Robot-assisted Radical Prostatectomy in 3 weeks

Hi Clovis I'm meeting with my consultant surgeon next week to discuss the same. I've looked at RT and HT but not keen on the side effects or the length of time with these treatments. I'm erring towards surgery.  I've read a lot of positive accounts about surgery. Which helps but it's normal to still feel anxious. All treatments have pros and cons, and although we can take as much information and advice it still won't take away the anxiety. I've read and re-read the information and moving toward a final decision. If you undertaken the research, advice and conversations you have done everything expected. It's a big decision and everyone here will wish you well with your journey. 

Mike

Thanks.

I have also read and re-read all the information, and opted for the surgery which is also what the consultants recommended but without pressure.

Happy to chat along the way if you like. I've been advised that the waiting list is 4-6 weeks if that's what is go for. So not dar gehind you. Are you keeping up with your pelvic floor exercises? (I had a habit of calling them Pelvic thrust exercises initially with is a whole different direction) 

Hi Clovis

I had my RARP on 6th January so I'm now 22 days post op.

My experience is as follows:

Waking up in the Recovery Room I had pain in my abdomen so they injected pain killers over short period into the canula and that fixed the pain.  After a while I was wheeled back to my room (I had mine done in a private hospital funded by the NHS as they're trying to get rid of the backlog).  I was on paracetamol and Ibuprofen for the next few days and that eased most of the pain.  I was sat in a chair by the end of the day and the following morning was walking around the ward escorted by a physio to make sure I was OK.  I was discharged at about noon with a bag of drugs and catheter bags.

It was difficult to do much for the next couple of days due to abdominal pains on the right where they cut through the muscle but I was walking round the house regularly.  The problem was getting in and out of bed, bending over and getting into and out of the comfy chair.  I used an office chair for a couple of days.  After that things eased gradually.  I still have a pain in my abdomen when I overdo things or twist the wrong way but its far better than it was.

After a week I removed the dressings and that was OK.  The nurse checked them over when I had my catheter out.

The catheter was OK, just a bit of an inconvenience really and the fact that my wife had to empty the nigh bag each morning which couldn't have been fun for her.  I had the catheter out on Day 9.  That was OK, no pain, just felt a bit weird for a couple of seconds while they pulled it out.  I left there with a bag of pads and a few waterproof pads for the bed/chair but since then I've had pretty much full continence so haven't needed them.  I do wear #2 tenamen pads as I do release the odd drop during the day unexpectedly but nothing that interrupts my usual routine.  Hopefully that will improve over time.

The main issues I've had are with constipation which has been very uncomfortable on occasions.  The fact that you can't strain to help it on the way means that it takes a good while to clear.  Also, I'm not getting a good nights sleep, due to a variety of reasons, such as the constipation, lack of flexibility due to the abdominal pain (although I can now sleep on my side and get in and out of bed easier).  I also have restless leg syndrome which seems to have started when had HT pre op.

Overall though, 3 weeks in, I'm feeling almost myself again now.  I can do most things apart from heavy lifting and everyday I see small improvements.  I'm walking upwards of 2 miles a day now and that seems to help a lot.  Not sure I'm up to driving yet but I think I'll be OK for that in a week or so.

If there's anything to want to know about the op and what happens before/after, just let me know.  Happy to share my experience.

Good luck with the Op.

Mike

Thanks for posting Mike. It's really helpful hearing how your experience went. Please keep us posted. 

Mike 

Yeah I was told 4-6 weeks too when it was agreed, that was only a week ago.

I actually had a special physio to access my pelvic floor...I was not expecting a finger up the bum to test lol but all good apparently.

Thanks for the info, I am lucky enough to have private medical insurance so having it done privately too, by a very experienced doc.