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Any golfers who did Davinci? When did you start to play again? :-)

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Posted 5/16/2007 8:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hi!

I did my Da Vinci roboassisted surgery in Stockholm at Karolinska hospital in last Thursday for my PC. The surgeon is very experienced and have done several hundreds of them. He as a very good record with his results. Comparable with the best hospitals in the US. Had some post op problems with 8 hours of throwing up - probably a reaction from morfin intake. So become very tired and I went out from hospital only on Sunday. I am still a bit tumbled and have to take Aspirin. but otherwise no problems so far. I started to do walks already on monday and had had walks for about 30 minutes to up to 1,5 hours which I had today. No heavy lifting for some 3 months they said. But does this apply to golf to? Anybody who can tell when you started to swing the club after operation and how it felt? One of the surgeons of this method who I met in hospital told me I could start to play a bit already after 4 weeks. Isnt that a bit optimistic? Any golfers here who got some experience? So longing for my golf rounds... :-)...

Sincerely

Rickard, Stockholm

PSA 5.8
Confined to prostate.
Gleason 3+4

Age: 50
Da Vinci at Karolinska hospital, Stockholm may 10

Posted 5/16/2007 9:53 PM (GMT 0)

Hello,

My doctor said five weeks to swing a driver full swing. Its been four! I'm going to the range tomorrow to hit some short irons and putt.

I have a company tournament June 2nd. Luckly its a scramble.

Good Luck,

DRM

Posted 5/16/2007 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
 

The surgeon only told me "don't do anything stupid" Meaning, don't lift a bag but swinging was fine.

I hit a few rounds inside of 3 weeks. 

Lt. Paul

Posted 5/16/2007 10:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Rickard,

Welcome to the PCa forum. I don't play golf but found that I could do most of the things I normally do after about 6 or 8 weeks. My doc told me not to lift anything heavier than a mild carton for the first 4 weeks. Everything healed up fine and the only thing that hurt was when the cat would jump on my stomach...

Jim
Posted 5/16/2007 11:09 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome Rickard, My husband played a few holes 4 weeks post surgery, and as long as he swung easy (he has a tendancy to try to kill the ball), he was fine. He played in a tournament the next day. We are now 8 weeks out and played 3 rounds this weekend, and the first 2 were cart path only with VERY soggy fairways. Good luck to you and just remember, da Vinci or not, you just had your insides cut in half. We both understand the "urgency" to get back to the course. We live on a course and had to fight the urge every nice day. Your body will tell you if you are pushing yourself. Courtney
Posted 5/17/2007 1:24 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all this good answers so far! It really helps me to understand more about what is ahead. :-) Patience is probably the word... but as Courtney said... when you are a committed golfer and loves the sport its so hard to reframe from it...

Rickard
Posted 5/17/2007 2:21 AM (GMT 0)

    Rickard,  I has some complication with healing but I played my first round almost 2 months post op.  But the good thing was that with swinging easy and not trying to force the ball I shot one over my personal best.  Not bad for two months off!!!

    Just take is slow and easy.

    KW

Posted 5/17/2007 3:57 AM (GMT 0)
 Hello Rickard

We live on the 5th hole of one of the courses in our community.  Every day after I surgery I looked out my back windows and watched the golfers go by.  I kept my putter by my bed so I could improve with practice.  But. my doctor said NO golf for six weeks.  I waited and on the 42nd day I played 18 holes of golf.  I guess I always try to obey the rules, you learn that in golf.

I play three to four rounds a week.  I would play more , but I have severe chronic back pain that requires me to rehab between rounds.

Don't push it if you do not feel well.  I tried to swing easier than usual when I first started back and I noticed that my index scores were lower than they are now (two months later).  Maybe I should learn something from that. lol

It's great to have something to look forward to.....

