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Posted 8/8/2007 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
 

Hello my name is Ish,

I am honored to have joined this forum, I must thank everybody for helping to educate me through thier own experiences.  I had my surgery on July 23, 2007 and my psa was 3+3 all cancer removed and contained, Dr. feels really happy with how all went both nerves spared my only problem is pain in the rectum it hurts allot and causes me great discomfort. I do take the laxatives stool softeners and try not to sit mostly lay down or stand up. still slightly incontinent. but really wish I knew if it was normal to have pain in that area for this long. eyes

Posted 8/8/2007 5:36 PM (GMT 0)
i ~ ish,



We are thrilled you joined us ~ thank you for reaching out!!! It truly touches all of us that you’ve been able to pull from all of our experiences… here on HealingWell to help your journey be a little smoother. tongue



Gleason 3+3

Can you give us a little more information….

Age?

PSA?

What type of surgery did you have?



With your posting… it’s obvious you are concerned… Do not hesitate to contact your urologist and explain to them what’s going on….. Hearing from us will help some.. but hearing it from your doctor sometimes “totally” settles the mind. You don’t need the extra stress ~ while you’re on this healing/recovery stepping-stone.



There’s been a lot of movin’ stuff around down in that area… can you give us a little more “explicit” details on the pain. Several members had a lot of pain in the testicles over a period of time. … Have you had constipation since surgery? Hemorrhoids in the past?



Continue with your stool softeners and a donut pillow is great for the chair! We still use ours J



Stay close ~ okay…

Keeping you close in thoughts and prayers.

In Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy
Posted 8/8/2007 5:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Ish,

Welcome!
I remember about two weeks out Curt had one day of extreme rectal discomfort. I remember giving him a hot water bottle to lay against it while he was laying down and that helped. Seems to me that someone else on here had the same complaint...but again it was just a one day thing for Curt. Bluebird is right, you should let your Dr. know what's going on if you have any concerns. Best to be safe.

Vicky
Posted 8/8/2007 7:27 PM (GMT 0)
I had discomfort down there for about four weeks after surgery. It was uncomfortable to sit down for more than about five minutes, so going to movies, sports events, restaurants etc. was a chore. You are now healing inside and it takes about four weeks for that to happen. I think you're perfectly normal, but I'm not a doc.
Posted 8/8/2007 8:08 PM (GMT 0)
Hello ish,

Me too. I had this aching pain in that general surgical area for weeks. Gradually the pain dissapated, and I believe excercise and the body's own healing process worked. Certainly if pain persists, and there seems to be little improvement you should call your doctor. Otherwise everyday will be just a tiny improvement on the day before. So good luck to you, and I hope you feel better soon.

Glen
Posted 8/8/2007 9:41 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for the great advise I realize I forgot to mention my surgery was done by the davinci and I did try that hot water treatment and it really did help thanks for the suggestions. I will definately keep in touch from now on. thanks again for the advise. also called my doc said its all part of the healing process just upped the dose of laxative and stool softeners.

 

Posted 8/8/2007 10:36 PM (GMT 0)
  Hi ~ ish,   I’m so glad you responded so quickly!!     Buddy & I invite you to visit our personal thread listed in our signature…   If you can pull one thing to help your recovery/healing process to be less stressful…. Our gift to you … is Sharing our experience.   Thank you again ~ it really means a lot when we have new members ~ introduce themselves… It allows us to walk with you…   Now ~ don’t forget… as time permits ~ let us know a little more!!    Check out the specifics on how to set up your Signature…. in our last posting to you! Click on 2 nd locked posting at the top of the prostate main page… titled: Prostate Cancer Resources, Helpful Hints, and Topic Thread Links   Look for # 5 Signature Line   Stay close!!!!   And   Heal ~ing~ Well   (listen to your body!!!!) In Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy
Posted 8/8/2007 10:42 PM (GMT 0)
Ish,


The prostrate and all the other items removed were very close to inside of the "crotch" area between the testicles and the rectum.  The catheter has also irritated the muscles in this area.

