RALP update

So my DH had his surgery on Wed. We can't say enough good things about Dr. Ahlering and his staff at the MIVip surgery center. Our insurance qualified us to have the surgery there instead of at UCI. He was the only patient who stayed all night. The whole team made him feel so well cared for and pampered.
We were so surprised to find that DH had 2 large hernias. He hadn't felt any pain or discomfort. He works out regularly with cardio and weight lifting. Is this a common thing at all? Anyway, he got 2 for 1 procedure. the dr. didn't see anything our of the ordinary so we will be anxious for the path report.
He did well on his first night home. His pain feels like a really tough ab workout. He is really bruised mostly around the larger incision where they pull out bagged prostate. I had laparoscopy surgery when I had my tubes tied but I don't remember that kind bruising. He hasn't had any pain from the gas. his belly was a bit puffy this morning. Im trying to keep him resting. He has been working at his desk this morning. I am about to make him come eat some lunch and walk and then grab a big nap.
one huge hurdle for him was the thought of the catheter and that hasn't been an issue so far. No discomfort yet. Yesterday he wore the smaller bag and was surprised how often he had to empty it. Today he is using the big one and he put it in a shopping bag to carry it around. Dr. said he can get it out Tues which is great. Only 6 days!! So far so good. A week from today we will get the path results and hopefully be on our way to putting this behind us.

Welcome to the other side.

It gets better each day.

Andrew

Just had mine out too. Tell him to take breaks and put his feet up for some time. Sitting at a desk for long periods wouldn't be so great at this point. Feet up and walking minimize clot risk. And walk but don't overdo it. Lots of short walks. Catheter for me was a breeze - followed phone instructions and online videos to remove it myself in shower. No pain just slightly odd feeling. Even with the G8 it sounds like it could perhaps be contained as your signature says only one core.

Also post cath mileage may vary but I am finding improvement in continence daily.

I felt significantly better as each day passed, he should be doing quite well in a short time. Like the other guys said, short walks every hour. Stop when you get tired.

Sounds like a good outcome. Keep the updates coming.

Sorry for the delay in an update. He has been doing well. He was at home until Mon. walking and resting. He has been better patient than I thought. Cath came out on Tues. He is a grading contractor with his own business and a bit of a control freak so I knew he would be chomping at the bit to get out in the field. He worked half day that day and full days Wed Thurs and half day today. He promised me would just "direct traffic" out on the job. I told my boys who work with him to make sure he didn't lift anything.
He has hated the leaking but each day has gotten better. Wed he used 3 pads, yesterday 2. He puts on a new pad every night. He has gotten up each night several times to use the restroom which is unusual for him. He always slept through the night before. He says it is weird because he doesn't really feel the full bladder feeling as he did before surgery. He just goes when he thinks he should. Experts out there is that typical and will it get better? I wonder if he would be doing even better with leakage if he wasn't out and about. He said on the job today he probably walked 1/2 a mile to get from one place to another. Told him that wasn't good.
He is having a pain in his stomach that he said feels like a really full stomach. He has been off his pain meds for a few days. Could that be from the hernia repair? General surgery pain? He was supposed to hear from Dr. Ahlering this afternoon to go over the Path report that we received in the mail but he had an emergency. As a side note, His team is so impressive. Ana called us this afternoon to tell us that he wouldn't be able to call but he would call tomorrow. The team at the VIP Center treated us like we were at a 5 star hotel. My husband was the only patient to spend the night after surgery. So it was one to one patient care. They brought in a delicious breakfast from a local restaurant for us both early and then the dr. checked him out and we were on our way and home by 8:00 am !!!! It was an awesome experience.
We have the path report and surgery report in hand but he is still calling us to go over it.
Another question that I have for the experts is the report says "There was a 3x4 mm bit of tissue near the urethra on the left side at about 7 o'clock that was excised & sent for permanent histologic analysis." Is that alarming or is that routine? We will ask the doc tomorrow.
Words can't express how happy we are to have found this site. The information has been invaluable. Like I said previously, 2 drs asked if I had a medical background and I attribute that to what I have learned here.

That's not what you wanted. Might not be anything to worry about, or it could be. Don't hate those kind of conversations.

In any case, he'll need to heal for awhile before any RT can be done. That first PSA test is really want you'll want to see.

Do let us know when you see the final report.

Andrew