5 th day after robotic surgery - Daily Summary

First of thanks to each of you for the support for last 3 months leading to the surgery on June 15. My biggest inspiration and knowledge gathering was from hearing others journey of surgery and recovery. So here is mine for the last 5 days

Day 1 - After watching a movie night before and sleeping 5 hours went to the hospital for 7:30 surgery. Confirmed that I will get Versed, then took the anesthesia and have vague recollection of going to OR and seeing DaVinci written on a machine. Woke up in the recovery room at 10:45 right after what appears to be following some accelerated images of short dreams. No pain or discomfort, or bloating or nausea..just slower senses. Was rolled to the regular room where my fancily met me and was told that the surgery went well with very little blood lost. The first catheter bad was pink and then the color remained normal. Rested in bed till 4 pm and was told to walk soon. The right side of the stomach was normal and painless, but left side the muscle felt tight and achy. Walked 4 blocks and went to bed again. Did more than 2 hours of unassisted walking after. Toradol was given every 8 hours and a suppository at for bladder spasm. Could not sleep due to compression pad on the legs.

Day 2 - Went to walk again at 6 am but the ache was more and could not walk as much or as fast as night before. Weakness due to liquid diet. Doses of antibiotic and Toradol continued. Doc met and said the operation went for 2 hours instead of typical 1.5 due to 'stickines' of the veil around the prostate. But the veil was lifted once only to get the prostate out. Rest went as well as it could get. Felt very weak. Left for home at noon. Pain was only when moving and was very manageable. Rest of the day was rest and waking. Foley pinched a but was fine after bactricin with 4% lidocain. Got tired easily and felt week but was not in pain. Let side of the stomach felt inflamed and lots of gas was released in the night.

Day 3 - Woke up weaker and needed more rest. Walks were shorter and slower. Celebrex, Tovacic, stool softner and levaquin were daily tablets. No narcotic or pain killer was needed. BM came at noon and a meal of eggs and toast was uplifting. Kept catheter clean with Secura and kept putting ointment on every 2 hours. The body was telling clearly when to walk and went to rest. Standing/walking and lying on the bed was fine..sitting was not comfortable. Getting up was getting better. The doc called with the pathology and told the gleason was upgraded from 3+3 to 3+4 but this upgrade meant no material difference. The margins were clear and the cancer was confined to the capsule and the volume was less than 10%. The probability of recurrence with these stats is less than 3% in the lifetime. Happy day in the house. My wife who had kept her grit for last 3 months cried a bit. Big dark cloud that had remained over my head was gone. Ate lot more during the day. Took shower. BM was normal. Slept well.

Day 4. Ate and walked more and more and most of the strength came back. In the morning the scrotum/penis felt a bit tighter and aroused, but other times remained very flaccid. Had drops of pink urine come out 2 times during BM, but not after that. Slept well.

Day 5. Energy and senses almost back to normal. Stretching pain getting better and BM totally normal. No scrotum or penis swelling. Catheter is a nuisance but no pain or discomfort. Stomach is still swollen and tender. One muscle strand where most of the stretching is stiff but is getting better.

Next Wed is catheter removal and then starting MUSE 2 weeks after that. Hoping continence will be normal due to all the kegel and good muscle recovery.

My stats. 48 years old, thin and athletic. Father and uncle died of PCA around 60 years of age, Diagnosed 3/12 but delayed treatment due to sepis after biopsy that put me in ICU for 7 days with a 40% mortality rate. Compared to that the surgery was a breeze.

Happy to share more details if needed