Most of us got an inflatable "donut pillow" (available at most drug stores) but
  don't inflate it all the way full.
This will help you find postions to sit wthout disturbing this painful area so much as you heal.
I was very sensitive in this area for over almost two months.

Be patient!  You will feel better.  Until you do, rest, walk, and take it easy!

Warm regards!

CCedar
ICTHUS!

Posted 9/4/2007 1:50 AM (GMT 0)
Hi guys,

I have been doing much better health wise I am back to my normal activitiies and it has only been 6 weeks, still not doing to well in the bedroom, my wife keeps asking me to be patient and I realize I am rushing I take 100 mg of viagra and had just one erections for about 3 minutes and it went away what am I doing wrong and should I be trying something else my next appointment with my doc is novemeber 20, what do I do to help me feel better in that department I want to feel the same way I did pre operation anybody want to talk about what progress they are making 6 weeks to 6 months after surgery I have all the nerves spared and the doc said all should be well please give me some hope. eyes

Posted 9/4/2007 3:03 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Ish,

Congratulations on your healing progress. It sounds like you are doing very well physically. But you need to take it easy still because it takes quite a while for heal inside. Patience and PCa go together.

Having a good erection on Viagra after just 6 weeks is real progress. There are many posts on this forum about our ED treatements and progress. My own experience is that I started taking 50 mg Viagra and 1500 - 2000 mg L-Arginine daily about 3 months after surgery. I should have started sooner but had some other problems that delayed me in the ED department. I still take the Viagra and L-Arginine daily and when we want to have sex, I take 50 mg viagra, wait 2 hours then take a penile injection of .02 ml Trimix. It works great - the erection stays up for about an hour and is better for sex than I have had for many years.

We are all different so please read other experiences then talk to your urologist about ED treatment. And be patient...


Jim
Posted 9/4/2007 4:21 AM (GMT 0)
Hey, ish. Glad to hear the rectal pain is resolving. I, too, had the same thing -- reallly painful for the first couple of weeks. Dr said lots of bruising results from the surgery, so the pain is a normal thing. As to the ED, I think it was Swimom who remarked on one of the ED threads how little the drs tell us what to expect in that area. Prior to surgery, my dr told me that it takes about 18-24 months to regain pre-surgery function. What he didn't tell me, and what I have since learned here, is that for the first three+ months, most guys get no erections of any kind, not even a "stirring" down there. After putting some direct, pointed questions to my dr, he said that many men don't even respond to Viagra or equivalent for the first few months and not to expect much before six months! I'm at just at 3 months, and I am getting some response from 100 mg of Viagra (maybe 50%) and even a little bit "on my own." He says I'm right on track and to be patient and let the nerves heal. He was able to spare both nerve bundles, and he says "you're going to be fine." Based on what I've been told, sounds to me like you're right on track. Hang in there (so to speak).

puget
Posted 9/8/2007 10:25 PM (GMT 0)

Just thought I'd jump in on the rectal pain subject. I had the Da Vinci assisted surgery on the 28th of August. After the initial soreness around the abdomen and the gas pains resolved, which was about 3 days ago, I started to feel rectal pain upon sitting at a desk for any more then 30 minutes and during defecation. It began to concern me enough today that I looked for and found this forum. I have found that the DSS stool softeners are to harsh for me and cause me to strain more, I have taken metamucil before the surgery and after resuming it, it works and is definatley easier on my intestinal tract. At least I know that the pain problem isn't so uncommon, and I just called my wife and asked her to bring me home one of those doughnut pillows! Thanks for the info guys, it has helped me.

