One Day Post daVinci !!

celliott7

Hello to all! I have found this discussion board to be a wonderful source of information and support, so I wanted to pass along my experience if it could help anyone.

I have arrived home a little over 24 hours after nerve sparing robtic prostatectomy at Ohio State Hospital- The James Cancer Center. I had the robtic surgery director, Dr. Abazza, perform the procedure and all went very well. I was a Gleason 6, will get final report in a month.

I thought I would share with those of you who might be facing the procedure and let you know how it went for me.

I arrived at 6:15am at the hospital on 11/19 and was scheduled for 8:15am surgery. I had concerns, especially about nausea/vomiting as I had these problems after other surgeries in the past. I discussed this with the nurse anthesthetist, who told me they would do all they could do to prevent it, but could not guarantee. The one surprising thing he told me was that in doing the surgery, I would be in "reverse trendelenburg position" dring surgery. In effect, I was to be upside down and to expect some facial swelling when I awoke. After he started my IV and gave me my first medication, I don't remember much until post-op recovery and that is still hazy. I did not throw up but did get nausea that required more medication.

After an hour or so in recovery, I was taken to a room, where I stayed overnight with my wife. Pain was minimal and never took more than IV toradol, an antiinflammatory drug that is also a pain killer, but not a narcotic. I was eating some light food that evening and walking the hall about 5 hours after being brought to my room. I was released after staying overnight. I did take one Percocet (narcotic pain med) prior to release at the suggestion of the nurse for my car trip home.

Now, it is 11/20, the day after surgery and I am sitting on my favorite couch at homee, watching my big screen TV, catheter lying beside me with good urine flow. The urine is dark pink due to the activity of coming home and walking around, but looking good so far. I took a wonderfully hot shower when I got home, which was a special blessing. Also, you might not appreciate this, but I also passed gas a few minutes ago, which was a wonderful relief.

I am a 30 year medical professional and am sitting here marveling at this technology and the skill of the surgeon! I have not taken anything except Tylenol since I got home and ate a nice light dinner. I am to go back 11/23 to have a cystogram at the hospital. This is a procedure that shoots dye up into the bladder through the catheter to look for any leaks. If no leaks, then the cath is removed and I am released until my one month follow up.

Yesterday, I had cancer. Today, as far as I can tell, I am cancer free!!!!

I praise God for his marvelous grace and for the support of all of you brothers. I hope this gives you some hope if you are facing this procedure in the near future. I will keep you posted as I continue on my journey. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Grace to You,
Charlie

jhagerup

Congratulations
Congratulations on getting through it. My surgery was Oct 19th so I'm going on my 5th week. The first 10 days with the catheter were inconvenient but berable. On day 10 when the cath was removed I felt like a free man! What a great relief. All went well through the 3rd week. Starting the 4th week I got into some trouble. Started heavy bleeding and then a clot - couldn't pee. Had to rush into the Dr to get the blasted catheter re-inserted. Kept it in for about 3 days and then started over. Went to work and then about 2pm, guess what - blood and clot again. Rushed to Dr to get the catheter in again ! Heavy blood in urine for about 30 hours, then finally cleared up. But wait - now the catheter itself plugged. Called Dr - he suggested taking it out myself! After some hand wringing, I did it - simply cut the port that fills the baloon and it self deflates. Thought I would have to pull it out but it shot out like a missle ! (and came out painlessly). That was last Sunday. It's now Friday and I put in a full day of work today. Things seem to have settled down now and I think I'm back again. Lesson learned - I think my problem was related to two things: 1) Compacted bowels, 2) Sitting in a hard chair for a long period of time. Recommendation: Take the stool softeners every day and avoid hard chairs for long periods. Good luck with your recovery & God bless. Jim

lewvino

Charlie,
Congrats to you!
Charlie,
Congrats to you! Hope all continues well on the healing front. I'm at three months post surgery and it seems like a blur and have healed quickly. I did have a positive margin post surgery but my first psa came back as 0 and get tested again in Feb.

Larry

NM

Sounds good charlie
Charlie sounds like a good start. Good luck as your recovery progresses..
Nick

sfis

Congrats!
It sounds like you're going to have a very positive outcome. Watch the food intake - eat light for at least a few days and take the stool softener.

celliott7

jhagerup said:

Congratulations
Congratulations on getting through it. My surgery was Oct 19th so I'm going on my 5th week. The first 10 days with the catheter were inconvenient but berable. On day 10 when the cath was removed I felt like a free man! What a great relief. All went well through the 3rd week. Starting the 4th week I got into some trouble. Started heavy bleeding and then a clot - couldn't pee. Had to rush into the Dr to get the blasted catheter re-inserted. Kept it in for about 3 days and then started over. Went to work and then about 2pm, guess what - blood and clot again. Rushed to Dr to get the catheter in again ! Heavy blood in urine for about 30 hours, then finally cleared up. But wait - now the catheter itself plugged. Called Dr - he suggested taking it out myself! After some hand wringing, I did it - simply cut the port that fills the baloon and it self deflates. Thought I would have to pull it out but it shot out like a missle ! (and came out painlessly). That was last Sunday. It's now Friday and I put in a full day of work today. Things seem to have settled down now and I think I'm back again. Lesson learned - I think my problem was related to two things: 1) Compacted bowels, 2) Sitting in a hard chair for a long period of time. Recommendation: Take the stool softeners every day and avoid hard chairs for long periods. Good luck with your recovery & God bless. Jim

Thank you, Jim, for your information and suggestions. I really need all the help I can get and am sorry you had a difficult time with your cath. Hopefully it is behind you now. Blessings, Charlie

celliott7

lewvino said:

Charlie,
Congrats to you!
Charlie,
Congrats to you! Hope all continues well on the healing front. I'm at three months post surgery and it seems like a blur and have healed quickly. I did have a positive margin post surgery but my first psa came back as 0 and get tested again in Feb.

