Results of Open Surgery

I had my open RP on Thursday, October 22. I was not a candidate for DaVinci because of my huge gut. The surgery, which was scheduled for 3-4 hours actually lasted over 6 hours with a 2 hour recovery following that. The reason for the long surgery according to the surgeon was my fat and my pelvic bone is at some weird angle and he had a hard time putting me back together. I was discharged from the hospital on Saturday, October 24. The pain was not too bad - I took Vicodin for one day and then swithced to Tylenol. Now for the bad stuff. I will have to have my cathetor in for 3 weeks. The doctor wants to ensure healing of the difficult connnectuon he made. I had a catheter for 1 week in July and this one for some reason is more comfortable. The large, stapled incision is tender. I am having a leakage problem from around the catheter when I stand up - doctor says it is bladder spasm and is no indication as to any future incontinence problem. It is the same as the spurt you sometimes get during a bowel movement. We shall see. At least I am getting used to using a pad. I had the two pelvic lymph nodes removed. I am now suffering with the results of that. My legs are swollen and filled with fluid as well as my scrotum. I walk like a ruptured duck because I have a softball between my legs. It isn't painful, but worrysome. The doctor says not to worry - the first two weeks of recovery are the worst!! I am taking a pill for the bladder spasm. Part of the problem again is my big gut. It puts a lot of pressure on the bladder when I sit and when I stand it spurts. Once the catheter is out I will have a lot of work to do. The pathology report came back. I just had a verbal summery from the doc, I will get the complete one when we meet again. My original Gleason was 8. The final one is 7. There are two "pinpoint" spots in one margin. The doc says we will discuss this after my first PSA comes back. He seemed to be satisfied with the outcome. As I have read this board and seen the success most of you have had with the DaVinci surgery I at first felt cheated because of what I am having to go through with my surgery. But, I have decided that no matter what, the main thing is to get rid of the cancer and live. I am only 63 and have a long way to go. Finally, I am really fortunate to have a wife that has been with me from the beginning of this and is taking care of me and making things a lot easier. I consider myself to be very fortunate.