RP in a month...what to expect

Hello Mark (Mark5508) 

Welcome to the Macmillan Online Community, although I am so sorry to find you here. 

I can't answer your question as I didn't go down the surgery route myself and still own about 98% of my Prostate (the NHS keeps taking bits).

Whilst you have made the choice of surgery I just thought I should ensure your team have fully explained all the options and side effects. Here's a link to the NICE guidelines:

NICE Guidelines - Prostate Cancer.

There is some great information there particularly at 1.3 and 1.3.7.

Yes I have known people to be back in office work after 2/3 weeks. People employed in manual jobs take 5/6 weeks BUT remember we are all different and you need to listen to your team and your body.

I hope the above helps, I am sure others will be along with personal experiences soon.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi Mark5508. I am booked in for the 7th July. I will let you know how it goes!!

.Hi Mark5508, I had my prostatectomy back in 2018 in Ninewells,Dundee. There wasn’t a robotic procedure at that time so your outcome will probably be better than mine. By saying this I mean my op wasn’t nerve sparing so this put an end to any future sexual activity . Yes that sounds devastating as I was only 59 but I was more concerned about staying on this planet than getting my nookie  I was only two nights in hospital and in no real discomfort apart from two weeks with a catheter which was very restrictive and uncomfortable. I’m lucky enough to be on full pay for 6 months with my employment so I just took my time to get fit again and had phased return when I felt more able to return (about 12 weeks total) to let the waterworks return to normal etc. if I had to choose again I would still do the same. I had the peace of mind it had been removed and that was my choice and I wasn’t going to change my mind.. Hope all goes well and you can return to enjoying your life cancer free ️

Hi Mark

I had my RALP in January. I am 70 but like you reasonably fit and active and had a Gleason 3+4.  I recovered fairly quickly from the operation.  Having a catheter was an annoyance for the first 10 days or so but once that was out it was mainly a question of being patient and avoiding overdoing it.  I was lucky in not having any issues with urinary incontinence, possibly because I had the Retzius sparing operation but also I was reasonably diligent with the pelvic floor exercises in the lead up. Only took a few weeks to be back to feeling fully fit and energised. Best of all my histology results showed clear margins around the cancer and I have had two undetectable PSA results so I am now hopefully cancer free. Hope all goes well for you too.

All the best

Dave

Hi, 

Hope your surgery went well yesterday!! You were the same age as me when I had my tests etc. I can only report positives from my surgery (have a look at my bio if you fancy a boring read). I was back at my desk job after 6 days. Admittedly that was a little too soon and I had to have a few rests on the couch, but I was raring to go. The first days were “awkward” as I was terrified of the holes in my tummy and needed to think before every movement, and the catheter was annoying. But I wasn’t out of it or bed ridden at all. And am now fully fit again as if nothing had happened 4 months down the line (except for requiring a vacuum pump for certain things ) 

Wishing you all the best!

Just thought it might be potentially helpful to others if I posted an answer to my own question.  I had the surgery yesterday (robotic Da Vinci) and to my amazement was able to come home straight afterwards.  I went into the operating theatre at around midday...was home in time for a dinner of chicken broth by 6:45.

I took one Ibuprofen last night to ease the abdominal pain, which is - currently - the only issue I'm facing. The catheter is a fiddle and I need help emptying it, but I've been told I only need it until Wednesday (5 days), which again is far less of a problem than I envisaged.

I've taken another Ibuprofen this morning, and have been advised to take a laxative so there's a bowel movement before I get back on solids...although I had a mashed banana this morning and another cup of chicken broth.  Taking lots of Vitamin C as well, plus an antibiotic that needs to be taken before-and-after the catheter removal (just two pills). They've also given me a more potent painkiller (Oxycodone) but I'm not planning to take it unless the pain intensifies.  Currently I would say on a 1-to-10 scale, I'm at a 3.5 for pain. 

Physically, I took a four-block walk this morning...down the road and back.  And stairs have not proved to be a problem, although I'm taking my time and concentrating more on each step than I would normally.  I'm spending the day in a living room armchair reading and Netflixing.

The surgeon was unable to spare the nerves on the left side of the prostate because the tumour was close to the margin, but saved the nerves on the right. And decided not to remove lymph nodes (at one point they thought they might have to go).  Now I wait a week for the full report on the prostate itself to learn more about its precise state.

I've spent the last few weeks, frankly, dreading the procedure and wondering whether I had made the right decision. But so far (and I'm told day 3 is the real bugger) everything has gone far more easily than I anticipated.  I totally understand and respect the fact that others will have had different experiences. 

Will post more as things advance...

Hi Mark

Glad everything went well and you are on the road to recovery, I don't recall day 3 being any particular problem for me so hopefully you will be the same. Enjoy the feeling of being rid of your cancer. Keep taking the laxatives and don't stress if it takes a few days before you see any effect (it took me 4 days).  You are doing the best thing by taking a bit of exercise which will aid your recovery. You seem to have struck lucky with only having to put up with the catheter for 5 days, I had mine in for 9, and don't worry about having it removed, if it's given a little twist first it comes out easily and painlessly. Keep us posted and good luck with the histology results.  

I've just had a third undetectable PSA test result so I'm feeling good, and happy I went down the surgical route. The only ongoing problem is ED, which is entirely expected, but with the support of my GP and the hospital team I am at least making slow progress in that regard.

All the best

Dave

Hi Mark,

must admit to feeling a bit jealous of your experience!  

I had my operation on 7th July and have had several issues since including a re admission on the 9th for three days and then an infection the following week!

Apart from that it has been fine, I had the lymph nodes removed which has caused some numbness at the top of my legs and groin but it’s not painful. 

I had the catheter out last week, which was not painful at all. Since then I’ve gradually started getting back control of my bladder! Which is a relief as I was concerned about that.

I did have a terrible pain in my left leg which was apparently related to the lymph node removal and brought on by walking too much, I’ve taken it easier and it seems better now!

Hopefully you will carry on getting better each day, I certainly am and overall I’m happy with taking this route.

all the best  

Day 3 (assuming operation day was Day 1) has been a touch harder than Day 2, but I think that's mostly my fault.  I had a terrible night's sleep...I couldn't get comfortable and was constantly worried I was going to snag the catheter.  I also stupidly thought I could get through the night without painkillers.  So I corrected that first thing in the morning. And I had terrible gas, although that dam eventually broke mid-morning.

I took my first post-op shower, which may have been the best shower of my life.  I've taken another walk (couple of blocks longer than yesterday's), have done some light work which was fine, watched a movie and took two naps.

On the food front it's been mostly soups plus mashed bananas. Coffee, which the surgeon recommended can help get everything moving. Still no joy with the laxatives, but I can sense things are definitely on the move, and I think tonight or tomorrow I will cross that Rubicon.

I still definitely feel better then I anticipated, but am going to stay on the ibuprofen for at least a couple more days, maybe longer if needed.  I'm applying a herbal wound salve to the abdominal scars (have used it before when I had to have some stitches in my foot a few years ago and it works wonders). 

Overall, a decent day. I even made my own lunch. But more up-and-down than its predecessor.

Thanks for the responses...and good luck to all.

Thanks for the update.  Seems like you are heading in the right direction.  I had forgotten about the gas but now remember how much more comfortable I felt afterwards.  I also remember how great that first shower was. You are lucky having coffee, I was advised to abstain from caffeine and alcohol for 4 weeks post surgery and had to make do with prune juice (which did at least have the desired effect) Hope things continue to go well.

All the best

Dave