After open RP

Hello, had my open RP 16/07/2015, everything went well and the Surgeon is happy with the surgery, saved one nerve bundle and is hopeful of clear margins
Catheter will be out next Monday and he might have the biopsy results by then.

The aches and pains feels somewhat like hernia repair but it's not as bad as I was expecting.
Of course yesterday I thought going upstairs would be ok (Day 5) ...1st time was ...2nd time I thought I was going to be sick, so haven't tried that for a few days ..now it's ok

The catheter feels weird ..at times I feel like I need to pee
especially after draining the bag, Woke up last night with some pain in the penis is this normal?

It's day 9 now and I find less pain at the surgery site but more aches and pains from the penis
I guess that's why the Catheter is often taken out after 7 days?
It wakes me up now, but moving around helps relieve the pressure.

Bowel motion is nearly normal again
At times it feels like I'm activating the bladder muscle rather than the bowel muscle
Never thought I would be having these conversations:)

I notice that pain killers make me tired.
I'm now down to 3 Tradol in the day ..with Paracetamol.

Simple thing when getting up off the couch is to exhail at the same time, it certainly helps with the pain
as I had been exhaling at the wrong time ..my daughter (Physio) sorted me out on that.

Nice to eat good food again rather than hospital junk.
I didn't realise it was possible to cause harm to an egg or porridge when cooking them but they seem to have perfected it:)

Overall I'm doing fine and I'm counting my blessings and thanks to everyone involved with this site.
I think it's wonderful the help and support you give each day from calming the concerns of the newbie to helping the Vets and the banter thrown in at no extra charge:)
Regards
James
(Ireland)

Age 60
PSA
2011 5.6
2012 5.4
2013 5.9
2014 6.4, 8.1, 6.3, 8.2
Gleason 7 (3+4)
5/12 positive for Adenocarcinoma
Percentage: 20%, 10%, 10%, <5%, <5% ...on right side of PZ only
Stage T2B
HGPIN: Yes
Perineural Invasion: Yes
Lymp, Seminal, EPE No

Great report.

Hang in there. Before you know it this will all just be a bad memory.

Andrew

Thanks Andrew,
Yes, I like the idea of it all being just a bad memory ..it's like when I wake up and everything is grand until I move:) ..but I'm getting there.

Still trying to understand what's happening with the catheter I would have thought emptying the bag would relieve pressure but it seems to send a signal like I need to pee, walking helps to relieve that.
I was only told about the bag strap (for showering) 3-4 days later ...hands free helps:)
James

My parts hurt like all getout until the catheter came out...then they still hurt, but not as much. They have to cut the ureter to get the prostate off of it, then sew it back together where they cut it. The catheter keeps the urine from leaking out the cut until the ureter tube has healed up enough not to leak. That has to be part of the pain.

james, no I didn't do kegals with the cath in. I tried one time and it freaking HURT. I would encourage you to walk, as much as you can.

They just left my stitches in, they deteriorated away after a while.

Ah! You will be the fountain when they pull that thing no matter how hard you try to retain the water they pump into you just before. Best of luck!

Rich

Hello,
Well, yesterday was a great day.
Had the follow up with my surgeon and he is very happy with the surgery results.
Gleason score remains at 7=3+4
with clear margins.
He seems to have done a great job on preserving the left nerve bundle
because so far I seem to be nearly fully continent ..nearly afraid to say it in case I jinks it:)
I think it's the little dribble after urinating is all that's on the pad.
I presume I would feel it if their was any leakage getting up off the couch?
and that the nerve bundle effects the bladder muscles aswell?
otherwise I presume it was the kegel exercise that has helped the continence

Getting the stitches out was ok, just a little sting with some of them, where the skin was starting to grow around the staple.
Halbert, yes I did get the pretty nurse:) she was great ..kept me talking while taking out the staples & catheter.
The catheter was out in about 10 seconds and not painfull more of a shock when it's out
but as Trailguy says a little fountain effect for a second:)
I have been going to the loo every hour or so since and got up about 4 times during the night,
sometimes I go to prevent a leak.
The nurse said not to do that as the bladder will get used to being emptied frequently.
Overall I feel blessed and thanks for all your support and good wishes.
James

Thanks Halbert,
It seemed like the pain moves around starting with the surgery site then to the penis
and when the catheter came out it moved to the rear which makes sitting a bit uncomfortable.
Wondering if bowel movement has something to do with that pain.

Regards Jnr. I was given a prescription for Sildenafil
dosage = 1/2 tablet every 3 days.

When the catheter came out I felt like I was reverting back to my childhood days
ie. getting excited about going potty:)

Hi Alf,
Yes the stairs is good exercise ..I was ok after I took it easy I was just in a hurry to use the bathroom that day and forgot about the surgery effects.
I probably should use the stairs more if that exercise helps with the pain when sitting
as that's the most uncomfortable part now.

Thanks Samster,
Yes, I do notice a difference in the sitting pain in the space of a few days.
It's now 2 weeks since surgery.
The hardest thing is standing when I'm in the workshop etc. by 5pm I'm ready to put the feet up.

Age 60
PSA
2011 5.6
2012 5.4
2013 5.9
2014 6.4, 8.1, 6.3, 8.2
Gleason 7 (3+4)
5/12 positive for Adenocarcinoma
Percentage: 20%, 10%, 10%, <5%, <5% ...on right side of PZ only
Stage T2B
HGPIN: Yes
Perineural Invasion: Yes
Lymp, Seminal, EPE No
open RP 16/07/2015
GL7=3+4
Clear Margins
Left nerve bundle saved
95% Continent

Hey River, sorry for being late to the thread. I had my surgery just a few weeks before you. The cath was always a pain, figuratively and literally. Yes I did Kegels while the cath was in. Actually I started 6 weeks prior (I think it really helped). I had a nagging irritation, pain, for a good 2 weeks after the cath came out. The good news is it decreased over time. Yes to sitting pain, ESPECIALLY on hard surfaces, wooden stools, benches, etc... . It also took me a week or two to get past the leaks that happened while getting up from those hard surfaces. It also took me a good week or so after cath removal to finally stop throwing blood clots. Sounds to me like your going through a whole lot of normal.

Hang in there. We'll get there!

The only itch I had to deal with was from that darn catheter being in me! Glad that's finally done. Looks like you as well are on your way. BTW, my name is James also. I go by Jim. Have a good week.

Hi Jim,
Perhaps I'm describing it wrong, it feels like an itch but perhaps it's just the internal healing
that's going on.

Halbert, I agree about not using the cream when it's not completely healed over
as I think I read somewhere that it can trap any bacteria in.
I had the staples aswell (20) ..pity they couldn't be more creative with the overall Tattoo design
Have you found any supplements that help with getting the energy back.
James