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Da Vinci Prostatectomy Recovery Time

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Posted 1/29/2011 1:45 PM (GMT -5)
Hi,

My name is Nor, and I was recently diagnosed with early stage prostate CA re:
1 out of 12 cores positive
Positive core = less than 10%
Gleason = 6
Cancer contained in one lobe only
Stage = T1c N0 M0
My surgeon prefers Da Vinci robot

Question: How long is number of weeks recovery? What's average length of time home from work barring complications?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Nor
Posted 1/29/2011 2:03 PM (GMT -5)
Hi Nor,

With a gleason 6 and 1 core less than 10% you have lots of options. Before commiting to anything you should study up on pc and the different treatments. Now, that said, the time varies-I can only tell you my husband's case. He was 56 at the time of surgery and in great health-other than pc, of course. He was off work 2 weeks and went back full time, but he has an office job and no complications from the surgery.

Renee
Posted 1/29/2011 7:00 PM (GMT -5)
Well it is apparently faster healings than open RP....exhibit 'A': I met the guy at Dr. Menon's office at Henry Ford Hosp., the first LRRP patient in the USA, age 42 and in great shape, I was there for consultation to see about possible LRRP (denied-stats were too high), anyway the guy said he was playing golf 2 days later, probably with catheter on, but playing...his words and it was written in a news article I think. He was back to see Dr. Menon for some issues with the bladder neck, likely sewing job issues? (not really uncommon to happen in some)

Now this is NOT the norm but likely 2-3 weeks and you can be at work, others can correct me....this is from my ADT s.w.a.g. memory at the moment.
Posted 1/29/2011 7:09 PM (GMT -5)
As a comparison
I had open RP, no complications
Was in hospital for 48 hours
Off pain meds completely after 4-5 days - one pill each day the last 2 days
Was back at work on the 12th day after surgery, full time office work
No leaking period after cath removed - during regular daily activities.
Started running 3 weeks post, a little leakage will running

I was 48 and in good shape at surgery time
Posted 1/29/2011 8:18 PM (GMT -5)
Thanks everyone. It's good information to store as I consult to set a surgery date.


Nor
Posted 1/29/2011 8:38 PM (GMT -5)
I have been posting here for 4 and 1/2 years.  I am 4 years past DaVinci surgery.  Whenever I see anyone with your diagnosis I first suggest that you STOP and do nothing for at least several months. (I waited six months with a gleason 8 diagnosis)

The next thing I suggest is that you do watchful waiting or do brachytherapy instead of surgery.  I have complete erectile failure and if I could have had brachytherapy I would done that instead.

Posted 1/29/2011 9:21 PM (GMT -5)
Hi Nor, sorry to hear about the cancer. Not the news any of us want to hear.

First thing I think you should do is get your slides reread by a different pathologist and someone who has lots of experience with prostate tissue. Your reader may be the best in the world, but you still want a second set of eyes. Then, you go with the worst case scenario as the basis for your treatment decision. That decision, but it watchful waiting, surgery, radiation, HIFU, whatever, will depend on a number of factors, your age and general health being key.

Certainly from what information you've given us this is not a panic situation.

This site tends to attract, perhaps almost by definition, those who are interested in their disease and, like myself, want to know exactly what the situation is, what the options are, and then make informed decisions. It may well be a moot issue whether or not the informed few really fare any better than those who simply accept their doctor's advice and go with it. But, I like to think my research and understanding of my PCa will, long term, make a difference to my life span and its quality. Certainly I didn't do exactly as my doctor suggested, but close enough that he wasn't too fussed.

If you're one who wants to know, and your presence here suggests you are, then you're at the start of an interesting journey and if a second pathology report confirms the first, you've got lots of time to become educated.

Sheldon AKA Sleepless
Posted 1/29/2011 9:42 PM (GMT -5)
Nor,

Sorry about the diagnosis.

Do you have an office job or a job with lots of physical labor?

With an office job with no lifting (assuming an excellent recovery) two weeks should be plenty of time to take off work. Most likely your Uro won't want you to drive for 10 days to 2 weeks anyways (my Uro told me not to drive for 10 days). My situation is different than most-I do computer work at home, so I was back to working full time in a week, but if I needed to, I could take a break if needed.

There was no way even at 4 weeks that I could have done a job with a lot of physical labor for 8 hrs a day, like a bricklayer or UPS driver. I still could feel it in my abdomen even at 4-6 weeks when I would lift heavier stuff above my head. The combination of the weight and stretching my abdominal muscles still was noticeable even after 6 weeks. For me, it would have been about 8 weeks before I could have done a job 8 hrs a day with a lot of lifting.

