Now that I am a bit more alert I thought I’d give a report on what my experiences were with DaVinci surgery.
Surgery was on Monday.
Saturday I had my ‘last supper’.
Sunday was bowel cleansing day - starting early in the morning. Used magnesium citrate. It took about 4 hours before things really got moving. Then had to take large doses of antibiotics (hence the original subject of the thread "pre-op problem"). All this cleaning and antibiotics had me excreting large quantities of blood which took me by surprise. I later got nausea so bad I got no sleep at all Sunday night.
Monday morning went in early (4 hours) to hospital at doctor’s request to see if they could help with the nausea, dry heaves, etc. The nurse and phlebotomist solved the problem (see earlier post- "pre-op problem"). Surgery started an hour late as I was third on the table. I was in the OR for 5 hours. I was only awake enough in the OR to move myself over to the table and ask one question. The next thing I remember was being in my room.
Tuesday I finally ate – and only because I was getting ‘hunger shakes’ – probably low blood sugar. I knew when I started eating the IBS and gas would start up again –and it has. I did not have any abdominal bloating from the surgery.
I was surprised how kind all the staff was. They were calm, encouraging, and very pleasant. Until I got to the OR everything was done very discreetly. I thought I would be disrobed in front of everybody throughout the ordeal. This was not the case.
I reacted to the anesthesia and pain meds a little differently than most I guess. It puts me in a really deep sleep. They had a hard time waking me up. After two hours in recovery they got a grunt out of me so they shipped me off to my room where I slept for the next 18 hours-minus the obligatory blood draws, alarms going off, injections of heparin (I have had pulmonary emboli before). The pain meds they gave me didn’t take away the pain – it just put me to sleep. Even now I am still very groggy.
I had lots of doctors visit me but never saw the surgeon again. I don’t remember much of anything of what they said. Hence, I learned it is very important to have someone be your spokesman, advocate, and listener for you. The surgeon thought he got everything cancer-wise and didn’t think the cancer got outside of the prostate – which we thought might be a possibility. He saved the right nerve bundle and part of the left. The lipoma (benign fat tumor) they were going to remove ended up staying as it was too involved with the good nerve bundle and they didn’t think it was worth it to try and remove. So now I am hoping to have a good pathology report.
One last unexpected pleasure. Just before being discharged they had to take out the drain. No big deal, round tube, just pull it out quickly, right…. The surgeons tied it so tight to the skin they had to cut my skin to get out the sutures. The nurse said pulling it out would feel strange put wouldn’t hurt. As I look back on it I envision a bullet going slowly though my guts. The nurse pulled out the tube and they had a big old 4 inch long 5/16” + rectangular drain. I felt like my guts were being ripped out when that thing came out – all through a 1/8” in round hole. The nurse cussed and said it sure would have been nice to know that was in there. All the blood everywhere was a bit unnerving. Ask to be sure they know what is in there before taking out the drain
So what was the good, bad and the ugly for me- what did I learn:
I appreciate my support system (wife, kids too) more than ever. Don’t forget they are tired and exhausted as well. I found I started only thinking of myself and lost sight of what she/they was trying to do to help and support. Speak kindly to those helping. Don’t let pain speak for you.
Pay particular attention to younger kids even teen-agers – they don’t let on that they are really scared too.
My vision changed after being ‘upside down’. It took awhile for that to get back to normal.
The antibiotic reaction was unexpected. And the most miserable thing to date.
The shoulder pain (as suggested from the gas they fill you up with) was the sharpest pain I experienced. It is slowly getting better.
Don’t laugh, cough, or burb. It really hurts.
Walking hurts but is important. It also helps with reducing the impact of scarring which can adversely affect the overall outcome.
Catheters are not too bad – of course I’ve only had it a short time. You know you have one when it gets tugged accidentally.
I found a really large sweatshirt top that is long enough to act as a Minnie-skirt so I can walk around the house commando style. I prefer to just carry around the large bag and not deal with the small leg bag. When I get to doing the outside walking I have a feeling I will need to dress a little less flashy J
I really missed taking a shower.
Ask questions – you must be an advocate for yourself.
I’d never make a good drug addict – I dislike the narcotic pain meds.
Stool softeners will be your friend. The hospital will charge an arm and leg (or a prostate) for them. Just get your own and tell them you have them. The hospital just gives OTC anyway.
After they tell you you can be discharged it may take 3 hours before it happens.
You really do lose and inch in length. I hope some of it comes back with ‘exercise’.
Your body may react totally different than you expect or is the norm.
You don’t usually get all the info about what can happen until after the fact. This forum is a great place to get ideas, support and experiences.
Be grateful for life, friends, family, and especially your loved ones. Treat them with love and respect
A special thanks to everyone on this board. Every comment I read in some way helps. The experiences, as mundane as you think they may be, are very helpful in coping with this disease.
I look forward to beinga zero.