Post radical prostatectomy (RP) Challenges

Based on a lot of comments I feel pretty fortunate. I had my RP last Tuesday. When I started to wake up the pain was excruciating. With pain meds it subsided quickly. I had an overnight in the hospital that went well. My bed felt like cardboard so they gave me a recliner which was wonderful. They woke me up every hour to check my vitals and every two hours to get up and walk. They had to slow me down. Since then, the pain have been minimal, using only Tylenol for pain. My urine was so what red at first, then darker brown, light brown and normal. They told me much of the color was due to elimination of IV fluids. The day after I had a slight sexual tingling, and a little stronger on Friday. Insomnia has been the toughest hurdle. I’ve had slight drainage, first blood and then a little urine, at the tip of the penis. They told me it is normal. Has gotten less everyday. Only discomfort now is a tickle in my penis and some discomfort in my perenium area. I’m back on a full diet but eat small and slow amounts until my intestines return to normal. As far as constipation, the first few days it was terrible. Milk of Magnesia did not help. When I felt close to a bowel movement and avoiding pushing, I actually did quick short kegels, and than a couple where I “held it”. It really worked. The catheter comes out Thursday, and I’m hoping for a favorable pathology report.
I hope this wasn’t too long. Health and happiness to all in our fraternity.

Thanks, how are you doing now a year later?

Based on a lot of comments I feel pretty fortunate. I had my RP last Tuesday. When I started to wake up the pain was excruciating. With pain meds it subsided quickly. I had an overnight in the hospital that went well. My bed felt like cardboard so they gave me a recliner which was wonderful. They woke me up every hour to check my vitals and every two hours to get up and walk. They had to slow me down. Since then, the pain have been minimal, using only Tylenol for pain. My urine was so what red at first, then darker brown, light brown and normal. They told me much of the color was due to elimination of IV fluids. The day after I had a slight sexual tingling, and a little stronger on Friday. Insomnia has been the toughest hurdle. I’ve had slight drainage, first blood and then a little urine, at the tip of the penis. They told me it is normal. Has gotten less everyday. Only discomfort now is a tickle in my penis and some discomfort in my perenium area. I’m back on a full diet but eat small and slow amounts until my intestines return to normal. As far as constipation, the first few days it was terrible. Milk of Magnesia did not help. When I felt close to a bowel movement and avoiding pushing, I actually did quick short kegels, and than a couple where I “held it”. It really worked. The catheter comes out Thursday, and I’m hoping for a favorable pathology report.
I hope this wasn’t too long. Health and happiness to all in our fraternity.

Awesome news and sounds like you are doing great. Getting the catheter out is a major milestone, and for myself, was a non-issue from a pain standpoint.

Keep up the Kegels and praying all goes well with the rest of your recovery!!

Jim

This is a carbon copy of my experience, which I think should be considered "normal".

One thing I would note is that post-op constipation is inevitable. It is caused by the narcotics given during and immediately after surgery (eg fentanyl). Milk of Mag and Colace should be mandatory the first 4-7 days post-op, for ANY operation under general anesthesia.

I am doing very good, back to normal one year later. I give all the credit to the grace of God and the Mayo-Rochester medical team that performed the radical prostatectomy and lymphadenectomy (wonderful center of excellence for prostate cancer). I can't emphasize enough the importance of having your RP at a center of excellence like Mayo-Rochester!!

Based on my Gleason Score of 7 (4/3), there is a 20% chance of biochemical reoccurrence over the first five years, but thus far all PSA tests have been undetectable (< 0.1) and I am keeping a positive attitude and praying daily that the prostate cancer is gone forever.

Take care and best wishes to everyone.

Jim

Thanks for the update. I had surgery at Mayo in Jacksonville in early Sept. I'm doing fine now. just lots of anxiety about my first PSA in Dec. We had the same gleason score so your sharing is very helpful to me. Thank you

Based on a lot of comments I feel pretty fortunate. I had my RP last Tuesday. When I started to wake up the pain was excruciating. With pain meds it subsided quickly. I had an overnight in the hospital that went well. My bed felt like cardboard so they gave me a recliner which was wonderful. They woke me up every hour to check my vitals and every two hours to get up and walk. They had to slow me down. Since then, the pain have been minimal, using only Tylenol for pain. My urine was so what red at first, then darker brown, light brown and normal. They told me much of the color was due to elimination of IV fluids. The day after I had a slight sexual tingling, and a little stronger on Friday. Insomnia has been the toughest hurdle. I’ve had slight drainage, first blood and then a little urine, at the tip of the penis. They told me it is normal. Has gotten less everyday. Only discomfort now is a tickle in my penis and some discomfort in my perenium area. I’m back on a full diet but eat small and slow amounts until my intestines return to normal. As far as constipation, the first few days it was terrible. Milk of Magnesia did not help. When I felt close to a bowel movement and avoiding pushing, I actually did quick short kegels, and than a couple where I “held it”. It really worked. The catheter comes out Thursday, and I’m hoping for a favorable pathology report.
I hope this wasn’t too long. Health and happiness to all in our fraternity.

I’m replying to my own comment. The Doctor called me earlier about the pathology report. The good news: lymph’s are cancer free. The concerns: my Gleason score was changed from 3+4 to 4+5. Also, there was cancer detected on the prostate capsule. The doctor told me he got it all, but the chance of cancer recurring is now about 20-25(I view it as 75-80% that it won’t). He’ll go over this in detail tomorrow when they take out the catheter. He’ll do a PSA Followup in about 4 months. He has indicted any rise in PSA will necessitate radiation. My doctor is one of the top in Wisconsin. I trust him completely. However, not thoughts from the fraternity?