Another 6 day post RALP this is my experience...

Been on here for about 9 months now and found it to be very helpful. Now that I am 6 days post RALP I thought I would share what surgery was like for me and the days after it. It is maybe a little more detailed then needed but hopefully it helps someone someday.

Background data; 57 YO, PSA 8.7, Pirads 5 one lesion, Grade 3 (4+3), Stage 2, cribriform present. MRI and PET showed contained to prostate.

Had surgery 6 days ago. 300 minutes in OR. Came out early evening. Felt like garbage. Weak, dizzy, nauseas when trying to stand. Pain. Not good. Stayed the night. Bladder spasms were bad. Morning, my surgeon stopped by said procedure went very well, spared the nerves, removed what need to be removed. Reconnecting bladder neck went well. Revisit in his office when the path results come in.

Discharged. Got home, zero appetite. Took provided meds. Pretty much slept for 2 days. Then the gas from hell hit. Like a low rumbling earthquake from deep inside my bowels that suddenly appears then disappears.... only to reappear 10 seconds later. Couldn't trust it so off to the restroom. Repeat. Minimal relief. Multi days of it. They had pumped me full of carbon dioxide (or whatever) to access my stuff but it was my body's job to remove the gas. Only it wouldn't leave. Some relief when toileting but slow process.

By day 4, appetite started to return, pudding, electrolyte drinks, eggs.

Day 5 gas still major problem and my behind was tired of the recliner chair cushion. Tried sleeping in bed but that was worse so back to reclining chair. Nothing was comfortable and the catheter and the constant urine bag draining was a lot. I noted that when I tried to have a bowel movement my catheter would leak a bit at the tip of my penis. That was uncomfortable and then it started to bleed a bit. As it was day 5 my appetite started up a bit more and it was popsicles, cream of wheat cereal, eggs, electrolytes, pudding.

Woke up to day 6 and it was catheter removal day. Little anxious for the procedure. I was still having uncontrolled gas + so got straight in to an exam room next to bathroom. Nurse came in, removed it with no preparatory proclamation (it wasn't that bad, just unnatural feeling), and told me to return in 4 hours after drinking a lot of water.

So I returned home, started to drink water, and suddenly, my guts started rumbling and it was time to deal with the gas. 10 minutes later, I was back to normal. I had read somewhere that when a catheter is in place post RALP, the sphincter is so traumatized along with the penis and related stuff that it can be hard to move gas and material because the sphincter is not confident that is ok to relax. Totally dumbed this down but that was the gist. The gas was painful.

In anycase, urinating fine, a good clear stream. Incontinence for sure for now but managing thanks to Depends.

Thinking positive for the future and grateful for this group for getting me to this point.