Advice wanted for upcoming RARP

I was 70 last year when I had RARP. You can click on my name and see my past comments as this topic has come up before. Also, I'm not a medical professional so this is just my layman opinion of what was helpful for me:
1-- I strictly followed my care teams instructions (diet, walking, meds, catheter hygiene, etc) and that, coupled with a great surgeon, is why I think I had an easy recovery. In fact, the temptation was that I felt so good so quickly (after the catheter came out) that I had to consciously remember not to over exert, but rather wait and give my body time to heal.
2 -- my care team recommended a non-stimulative stool softner (such as Colace). I looked up the active ingredient and got a similar product at Costco. Then I tried it about 10 days before surgery so I knew how it affected me (as I didn't want to try it for the first time after surgery). I don't recall their exact instructions, but I religiously followed their instructions for diet and using a non-stimulative stool softener and never had any constipation after surgery.
3 -- I strictly followed my care teams directions for using the OTC meds (they had me alternate acetaminophen and ibuprofen) and my pain never got to the point that I needed any of my opioid pain prescription we had on hand.
4 -- I sat around a lot with my feet up, so I tended to use the bigger night bag rather than an ankle bag since the bag needs to be lower than the bladder. Because of that, I found cheap velcro breakaway pants on Amazon that made dealing with the tubing easier than if I have regular pants and an ankle bag.
5 -- Cheap plastic bucket for holding the night bag on the floor.
6 -- I used pads in my underwear with the catheter which was useful for catching the odd fluids escaping past the catheter.
7 -- I used a disposable absorbent pad on the bed and that was useful one night when I turned over in my sleep and the catheter tubing pulling apart. Instead of a big mess, I just swapped out the pad.
8 -- I found the OTC antibiotic ointment my care team recommended for where the tubing exited the penis to be helpful to reduce the soreness from the catheter. But the week of the catheter was unpleasant, but manageable.
9 -- I don't remember exactly, but I think my care team told me that after the catheter came out I couldn't lift more than 10 lbs for 6 or 8 weeks. So if there's any heavy chores around the house (eg. filling the water softner salt, yard work, etc) do it before you get the surgery because you'll have to take it easy for at least 2 months after the surgery.
10 -- I used an elastic band for holding the catheter tubing on my leg. If you use an elastic one keep an eye on it as it tends to slip down the leg during the day. That can put stress on the catheter that is bad, so keep an eye on it and adjust the position and tension accordingly.
Best wishes.

Hello Someoneelse,
My Husband 68 year old underwent RARP 2 weeks ago. We got a slot 2 months prior to our actual surgery date so was told only 3 days before surgery. No time to prepare or to be scared lol. My Husband had been doing the exercises for a couple weeks by then and been eating healthy, 2 apples a day included and lot of beetroot. That really helped raise his Haemoglobin levels to 17. He was in the operation theatre less than 3 hours (but this may vary case by case, we were told 3 to 4 hours). Doctor called me soon after the surgery to say everything went well and that patient was already regaining conciousness in recovery. That night after the surgery he was given some blood thinner as was the practice. But one of his incisions started bleeding moderately and he had to be given blood thickener to stop it. So he stayed an extra day in Hospital and discharged next day. He took the painkillers only 2 days one a day and said that he had very minimal pain even without it. Incisions healed quickly. But he is still sleeping flat on his back as a precaution. Clips and catheter removed after 10 days. No pain or incontinence. Bowels normal after a couple days. Was not a cakewalk but not very traumatic either. A lot depends on the skills of your surgeon but like always I believe that it is God who leads us to that safe place. Best wishes and prayers for your treatment and speedy recovery.

You can read my husband's detailed recovery timeline here - just skip the intro and go to day to day (week to week) blog.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/surf-is-up/
Wishing you uneventful surgery and super fast recovery time and complete eradication of cancer 🍀😊🌺

You're going to get a lot of advice, but here's mine
Get yourself a bedroom night light that's bright enough to see when you have to get up and change the big pee container during the middle of the night. I almost stepped in mine a number of times.
Get the biggest bed pads they have to absorb nighttime leaks. I got the small kind and they don't work. I actually woke up with that pad stuck to my backside.
If you have a lot of pubic hair trim that bush before surgery. I wound up with pubic hair tangled on the Cath tube.
Drink lots of water, sports drinks and clear liquids. You will want to avoid hot liquids and stay with cold liquids with lots of Ice.

I had an RARP 15 years ago when I was 62. Four days after surgery, I drove to clients offices and worked on their computers, Just some easy stuff nothing to move around, only spent 3 hours. Four days later after the weekend, I worked full-time eight hours a day at least Going to multiple clients.

At the most I needed Tylenol for the pain, Even the second day.

I didn’t move around stuff or lift anything for a couple of weeks, I ran a computer consulting business and really had to go in and resolve problems people were having with their computers. Not really strenuous work most of the time, sitting down at a computer and resolving software problems.

Another guy I know had surgery a couple weeks before me. He’s more than 10 years older than I am. He was an OB/GYN was giving advice to other doctors four days after his surgery.

Results vary, Some people need to take weeks off. I’ve always been a little hyper and in good shape.

Had RARP done over a year ago at 70 yrs old. Wasn’t bad experience at all. Little pain after surgery day. Make sure to have depends when catheter is removed. My recliner was my friend through recovery; getting up, sleeping with catheter draining in a bucket next to me. May sure to get a good pelvic floor therapist. You’ll be fine. Don’t sweat it.

My RALP was a bit over 2 years ago. There is great advice you’ve gotten above. I too over prepared (my nature) but better that way I think. Follow your team’s advice and you will do well.

Most importantly, imo, now that you’ve set your course and prepared well, be positive in your thoughts and expectations. That was the best advice I got.

My RARP was 2025-JAN-01 I prepared for months ahead of time, personal trainers and pelvic floor therapists during that time. Those two things I put at the top of my list.

During my stay, the two things I was very glad to have: my tablet and my robe.

Post surgery, I found having a cane was very nice to assist getting up and sitting down and even for walking around for the first day or two - while not 100% needed, it was nice to have.

Most have provided great advice for post RARP and catheter time
I had a catheter for two weeks I believe that was conservative treatment
My big deal is incontinence and what I was told
I was told that lots of guys go back to work two weeks after surgery, some do not have any issues with incontinent, quite a few turn a corner around 4-8 weeks and for a minority it can last a year or more
Wrong advice.
Some certainly have no issues with incontinence and some do turn a corner in a few weeks of months. However, the American Urological Association (and NIH) assert that most take about 8-9-10 months and close to a year.
They further advise urologists to give the patients the fact sheet they produced ( you can do a google search for it) tell the patients to expect close to a year and they beat all the better.
I wish I had been told that. I wish I had been given the fact sheet.
I am one of the guys that it will likely take a year
For what its worth

I sure wish you good luck

My RARP was done when I was 75. The catheter was not a major issue. But the volume in the overnight collection bag should have given me a clue. Every night it was full. When the catheter came out, the waterworks continued. After a few soaked pajamas and bed sheets I wised up. Bought some heavy duty tabbed style diapers and they helped a lot! My urologist prescribed pelvic floor therapy. Today, 15+ months past surgery I am still incontinent. It’s not great, but you figure out what incontinence products work best and you get into a routine of sorts. On the plus side, the surgical margins were clean and the PSA has been undetectable. I thank the good Lord for that.