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questions for RALP surgeon at first post-op visit

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Posted 12/11/2013 8:52 PM (GMT 0)
Greetings,

Friday will be my first appt with my surgeon since my RALP a month ago. Five days post-op she related by phone the results of path report which were 'very good; lesion confined to gland, no margins affected."
I believe my incontinence and ED are improving as expected and I don't necessarily want to use valuable appt time to discuss these.
Do I ask for details of the pathology report and, if so, which ones are truly important for my future health?
What questions should I ask?

Thank you
Posted 12/11/2013 9:03 PM (GMT 0)
Ask for a copy of your path report and ask her to point out anything that she thinks will be needful for you to know. You can read through it at your leisure and we can help with the confusing bits.

Then talk about her usual procedures for penile rehab if she hasn't laid them out for you already. That is seldom time wasted. There's no use-it-or-lose-it aspect to incontinence but there is for penile rehab. You will want to know the procedures even if you don't expect it to be a problem. Erectile problems actually continue to get worse for up to six months after RP and guys who think they are doing great when the catheter comes out sometimes run into problems later.

Just my advice.

That's my suggestion.
Posted 12/11/2013 9:12 PM (GMT 0)
What Peter said!!!!

I was getting ready to tell you the same thing. See if your doctor has a ED rehab plan for you and get the prescriptions for Viagra, Cialis,etc, whatever she recommends for you. Also ask about a VED pump.

A year after my surgery I asked for the surgical/operation report also. It is very interesting reading. It tells exactly what they did to you and in what order. It completes the picture of what they did the day of your surgery.

Now sit back and wait for the Zeros to begin!

Bill from Florida cool
Posted 12/11/2013 9:17 PM (GMT 0)
zero

Sounds like your a lucky guy. You don't indicate your BX Gleason score, etc. and path results, but I would ask her if she thinks you are "cured". If you have had no complications since surgery that's great so no need to discuss what didn't happen. If your cancer was GL7 or more, you may have downstream recurrence. I would ask her about the chances of that happening.

Good luck!

Bob
Posted 12/12/2013 5:55 AM (GMT 0)
Zero - that sounds like a great report so far. Your Uro may want to discuss your incontinence and ED just to make sure you're healing up okay.

It wouldn't be wasted time to go over the ED.

The other big questions will be, when does the first post procedure PSA test happen. That's another big question.

Keep us updated on your progress,
Andrew
Posted 12/12/2013 6:59 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with others here, ask for a copy of pathology report. Talk with doctor and nurse about specifics of getting the vacuum device for ED therapy. Talk with you insurance in advance so you know exactly what hoops you and the doctor's office need to jump through so that the device is covered. If it can be covered at all.
Good luck.
RickyD
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