Post Op Rp Report - 3 Weeks and counting.

Hello All, I just wanted to post how I am doing 3 weeks post op. After getting through the first few days at home, I have been feeling really really good. I had little to no pain following surgery and really only needed to use anything stronger then Tylenol twice. The first time I used it just because I was coming home that day and figured I should just in case. The second time I was having some lower right abdomen pain that was traveling down into my groin and into my buttocks. That pain lasted about two days and then was gone. Other then that, I have had very few issues. I'm not going to lie, the first week with the catheter was not fun, but was manageable and went by rather quick.

Once the catheter was out, I was very worried about incontinence, but have found that to be quite manageable as well. I am fully dry at night, with the only issue being I get up 1-3 times per night, but mostly it is once in the middle of the night and then once when it is time to get up. That's not really an increase from where I was pre-surgery, so not bad. During the day I use 1 maybe two pads. I do notice later in the day 3-5pm that I become more leaky if standing and moving. I have to be honest, I have not been the best with walking and kegels either. So overall for doing very little, I am very happy with where I am at. I even have introduced my morning cup of coffee back in with no issues. I have also had a few beers (just this week) with no issues as well. I did enjoy my chocolate oatmeal stout with dinner on Saturday night!

On the ED front, that has also gone much better then expected. I am taking 1/2 a Cialis 3x/week and I have been able to get aroused enough to make climax enjoyable. Only drawback with that has been climacturia, which I know is normal. I am finding it odd that even when I empty my bladder before ********** that I still have that. It's not a real bother, but certainly odd. I think in total I have played 4x since starting Cialis and I've had increasing levels of erections. Started somewhere around 50% of normal and increased from there til the last time I tried and it was probably 80% of normal. The last time I did it, I would have been erect enough for intercourse which was very encouraging.

I just can't wait until I get to 6 weeks so that I can golf again! I am hopeful to be able to get one last round of golf in before the end of the season. Feeling good is great, but I have to keep telling myself to slow down and that is probably the hardest part.

I don't regret my decision so far at all and am just waiting for that first blood test. I appreciate all the support everyone here has given me and even though I did not have the best post op pathology I am taking your advice and living life and reacting when necessary and IF necessary.

Great report!

Keep it going,
Andrew

Interesting...I'm also coming up on 3 weeks and I too have the dribbles. No problems with staying mostly dry at night. I usually go once or twice and only get a dribble when I roll to get out of bed (stress leak).

What I find more interesting is my Dr didn't push the viagra yet and I don't see him for another 3 weeks...it makes me wonder if I am getting behind on rehabilitation?

NKinney - I checked my discharge instructions and they say the following. No sex for 4 weeks post surgery. However, with the Cialis instructions it says the following. "If you had nerve sparing surgery, you will leave the hospital with a prescrption for 100mg of Cialis for supporting recovery. Begin one week after surgery, once the cathether is removed. Start with one half of a pill, twice a week and attempt to obtain an erection. If you tolerated this without significant side effects you are allowed to increase to one whole pill once or twice per week and engage in sexual stimulation or even sexual activities if desired."

To me it seems like the sexual activity is due to restrictions from the surgery itself.

Tiger88 - This is something I find very odd as i've gone through this process. To me if a person has had an RP, there should be a set series of guidelines that are followed. You'd think that when to take Viagra/Cialis would be at a set time. You'd also think that when to resume activity etc would be for the most part universal. With that said, what I have noticed is that each Dr. has a very different set of guidelines they use and suggest to their patients. It's very frustrating.

Subdenis - I agree with priorities and with winter coming quick here in the Northeast, I needed to time my surgery for making sure I could get out at least one more time to play. I love golf and can't wait to get out and swing the clubs one more time before putting them away. Thankfully just in case i'm not able to do so, I have the golf simulator in the garage for the winter months! I can swing the clubs in the garage and work with my stiff putter after that!

Congrats and it's surprising you got PCa so early and better that you caught it early. Take rest and don't lift weights ( heavy ones ) for 3 months. It reduces chance of hernia.
.... and make sure you get the path report !!!

100MG Cialis! Holey snarkies, that is a LOT.. even half a pill 50mg is crazy.. I was on HALF 20mg pill, so 10mg every 2-3 days and I thought THAT was a lot

I will say, I was NOT fully erect or even 80% fully erect at 20 days after surgery. by about 45 days it was pretty solid, and that was on 10mg every third day.

I don't even know if I want to know what 50mg would do to me.

As for the pills. they can be expensive.. for those after surgery, see if you surgeon or hospital has a relationship with a pharmacy for lower priced pills. UCSF has such a deal with the Walgreens near the hospital (honestly, I don't think there is anything truly special about it, not a code or anything) and my 15 10mg pils (now on 10mg, I break them into thirds, so about 3mg and take it every other day) cost about 45$ for a months supply.

mb, glad to hear you are on a post surgery rehab plan. I tried emailing you about that, was concerned. good to hear it's all working out.