Prostatectomy last Monday and my first week experiences

I take Tramadol and it's never caused constipation as far as I could tell. I'd hate to leave a hospital with a catheter. It was had for me to hold my urine for a day or so after it was removed.

Glad to hear you are making progress without any serious bumps in the road. Sounds similar to my recovery from a RARP back in 2015. I never fully recovered urinary continence and a few years later was using 1-2 pads per day. In 2023, my urologist performed a urethral sling surgery (outpatient). I regained 100% urinary continence immediately and have stayed that way, even after going through radiation therapy for a local recurrence just recently. There are options for fixing the leaks, if they persist.

Hope you stay on course!

Mel

All I needed was acetaminophen. Definitely don’t like to take those narcotics. If I do, I take them at night just before going to sleep and that’s it.

Yes, I also, just used the acetaminophen given me upon discharge for a bit of pain. Never used any of the heavier-duty pills they also prescribed. But I was quite constipated for a few days after the operation (two months ago), and also had a very reduced appetite. Probably this was a reaction to having been anesthetized.

Sounds like you're doing well, Michael. The one thing (only thing?) nice about the catheter is that it does catch all your urine efficiently. When you go to have it removed you'll want to have brief-style ("Jockey") underwear to which you can adhere a pad in the front to absorb any leakage that you'll likely have. That's something you'll "look forward" to dealing with for likely several months.
In my case, I now still need about one pad per day, but things are slowly improving, with some days better than others.

Congrats ! Those are great news : )))

Wishing you super fast continuation of recovery and undetectable 0.01 first PSA test 🙂

IF you have any incontinence - it will most likely improve rapidly over next several months. Don't forget to ask your doctor for Cialis and a "pump" for penile rehab even if you do not plan to have sex. It is important to keep that tissue supple and well oxygenated during early period of recovery.

Thanks for the feedback. Met with the surgeon today and cancer does exist locally or close to the prostate site. Not what I wanted to hear but not unexpected. PSA test in 3 months to determine treatment plan. Catheter removed and I focused on bladder control exercises and I am cleared to drive!

@surftohealth88

If you get the cialis aka tadalafil get it from low cost drugs. Much cheaper. My Mayo doc prescribed it, but people here at my local linic would not. Was trying to get Metaxalone, but was told they couldn't relese certain information or something to that effect. Just got the tadalafil yesterdy, but not sure when I will start taking it.

@sandguy

It's possible the constipation could have been from the painkillers that they gave to you during and after surgery.

Surgery three weeks ago and I am walking 2-3 miles per day with light stretching 5 days a week. Bladder control is improving as I wear 1-2 Tena’s during the day and a pad at night.