What can I expect after radical prostatectomy surgery?

Thanks for your reply and comments. Yes, I do realize that I am doing, (recovering) better than many men while not as food as some. It’s been a back and forth of progress and regression thus far. I suppose it’s the periods of regression that are most challenging for me. That, plus the desire to be “ready” on the ready with my wife when we are both up for some infancy. Of course, that also means “standing well at attention!” Luckily, I’ve had several or more occasions when my wife and I have “climaxes/orgasmed” together! Of course, all men and women are different. My wife is definitely a “slow simmering type” and then explodes into very intense, multiple orgasms! I consider myself a fortunate man in that sense. It just requires great persistence on my part. I also take some of the credit for knowing what and how to be a good lover. I am looking forward to working with a Penile Rehabilitation Specialist to discuss and strategize what the best and most beneficial strategies for me to take etc. Thanks again for sharing your experience. Unfortunately, I find that too little men are willing to share their stories and experiences with other men about most of the challenges associated with Prostate Cancer. Wishing you the very best of health, happiness and well-being,
Phil

@matthew61, when is your surgery?

Scheduled for August 29th.

I am 12 weeks post RALP and bladder surgery to remove cancer tumors. I do my Cagle‘s and walk but still have a lot, a lot of incontinence. I augment pull ups with a washcloth between my leg and go through probably 18 to 20 a day. This limits how far or where I can go from home, this is very frustrating. Urologist says it takes time and I’m not sure what that means’s at four, six, 10, 12 or longer to regain confidence. Any advice would be helpful thank you and God bless.

I foolishly watched those YouTube videos posted by men who were fully continent really early in their recovery. I expected that to happen to me and it didn't. I am 6 months post RALP and can finally see real improvement in my stress incontinence. I never changed pads many times each day, I typically went through two heavy duty pads, one in the morning, one in the afternoon, each put into my depends. In the evening I would take the latest wet pad out and just stay with the depends. But now, when I am just having a normal day (no extremes in activity) I can get by with one heavy pad for the entire day, or two light pads. When I go for a long walk, or play a sport (golf, pickleball) I still leak, but not as profusely as I used to. I found that a condom catheter works very well for 18 holes of golf. I do my Kegels, not as punctually as I should now that I am far more active, but definitely I do some everyday. I do believe my body will soon figure it out and resolve this problem. But a word of caution, one of my friends who went through this years ago, says he still wears a light pad everyday just in case of a cough, or a sneeze or something unexpected. I keep telling myself, being cancer free is worth having a shorter penis, no ejaculations, and incontinence. Some days I believe it, some days I don't.

Formal PT was helpful for me for Kegel exercises.
Best wishes for a recovery soon.

tomf:
Believe.
Keep good thoughts.
Best, Michael

I urge you to start Pelvic Floor PT BEFORE surgery.

I did, then resumed after the catheter was removed. I am one of those fully continent after surgery. My PT person was educated in these exercises (Baylor, Scott & White, Austin TX). She had some clients who only began PT after surgery and were having severe issues 4-6 months post-surgery.

Get & read the Dr Walsh book on surviving prostate cancer. Read all highlighted pages at each chapter beginning, read further in chapter if you feel the need.

Just start PT ASAP! Good Luck!

I was diagnosed with Gleason Score 8 prostate cancer late last summer. I was scheduled for RARP at the end of November but came down with the flu 2 days prior (can you believe that?). Anyway, I actually underwent surgery on Jan. 31st of this year and came back with clear lymph nodes and total encapsulation within the prostate. PSA is < .04 (undetectable) as of 1 month ago. Gleason was revised to 7.

Still fighting (in)continence issues but I had a complication (called lung cancer and a right lower lung lobectomy on April 3rd (discovered as part of the CT scans for the prostate issue. Again, dodged a bullet as I was Stage 1a with no spread to lymph nodes.

BUT, it did put me off my pelvic exercises and I developed a cough due to a chyle leak (chylothorax) and underwent surgery again to fix it on June 23rd. I am now restarting my Kegals and hope to make progress soon.

However, overall recovery from the RARC was actually much easier and much less traumatic than my imagination led me to believe prior to the surgery.

You'll do fine

Sounds like you have had quite a journey. I’m trying to get as strong as I can before surgery and eating as best I can. Thanks for the feedback. Best to you going forward. The worst is definitely behind you. ME