The gentleman who described waking up with five tiny bandages and walking and driving the next day is a unique patient. There are a lot of men who enjoy that experience, but for those of use who had the "single-incision" DaVinci Robotic-assisted Radical Prostatectomy, I think we'd all say that the recover is/was longer (chime in gentlemen). I personally felt a very "deep within me" pain, like I had been assaulted, beat up, and pummeled. I needed my Percocet for several days. I felt that deep pain for 5-6 weeks, and it was my instant "limiting factor" when I tried to do something new. Because I had (we all had) a catheter for 10-14 days, I just laid low for my 11 days. I was desirous of driving again, but I "couldn't" those first 2-3 weeks. I knew that the sudden need to hit the brakes might cause severe pain in my lower abdomen (the incision for the DaVinci method is about 2.5-3 inches. And...once your catheter is out, you'll be wearing diapers or pads for a couple to several months. I am now 9-months post-op, and I still have daily, unannounced little leaks and dribbles which drive me nuts. I can't wait until I am 100% continent again. And...forget intercourse for a while or forever. In my nine months I have not had one erection. I fear that I never will which is extremely hard to accept. My divorce after 32 years of marriage was exactly one month prior to my surgery. I was looking forward to eventually dating and finding someone new, to include intercourse. I have not, and will not, even attempt to date unless I know that I can fully be a man and engage in intercourse.
But that said...this blog is mostly commented on by men who have expected or unexpected problems and annoyances. The men who had quick simple, uneventful RP's with no serious or consequential pathology, move on in life...they never visit here to contribute their issues or solicitations for help and commentary, because they don't have any. I would just say to be patient...to take each hour and each day fresh from being post-op, and do and be what you can, but with caution. Your pain will be the built-in limiter to what you can or can't do. Good luck to you.