which for some reason was over my left shoulder.Felt like Lynda Blair from the exorcist trying to twist my neck around.
Posted 10/28/2011 4:57 PM (GMT 0)
Congratulations KRM!

Glad to see everything went well. I had the stomach pains for a few days but did not take any pain meds just pushed through it after the first two days. I did not like the side effects from the pain meds I experienced in the past, bad constipation. Drink plenty of water, take your stool softeners and any laxative recommendations your doctor may have given you, you don't want to have to force a BM. The cath for me was not all that bad just a little of a nusiance walking aroung the house. I only used the leg bag when walking outside.

Relax and take care of yourself, enjoy the naps. Hope your recovery goes well.   

Posted 10/28/2011 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks. What compounded it to me is that I had rotator cuff surgery in the right shoulder and seems like the gasses like to hide there and raise hell. I am taking some Percoset, but will try to stop it and maybe switch to Tylenol. Funny the high you go through after the surgery. For all of others pending surgery, feels like a big weight lifted off your shoulders. One strange thing I had last night was feeling Wilson getting hard like a partial erection. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Scheduled to have catherer removed on November 1, and to get results from biopsy.
Posted 10/28/2011 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the other side - everybody has chimed in on the main suggestions, so I'll just add - Don't push yourself, use the next few weeks for healing, not catching up in the gym.

Let us know how its going -

Posted 10/29/2011 12:35 AM (GMT 0)
Do you know when you are overdoing it?  When you leg feels funny and you find that the cathere disconnected from the bag.  Live and learn.....
Posted 10/29/2011 12:36 AM (GMT 0)
I think you have figured it out buddy.. sounds like your doing well.

Cajun jeff
Posted 10/29/2011 12:41 AM (GMT 0)
Good to hear you are doing so well Cajun jeff. I am learning as I go along. What happened is that I was passing out blood (urine was red). Called City of Hope nurse and she immediately told me I needed at least 8 bottles of water a day. It is now clearing out. Lesson learned, lots of water (but don't forget to drain the bag).
Posted 10/29/2011 5:15 AM (GMT 0)
Remembering to empty the big/night bag - Ah, brings back memories.

I emptied the big bag, but didn't get the drain closed right. Wondered why it wasn't heavy when I got up. When I realized the wood floor was somewhat awash in a sea of yellow, the light came on.

The "bag in the bucket" scheme has multiple advantages.

And yes, lots of water. All you want.

Posted 10/29/2011 7:38 AM (GMT 0)
Ah the gas, how could I forget. Crawling in agony in the small hours of the morning begging for relief. Prayers for relief were answered in a most audible way, roaring with laughter accompanied the gross flatulence and OHHHH the relief! The catheter, well those of us with narrow urethras probably have more to suffer and I have the legacy of a catheter which irritated the sensitive skin it was in contact with. Strictures, who needs them? At least the dreaded C word is gone. Best wishes for a fantastic recovery and continence within 3 months or so.

Muz
Posted 10/30/2011 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
Happy sunday all. On my way to Ciity of Hope. I walked up this morning wet around one of the incisions and noticed it is continuously draining yellow liquid. Is this. Normal? Thanks.
Posted 10/30/2011 5:45 PM (GMT 0)
Do you have a drain tube where this is coming from?  If not call your doctor, it might be an infection.
Posted 10/30/2011 6:00 PM (GMT 0)
No drain tube. Coming from one of the incisions. On my way to CoH
Posted 10/31/2011 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
I had a slow ooze, which seems to be normal. A real flow is not. Talk to the doc.
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