Post Op Day 4

I just got home from my RLRP and I'm resting comfortably. I thought
this would be a good time to share my experiences with others who are
still considering the various treatment options.

I checked into the hospital Tuesday morning and was wheeled to the
operating room at 7:30 a.m. The anesthesiologist said he was going to
give me something to help me relax and as he did I closed my eyes.
When I opened my eyes I was in the recovery room 4 hours later. My
throat was irritated, and my abdomen was (and still is) quite bloated.
I was uncomfortable but not in a lot of pain. I don't do well with
general anesthesia and had the dry heaves for several hours. Once I
did start to feel some pain it was quickly alleviated with a cocktail
of Morphine and Toradol.

My wife was staying in the on-campus housing but they offered to let
her sleep on a cot in my room. Since I had a private room with a
million dollar view (looking over the city of Honolulu and out across
the Pacific) she decided to give it a try. That only lasted one night
before she got tired of them waking me (and her) all night long and
went back to the apartment. I must say that sleep was a much needed
but very limited commodity during my stay.

I flew home the evening of the second day after my surgery and have
been resting comfortably ever since. I will be tied to my catheter for
a total of 14 days and will probably not return to work until it has
been removed.

I don't have good medical coverage so I had to pay almost $7K to be
released from the hospital. I'm not complaining though, that's a small
price to pay for a second chance at life. I am now up walking around
to help speed my recovery, and I plan to lose some weight and get in
better shape as time goes on.

I received my pathology results this morning. The report showed two
cancerous tumors (Gleason 3+3=6) and numerous pre cancerous cells that
did not penetrate the capsule. My surgeon feels that I am now cancer
free! While only time will tell for sure, I am extremely happy with my
decision to have the RLRP and I'm looking forward to the future!

Wishing you all much health, happiness and Aloha!

Mike

Diagnosed PCa Nov 2006 at age 55
PSA 13.8 Gleason 3+3=6 T1c
Asymptomatic No Incontinence/ED
da Vinci RLRP Feb 20 2007
Cancer confined to the capsule
Gleason 3+3=6 Both nerves spared
Post Op PSA.....

hi mike - glad to see you made it through the rough part. the rest of
it is smooth sailing.

may you have undetectables for the rest of your life..... )

~ curtis

knowledge is power - growing old is mandatory - growing wise is optional
"Many more men die with prostate cancer than of it. Growing old is
invariably fatal. Prostate cancer is only sometimes so."
http://community.webtv.net/PALMER_ENT/doc

On Feb 24, 5:15 pm, Maui Mike wrote:
> I just got home from my RLRP and I'm resting comfortably. I thought
> this would be a good time to share my experiences with others who are
> still considering the various treatment options.
>
> I checked into the hospital Tuesday morning and was wheeled to the
> operating room at 7:30 a.m. The anesthesiologist said he was going to
> give me something to help me relax and as he did I closed my eyes.
> When I opened my eyes I was in the recovery room 4 hours later. My
> throat was irritated, and my abdomen was (and still is) quite bloated.
> I was uncomfortable but not in a lot of pain. I don't do well with
> general anesthesia and had the dry heaves for several hours. Once I
> did start to feel some pain it was quickly alleviated with a cocktail
> of Morphine and Toradol.
>
> My wife was staying in the on-campus housing but they offered to let
> her sleep on a cot in my room. Since I had a private room with a
> million dollar view (looking over the city of Honolulu and out across
> the Pacific) she decided to give it a try. That only lasted one night
> before she got tired of them waking me (and her) all night long and
> went back to the apartment. I must say that sleep was a much needed
> but very limited commodity during my stay.
>
> I flew home the evening of the second day after my surgery and have
> been resting comfortably ever since. I will be tied to my catheter for
> a total of 14 days and will probably not return to work until it has
> been removed.
>
> I don't have good medical coverage so I had to pay almost $7K to be
> released from the hospital. I'm not complaining though, that's a small
> price to pay for a second chance at life. I am now up walking around
> to help speed my recovery, and I plan to lose some weight and get in
> better shape as time goes on.
>
> I received my pathology results this morning. The report showed two
> cancerous tumors (Gleason 3+3=6) and numerous pre cancerous cells that
> did not penetrate the capsule. My surgeon feels that I am now cancer
> free! While only time will tell for sure, I am extremely happy with my
> decision to have the RLRP and I'm looking forward to the future!
>
> Wishing you all much health, happiness and Aloha!
>
> Mike
>
> Diagnosed PCa Nov 2006 at age 55
> PSA 13.8 Gleason 3+3=6 T1c
> Asymptomatic No Incontinence/ED
> da Vinci RLRP Feb 20 2007
> Cancer confined to the capsule
> Gleason 3+3=6 Both nerves spared
> Post Op PSA.....

Hi Mike...Glad to hear you coming in loud and clear ("five-nine" I
think they used to say). Hope you have a speedy and complete
recovery...Best wishes and good health, ron

Sounds like you are doing well and the surgery was as good as could be
expected. Way to go!! Build up your walking time and remember to do those
Kegels.

