4 days post radical robotic prostatectomy

Hello Al985 

Wow, that's bad - An operation to remove the Prostate is major surgery - you should be able to contact someone from your team (please don't name and shame on here) so I feel sorry for you - is there anything we can help you with - we have plenty of Community members who have had surgery.

As for crying - it's part and parcel of the cancer journey - we all react to the journey in our own way - let's face it it not everyday we elect to go into hospital and have an operation. Your emotions - joy, happiness feelings for yourself and family and friends are all up and down. One in Two people on a cancer journey have emotional issues so you are not alone.

Please do give our Support Line a call on 0808 808 00 00 (8am to 8pm 7 days a week) they have plenty of resources to help you along.

Al985 said:

I’m usually fairly happy chap so this is totally alien to me.

Try and look on the positive side - The cancer is now sitting on some laboratory side and it can't do you any further damage - it won't be long before you are back up and running - cancer free.

If I can do anything for you just let me know.

(Oh I didn't have surgery - I am on Hormone therapy - I can cry for England these days - that's a side effect so you are not alone!!).

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi Millibob.

i wouldn’t dream of naming and I don’t think there is any shame in having a case load of needy patients who you cant possibly meet all their need because there in only one of you.

i think my problem is that the referring hospital have been there at every turn so i expected the same from the treatment team and it just hasn’t been there. I didn’t see my nurse again after being introduced or after the op. I am in a vacuum. No phone calls,  well in fact nothing. 
The crying is so alien to me, Ive always had to be the strong one and I can’t do it for myself.

The next 5+ weeks will be hell for me as I wait for the biopsy results. I will take up the offer of ringing the help line when my wife is not around as despite the fact we are solid I feel she does not quite understand.Al 985

Hello Al985 

There's no shame in a man crying - it shows we have emotions - I can do it at small things, it's so funny sometimes what silly things make me cry.

Al985 said:

I feel she does not quite understand

This is something I have said many times - unless you have cancer then you don't have that "bond" with other folk who do have it - we understand - and we can talk about it.

Waiting for any results is awful - I have my 6 monthly PSA test this week - funny thing is now I am so used to them I don't worry but I can understand your worry about the histology resus from the prostate biopsy.

However you are feeling - up - down - whatever the mood, just come on here - there will be someone to chat to, yes use this thread to chat about you and how you are getting on - we have a general chit chat thread here

 No Specific Topic 

No one travels this journey alone - we are all here for you.

Best wishes - Brian.

Thanks Brian.

Of course your understand set off  another set of tears but this time they were not in desperation but in hope. My wife has been positive at every point but She seems to think it is all positive from here, let’s hope she is right.

Al 985

Hi AI985

My first thought was you might still be in the stage of after effects from the general anaesthetic. If that’s the case it’ll right itself soon. Hang in there and share your feelings here. 

Hi Al985 Bless you - that brought back a memory for me.  In the early days, I got quite emotional and tearful when I was telling my family and friends about the emotional support, guidance and reassurance that this group provided to me at that difficult and frightening time.   AW

Al985 said:

Of course your understand set off  another set of tears but this time they were not in desperation but in hope

This was what brought back those memories..    AW

Hi Al985

Welcome to the forum.

Personally, I'd be amazed if you weren't feeling really emotional immediately after surgery. I had prostatectomy 18 month ago and I completely recognise how you feel. I certainly shed a few tears. You've had a very traumatic few months culminating in a major operation. A bit of 'PTSD' is to be expected. However, the worst bit is over. I found having a catheter very stressful but I expect yours will be out in another week or so. Try not to stress too much about the biopsy. The important thing is that your PSA remains low, and for the vast majority of people this surgery results in complete success.

My own experience is a very positive one and within a couple of months I was back to normal. Oddly, and partly due to some lifestyle changes and the support on this forum, I now feel better than I have for decades, both physically and mentally.

If anything the pre-op support from my local hospital was much worse than from the London hospital that performed the operation. I did get a few calls in the weeks after the op, but always from a different person. I think that's very much how the NHS is these days. Not a personalised experience.  My advice would be to chase them if you have questions but also to make full use of this forum. There are lots of lovely people on here, always happy to give advice and support.

Feel free to ask anything.

Cliff

Hi Al985

I'm a few weeks ahead of you treatment wise.  I too was happy with my decision to go for surgery and like you I was rather surprised that I found myself tearful for no apparent reason for a few days afterwards.  It soon passed I'm pleased to say and I am now feeling fine.  As Huffies has suggested I think it may be a side effect of the anaesthesia.

Hope your recovery goes well

Cheers

Dave