MK2.0 said...
Hi all, new to the board.
I went through the robotic prostatectomy on Oct 26 at Northwestern Memorial hospital in Chicago. My attending physician at the DaVinci controls was Dr Kent Perry.
I am somewhere in-between some of the other patients in this thread but can share my progress so far. For now I'll skip on some of my PC details only because I don't have the papers with me. I am 45 and had PSA scores averaging 4, T1C, Gleason 6 with 3 biopsy cores positive.
Surgery went well with no complications. They were able to do the full nerve sparing technique. PC was contained to the organ with no sign of spread in lymph nodes, nerves, or nearby tissue. Pathology confirmed this that it was contained within the walls. My surgery started later in the day (about 3pm) so when I finally awoke from the gas it was pretty late in the evening. I won't tell you that everything felt great but really the worst part I thought was the gas used to inflate the cavity. It remains in the body afterward and when you stand, it rises and creates a weird side effect that is a sharp pain in your shoulder blades. So when I began walking, I couldn't wait to lay back down not because of abdominal pain but of this gas pain. They would like you to pass gas the next day but I did not. I felt it in there but it just wouldn't go. When it finally came out, it was quite a breeze, and it felt good.
I had no issues with the catheter. They gave me a tube of Bacitracin that I applied every 4 hours or when needed. I didn't really used the leg strap version since I stayed home all week. I drank water consistently and mixed in prune juice for constipation. I also had other juices and even through in some Red Bull but stayed away from sodas, coffee and citrus juices. I honestly couldn't have cares less if it stayed in longer.
I slept at night in a semi upright position in bed with 4 pillows arranged to support me. During the day I usually laid on the recliner or slept on a soft couch. I never laid flat or with my legs and catheter higher than my waist. Maybe this is why I had no bladder spasms. Every couple hours i got up and did laps from my kitchen to living room and back. Stairs were OK but I just was very cautious going one step at a time.
For food I mixed in broth soups, with high protein foods. I even had a few Powerbars and other workout snacks that are high in protein and vitamins. I nibble on different kinds of nuts and chocolate raisins. One day I ate a relatively large dinner and had gas problems all night. So keep meals light and pop gas pills often. I tried charcoal pills too and the next day my should pain went away (maybe a coincidence...). But gas and constipation are two things you need to fight. I also took a daily otc pill for constipation and had no issues.
Last Friday I had the catheter removed. I can tell you now that there is nothing you can do but bear with it for a few minutes. You breathe in and when you breathe out they pull the balloon. It was like a mini male version of giving birth. lol
Now I'm on the diapers trying to control the urine. It's only been 2 days so I'm not worried but every time I stand up, it starts to run out. So far no luck stopping that. I started post-op Kegels and exercises so I will get myself back into shape soon. Before surgery I was doing Kegels for a month and I tell you what, it works! More men should do these because it really increases the strength in bed. I was also doing light lower body and leg exercises leading up to surgery. I think my last workout was the day before. I wouldn't start any new exercise programs but if you do regularly exercise then I would push activity right up to the surgery day. I am in no hurry so i have been taking it easy and letting the body recover as fast as possible