Jean

Hello Mike,
I am so glad to hear a positive report! Your lab reports from surgery
also reflect a great outcome!
The catheter will be a memory before long, and do get used to the small
walking bag quickly. Walking helps out in all directions....
Mentally
Physically
Socially.
Hang in there and keep us tuned in.
A nice recliner helps.....
John Loomis
<Maui Mike> wrote in message
news:0vh1u2dt2r1mohc3bq94fja61gb4bb6jrc@4ax.com...
>I just got home from my RLRP and I'm resting comfortably. I thought
> this would be a good time to share my experiences with others who are
> still considering the various treatment options.
>
> I checked into the hospital Tuesday morning and was wheeled to the
> operating room at 7:30 a.m. The anesthesiologist said he was going to
> give me something to help me relax and as he did I closed my eyes.
> When I opened my eyes I was in the recovery room 4 hours later. My
> throat was irritated, and my abdomen was (and still is) quite bloated.
> I was uncomfortable but not in a lot of pain. I don't do well with
> general anesthesia and had the dry heaves for several hours. Once I
> did start to feel some pain it was quickly alleviated with a cocktail
> of Morphine and Toradol.
>
> My wife was staying in the on-campus housing but they offered to let
> her sleep on a cot in my room. Since I had a private room with a
> million dollar view (looking over the city of Honolulu and out across
> the Pacific) she decided to give it a try. That only lasted one night
> before she got tired of them waking me (and her) all night long and
> went back to the apartment. I must say that sleep was a much needed
> but very limited commodity during my stay.
>
> I flew home the evening of the second day after my surgery and have
> been resting comfortably ever since. I will be tied to my catheter for
> a total of 14 days and will probably not return to work until it has
> been removed.
>
> I don't have good medical coverage so I had to pay almost $7K to be
> released from the hospital. I'm not complaining though, that's a small
> price to pay for a second chance at life. I am now up walking around
> to help speed my recovery, and I plan to lose some weight and get in
> better shape as time goes on.
>
> I received my pathology results this morning. The report showed two
> cancerous tumors (Gleason 3+3=6) and numerous pre cancerous cells that
> did not penetrate the capsule. My surgeon feels that I am now cancer
> free! While only time will tell for sure, I am extremely happy with my
> decision to have the RLRP and I'm looking forward to the future!
>
> Wishing you all much health, happiness and Aloha!
>
> Mike
>
> Diagnosed PCa Nov 2006 at age 55
> PSA 13.8 Gleason 3+3=6 T1c
> Asymptomatic No Incontinence/ED
> da Vinci RLRP Feb 20 2007
> Cancer confined to the capsule
> Gleason 3+3=6 Both nerves spared
> Post Op PSA.....

Maui Mike wrote:
> I must say that sleep was a much needed
> but very limited commodity during my stay.

Same here. When I told my surgeon how often they were waking me up, he
intervened and told them to give me a private room, shut my door, and
consolidate my checks rather than waking me up 8-12 times for 8-12
checks they could have done in one or two visits. That made a huge
difference in my sleep.

I.P.

Good news Mike.

Glad to hear it.

As the other folks have said...you got through the rough part.

One thought about walking...

it's needed to help recovery AND if you don't feel like messng around
with the leg bag...some of us have walked carrying the 'big bag'..in a
shopping bag or bucket.

I used a black cloth shopping tote.

Best wishes,

Ron B.

Chicago

Ron B wrote:

>
> it's needed to help recovery AND if you don't feel like messng around
> with the leg bag...some of us have walked carrying the 'big bag'..in a
> shopping bag or bucket.
>
> I used a black cloth shopping tote.

Sweat pants with big cargo pockets.

I.P.

On Feb 25, 11:08 am, G...@webtv.net (Ron B) wrote:

> it's needed to help recovery AND if you don't feel like messng around
> with the leg bag...some of us have walked carrying the 'big bag'..in a
> shopping bag or bucket.
>
> I used a black cloth shopping tote.
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Ron B.
>
> Chicago

shopping tote??? How mid-west of you!!!

Lava-lava Mike. No hu-hu!!!

-kh atsa-way. Easy bra.

<Maui Mike> wrote in message
news:0vh1u2dt2r1mohc3bq94fja61gb4bb6jrc@4ax.com...


> I received my pathology results this morning. The report showed two
> cancerous tumors (Gleason 3+3=6) and numerous pre cancerous cells that
> did not penetrate the capsule. My surgeon feels that I am now cancer
> free! While only time will tell for sure, I am extremely happy with my
> decision to have the RLRP and I'm looking forward to the future!



That's great, Mike. I hope to see your 20-year PSA.



--
PSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46
Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c
RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins
PSA .1 .1 .1 .27 .37 .75
EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47
PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32
Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 (4 mo), 12/03, 4/04, 09/04, 01/05, 5/05, 10/05,
2/06, 6/06
PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132 .145
Casodex added daily 07/06
PSA <0.04
Non Illegitimi Carborundum

Hello, Mike:

That's great news; congratulations on making it through.

As others have said, the hospital stay is the roughest part of the
surgery route -- at least it was for me. Noisy, unfamiliar
surroundings, nurses not waiting on you hand and foot like the family
will ...

I reccovered at my in-laws home in Baltimore, and I'd do my walking in
their home. Fifteen minutes worth of laps around their first floor,
three times a day. So, I never used the leg bag except to go to the
doctors. But you've probably got some great beaches to walk on.

All the best,

Charlie