Ron

Posted 9/13/2007 3:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Ish,

I came accross this site today. I had the same concerns as you. I had surgery on July 25 th. I was just trying to figure out when my rectum pain started, and it was as soon as I started back to work. Every morning I start my day with a bowel movement like clock work, even though I no longer take a stool soften. Some days I have to put first aid creme on my rectum because it is so sore. I did finally bring a pillow in to work to sit on and it seems to help. I wanted to know how you are making out??

age 48

gleason 3+3

robotic prosataectomy 7/25/07

Stage T1B

first PSA post .1
Posted 9/13/2007 7:49 PM (GMT 0)
ISH,
Know about the pain, I had the same. I first got an inflatable donut, but wheather it was fully or partically inflated it did not work well for me, besides the plastic or rubber caused me to sweat in the area of contact. I returned it and bought a sponge one (18 inch wide ) with a washable cloth cover, it is great. I know this post is a little late for you, but maybe someone else can use the info. Uncle Dan
Posted 9/14/2007 12:00 AM (GMT 0)
darn, first I find out this surgery will kill my sex life (for a while) and then I get to rediscover my infant years with Depends and now I find out it is going to be a pain-in-the-ass as well! :-) ... I tell you what, this cancer thing just isn't fun.

But, on a more serious note, this site is great. Thanks for the post ISH; it is heartening to see you getting better and better. Between this and another post I read yesterday that really added a lot of detail on issues with incontenance, I have learned a whole lot. Now, off to the store to stock up on donuts.
Posted 7/10/2011 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
rolleyes  Hi I'm Pojac

  I just want to share with whom ever will listen, the type of pain I've experienced since I had a perirectal abscess removed.   Since for the most part I thought I had hemorrhors, I did everything one would do for such.  But  what a mistake for all it did was make things worst.  The irritation was so great and the pain level so high that this 67 year old man cried like a little boy with a triple tooth ache.  It's been two days out nof the hospital and I'm still taking pain pills as a must.   They really don't elimanate the pain but help me bare it.  I've searched for a releif program but there is none, only time.  I ask my mother -in law to give me some help, because she has had same type problems.  Her advice, be careful of being your own doctor.  I'm required to take a seth bath often and it helps.  Hope this helps someone.

Posted 9/27/2012 3:36 PM (GMT 0)
my husband has been having the same pain he had the devincci surgery 2 wks ago now he is suffering with pain down there and in the rectum,its makes me feel more at ease to know that it is a common thing with men after prostate surgery.thanks
Posted 11/24/2012 2:24 AM (GMT 0)
I'm 10 days post op. I had the robotic as well and the rectum pain started after being home sitting around. I just thought it was bad until I got the catheter out and had to start finding those muscles to pee. My rectum and everything in that area after three days of trying to make a stream, aches like hell. It literally feels like I've been kicked in the butt. I'm certainly hoping that all if this will pass at some point.
Posted 11/24/2012 10:33 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to assorted new folk posting here, but you are posting on a very old thread so don't expect too many replies from the original posters.

Pain after surgery is something to talk to your surgeon about and to get dealt with quickly.
If you have been given pain meds after surgery they are to help deal with pain so don't stop taking them too soon.
Aches are something slightly different. Aches in the bowel area can be due to faeces being too hard etc and so stool softeners and good diet can help there, also plemnty of gentle walking raether than too much sitting is also good.
And even if you have had robot surgery that only leaves small scarfs on the outside there has been major trauma on the inside that will take a long time to heal, thee will for isntance be a lot of swelling and scaring that takes a while to get better.
Also while we all get told to to kegel exercises to help with continence you mustn't do too many, or you will just end up with aching muscles.

Alf
Posted 11/26/2012 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
I had very significant rectal sx after surgery.  When I brought them up to my doctor or to others they made me feel stupid.  It seemed I was alone on this.  Overtime I did notice that others had this complaint.  It was initially driving me nuts.  It is all surgical trauma and does resolve. I will say now that I am seven months out my rectum is totally normal. At least this one thing has normalized completely. My bladder is getting there, too- if only my erections would cooperate.  
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