Tiredness after radical prostatectomy

It is normal to be sluggish in immediate post op period (2-4 weeks) - body needs time to heal.

However, if tiredness continue, I would strongly suggest to check your red blood cell (erythrocytes ) count, your iron level and B12 level.

My husband lost a lot of blood during surgery (we discovered it on our own, nobody volunteered that information). His blood count was much less than what was "his normal" as well as vitamin B12 levels and iron. I immediately included iron rich vegetables in his diet, iron and B12 supplements and all of that improved over 2 months except B12 level. He asked his GP for B12 shot and got it. After that all of his parameters were perfect.

Do not let doctors dismiss your complaints and tell you that you are in "normal range" ! There is a difference between "your normal" and "normal" on a chart , and also there is a difference between "normal" and OPTIMAL ; ).

Hope this was of some help .

Have you talked to your primary about depression? I was back on my bicycle after 5 weeks and started training for my officiating season at that point too. I was 69 at the time. During my first 5 weeks I worked up to 6 miles of hiking in our state forest. I was motivated. I also found even though I felt tired and unmotivated, I forced myself to get moving and felt much better and energized afterwards.

@jrvmvp WE call it ‘surgery’…your body calls it being prison shanked 5 times in the belly and then punched in the guts until you faint…
That’s why you’re tired!

I forgot "when"...how many months after my Da Vinci Robotic-assisted RP surgery...I asked my physician, when I will start to feel "fully" like myself again? He said: "you had a major surgery...I removed an organ and associated, functionally supportive smaller organs (seminal vesicles, vas deferens). You have a 2" surgical wound that is healing. You will not feel "like yourself" perhaps up to a year...nine months if you were in great shape and handled it all well." I am at 11 months post-op, and I started to "feel like my old self" about 5 months ago, so that was a full six months. I can't say I was "tired" or "tired easily", my body...specifically the area below my navel where the incision was...gave me subtle to more overt reminders that: "uh uh...nope...you can't do that quite yet." I resumed my gym routine at about 5-6 months post-op, and that excluded weights that involved my abdomen. I was just riding a stationary bike and used small hand barbels in the 10-15 pound range. I should have walked more, but I didn't. I KNOW that would have helped. I also noted that I did not tire during exercise...I did not feel limited, mostly because I avoided challenges to my abdomen, but now...and I would say at about 9 months...I was/am back to muscle-group-isolating machines for thighs, hamstrings, lats, biceps, etc. I am focused on feeling what I feel, so to speak. The first sign of anything that might injure me or set me back, I stop, or drop down the weight. You'll get there. Also, eat a good diet, and get sleep...lots of sleep - like 7-8 hours per night. That REALLY helps healing. Good luck to you.

@rlpostrp That was my experience as well. I always worked my ‘core’ due to lower back issues - mostly elevated leg crunches; so my abs were really in great shape going in…big mistake!
I forgot an old story a friend once told me about his abdominal surgery: he was sharing a room post op with another guy - a really well muscled gym rat - who’d had the same surgical procedure. My friend was doing OK, but the gym rat was in agony, yelling for meds all the time.
When my friend asked the surgeon why his roommate was in so much pain - and he wasn’t - the doc chuckled and said those guys with six pack abs always suffer the most because those muscles are big, hard and full of blood vessels; when they’re cut or moved around they REALLY feel it!
Never realized just how much our core is involved with almost every movement we make, until that first day after surgery when I tried to get out of bed…a rude awakening!!
Phil

@rlpostrp @heavyphil
Thanks alot for the insights. I am going into RARP in 3 weeks.

Maybe I am an outlier here, but I felt the same as prior to the operation shortly after robotic surgery.

I was 61 at the time. I was back to work after a short time and had no physical restrictions or fatigue.

@dinu You will be fine; just remember to have help (my wife took off from work even though I thought it would be unnecessary!) and to do everything slowly and deliberately.
Things taken for granted - like coughing, clearing your throat, getting up from a chair - all use your core, so just be mindful of it. Best,
Phil

@heavyphil

thanks. I will be in the hospital for about a week and then I will have about 6 weeks medical leave (perks of the European health system). And in this case, I am lucky since my wife is currently already not working.

@gem1128
It seems to me that there is a HUGE DIFFERENCE between a traditional radical prostatectomy & a robot-assisted laparoscopic one. If one has the latter, the surgery is almost a non-event. There is no two-inch incision that has to heal; there are only about five 1/2 inch scars that literally disappear in a year or two. There is no several-day hospital stay, there is an overnight stay for observation, & you are released the next morning. In my case without pain. I resumed normal activities immediately.

I know this is too late for many here, but if you have not had treatment yet, I don't understand why anyone would choose a traditional surgery. It doesn't matter how good the surgeon is, the difference in what has to heal is overwhelming.