Da Vinci in a Week

HWC Friends,

I have replied several times on the forum but ths is my first time to submit a new topic.  I was diagnosed with PCa on July 9th with a PSA of 4.3, 1 of 10 biopsy cores with 40% adenocarcioma and a Gleason of 3+3. I am 56 years old and in good health.  I have never had surgery or been in a hospital for an illness.  After the initial shock I began to diligently research my treatment options.  I came across this forum at the time and started monitoring it among others.  For the primary reason that surgery provides for the backup option of radiation I decided early on that was the direction I wanted to go in.  I almost changed my mind to try the proton beam based upon some personal experiences of a couple of men that I graduated with from high school.  I spent a lot of time looking for the right surgeon and was surprised to find him located only a couple of hours from my home.  The latter part of July I had an appointment with him and his surgeyr schedule was so full that November 1st is the first date that was available. 

So, a week from today as I post this at about this time I will be an hour away from having my Da Vinci.  I have thoroughly read the post from those that have been through it and picked up a lot of the recommendations.  I will stay one night in the hospital then the second night at a local motel at the request of the surgeon.  I am anxious and it is effecting my sleep.  I am going to sleep okay but it seems that around 3 to 4 AM I am waking up thinking  more about the post surgery mystery then the surgery itself. Any suggestions on how to handle that going into the procedure?  I have been walking 4 to 5 miles everyday so I am getting good exercise and have lost about 5 to 10 pounds over the last two months. 

Finally, of all of the Internet sources for information and in particular support this HWC forum is by far the best.  I will contribute my experience as I go through the surgery and recovery period.

Bless you all for the good that you do!

Tamu

Tamu

I will be joining you that date. I am scheduled also the 1st at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. Doing the "Davinci Dance"

Good luck

Daveed

Hi Tamu,

It has been said many times that the waiting is the hardest part and it is.  You have done everything in your power that you can to prepare for this surgery.  You have read and become knowledgeable and have made educated decisions.  You have worked hard to get yourself in good physical condition.  You have picked a great procedure and a great doctor.

Post op for us was a very restful, relaxing and peaceful quiet time.  It was also a time of great reflection and thankfulness.  Physically, my husband was not in very much pain.  He only took pain pills for 2 or 3 days.  The catheter was not a big deal and was out before we knew it.  Then, its just remembering not to overdue things to early. 

I don't think people can help but be anxious about an upcoming surgery.  My husband just tried to keep as busy as he could.  However, I think there comes a time in this process when we just have to "let go" and realize and truly accept that after we've done everything we possibly can, the rest is ultimately out of our control and we just have to trust in that higher power that all will be well, AND IT WILL!  Your young and healthy and your cancer was caught very early.  Plus, you have all these great people on this board and many friends and family keeping you in their thoughts and prayers.

Everything will be fine Tamu.  Again, the waiting is the hardest part. 

Wishing you the very best and a full night's sleep as well!

Sincerely,

 

Thanks to all for the encouragement. Yes, I have been doing the kegels. I have been following the hold 10 seconds relax 10 seconds routine. When you do them that way it is surprising how difficult it is sometimes to hold for 10 seconds but as I have done them it has gotten easier. I have been using Tylenol PM to help me sleep and they have been working up until this past week as the date has gottne closer. I will give my primary doctor a call and see if he will give me something.

I will be having my Da Vinci at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. All of the rooms in the surgical area are private and they provide a made up bed for my wife. She is planning on staying with me the night of surgery. My surgeon has done over 3,000 of the open types of RP's and in the last three years has exclusively been doing the Da Vinci having done 800 plus. He trained in the Da Vinci at Memorial Sloan Kettering. If someone like him was not close to where I live I was planning on going to Henry Ford and Dr. Menom.

Good luck to you Daveed! I look forward to hearing from you and to be Foleying with you at the same time.

again, thanks to all.

Tamu

Sounds like we may not be too far apart geographically. I live in Huntsville, AL and had my daVinci performed in Birmingham last Friday. Wish I could offer a working recommendation for sleeping; however, I know our minds are racing due to information overload. Good news is that there will be plenty of time for rest post op. I haven't watched this many movies since I can remember. Best of luck!

I'm guessing your thinking is as all of us past DaVinci experts will tell you getting there is half the tourture. I used Johnny Walker Black but after all is said and done you have done your homework the surgeon and the hospital are the concerns everthing else is in Gods hands. 5 months out and I feel like its behind me things are a lil different and My surgeon did say it will take a Year for things to feel more normal but PSA free and feeling it is the KEY 55' and counting, again!

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