Surf is UP !!!! @@

Hi Soli - nice to see you here 🙂 !
Yes, it is much easier for a patient to have some family around. I was thinking about you and wanted to send you a PM today and say that if you can afford hiring some help for a week or two - do it. One can definitely do it all alone, but it is nice to have somebody hand you a towel in a shower if you forgot to bring it in, or to make you endless stream of teas or run to pharmacy if something is needed. Catheter is actually no brainier, it is just easier to have additional pair of hands for couple of days.
Wishing you THE BEST OF LUCK on September 2nd : ))) !

Ha ha, Jim , that is GREAT photo : ))))) !!! You made me laugh this morning, THANKS < 3

PS: I LOVE that Indonesian carving behind you < 3

Hi Mjp : ))) !

Welcome to my thread of "recovery" < 3. I am glad to hear that those updates are not boring, I just thought they might be helpful for future RARP patients : )))

Thank you @surftohealth88 for your advice and sharing of experiences. I have done research on home health support agencies and am prepared to pull the trigger as needed. My younger sister who is a retired nurse and lives about a hour away wants to help but I am a very independent and don’t want to put a burden on others (and they are mad at me for being so independent). Still, she will be there Day 1 and take me home Day 2. Based on what I have learned from you and many others on this site; I am making detailed preparations of anything I might need from a tube clamp to clamp off a catheter tube, syringes for possibly irrigating a catheter, wipes, measuring cups, alcohol, you name it. I have attached pictures I took a couple of days ago of how I am preparing my bathroom counter. I have also ordered shower door glass hooks from Amazon to hang washed catheter bags.

At the same time I am spending a lot of quality time with friends and family so I am not preoccupied with this,

Again, thanks for the great advice. It means a lot to me.

It doesn’t appear the pictures I attached got delivered. I will try one more time.

My Prayers will be with you and your Husband. Three days I go in for Surgery Also.IT has been challenging for the wife.keep us posted.😀

Day 5

All vitals perfect : ). His energy is much better today, he did not need afternoon nap and looks very perky.
Urine light yellow, no blood specs in the long catheter, only a drop or so of blood coming out of the tip of penis during bowel movement since muscles activate on their own during that event. BMs normal but he is taking one Colace in the morning and one in the evening per given instructions.
Belly muscles have zero pain even during laughter. He can get up from chair or from bed with zero effort. Incisions are now dry, short, thin lines and crusting , started to itch.
Some bruising seen on the side of a rib-cage but brownish color which is color of bruise that is actually fading. Small bruise above belly button light yellow and fading.
Some discomfort in the bottom of the pelvic floor when sitting on hard surface - he says on scale from 1 to 10 it is level 1.
Penis tip has no irritation, no pain or chafing. Catheter does not cause any real discomfort or spasms but he says it is weird feeling (of course). Still prefers big bag.

He is drinking almost exclusively herbal teas and meals are oatmeal, chicken soup, baked veggies and brown rice with very little amount of meat, fruits and nuts as snacks (but that is very close to our usual diet anyways). He had Green shake today also and will start with some mushroom supplements and Pectasol due to "not so great" pathology report that we got today. 😕

All in all - he says that he feels almost like before surgery : ))) (knock the wood) 🧿. I have to agree with his assessment, improvement is very noticeable today 🥰 .

PS: So far gadgets that were very useful were heavy duty vacuum hooks (one on shower wall and one on bathroom door) . First one is used for hanging a bag during showering and the other when going to the bathroom and during shaving ( he does it au naturel lol).
Second very handy thingies are those disposable medical wipes for meatus care. And of course, alcohol wipes for lower part of catheter care.

Oh man, funny!!! Now let’s see you do it on the other leg with a FULL bag!!🤣🤣

Hi, you said not so great pathology report. Was the post surgery pathology different from the pre surgery biopsy report? Please share if it is ok with you to. We have been waiting for surgery 4 month now and feel very concerned. Wishing you and your Hubby all the best!

Yes, please do not wait - that was mistake in our case. We we told "no rush, no rush , no rush " - exactly those words and 3 times by the surgeon !!! We were advised to wait and have discussion with radiologist and even focal treatment specialist. Radiation oncologist had app. in end of May and focal guy end of August. We dismissed that focal option for couple of reasons and did not want to wait till September for surgery 😵‍💫. Thanks god we had surgery now in August and we wish we did it in May when 2 slots were available and did not wait for recommended consultations. This is last time I trust any doctor- period. BUT it is what it is now - yes , gleaosn went to 4+5 (it was 4+3 in March) and not only that, cancer tried to get out of the capsule and they found focal EPE in one spot😡. Now my husband is not T2 but stage 3 cancer. Take that gland out ASAP , if you ask me and I wish you the best of luck in every possible way 🍀 !!!