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Robotic Surgery Status (4 days out) Vanderbilt Medical Center

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Posted 10/12/2013 11:35 AM (GMT 0)
 

Heading back home to Atlanta this morning after my robotic prostatectomy this past Tuesday at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville.  (Dr. Joseph Smith)

The surgery caused abdomen bloating and severe gas pains.  Fortunately I am passing gas pretty regularly now and this pain is subsiding.  Been pretty much on a liquid / soft diet of chicken noodle soup scrambled eggs and toast, juice and milk.  Still not had a bm.

The catheter is taking a bit to get used to.

Just a question.

When trying to pass gas or have a bm on the toilet I see urine and/or small droplets of blood coming out of the penis around the catheter.  There is a little sting when that happens but nothing unbearable.  I have kept the catheter clean with hot soapy water.  Also some pain occurs when you lay in bed and the catheter pulls a little bit or rotates.  I guess this pain is normal.   Trying to get situated in the bed to sleep has been challenging as I cannot sleep well on my back but last night I was able to sleep on my one side.

I have been walking quite a bit and drinking liquids.

The surgeon told me he was very pleased with the surgery as he says he did not have to take any lymph nodes or take any nerve bundles and that he feels everything was confined to the gland, but that we would have to wait for the detailed pathology report sometime next week to see.

I have already arranged for the catheter to be taken out by my local urologist and I have been given an antibiotic to take once removed.  I will have to see how the incontinence is once catheter is removed.  I will also have a 30 day supply of Cialis to take once the catheter is removed.  There is a coupon for a free 30 day supply.  The nurse told me that insurance will not cover any of these types of drugs so I may have to get them elsewhere like out of the country.  (I have already been given some sites where I can order these drugs).

Other than that I will have a PSA test done at 6 weeks post op at Vanderbilt to see where I stand.

Thanks

 

Posted 10/12/2013 1:26 PM (GMT 0)
Congratulation on getting through the surgery and being on the other side - here's to a lifetime of little or no side effects - and down the road - a lifetime of zero's ... but do remember - you have been thorugh major surgery and your body is reacting to the trauma - don't rush things - give yourself time to heal.

- try not to have any strain on the catheter - it should be there but not pulling on the penis or bladder - little bits of blood can be expected but not constant.

-I would hold off on the cialis penile rehab until you have healed up further - my doctor said 6 weeks no lifting of anything 10# or more ( like a laptop) ... I find it hard to believe they would want you to work on getting a stiff pecker even before your stitches have fully healed up... give yourself some time.

-regarding continence - you can have little problems or a lot - it all depends on the doctor - location of the cancer and what he/she had to work with - it can take up to 16 weeks for the nerves and such to start communicating with each other... so just go with the flow...

Wishing you all the best,
Bronson
Posted 10/12/2013 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds like a pretty good report and having the catheter in is a pain, but it will be out soon. I would ask your Urologist and PCP for samples of ED meds to see which works, but take your time. Glad your back home and get some rest and continue your walks. Keep us posted.

Michael

Posted 10/12/2013 4:05 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds like a good prognosis, that's the important thing. All the best to you.
Posted 10/12/2013 7:08 PM (GMT 0)
Hope the cath issue lets up a bit for you. Hate those things.
Posted 10/12/2013 9:10 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds normal to me. Hope things continue on a positive note.
Posted 10/12/2013 11:24 PM (GMT 0)
Nurse told me at the hospital not to fiddle with the Catheter when I go home. Showed me how to clean the end with soapy warm water. So I did exactly the same. Then on the 5th day noticed there is a grayish discharge from the penis around the catheter. Then went to the URO's clinic and nurse had a look and pulled my foreskin all the way back and gave it a good clean. She asked me to keep doing that in the shower. It was all good after that. Little discharge at the end forms a crust on the catheter at the penis. I had to remove that with a wet
cloth like every 2 hrs, specially b4 go to bed. Otherwise it will hurt when the rough catheter goes in and out.
My cath was removed on day 12 and I felt like a free man immediately.
Luckily I was dry from that moment. I just completed week 5 after OP. Back to work last Monday. Taking Cialis half of 20mg daily. Please give me the site where you can buy it cheaper. Will send my email to you.
Be positive and take one day at a time. All the best with your recovery
Posted 10/13/2013 3:30 AM (GMT 0)
Kdeinv – Glad the surgery went well. What does your uro want you to do for ED recovery? My doc had me on 25mg Viagra every night as soon as I was out of the hospital. Once the catheter came out, he had me try a 100mg once a week in an effort to get an erection (had me continue the 25mg on the other 6 nights). Regarding the PSA test at 6 weeks – don’t put too much stock in the number you get, you could still have some residual PSA lurking around – the meaningful test comes a 3 months.
Post your pathology when you get it.

Regards -- Tigerfan
Posted 10/13/2013 1:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi tigerfan

They sent me home with a Cialis prescription and I can use it with a online coupon for free 30 day supply.  They told me to start taking the meds once the catheter comes out.  Are there better results by taking these meds while the catheter is still in?

