Robotic Surgery

Last August I was diagnosed with PC. I looked at all options including Cyber Knife. I visited 3 urologists, 2 radiation specialists and spoke with a doc at Hopkins. I hesitantly went with Robotic surgery which was recommended for me by all the urologists. I'm 60 yo and in excelent physical shape. I live in Delray Beach, FL and Dr. Patel in Orlando was recommended. I interviwed several surgeons and chose Dr Patel. My experience with him and his team was superb. Florida Hospital is amazing. I was treated like royalty. The surgery and care was excelptional. Surgery took place on 1/6. I was released on 1/7. I stayed at a local hotel until the catheter was removed on 1/12. I never had any pain. There was some soreness. The cancer was contained and all nerves were spared.  I was told not to think about sex for at least 4 weeks. I'm scheduled for a post op review and meeting with an ED nurse on 2/20. My biggest concern is leakage. I have very little bladder control. I was told that leakage could occur from 2 weeks until 2 months and very few men are dry the first week after catheter removal. I expected leakage but not to the extent I'm experiencing. I'm doing my walking and Kegel. The little holes are mostly healed and the soreness is gone. I'm trying to stay positive and patient knowing I'm cancer free. But the leakage is getting old.   

Spisam,  It took me about 3 months to become continant after my surgery.  For the 1st month I had very little control but at about 4 weeks I started to improve quite rapidly.  I hate to tell you to be patient, but ... be patient you'll be there.  Good luck to you and welcome to the other side.  Allan

P.S.   Hope to see you in the Zero Club

I also had Dr. Patel from Florida Hospital-Celebration perform my surgery a year ago. Patel and his team were great. Drove down from Virginia myself, so they kept me in the hospital an extra night just for observation.

The day I was released from the hospital I was out and picking up meds at a pharmacy. I think a few days later I was walking almost a mile-plus per day. I stayed at Celebration hotel, and the staff there was very accomodating.

Had no real pain/discomfort considering the event. In my case leakage problems were not to bad and had pretty well cleared up about 4-5 weeks later.

Six days after surgery the catheter came out.  Four days after that drove myself back to Virginia. Was back at work the day I got back into town.

And now, a year later, everything so far is good. PSA tests have been zero so far.

spisam

I feel very lucky, my catheter was removed 1/15. I wore the full belted shields extra absorbency for the first two days when I leaked about every 15 minutes and then changed to the male guards regular absorbency yesterday when the leaks begin to subside. I do kegels three times a day and I believe they are helping. Although I can start and stop the flow anytime I want to, I still leak from a sneeze or a big laugh even if I think about it and do a kegel beforehand. You are three days ahead of me and I fully expect to still be leaking in three more days. We have come through some major surgery and continence return with time. Best of luck to you with your recovery.

Hi Sam,

I am also new to this forum. I was 48 at the time of my RRP and the leaking only persisted for a few weeks after the cath came out but I did continue to have urgency leaking after that. Two and one half months post surg. I began a course of IMRT and I resumed leaking again just a bit into the radiation and during the radiation. I am now one year post radiation and the only leakage I have is urgency incontinance and as long as I pay attention to the fullness of my bladder and find a toilet soon after standing from a prolonged period of sitting I am OK. I wear one ordinary pad per day (24 hours)

As quickly as you are recovering I bet you will regain control again soon. for me all of the signals and feelings were differenct and I had to relearn that aspect of what my body was telling me.

Best wishes. Scott