Newly Joined - Three Weeks after Robotic Radical Prostatectomy

Hi All
I have dipped into this site prior to my op and I've found it be a source of sensible information so I thought I'd add my experience in case it might help others also.

History
I'm 69. PSA started creeping up a few years ago but levelled off about a year ago and urologist suggested leave it for 12 months then review again. Rectal test had always indicated a 'smooth' prostate if slightly enlarged.
- Sept 2015 PSA Test had increased up to 6.1.
- October 2015 MRI showed something on prostate
- Late Oct 2015 Biopsy (Robotic) revealed medium level prostate cancer 3+4 on Gleason
Started Pelvic Floor exercises following consultation with specialist physiotherapist.
- 15th Nov 2015 Radical Prostatectomy (Robotic/DaVinci). Two days in hospital then home with catheter for 10 days. Biopsy at operation time show margins and lymph node clear.
- 24th Nov 2015 Catheter removed. Heavy incontinence first day then steady improvement.
Mon 2 am 1st Dec 2015 Unable urinate following initial bloody spurt. Then nothing. Extreme bladder pain after a few hours. Driven to Emergency where large (3 tube) catheter inserted. Quite bloody then runs clear. Phew! Urologist suggested leaving it in for 3 days when he would remove and also have a camera look up into bladder.
Thurs 3rd Dec Visit hospital for catheter removal and camera inspection (under GA) by urologist. All looks fine. Urologist believes that blockage was due to scarring debris. But unable pee after catheter removed. In/Out cathered and kept in overnight for obs. Peed 2 l during night no probs. about to check out of hospital in am when find cannot pee again. Decsion taken to show me how to self catheterise and then sent home Fri am.
Sun 6th Dec. Find unable pee in afternoon. Self catheterise and been ok since although sometimes a fairly weak stream.

Urologist reckons this will settle down as further healing takes place. Being able to self catheterise has given me confidence in any case to get on a 7 hour flight without worrying.

Now working on getting continence back to where it was. Also have by end of day considerable discomfort in perineal area and 'ball ache'. From what I've read here and elsewhere this is pretty common.

Don't regret the decision to have the op but its been rugged at times since the op.

Hope you're all travelling well.

Welcome to the forum. It sounds like you're experiencing a normal, expected recovery. All the best on continued good progress.

Tim

P.S. I like your user name, Jollytinker. It sure beats some of the depressing user names by which some forum members identify themselves; in some cases, a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Thanks folks for the welcome and a happy, healthy and great 2016 to you.

its now 4 weeks since I last had to self catheter and its going well.
On 15th Dec left Australia to go travelling for 7 months. Currently in a secluded part of Bali and getting close to continence.
Thoughts starting to turn to erectile function but not much sign of activity there 7 weeks after surgery. From what I read we should be patient.

Hope you're all travelling well and keeping in good spirits.
By the way, is there a way to auto insert the footnote with the profile/history as I see most have managed to do?

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- Sept 2015 PSA Test had increased up to 6.1 from 4.9 over 12 months
- October 2015 MRI showed lesion on prostate
- Late Oct 2015 Biopsy (Robotic) revealed medium level prostate cancer 3+4 (7)on Gleason
Started Pelvic Floor exercises following consultation with specialist physiotherapist.
- 15th Nov 2015 Radical Prostatectomy (Robotic/DaVinci). Two days in hospital then home with catheter for 10 days. Biopsy at operation time show margins and lymph node clear.
- 24th Nov 2015 Catheter removed. Heavy incontinence first day then steady improvement.
Mon 2 am 1st Dec 2015 Unable urinate following initial bloody spurt. Then nothing. Extreme bladder pain after a few hours. Driven to Emergency where large (3 tube) catheter inserted. Urologist suggested leaving it in for 3 days when he would remove and also have a camera look up into bladder.
Thurs 3rd Dec Visit hospital for catheter removal and camera inspection (under GA) by urologist. All looks fine. Urologist believes that blockage was due to scarring debris. But unable pee after catheter removed. In/Out cathered and kept in overnight for obs. Peed 2 l during night no probs. about to check out of hospital in am when find cannot pee again. Decsion taken to show me how to self catheterise and then sent home Fri am.
Sun 6th Dec. Find unable pee in afternoon. Self catheterise and been ok since although sometimes a fairly weak stream.
2nd January - Bladder control good and peeing well. Approaching continence. No erectile activity and Urologist advised to 'fuggedaboudit' for a few months. Hmmm...

Thanks Halbert.

Jolly, lucky man...enjoying Bali! Ubud? Good to hear your progress. I stayed wet for ages...still squirting now and again but what helped me a lot was the exercise of stopping peeing in mid stream two or three times each time you pee. You are left in no doubt the correct muscles are being used.
Don't leave erectile function too long! I believe it's all about getting blood flow working ASAP...however you do it. In my case massage in the shower each morning as soon as it was comfortable after catheter removal gradually strengthened my erection over quite a short time.