Thanks

 

Posted 10/13/2013 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
The catheter is a pain, had mine for only eight days. I found a little KY gel placed around the tip made the normal movements n sleep a little more comfortable!
Posted 10/13/2013 4:16 PM (GMT 0)
Overall, sounds like a good report!

Andrew
Posted 10/13/2013 5:07 PM (GMT 0)
I had the same post-op diet. Be sure to take stool softeners to prepare for the first BM. Oh what a relief that is! yeah

My surgeon had me on Viagra 72 hours after the catheter was removed to start getting the blood flowing, not necessarily for an erection. Then ED pump added 4 weeks later for added therapy.

Good luck with the path report you will get soon. Hope it was all contained.

Bill from Florida cool
Posted 10/14/2013 12:13 AM (GMT 0)
Stool softeners were my best friends during my catheter days and for a couple of weeks after.  I started Cialis right after the catheter was removed--didn't see any effect for a few months, but eventually that came around also.  Try and be patient and listen to your body and you'll be amazed at how quickly you'll be good as new.  Here's to you making it to the other side and future lifetime of PSA "zeros".

Tom

Posted 10/14/2013 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
My insurance company said they would not approve Cialis unless it was medically necessary.  My Uro wrote them and apparently the language he used was enough to convince them to cover Cialiis (5mg) for one year.  The Uro also gave me some 20 mg samples of Cialis but so far my penis remains in a deep sleep.  Although it is a pain, I continue to use my pump and take my medication every day in hopes the effort will one day pay off.  Good luck!
Posted 10/15/2013 1:05 AM (GMT 0)

Welcome to the other side!  I had my RP on Wed, Oct 2 (12 days ago).  The comments in this forum, going into my surgery, were very informative and comforting, but it was GREAT to finally be getting answers to the kinda scary "I wonder what THAT will REALLY be like?" type questions.

And "I wonder what the catheter will be like" was a HUGE scary question for me, as I assume it was for all of us.  I really hated it, but a couple of things helped me.  First, I snipped (very carefully!) any pubic hairs (some were on my scrotum) long enough to get wrapped around the catheter tube.  On the first day, I noticed (even though I HATED even looking at my poor penis with this THING stuck in it) some hairs getting wrapped in some of the sticky fluid coming out around the cath and hairs getting stuck in the muck.  Irritating. 

Then, twice a day, I pulled my penis back along the catheter tube exposing as much of the tube as was comfortable, cleaned any gunk that might dry and harden and stick to the catheter tube, then I used a qtip to apply a nice coating of the lubrication jelly they gave me at the hospital to the newly exposed tube.  Then I let my penis slide back and forth once or twice to insure a good coating of at least a part of the tube that was inside my penis.  By day two, after surgery, I still hated it, but it was possible to get comfortable - even when walking.  But it remained an annoyance and it was tough to sleep.  I took the stool softeners for the first two days because I noticed that if I bore down trying to dump - even a little - some fluid would leak out around the catheter and I figured that that junk would only increase the irritation of the cath.  Once the big BM finally came the night of day 2, the world was a happier place.

I was able to return to work on day 5, despite the cath - starting off with two days of off-site, back to back meetings.  Here's an exchange I never thought I'd have: "Anyone need a Bio break?"  "I don't know, let me look."

On Day 7, I mowed the lawn, feeling fine.

The catheter came out on day 9 and life is GOOOOOOOD!  I'm dry, but peeing is different.  There used to be a bit of a pause (maybe a half second) between when I got everything lined up over the toilet and gave the signal to pee and the start of the stream.  Now it is IMMEDIATE.  Gotta be ready and properly aimed!  It's only been three days since the cath came out.  Though I'm dry, I'm still wearing the pads until I'm sure I can stay dry in every situation.  The pads with the adhesive stuck in my briefs are not the least bit uncomfortable.

My Dr has me taking a quarter dose of Viagra every day.  Not for erections yet, but to stimulate blood flow to keep the penile tissue healthy.  Once a week I'm supposed to take a full pill and try to get an erection.  That strategy requires 10 pills a month.  My insurance company is a pain and will only cover 6 per month, but I can buy the others.  UGH!  I am hopeful, though.

Welcome to the other side - I hope it works out even better for you!

Best of luck!

Posted 10/16/2013 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
I had open RP so didn't have the big gas problem that comes with minimally invasive surgery but coughing to bring up phlegm really hurt due to the long six inch incision!

Seepage of urine and/or blood around the foley is normal when straining to have a BM. Be sure to take those stool softeners!! After the gas is gone and BM's are normal in about a week everything is wonderful!

I didn't find the foley to be a big problem at all. Out after 13 days. Played golf after 21 days. I'm about five and a half weeks post surgery and am wearing one depends a day. Leakage usually happens when going from sitting to standing position.

Good luck!

Bob
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