My recovery story from RRP

First I want to thank the contributors to this forum. Your insight during a difficult time was extremely important and helpful as I planned my response to my PC diagnosis.

I feel compelled to share my recovery story in hopes that it will provide helpful information to someone as how many of your stories have helped me. It's been a little over 7 months (November 2012) since I submitted to RRP surgery and it’s been an interesting journey to say the least. After surgery I spent 2.5 days in the hospital. I was up and walking the day after surgery albeit very slowly. The first couple of days home were spent in a reclining chair with an occasional walk around the house and eventually walks outside. My first doctor’s visit was a week later where my staples (all 22) were removed. Meanwhile each day I gained more strength and experienced less soreness. My walks increased as my energy level increased. My next doctor’s visit on December 21 was memorable as my catheter was finally removed. Some say it wasn’t going to hurt but that wasn’t my experience. Removal was uncomfortable and painful but at least was it out. Exactly four weeks after surgery I began to exercise. My limit was no more than 10 pounds. I also increased my walks to a couple of miles or 45 minutes. Getting back to a normal exercise routine was a perfect mental boost. I returned to work after 6 weeks. I submitted to my first post-surgery PSA in early January and it was a 0.1. My next appointment was in April where I once again took a PSA, which also came back as 0.1. I’m now on a schedule where I’ll visit my doctor every 6 months. My next appointment is in November.

So let’s talk about incontinence. I immediately became incontinent when the catheter was removed. I initially needed 5 or 6 pads a day but slowly over time I required fewer and fewer pads. Two months after surgery I was using 1 to 2 pads a day and then a week after my 3-month surgery anniversary, I no longer required pads. It seemed to happen over night. I accidently left the house one day without a pad on. I was mid-afternoon before I realized what I had forgotten but I never used another pad again. It was completely liberating to get rid of the pads. No longer did I need to plan ahead and have extra pads with me at all times.

As for intimacy, I feel very fortunate that I haven’t experience too many issues. Like many I was prescribed 5mg of Cialis after surgery. I experienced morning erections days after surgery and while still sporting a catheter. Against doctor orders (my doctor seems a little conservative based on other stories I’ve read), my wife and I engaged in intercourse 4 weeks after surgery. I was a little nervous but we took it slow. I did experience times during the first 2 to 3 months when erections weren’t as firm as before surgery and there were times when I couldn’t maintain an erection during intercourse but after 3 months those issues subsided and I now enjoy a normal sex life. I’m able to get and maintain erections like I did pre-surgery. I’m still taking 5mg of Cialis daily but will quit once I run out of the samples that my doctor has been supplying me.

All in all I’m doing well and as long as the cancer doesn’t return then I’m good to go. I’m back 100% working out - lifting heavy weights, playing golf, playing basketball and doing all other activities. Surgery has worked out for me. My doctor was optimistic going in to the surgery that I would return to normal, taking into consideration my age, physical condition, how early we caught and treated the cancer and given my family’s history of successful recoveries. I know there are multiple treatment options and you have to use your best judgment picking the best one for you. Hopefully, my experience will provide some critical insight that will help you make your decision.

Yes, thanks for sharing,great to hear about some positive results. if you don't mind my asking, why was your cath in for so long?

Craig,

Great surgical recovery story on all fronts, very happy for you. I had my cath in for 63 days after surgery, so I know the feeling.

Hope you continue to do so well ahead.

david

Great update!  Thanks for sharing your journey!

I'm 6 months behind you and tomorrow is week 7 post op for me, so I am encouraged by your report of your experience.  I didn't have as much trouble with the incontinence as you did, but am behind on the ED resolution compared to you.

Sounds like I need to get to the gym, increase my walking, and pretend I'm your age?

Keep up the good "work!" 

--Steve

What a great summary Craig, that will be helpful for those considering RRP as a treatment option. Congrats on the PSA's and phenomenal recovering - always great hearing these success stories against the beast. You sure did "Come Out Fighting", and won!

Continued best to you.

Congrats on your report, you are nominated to be the new poster child for RRP surgery.

I am coming up on 1 year next week and I am still using 2-3 pads and dealing with all the
SE's of surgery. But I knew everyone was different and healed at their own pace so I am okay with it.

Great report, thanks for sharing.

Bill from Florida