Prostatectomy scheduled at Mayo: more questions about what to expect

I had RARP at Mayo Phoenix 06/2024 from Dr. Paul Andrews early on a Monday morning. During the morning check-in Mayo staff asked my wife if she wanted text messages of my status. She did, so she got text messages of my status every step of the way. The surgeon visited me before surgery and after surgery he called my wife and briefed her on how the surgery had gone and answered any questions she had. There were no complications at all, so the phone call was it. I woke up in recovery and my wife joined me shortly thereafter. I was released about an hour later Monday afternoon after about 10 hours after I checked in Monday morning. The next day when I checked the patient portal the surgical notes were there which gave a detailed step by step of the procedure. I copied them and put them in an AI and then proceeded to ask questions which the AI answered since there was some medical terminology I didn't understand. The prostate pathology report showed up on the portal late Sunday afternoon 6 days later. I did the same thing with the pathology report and the AI and that was helpful understanding it. All the Mayo staff were very friendly, professional, and extremely competent. Best wishes.

Oldoz you are going to do fine. I remember being in holding room waiting to get prepped for surgery I was pretty calm but noticed a man in room with me seamed to be very nervous and I spoke with him witch seamed to help him feel better. It helped me be calm also. This was in room separated from wife right before going to get prepped. After being prepped for surgery there was a delay @ hour in a half ( do to a delay in surgery room being ready for me from the previous surgery of someone else extended surgery) and surgeon came in and talked with me and my wife. With my wife in with me while waiting gave me great comfort and kept me from being overwhelmed. It all went well for me. One thing make sure you ask for something for nausea from anesthesia. I didn’t and had dry heaves wile waking up, that was really bad. Just ask anesthesiologist when they see you right before they take you back. Prayers you way

I thank you both. Knowing what to expect helps, especially hearing about it from men that have actually gone through it. The texting sounds great, once my wife gets booted out she can probably walk next door to the hotel for a couple hours if she feels like it. Nausea medicine sounds like a good idea.

I think you are asking very normal questions - I had a prostatectomy 18 months ago and remember having the same nervous question regarding the DaVinci robot breaking down before or during my surgery (it didn't of course!) I am quite sure that Mayo would have backup power generation for the ER's, and probably also has multiple DaVinci robots so I really don't think you need to be too concerned about either of those things happening. You couldn't be treated in a better place than Mayo and I am quite sure that you and your wife will be well informed before and after the surgery and will likely have a very good experience. One thing I recall from the leadup to my surgery was that I was pretty nervous about all kinds of things that could happen but on the actual day of the surgery I was surprisingly calm and relaxed. I had a lot of people praying for me and know that helped. It was also very reassuring to me as I was being prepped and wheeled into surgery to see the number of really capable people that were 100% focused on my treatment and care.

I wish you all the best with your procedure in a few days and hope you will check in and let us know how it went and how you are doing.

Make sure they know how to put you out I needed a baby tube Hand pumped me for half hour before they intubated me properly Dont eat after until bowels go back down from stomach

Thanks, hopefully I will also calm down and relax. I figure I have done as much prep as I can, such as getting all the supplies possibly needed for when the catheter comes out, etc. (courtesy of all the advise I got on this site). I will post how I am doing after this is all done. I've got a couple of faithful people that have told me they are praying for me.

keep in mind you are pushing back cancer
beats resignation

@oldoz, checking in. How is recovery going? Now that surgery is behind you, what is one thing you wished you had known? A tip for others going for surgery at Mayo Clinic?

Didn't respond earlier because I really felt poorly (abdominal spasms) in spite of successful surgery. The prostate margins and lymph nodes were clean and I had complete continence as soon as the catheter came out. Very grateful to family, friends and posters for thoughts and prayers (and Dr. Humphreys and the excellent surgery team, nursing staff, and others).
My one tip is don't consider staying alone, I couldn't standup by myself for 4 days. I guess I didn't realize that we engage some of our abdominal muscles for any movement. The pain would go from 1 to 9 as soon as I moved, coughed, sneezed, etc., then stopped as soon as I quit moving. Learned to move very slowly. Possibly why some don't recommend this for even reasonably healthy older men (age 72). They were very responsive thru the patient portal. Although radiation would probably have been less painful, I would go thru it again because I liked the idea that if surgery didn't get it all I could still do radiation.
Special thanks to heavyphil who got my attention when I was getting confusing local testing and treatment advice that seemed a little backwards, and he posted 'Get Out of Dodge' - I relate to that kind of messaging. Thanks to all those that help me get to where I needed to be!

Hey oldoz, so glad you are on the road to recovery!
Your comments made me vividly remember trying to get out of bed that first week; thank goodness my wife was there to grab my ankles, turn me 90 degrees, pull me into a sitting position and then heave me into an upright stance🤣. Laughing now but it wasn’t so funny then…
But it gets better quickly and soon you’ll be speed walking with your catheter bag in a shopping bag.
Where did you wind up getting your surgery after leaving Dodge??
Phil