Hey, Robotic RP survivors, how long before back to work?

Well tax season is over and I finally have time to devote to this new hobby of mine (PC) and get ready for surgery with Dr. Menon in Detroit.

Now a Dr. friend of mine (RRP at U of Mich.), younger and a runner, was figuring 4 weeks and was back to work in 3.  So, subconciously, I was thinking I, too, might make it back to work in 3 and still have some vacation time left over.

Got a shock today talking to the Doc's office about filling out the FMLA paperwork and when I might get back to work.  Nancy was talking like we should indicate 2 to 3 months.  She indicated some patients with perineal pain/discomfort past the 3-month mark. 

I've heard don't expect to be "back to normal" (whatever that is) for 3 or 4 months, but was thinking it wouldn't be that long before back to work.

So, I'm not sure if she just wanted to be safe (and not re-fill out additional medical leave paperwork in the future) or if I'm delusional regarding how fast one should expect to bounce back from this plumbing change and be able to put in 8 hours of sitting, walking and a little driving around.

Voices of experience, please chime in!  How long before you could put in a week of 8 hour days (mostly desk work, some walking, some standing, no heavy lifting)?

--Steve

Great choice to go with Menon.

As far as going back to work, it really depends on your recovery and the type of work you do.

I have a remote setup at home so I was answering emails and "directing traffic" within 4-5 days.

I had the cath out in a week and was able to fully control urinary function immediately. I started driving the next day. If I wanted to, I could have gone to the office that second week. But since I can work form home I didn't.

For me it was more about a mental adjustment than a physical one. I was scared that I wouldn't be able to hold everything in my recovering bladder for my commute form suburbia to midtown Manhattan since on some bad days it could take 2+ hours to get in. In my native Italy i'd pull over and pee on the street but on NJ highways you're probably looking at jail time :)

I think 2-3 months is really excessive unless your work involved heavy lifting and/or the recovery isn't routine. I'd say 2/3 weeks is pretty normal.

At four weeks I felt pretty normal and could work a full day ... but I consult out of my home. I could take it easy if I got tired (which I did). I think younger guys (like you) bounce back from the surgery a lot quicker.

Good luck!

Hubby's doctor told him he 'could' go back after 2 weeks, but most waited til they were more continent. But he thought about 4-5 weeks a more probable time estimate (hubby has a desk job). The doctor did not mention the possible fatigue issues (yet anyways), nor possible lack of good mental focus, which would be an issue in his job...

I felt ready to return to work after 10 days post-LARP. Per the doctor's recommendation, I waited until 14 days post-LARP.

-Gedman

Each experience will be different here. I think a lot also depends on whether you lift the pencil or lift the tree. Guys with more physical labor will probably need more healing time than folks like me that sit at a desk with flexible hours and light lifting duties. 3-12 weeks is the norm depending.

Note I was back at my desk as soon as I got home, but I've been working for a large corporation out of the home for over 6 years.



Tony

My husband was planning on going back to work after 2 weeks. He had his surgery right before Hurricane Sandy hit NY. His NYC office was closed because of the hurricane so he went back after 3 weeks. He has a desk job with a lot of overtime hours. He was fine at the 3 week mark. The first few weeks he was a little tired, but the fatigue did not last for too long.

In many cases, perhaps 3 weeks is often the case if the continence issue is not too bad. Every patient heals differently & at different speeds, so it's hard to say. But 3 weeks does not seem out of the question if you have a desk job or a job where physical activity is not required.

Realize, however, that you will not be allowed to lift anything more than 10 pounds or do any twisting, etc., for the first 30 days post-op.

Your biopsy stats seem to be pretty good, so perhaps the nurse was framing her comments in the context of overall recovery in which you can do anything you wish.

Good luck!
Chuck

Resident of Highland, Indiana just outside of Chicago, IL.
July 2011 local PSA lab reading 6.41 (from 4.1 in 2009). Mayo Clinic PSA Sept. 2011 was 5.7.
Local urologist DRE revealed significant BPH, but no lumps.
PCa Dx Aug. 2011 at age of 61.
Biopsy revealed adenocarcinoma in 3 of 20 cores (one 5%, two 20%). T2C.
Gleason score 3+3=6.
CT of abdomen, bone scan both negative.
DaVinci prostatectomy 11/1/11 at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN), nerve sparing, age 62.
My surgeon was Dr. Matthew Tollefson, who I highly recommend.
Final pathology shows tumor confined to prostate.
5 lymph nodes, seminal vesicles, extraprostatic soft tissue all negative.
1.0 x 0.6 x 0.6 cm mass involving right posterior inferior,
right posterior apex & left mid posterior prostate.
Right posterior apex margin involved by tumor over a 0.2 cm length, doctor says this is insignificant.
Prostate 98.3 grams, tumor 2 grams. Prostate size 5.0 x 4.7 x 4.5 cm.
Abdominal drain removed the morning after surgery.
Catheter out in 7 days. No incontinence, occasional minor dripping.
Post-op exams 2/13/12, 9/10/12, PSA <0.1. PSA tests now annual.
Semi-firm erections now happening 14 months post-op & slowly getting a bit stronger.

bluebird123 said...
My husband was planning on going back to work after 2 weeks. He had his surgery right before Hurricane Sandy hit NY. His NYC office was closed because of the hurricane so he went back after 3 weeks. He has a desk job with a lot of overtime hours. He was fine at the 3 week mark. The first few weeks he was a little tired, but the fatigue did not last for too long.

How about the terribly impacted commutes after Sandy? That couldn't have made it any easier.

ugh, hope you've sorted all that out now. A lot of folks in our neighborhood had the same issue.

I could have went back to work at week 2.
I decided to take the rest of the year off, or, until my Aflac money runs out.

*****Scheduled for robotic focal prostatectomy (preserving the apex) May 21, Dr. Menon, unless someone talks me into brachy before that*****

Steve, did the doctor say why they were going to remove all of the prostate except for the apex? I don't recall hearing of a partial prostatectomy very often in the past.

Chuck

I went back to work half days three weeks after surgery. Back full time after 4 weeks. I work in a corporate office, so it is not too strenuous. However, I was skiing after 5 weeks, so the healing can be pretty quick.

Paul