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just got home from surgery 5/16

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Posted 5/17/2013 6:26 PM (GMT 0)
surgery  5/16 LRP with Dr Nick Symbas, Kennestone Hosp., Marietta.  excellent, gifted, caring man.  . Dr happy so I happy.  Nerves spared and we will see what happens.  Surg about 2 hrs,  recovery 4 because I pulled my drain tube out trying to come out sleep.  Had the nurses really hopping I understand.  No additional narcotics after surgery, but did take tommerol? 3 times during night.  Pain more like a very low stomach ache.  Sore, yes, walked this a m in hospital about 1/4 mi and a little in yard after getting home.  Bending over is a no no.  Don't think I will need any pain meds unless I over do.  Foley out in 10 days. Dr expects serious leaking because of size,  62gr pushing into bladder and it will have to learn to relax again.  Wait and see I guess.  Thanks to all you who have prepared me with what to expect and I will let you know how I recover.

Age 64

prostate size 62   stage t1c

biopsy 03/11/2013 24 cores,

Right mid site. 3+3 measuring .5mm  (3% of tissue)

right apex 3+3  measuring 1mm (7 % of tissue)

right base 3+3 measuring 3mm (11% od tissue)

right mid  site 3+3 measuring 1mm (7% of tissue

Posted 5/17/2013 6:35 PM (GMT 0)
Congrats and welcome to the other side Steve. I'll just send my best wishes for success and let the guys that have had surgery chime in to help you with the details.
Posted 5/17/2013 6:57 PM (GMT 0)
Glad you made it through okay Steve. Praying for a total victory over cancer and full recovery for you.
Posted 5/17/2013 7:32 PM (GMT 0)
Glad everything came out ok... (pun intended)
Posted 5/17/2013 7:48 PM (GMT 0)
Glad to see you on the other side. Now, rest, walk and drink water as much as you feel comfortable. Every day will be a big leap forward in strength and stamina.

-Gedman
Posted 5/17/2013 8:13 PM (GMT 0)
Glad you are doing so well and that everything went well, Steve.

You can always take Tylenol if needed. Many of us took that at your stage of the process.

And a process it is, first bowel movement, eating sensibly, adapting to cath, trouble getting up out of bed etc etc. You'll also probably be entering an emotional process in the next few months that we have all been through.

Hope everything turns out as good as possible and that you have faith in any potential issues improving as part of this extended process.
Posted 5/18/2013 2:08 AM (GMT 0)
Steve,
Welcome to the other side!
Yes, get out and walk, drink water, walk, etc. just don't over do.
Before you know it, you will have the cath removed and jump into diapers! tongue
Everyday gets a little better.
Good luck with your pathology report, hope they got it all.

Bill from Florida
Posted 5/18/2013 7:07 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Steve,

Glad to see you've now joined us on the other side. I can offer myself as an example regarding continence after surgery after subtracting a very large prostate.

My prostate was even larger than yours -- 98.3 grams -- and I only needed pads for a few weeks after the surgery. I was virtually 100% continent after that.

Every case is different and healing takes place at different paces among all of us. But at least you know that your (former) large prostate does not necessarily mean you will have continence issues.

Other than that, it looks like you've got some very good numbers going for you, so here's hoping for a great pathology report for you.

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 & VERY slowly getting a bit stronger.
Posted 5/18/2013 8:26 AM (GMT 0)
welcome to the other side.  Hope the news, especially the pathology, gets better and better!
Posted 5/18/2013 9:19 AM (GMT 0)
Congrats for making it through from another Steve!  I'm not far behind you with surgery scheduled for Tues 5/20.  Keep us all posted on the progress and we can compare notes along the way.

May God grant you no cancer, quick continence, and no permanent impairments in any other departments.  smilewinkgrin

 

Posted 5/18/2013 2:06 PM (GMT 0)
Good morning guys, slept (or stayed in recliner) 10 hrs last night.  did not move I think. walked a little this a m. in house, ate and now back in recliner.  once you get comfortable you hate to  move..walking doesn't hurt, just tire easily. got to change bandage on drain hole. bowels want to work, just cant predict when that will happen.   This certainly is not EASY gall bladder surgery. Really do thank all of you for your posts.  It removes the anxiety from the future somewhat. Everything is tolerable ,mostly you just move slowly and say a few ohhhhhs. If I only had a rope mounted to the ceiling to pull myself up from the recliner    Thanks again to a bunch of guys I only know thru words.   Steve N.  I will be thinking of you.  IT IS MAJOR SURGERY AND A LOT OF PARTS GET MOVED AROUND. YOU WILL BE SOOORRRRE.  THATS THE WORSE I THINK.

 

Posted 5/18/2013 2:31 PM (GMT 0)
Good morning Steve,
The next big event is your first bowel movement. Help it along with stool softeners. I read somewhere that it hurt the first time so I was scared, but it was okay.

I used a cane to help me get leverage getting up and down the first day or so but it got better quickly.

Heal Well!

Bill from Florida
Posted 5/18/2013 2:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Steve,
It sounds like you are doing just fine. Hey, while you have the catheter in see if you can convince a friend to get you 75 ft of tygon tubing from the local hardware store. You can zip-tie it to a couch leg and run the other end into the to the sump pump.. The next time yo plop down to watch TV you plug in, drink your water (or beer) and never have to leave the couch. ;-)

Good luck.
Jeff

I checked. The humor gland is not located anywhere near the prostate.
Posted 5/18/2013 3:07 PM (GMT 0)
Good to see the good report! I wish you one of the fastest recoveries too!
Posted 5/19/2013 4:26 AM (GMT 0)
Take it easy Steve. Good luck and I hope your recovery goes well.
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