Larry

Larry, I am very glad you have healed well and your first PSA was at 0! Blessings, Charlie

celliott7

NM said:

Sounds good charlie
Charlie sounds like a good start. Good luck as your recovery progresses..
Nick

Nick, I appreciate your support! God bless you in your recovery. Charlie

celliott7

sfis said:

Congrats!
It sounds like you're going to have a very positive outcome. Watch the food intake - eat light for at least a few days and take the stool softener.

SFIS,

Thank you so much for your support. I am definitely taking the eating slowly, also, am "enjoying" the relief of passing gas as much as a middle schooler laughing with his buddies at the lunch table.

Blessings,
Charlie

LBlanks

celliott7 said:

SFIS,

Thank you so much for your support. I am definitely taking the eating slowly, also, am "enjoying" the relief of passing gas as much as a middle schooler laughing with his buddies at the lunch table.

Blessings,
Charlie

Very Encouraging

All of this is very encouraging to me. I am going in tomorrow morning for my surgery.

I hope to relate the same positive results afterwards.

Thanks/Larry

celliott7

LBlanks said:

Very Encouraging

All of this is very encouraging to me. I am going in tomorrow morning for my surgery.

I hope to relate the same positive results afterwards.

Thanks/Larry

Your Surgery
Larry, you will be out of surgery before you get this but wanted to wish you well. To update everyone, I am 55YO, Gleason 6, had my cath out Day 5 post op at Ohio State University with no problems. Have had periodic blood in urine but minimal. Also, have worn pads to be safe but urinary control has been great, I would put it at 98% successful with only stress incontinence (cough, sneeze, etc.)

Started the Viagra yesterday at 2 weeks post op and also the vacuum device my surgeon recommends, both part of "penile rehab." No response of note yet, but still pretty early.

So overall, at 2 weeks post op for daVinci RP, about normal urinary flow (like a fire hose once I healed from the cath), bowel function normal, walking everyday outside, driving short trips, normal appetite. Next step is the penile rehab. Will keep all posted.

Thanks to God for my healing and good friends on this board. I learned a lot from many of you and your encouraging words mean the world to me.

Grace to You,
Charlie

jminnj

celliott7 said:

Your Surgery
Larry, you will be out of surgery before you get this but wanted to wish you well. To update everyone, I am 55YO, Gleason 6, had my cath out Day 5 post op at Ohio State University with no problems. Have had periodic blood in urine but minimal. Also, have worn pads to be safe but urinary control has been great, I would put it at 98% successful with only stress incontinence (cough, sneeze, etc.)

Started the Viagra yesterday at 2 weeks post op and also the vacuum device my surgeon recommends, both part of "penile rehab." No response of note yet, but still pretty early.

So overall, at 2 weeks post op for daVinci RP, about normal urinary flow (like a fire hose once I healed from the cath), bowel function normal, walking everyday outside, driving short trips, normal appetite. Next step is the penile rehab. Will keep all posted.

Thanks to God for my healing and good friends on this board. I learned a lot from many of you and your encouraging words mean the world to me.

Grace to You,
Charlie

Glad to hear your procedure
Glad to hear your procedure went well and you are doing good. I was diagnosed on November 12th, have met with a surgeon and had a second opinion at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NJ. I am 47 and the cancer was found very early (consider myself lucky), and I will be having robotic surgery in mid January. I wish you all the best on your road to recovery. As you indicated in your earlier post, this site has been a great source of knowledge and information. Thanks to all of you.

Joe

fathersson

jminnj said:

Glad to hear your procedure
Glad to hear your procedure went well and you are doing good. I was diagnosed on November 12th, have met with a surgeon and had a second opinion at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NJ. I am 47 and the cancer was found very early (consider myself lucky), and I will be having robotic surgery in mid January. I wish you all the best on your road to recovery. As you indicated in your earlier post, this site has been a great source of knowledge and information. Thanks to all of you.

Joe

HeyJM
I'm in Jersey as well. Are you gong to St. Claires in Denville? I am not diagnosed yet but have a PSA of 5.02..the doc has scheduled a biospy for next week.

Best

jminnj

fathersson said:

HeyJM
I'm in Jersey as well. Are you gong to St. Claires in Denville? I am not diagnosed yet but have a PSA of 5.02..the doc has scheduled a biospy for next week.

Best

Yes, I am scheduled for mid
Yes, I am scheduled for mid January. Good luck with your biopsy. My urologist is also in Denville(Garden State Urology- Dr. Colton). Excellent doctor. Keep us posted.