My Countdown to Surgery

Hi All, I've only posted a few times here.  I mostly do a lot of reading and research.  Anyway, I am scheduled for my RP-DaVinci on Tuesday morning at 10:30am.  I think I'm as ready as I'll ever be.  A little nervous as all kinds of thoughts race through my head.  ED, incontinence, catheter, cancer, nerve sparing, etc..  It's all pretty scary.  I just know that no matter what the outcome, my life will be forever altered. 

As I wait in anticipation I have one final question.  If I'm scheduled for 10:30am on Tuesday morning, what time should I drink the magnesium citrate? 

Thanks guys.

At whatever time your surgeon tells you to. If your surgeon didn't specify a time, call up the office and ask. If they are on holiday, get a call through to whichever doctor is covering holidays. I had a different routine and product specified, so I can't advise on that, but really, I wouldn't care to, either - and I'm surprised if you don't have paperwork from the doctor specifying what to take and when.

I was told clear liquids only for the entire day before - barring a midnight snack I didn't have, that meant no solid food for ~36 hours ahead of the procedure.

Post Edited (RandomPseudoNym) : 1/1/2012 7:00:04 PM (GMT-7)

...Pardon - I should also wish you good luck, and tell you that if you are handed a spirometer, use the thing religiously. Helps to get the lungs back in shape, but only if you use it every hour or so that you're awake.

I came out of surgery parched beyond belief (as Mike had, nothing after midight - what fun they had getting an IV in me!) and drank like crazy - then the nausea hit (probably from anesthesia, possibly compounded by too much too cold water - might have been OK if it wasn't ice water - can't tell in hindsight.) Got a scop patch for the nausea, and settled into drinking like an engineer - partly still thirsty, partly wanting to get things flushed out of the bladder and down that handy hose while they were still willing to flush nicely and I had a whole hospital to back me up if they clogged up. Couldn't sleep well there anyway - spent the night drinking, sucking on the spirometer, and had them unhook me so I could walk a couple of times. Got all sorts of nasty junk out (blood, chunks, who knows?) had it flowing clear yellow by the next day (did toss a few more chunks out at home, but the bulk of it left at the hospital.)
-RPN

I got real tired of green or yellow Jello and chicken broth the day before. I had family come into town to sit through surgery, and had to cook for them. It was a long day.

There was no magnesium citrate in my plan.

The doc will also load you up with post-op instructions and prescriptions - be sure you (or someone with you) understands them, knows where your pharmacy is, and has your insurance card & ID. I had to give directions on the way home to the folks driving, who were from out of town, while in 10+ of 10 pain in the car, then have them go to a pharamcist who knew me, but not them, asking for seriously controlled pain meds on my account. Nothing good comes of any of that, trust me.

The nurses should go over catheter care - that is important as well.

All that said, the one who has the easiest time of it, and who will get the best night's sleep after, will be you. I didn't sleep more than two hours any night from the time I was diagnosed until surgery day. But that night after getting to the room, I remember nothing. Pain meds knock me out, and they worked like a charm.

Thanks again guys.  I'll be in touch....from the "other side".

Peter

Cepas - welcome to the "other side" - it's Tuesday and hopefully all went well.
- here's to a steady and boring recovery.
- you'll still have a lot of questions and thoughts - have a notepad nearby for you or your spouse (or family/friend) - the brain is a little foggy for the next few days.

-wishing you all the best,
Bronson

Just got home. Doc said surgery was uneventful. Was able to spare both nerves. Just trying to settle in with the cath and general soreness. Kinda feel like I've been hit by a truck. Eating light til I get that first bowel movement. I'll keep you updated.

Thanks for the support!

Peter

I treated myself like a veal for the first few days home...

The only advice I can give, and it's not to scare you, is to put a towel over your lap when you poop for the first time. I had the normal contraction to let it loose and bloody pee shot across the bathroom. I called the surgeon, who laughed at my, "Is that normal???!!!" His answer was that indeed it was as long as the urine returned clear. It did. I worried little afterward.

You're now down one less part than you were born with. Congratulations.

BTW, I farted in the recovery room and startled my nurse.

Good luck to you guy's and see you on the other side !!!

Help what....?

Other than my gut muscles when I was trying to get out of bed, and the catheter, neither of which seemed a good idea to pain-medicate away (so as not to do myself damage), I had little pain, whether sitting or lying down (so long as the catheter was not moved). Other people have had much more reported pain...

As far as your guts working right, and general healing, getting up and walking frequently (even if just around the house, bag in hand) is helpful. And getting up frequently was a LOT easier for me if I was sitting (I could get up from a chair with no assistance and little pain) while I had to have help getting out of bed, and it hurt even with help.

Without knowing exactly what you are trying to help, I'd say sit, and get up for the commercials or something...