Post radical prostatectomy (RP) Challenges

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

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

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.

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

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.

I definitely had one of these "semi-violent wake-up from anesthesia" although not sure how "semi" it was. Was being transferred from the DaVinci table to a gurney to be wheeled out when I woke up in severe pain, they knocked me back out pretty quick and I woke up later in recovery.

I had a loss of appetite, constipation and insomnia, I kind of assumed it was because of how long I went without food prior to the operation, it was a full 24 hours as it turned out. I also had a lot of pain internally that I believe was my digestive system "restarting" if you will. By 11 days though, that diminished dramatically with the exception of some insomnia.

"Slight leakage from catheter/penis when doing bowel movement" got that t-shirt as well. It was kind of unnerving for sure, but the doc's crew responded right away with a "that's normal but if it get's any worse let us know". They were big on the "don't push" that's kind of tough though. I just minimized as best as I could.

As far as the Systogram results, I don't have any experience on that as I didn't have any leakage from the interior site that I was aware of, I'll just add a Best of Luck to you!

Thanks how are you doing now?