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Report from the far side......

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Prostate Cancer
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Posted 5/25/2013 1:38 PM (GMT 0)
....meaning post surgery.

First thanks to all the members here who helped in so many ways with my education about PC.  You've helped me decide on treatment and decide on a doctor and prepared me for recovery.

So, step 1 is complete with surgery with Dr. Menon in Detroit this past Tuesday.  Happy to report my only discomfort is abdominal (where the robot bit me?).  I have no perineal discomfort.  Scrotum is swollen, but doesn't present much of a problem.  Stomach area feels a little bloated.  Having no trouble with supra-pubic catheter.  Trying to walk 15 minutes every hour or so.

On to step 2!  See if I can practice peeing normally on Sunday with a view toward catheter removal, work on continence, and start penile rehab.

 

Question to my robotic surgery brothers:  How long did it take before your stomach/abs felt "normal."

 

Thanks again, everyone!   smilewinkgrin

Posted 5/25/2013 1:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hay Steve N.  now 9 days out and my stomach is still slightly swollen, but less each day.  started going down about 5 or 6 days out noticeably.  Soreness is about gone unless I push bowel area real low.  Can tell  that is stil tender on the inside.  After the first week you begin to feel stronger everyday and then you think wow, this is not too bad. My perrineal soreness just seemed to have started a couple of days ago but it may disappear. Keep on healing brother.
Posted 5/25/2013 2:43 PM (GMT 0)
I had a lot of internal pain / bloating / spasms, etc. at first and I can't say I remember my abs bothering me much at all. I had an odd numb-feeling patch above my navel (about the size of my palm) and that took six months to go away. At one week I was able to use my stomach muscles to move around fairly normally (although I was quite gingerly about sitting down) and at eight weeks my doc let me go back to the gym where I was able to resume my crunches with only very minor discomfort.

You mentioned scrotal swelling, that can be used as a sort of indicator for the next couple of weeks for how much time you should spend on your feet (walking is good for you) and how much time you should spend in the recliner (and so is laying down). If you are out and about and you notice that your shorts are getting a bit tighter, it may be time to recline for a while.

It sounds like you are doing great.
Posted 5/25/2013 2:44 PM (GMT 0)
Glad that the surgery is now behind you Steve N and Steve7505!

Hubby thinks it was at about 4 weeks post-op, that his belly felt totally 'normal' again. Prior to that, he said it felt almost like he had a hernia ( although he's never had one), a slight pulling kind of feeling thing going on, along with the bit of tenderness going on.

I think, from watching hubby, that after the first 2 weeks you really begin to feel like yourself again. Just keep walking as much as you're able. It really helps physically, and I think mentally too in allowing you to know your body is still just fine. :)
Posted 5/25/2013 2:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Steve N, welcome to this side. Thrilled you are progressing so well and as planned. All I can say is to not underestimate the emotional side of things. You have just gotten out of your battle, this will sound silly, but the warrior in your will start to feel a little lost perhaps in the coming few months.

I felt the pain, as if someone had punched my abdomen as if it were a punching bag for no more than a week. I actually think that by day 4-5 it felt much much better. First 2-3 days were tough getting in and out of bed.

Please keep us updated about the rest of the process starting from cath removal. Wishing you the best for a great outcome there but remember many people progress contantly in that area even if things don't start out perfectly.
Posted 5/25/2013 3:13 PM (GMT 0)
Yep, that's the feeling. Sort of a cross between having done 500 sit ups and having been punched in the stomach. It wasn't so bad getting in and out of bed today as it was yesterday.

I have one spot that has the "wonder if that's a hernia" feeling. I blame that on not being careful getting into bed on the day after surgery or making the mistake of watching a comedy while reclining and feeling like I was laughing my steri-strips off. I'm not an Adam Sandler fan, but there were a few points in "50 First Dates" that had me clutching my stomach. No more comedies for me for a while. =o)
Posted 5/25/2013 3:35 PM (GMT 0)
I enjoyed that Movie (but I also love Barrymore). I actually prefer Sandler when he plays tragic roles :)

Can you imagine the poor guys tha get a bad cough/sore throat right out of our surgery?
Posted 5/25/2013 4:20 PM (GMT 0)
Clutch the pillow to the abdomen tightly while cough/sneeze, like that.
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