Good luck with whatever treatment you choose.

Dan
Posted 1/29/2011 10:24 PM (GMT -5)
Two books you should read Nor..Dr. Walsh's "A Guide To Surviving Prostate Cancer" and 'Invasion Of the Prostate Snatchers by Blum/Scholz. The two books are written from two different viewpoints and will give you a balanced education..

I had RALP surgery (DaVinci) on Sept 3, 2010..On the second day after the surgery, I was able to walk a half-mile with no problems or discomfort. Never needed ANY pain medication..After one week, I was almost back to normal. walking 1 or 2 miles a day..At 10 days, catheter out, I was as good as new except for total ED which still persists. No incontinence problems. At 4 weeks, I developed a staph infection, hospital acquired, associated with accumulating lymph fluid from the removal of several lymph nodes during the operation..Put me back in the hospital for six days, two of them in critical condition..My pathology, much worse than yours, led to failure of the surgery and I am now finishing up my salvage radiation treatments..

So read the books and think it over before you rush into treatment...
Posted 1/30/2011 6:41 AM (GMT -5)

Hi Nor,

I had the catheter removed after one week, returned to work after three weeks. I was told not to lift anything over ten pounds for six weeks. Leakage has been almost non-existant, I still wear the Tena "protective guard" as a precaution. Not much in the erection department yet, I had the procedure Dec 16 2010.

Wish you the best,

Ray

Posted 1/30/2011 8:09 AM (GMT -5)
Nor, welcome to HW. I had open and the biggest difference that I have seen is the amount of time with the catheter. I had mine in for 10 days. Recovery was very simple for me very little pain. Came home the second day from hospital at that point I was off of pain meds.

Cajun Jeff
Posted 1/30/2011 11:22 AM (GMT -5)
Welcome,

I had open, 4 1/2 days in hospital, needed lots of pain meds even at home, was on catheter for over 2 months originally due to complicatons.

David
Posted 1/30/2011 1:14 PM (GMT -5)
Nor, Your stats are better than mine and I would hope you would have a quick recovery.  I did.  My signature gives some of the information.  The main after-effect for me was that I would tire easily.  That went on for a couple of months.  Urinary continence returned fairly quickly and I was able to resume most activities at about the one month mark.  At six weeks, the uro lifted all restrictions regarding physical activity, though I don't think I would have wanted to work a manual labor job all day long.  I'm retired, but my wife and I watch twin 3-year-olds three days a week, and that wasn't a problem.  I first mowed the lawn at about three weeks.  As you'll see in the signature, ED is still an issue, but honestly I'm not fretting about it.  Life and health are a lot more important to my wife and me than sexual potency at age 65.

My wife and I walked two or three miles a day after surgery, which I think greatly speeded up recovery.  That's a real advantage to having surgery in the summer.

Now for a report on recovery that I find ridiculously optimistic, check out the top patient story on this page:

http://www.davincisurgery.com/urology/

I don't understand why the DaVinci folks keep that story on their website.  It seems both dangerous and unrealistic to me.  We all recover at our own pace, but the answers in this thread do a good job of covering the bases, I think.

Posted 1/30/2011 7:18 PM (GMT -5)
Firstly, it's the advice of your primary care physician and then urologist/surgeon you should give the greatest weight to.  None of us know you or your health history, or your present condition - beyond what you've shared with us.  Trust those who know you best.  about post-surgery, post-daVinci procedure - my own experience was that I returned to work where I sit at a desk and in front of a computer all day, about 3-weeks post-op.  I would have had difficulty working before then.  Let your body guide you.  Take your cue from it.  Each of our bodies responds differently to the trauma.  Best of luck.
Posted 2/2/2011 10:51 PM (GMT -5)
Sorry for your situation, around here ther is a world of knowledge. Don't jump the gun take time to weigh your options. I have a very physically demanding job and it took me about 7 weeks before I could actually return to full duty after my Da-Vinci procedure.Keep us posted.Good Luck!
Posted 2/3/2011 1:09 PM (GMT -5)

First, as others have said, take your time!

I am the exception.  I had robotic, and everything healed quickly without significant pain EXCEPT for the largest incision on my right side.  That hurt a lot for about six weeks, a sharp, semi-burning type of pain.  It didn't hurt when I was lying down or (strangely) when I was actually walking; everything else (sitting, changing position, etc.) was very painful.  During that time I worked mostly from home (I have a desk job).  Never did get a good explanation as to why I hurt so much, but in any event after about six weeks the pain completely disappeared within 48 hours.

Zen9

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