15 days out from surgery, runner withdrawal....

It is hard to do,but give the healing priority. I really can't remember how long it took for me to get back in the grove, but I know that I even ran with a cane as I started my journey back to running. But a 5k should be in your reach soon. At my age I no longer run marathons, but my three dogs make me run five to six times a week. Keep us posted and I wish you the best.
Michael

When I did marathons I found it important to "listen to my body". If I had a problem that went beyond the normal ache or pain I quit doing too much of what I was doing (for example speed work). I still listen to my body ..... I cut back on pickleball due to a sore elbow.

In your case I would do two things, cut back some on the walking and talk to your surgeon. Although a lot of guys have some bleeding after surgery, and there is no problem, you don't want to screw your plimbing up by pushing too hard too early. You certainly do not want to have the surgeon reopen your abdominal cavity to make a repair.

Agreed. Give yourself a chance to heal, there will be lots of races to run in the future.

For me healing was not linear. I felt like it was never going to end. I'm not a marathon runner but I exercise daily and just walking at first wiped me out. I saw a major change around 10 to 12 weeks. Yours may come sooner but at 2 weeks go slow or you may end up going backwards.

Jon

Hi JW,
Back off the walking a bit. I had RALP at MDA last April. I was walking 2-3 miles a day starting the day after surgery in MDA up until I went in for my 1 week checkup. My JP drain was still in and I was still collecting so much fluid they would not remove it. They asked how much I was walking and I told them 2-3 miles a day and they said that's too much. I said you told me not to sit around and to get up and walk a lot. They said they say that because most folks just want to lay around and not walk at all. I had 20 lymph nodes removes so that probably contributed to the fluid amount. I backed off to 1/2 mile a day and the fluid stopped draining completely a couple of days later.

Let yourself heal a bit before you start running and straining all your re-attached organs and tissue. I don't run but I work out with weights and do plyo a lot. I eased into it at about 3 weeks and was back to full workouts at about 8 weeks. You don't want to screw something up inside that may cause incontinence or other issues. That would be much worse than getting back into marathon shape!

Two weeks isn't enough time. Ease back into walking/running. Atrophy doesn't mean a thing at six weeks, all you've done is give your legs a break. As far as pain goes, I've run a marathon, and the worry and pain associated with pc surgery or chemo/radiation or HT would make runners crap in their pants. Runners win a few battles these guys win the war.

First off - Bolo - I get your post entirely! I must finally be a "regular" here. Not only do I get it, but I agree with you 100%!

JW - You may not want to hear this, but I'll relate it anyway. I did not have surgery for my PCa, but I did have open-heart surgery. That, obviously, is a "big" surgery, too. I was in pretty good shape before surgery (weight training plus jogging 3 miles/day, 7 days/week right up until surgery). Although I went back to work full-time 5 weeks after the surgery, I was not cleared to start cardiac rehab until 12 weeks out. I completed the 12 weeks of rehab in fine form, but I can't say that I was back to where I started from for almost a full year. That's the "bad" news. The good news is that I am now 6 years out from that surgery and in better shape than before. You can do this. . . you just have to listen to your body and try to do 110% of what it "says" it can do.

J,
It’s been a long time but I believe it was post-op day 12 that we were deer hunting and I processed a deer that my son had harvested. I believe that I went back to work on day 14. We live out of town on some acreage and I was walking a lot outside immediately following surgery. I don’t remember how long it took me to start doing a workout (very slow jog, fast walk) but as I recall it was around the 45 day mark. Prior to surgery running was a lifestyle for me, however I no longer do any running. For reasons that are not completely clear I just never regained the passion after surgery. I believe that it has something to do with my T levels which fell dramatically following surgery. Having said all of that I must point out that I had a BMI of 20 going into surgery and I was in what was easily the best shape of my adult life. Today not so much…I’d be a Clydesdale!

Good Luck!

Paxton...your scaring me...not sure I'd wish that on anyone...Oh heck..."he ain't heavy...fodder...he's my bruddah" Attributed to a young boy in response to a query by Father Flanagan of Boy's Town... back in the day when boys were boys...in a state{Nebraska}of becoming.....

Paxton...trust me we are on the same page...it was all a tribute to you...words on paper...are very difficult to be understood in the best of circumstances...more so...when one{me} writes in a multi...dimensional way...an attempt to transfigure alchemy...itself...you in truth...are true...no smoke...no tanks...no air...an observation...out of nothing at all...a sense...dats all PS to answer your question directly...that you understood me...counter intuitive self deprecation...which will teach me there really is no need for that...it is presumptive...You take care of yourself...

Thanks for all the advise! From the 2 mile walk I did, I ended up urninating bright blood and clots most the day, then developed a low grade fever the next day. Needless to say, I have sideline myself completely for the rest the week.

Prior to surgery I was running 5 miles a day and have run many marathons, and to one persons comment, I actually focused on the pain from miles 23-26 in order to get through the 2 hr rectal probe MRI and the post surgery pain.

Anyway, yes, I have always been taught through training to listen to my body which I will do and I wont be pushing like the again.

Thanks again.

"I actually focused on the pain from miles 23-26 in order to get through the 2 hr rectal probe MRI and the post surgery pain."

That's interesting! I have never believed that "pain is weakness leaving the body."

I am a half marathon runner. I had my surgery August 8, 2014. After the catheter came out, I started walking. I walked until a month after surgery - got up to a 5K. Started a very slow jogging at a month out - run a mile, walk a mile and did that for two weeks. Started actually jogging at 6 weeks to do a 5k. In October (2 months) I was able to do a ten mile run - at about a 12 minute mile pace - just took it slow. Of course, I don't run fast ever - just about a 10 minute per mile pace. It gets easier but it takes time. I just say listen to your body and adjust as needed. I wanted to speed the process along faster, but taking it easy and adjusting as you need to do. Now I have done 6 half marathons post surgery and have 3 more scheduled this year - along with a couple of 10 mile races.

Best of luck! It gets easier.