Rick54 how are you ?

Hi all,

Surgery happened as scheduled this past Wednesday. We came home about noon on Thursday.  I'll write later about my experience, but for now each day has been a significant improvement over the last.  Since the weather outside has been so nice since yesterday, I got out for three walks yesterdat and one so far today.

My appointment to remove the catheter is tomorrow morning and I'm looking forward to that.

Anyway, thanks all for the interest.  It seems the cancer is behind us and we are looking forward to the time of recovery.

 

I posted this Saturday.... on your original thread.  Saw where Glen started a new thread today Monday.... and you responded so thought I'd move on over here!!!

Hi Rick & Monica,
It's 9-16 (Saturday) and we hope to hear from you soon on how you're both doing!!!
You are now on the road to recovery! if your surgery stayed on track for 9-13 (Wednesday)
Our thoughts and prayers are with you both.
Forum Friends,

Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh   Your home!!!!  Glad you're doing well!!!!  See you back here soon

Hello everyone,

This is Rick's wife writing to let you know how he is doing. Rick will write himself in a day or two. The surgery went very well with Dr. Engel and his team at George Washington University Hospital Center. He was given pre-op medicine by the anesthesiologist before he even made it to the operating room so he didn't see the room. I imagine they do that because it must be a bit intimidating (scary) to see the daVinci Robotic machine. Post-op went well other than too low of a blood pressure (Rick runs a low normal pressure anyway) which kept him there longer. Pain was managed quickly by the nurse through his IV. Later he took Tyelenol with Codeine which held his pain level to a good level. Today, post-op day 5, he takes no pain medicine. Due to abdominal gas pains, the two days after surgery were the worst. We had him take a stool softener (Colace) and by post-op day 3, added Sennokot (bowel stimulent, a natural vegetable laxative) which gave him good relief. He only took the Sennokot for two mornings. Now he's just taking one colace daily. Rick switches between using the smaller leg bag during the day to the larger overnight type bag in the evening and at night. The smaller leg bag fills up quickly. Today he's able to empty it himself which is nice. His energy level comes and goes so it's good that he naps from time to time. At night Rick sleep in our leisure chair (in our bedroom) with the back pressed more flat and his feet up on the foot rest. He's not able to, yet, lie flat on a regular bed. Overall, we're very pleased with how things went and are greatly relieved that the cancer is out! We're so grateful and thankful for Dr. Engel. We'll see him tomorrow to get the catheter out and may find out more information. More another time.... Monica

Hey Rick & Monica,

Monica.... thank you so much for responding..... I had a nice response to your posting above and thought I'd sent it but it's not here so I must have typed it on my WORD document and forgot to send. eeekkkk

Thank you for the wonderful update above.... and we really hope to hear soon on how things have gone with the catheter removal.

Again.... know that we are thinking of you and really need to hear from you ok!!

In forum friendship.... Lee

One other thought...

When we went back to have the catheter removed, Dr. Engel had the pathology report on the removed prostate. It confirmed Gleason 3+3 in about 10% of the prostate. (He said 10% sounds small, but is actually about normal). Cancer in the apex (which he said is not a problem) and NO cancer in the margins. Yea!

Now I go back in three months to have my PSA checked.

In the middle of all of this, we also found out that my brother (3 years older) also just had a PSA of 6.0 (same as mine was) - up from 3.7 a year or two ago (same trajectory as I had). His GP is a slow mover and has suggested another blood test in a month - checking PSA and percent free PSA. His GP also wants to do and ultrasound is the next bllod tests look "bad" - although I told him that PC rarely shows up on an ultrasound and the next step should be a biopsy. I also told him that, if it was me, I would be already going to a urologist. HOWEVER, since prostate cancer is slow-growing (if it turns out he does have it), a slower approach shouldn't create any problems. I WILL be watching him closely though and prodding him along if it takes that (if the next blood tests also look suspect).

We have a history in our family of PC. My grandfather had it in his 80s, and uncle died of it (30 years ago), and an undle has it right now.

Hi Rick,

Glad to hear you're on the mend. It also sounds like you're going to be one of the DaVinci Procedure Poster Patients. That's a good thing, and so was you path. report. Keep up with your walking and Kegeling, and before you know it you'll be walking 18 holes! ( I would recommend a cart the 1st round).

Glen

For biking, get one of the split seats intended to take pressure off those tender parts of both men and women. It's a cool seat! I like mine. The wife got it from the sporting good store for 70 dollars.
Paul

Rick Thanks for posting your results. It means a lot to someone like me that is going in 10/12/06 for the same adventure.

Rick,

how are you doing? I was just looking through the threads and realized we hadn't heard from you in a little while. have you returned to work yet? kat

I am back at work today - yeah!

Took a long time before I felt comfortable sitting for very long - but the discomfort is finally gone.

No real continence issues - still one of the lucky few.  I do have to think about bladder control all the time though.  I wear a pad for the very minor leakage on rare occassions - but one pad lasts all day (at least it better since I didn't bring another one to work today).

For only 20 days post-surgery, I am amazed at the rapid recovery (and thank the Lord - and the surgeon!).

Glen - concerning my brother, his PSA and % free PSA tests are next month.  If the results are still suspect, I will urge him to see a urologist (he already has the name of the local guy I saw for the biopsy prior to seeing Dr. Engel).

Thanks to all for your kind thoughts and interest.