Posted 5/17/2007 12:16 PM (GMT 0)
My DaVinci was just prior to our winter; therefore, the weather was not fit to play when I was at the 6 week mark. My doc told me that pretty much anything within reason goes a that point. For what it's worth I'm about 7 months post op and swinging like old times again.
Posted 5/17/2007 2:24 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks again for all advices. Very interesting to get them. Well, my strategy will be to be patient. I guess I will see the same doubble bogeys anyway... and eventually a birdie... later to... :-) Well, this things had the good with itself I got myself a Robbokaddy as a present to myself for having this disease... and to make it a bit easier to walk the first rounds... thank you myself! :-)

More advices and experiences? I still glad to recieve them!

Sincerely to all brothers! And sisters to... :-)

Rickard
Posted 5/17/2007 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
Good for you Rickard!

Being good to yourself is very helpful to recovery. You sound upbeat and positive. That's great!!!

Jim
Posted 5/17/2007 8:48 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Jim! I am waiting for pathology report and are going back to surgeon for new PSA in six weeks. During this period I must be positive an only see solutions and the end of PC in my body.

Sincerely
Posted 5/24/2007 6:17 PM (GMT 0)

Rickard

sorry i did not see this posting till now. I was back on the course three weeks afetr surgery.

Leaked like a sieve every time i had to bend down to tee it up or get my ball out of the cup but who cared. Just glad to be back on the course.

Daveed

Posted 5/24/2007 7:05 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your words Daveed! Three weeks! :-) Incredable. I tok out my catether this last monday after having it 11 days and have been dry since. Urologtherapeut said I might leak. On the other hand I dont have a good mecanics there yet and feel stings in the bladder and other perifec strange small pains. Sometimes good urination sometimes weak. She said it might be a swollen area for a while which will be decreasing the ability.

We will see how it will be when I tee up. I was planning for British Seniors this summer for the qualifications. I am 50 this year. But this dream died for this year when I was diagnosed. Pity. But there are still chances. :-) I recover quite quick but will take it easy with the golfing. Maybe start after 6 weeks seem reasonable...
Posted 5/24/2007 9:53 PM (GMT 0)

What's your definition of Golf...

My scores before surgery 92-99.  After surgery just one time 115.  Ugly.  UUUUgly.  That was 12 weeks after. 

Tony

Posted 5/25/2007 12:23 PM (GMT 0)
 Had robotic surgery 4/5/2005 and played my first round of golf 16 days later on 4/21. Rode in cart for 9 holes but my bottom began to feel sore so I walked the final 9 holes and it was much better. Had no problem swinging the club and felt very good after the round. Have played 5 rounds since surgery{walking}and feel great. Make sure you wear a pad as you might have some leakage when swinging.
Posted 5/25/2007 1:09 PM (GMT 0)
woow... you are early on the course to, Tomagolfing. It gives me a lot of hope. Thank you!. I am 15 days after robot and still a bit total weakness and also irregular bladder movements. I am very dry. Maybe to dry even. And do not feel comfortable yet... I invested in a Robokaddy before and hope it will make it easier for me to walk the course. Golf is so important for my quality in life so I really need to start soon. I compete a bit to and need to get started for the season soon. I think with a positive life attitude and try to go on with the funny things its easier to come over the mental pressure this sickness give.

Rickard
Posted 5/25/2007 1:55 PM (GMT 0)

Rickard,

TAKSAMEKA!   

Thanks for your attitude!  It will carry you farther than Tiger Wood's driver....  (I'll skip the "What's your handicap?"  attempt at humor for now.... :-) .)

Please let discomfort and common sense be your guide.  Just walking the course and swinging in your comfort range will help speed recovery, a lot.  However, pushing too much is never good.  Concentrating on your putting game might be smart. 

I work (stocking fresh produce since the beginnning of week 5) and still feel what I refer to as "the stumps" (internal stitching) as I increase my physical activity each day.

I'm in week 14 and I feel stronger every day.  I still let the "kids" do some of the heavy lifting I use to enjoy......

Teusen Tok!

CCedar

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