Decided on Prostatectomy

Been awhile since I last posted in early May. Had appointments throughout the month to discuss HDR (Dr. Demanes UCLA) and RALP (Dr. Desai USC). After my doctor consultations I made the decision to have the RALP and it was performed on 6/8/2015. I know there are others that have been able to walk the halls after but I was so groggy and my stomach hurt so bad that I just lied there until the next morning when I was able to sit in a chair. Sitting here at home and thinking out loud that it wasn't supposed to hurt this much and that I should be able to walk without stopping every few feet to wait for the pain to subside. I would take the pain medication more often but it makes me nauseous.

Anyway I wanted to check in and let the group know that the physician said that the surgery went well. Appointment to go over pathology 6/15 will be the next hurdle.

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Age 54 as of 2015

PSA 2012=3.1
Feb 2013=2.76
Mar 2014=3.12
Jul 2014 3.5
Jan 2015=3.46

Bx and Dx Feb 2015 = 1 of 12 cores all G6 (USC)

2nd opinion of slides at UCLA
Right Mid Medial 3+3=6 15% no pni
Left Mid Medial 3+3=6 25% no pni
Left Apex Lateral 3+3=6 5% no pni
Left Apex Medial 3+3=6 10% no pni

It'll get better Buddy! Tough at first but it does get better.

Cheers, Doug

Hi
Welcome to the other side...
Yes, some take a little longer to get use to it..just gonna be patience. It will get better each day.
...short distance in the beginning is fine. Walking will help the healing progress.
So be looking forward for a good path report...all the best

If everything else remains the same, you should enjoy a very long Pca free life. Congrats and welcome to the other side.

When you have to cough or something hold a pillow to your abdomen….it helps…really!

Ah, yes, the parade around the nurse's station. In my case, I got to the room around 10 pm. Within an hour, a nurse and aide came in and TOLD me it was time to stand up. No ask. Tell. I walked to the bathroom, sat on the throne for about 2 minutes, and came back.

In the morning, after cream of wheat and apple juice, in came the day shift and they stood me up, IV pole in the left hand, cath bag in the right hand, one on each side holding my elbows...and one holding closed the gap in back, and we went for a walk. Again, no asking. "You're going for a walk."

Journey....you'll see a huge improvement when they take the cath out. Even now, get up out of the chair every hour or so and walk around the house. 4 days after surgery, I put on the leg bag and we went to Home Depot, and I just took a cart and walked around the store for a bit. Made a huge difference.

about that catheter...
I have to lie on my back in bed and because I had disk surgery years ago sleep is hard to come by. Can't lie on my side because the darn tubes get in the way. Will try sleeping in reclining chair tonight.

Lastly, I was under the impression that there would be small holes where the robot arms go through. Each is about an inch long (6 in total) and the one where they took the prostate out (right above the belly button) is about 2 inches long. This could be the reason I'm still in a lot of pain at the incision sites.

Walked around the block a couple of times yesterday and will try to walk more today.

Thanks for all your feedback.

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Age 54 as of 2015

PSA 2012=3.1
Feb 2013=2.76
Mar 2014=3.12
Jul 2014 3.5
Jan 2015=3.46

Bx and Dx Feb 2015 = 1 of 12 cores all G6 (USC)

2nd opinion of slides at UCLA
Right Mid Medial 3+3=6 15% no pni
Left Mid Medial 3+3=6 25% no pni
Left Apex Lateral 3+3=6 5% no pni
Left Apex Medial 3+3=6 10% no pni

Journey,

What kind of disk surgery did you have? I too have back issues; two desiccated disks. about to start PT, then injections if that doesn't work, then potentially surgery as final choice. Did the disk surgery help?

My back issue flared a couple weeks after my RALP and I was able to sleep fairly comfortably in my recliner chair. Fortunately it has subsided somewhat so back in bed at night (on firm mattress). Tucking a large pillow under my knees also seems to help in bed. Nothing like fighting two issues at once.

Good luck on your recovery.

Good luck with it. When it rains....it pours!

Journey, welcome to the other side of surgery. As others have told you, it will get better and you will be amazed at how fast that will happen once you get the catheter out. Good luck on your recovery and many years of being cancer free and living large

I stopped taking the pain med yesterday morning because it made me nauseous. Slept in the bed and had a good nights rest. Have an issue with tightness/numbness/swelling in my left calf, ankle and foot. Called Dr and he said just to elevate. Calf muscle feels tight this morning after I took a brief walk around the block. Has anyone else experienced swelling, tightness or numbness in their legs after surgery?

-------------------------------------------------------
Age 54 as of 2015

PSA 2012=3.1
Feb 2013=2.76
Mar 2014=3.12
Jul 2014 3.5
Jan 2015=3.46

Bx and Dx Feb 2015 = 1 of 12 cores all G6 (USC)

2nd opinion of slides at UCLA
Right Mid Medial 3+3=6 15% no pni
Left Mid Medial 3+3=6 25% no pni
Left Apex Lateral 3+3=6 5% no pni
Left Apex Medial 3+3=6 10% no pni

Sounds like the abdominal pain has subsided....glad to hear that. Keep an eye on that leg and see a doc soon if it continues....don't want to be fooling around with clots. As soon as I was moved into my room after my RALP, a wrap-type, squeezing device was placed on my calves to minimize the risk of clots so I know it's a potential concern. Keep healing!