Dr. Procedural Questions

RTR,

The more the surgeons are in surgery getting their stats and experience level up, the more they rely on their nurses for routine questions and the common/simpler problems.
If you "transfer in" from another physician that did the biopsy and helped you through the decison process, this also limits contact as you the P.C. patient shouldn't wait more than necessary.

Even when you make an appointment for a consultation with the surgeon (as you rightfully wish for the pathology report)  - even with the best intentions to give you all the time you need, the nature of their business is that things come up unexpectedly.
I had an appointment cancelled as I arrived when my surgical team was suddenly called to E.R. for some nephrology procedure on a teenager.

That being said, after you are respectful of these demands on the physician,
  you must be firm to get the answers you want from the physician.

I'd bring my spouse or close relative/friend and bring something to read for both of you in case you have to wait a bit - unexpectedly.
Bring a list of your questions and politely make it clear you need to talk with the Surgeon about each question.

I wouldn't try to pin her/him down on things like "Exactly how long until I'm continent?" or
"Exactly when will I overcome E.D?" , etc.
Besides the fact no one knows the exact answer on many topics for each patient,
  physicians are cautious about either building up expectations or feeding pessimism.
Surgeons can be "gun-shy."
Disappointment can lead to at worst mis-guided litigation or at the least "bad press,"
   - while unbridaled pessimism can seriously retard recovery.

Hold on to the "best-case scenario" and deal with the tough issues and decisions only as they come up.  Worry never helps.

I hold out the best for you from the highest source I can imagine,
  - that indominateable Light you can hear, smell, feel, & touch 
    - with your eyes closed.....

Your Friend,

C^Cedar
ICTHUS!

My experience was like yours. I was thrilled to get the surgeon I did -- I had a 1/2-hour consultation with him by phone, then an in-person consultation the day prior to surgery.
The next time I saw him was just before I was wheeled into the operating room and the next day he came to the hospital (on a Saturday) to see how things were going. Five days later, I got the post-op pathology report from his nurse, which was fine with me. If I had needed to talk to him personally at that time, he would have been acessible. (He was available to me long after surgery by phone.)
So it sounds like you're on the same track I was.
Best to ya...

JTR,

Your "contact time" with your surgeon was better than mine, but I am not complaining. I got the best surgeon and hospital available within 300 miles. My results and experience were very good. I did refer myself to Duke after a LOT of research on what to do, where to go and what to ask. I read several Journal articles written by the Surgeon and his Symposium lectures and was familiar with the surgery.

Initial meeting at Duke: I met with the "Resident Fellow" for about 45 minutes and the Surgeon for about 10 minutes.
The day of surgery: I never saw the Surgeon or Resident but there were a lot of people in the OR as best I remember. The Resident reported to my wife that all went well.
Day after surgery: I saw the Surgeons Nurse Practitioner who released me and told me that the Surgeon had been with her when they started round but was call for emergency surgery.
She called me with pathology reports and sent the all the hospital, surgical and pathology reports a few days later. (I got all that because of the self-referral). The catheter was removed by my local GP without problems. I had and have had no complications.
6 week followup: I saw the Surgeon for about 10 minutes, was given RX for Cialis/Pump and told to come back in 6 months. PSA was checked after I saw him--<0.1.

The surgeons written report and pathology report had pretty well explained everything and I had few if any substantive questions.

I have no complaints, I felt confident in his ability and experience and my results have been very good so far. I got outstanding care while at the hospital and saw several Residents who checked on me in the few hours I was there. I would have liked to have seen him more but he has a lot of demands on his time and expertise beyond holding my hand. I still feel I can contact and speak to him if I need to--to date I haven't needed to.

I will comment that with all "teaching Hospitals", the Residents are there in training and do participate in all aspects of the surgery as was true in my case. My surgeon was at the Patient side for part and at the Robot for part, but he was there and guiding my operation throughout.

Jim