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Surgery Wednesday, very, very nrevous

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Surgery Wednesday, very, very nrevous  
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Posted 3/2/2008 12:26 PM (GMT -7)
         Well folks, just got back from a two-day Motorcycle trip, went to see some friends; some of the Folks who ride with us went along. Beautiful Roads, great friends, just nervous about Wednesday AM. Filled the Bike up with gas, changed the oil and covered it. I sure hope it isn’t going to take months before I can Ride again. It is 900lbs of Tupperware though. At least I can count on some of my friends taking The Ride out and about . My wife will be riding hers though, won’t that be fun. How long did some of you have to wait before you went back to work?   We lost a co-worker to ARDS last week and so we are short-handed, management has been supportive, but you know how that is.   Just rambling, thanks for the listen
Posted 3/2/2008 12:36 PM (GMT -7)
I think we were all nervous, I know I was. However, before you know it Wed AM will come and go, marking a milestone for you. I was out of work for 4 weeks. If I had it to do again, I would have stayed out longer, the doc would have covered me. You will feel OK, but the stamina is just not there. Give yourself plenty of time to rest and walk all you feel comfortable doing, great therapy, both mental and physical. My work is demanding, on my feet all day, and was definitely taxing after a 12 hour day. Good Luck !!

Pre-Op PSA 9.9
1 of 12 cores positive, Gleason 3+3

DaVinci on 9/9/2007

Post-Op Gleason 3+6, Negative Nodes and Margins

Less than 1% of prostate involved with CA

3 Month PSA 0.004

Incontinence resolved 9/15/2007, one day after cath removal

ED showing significant improvement, more notable over last month

with Viagra 100 mg. Have started Bi-mix injections, good response.

Posted 3/2/2008 12:51 PM (GMT -7)
You are perfectly normal thinking about your up coming surgery, but in no time you will be thinking back posting here, well there wasn't much to that. I promise you that is the way you will feel.
There are several bike riders on here so they will give you some guidance there.

Write down your instructions from your doctor and don't be afraid to give them a call if you think things are not right.

Once they put you asleep the worst is over.
12/06/07 DaVinci and open prostate surgery after difficulties in breathing stopped the davinci.
Walked a lot
90% control the day the catherter removed.
pad only for a sneeze before the week was out
No pads most of the second week.

Posted 3/2/2008 12:59 PM (GMT -7)
Good luck fatcat, I was very nervous before the op. I had never been under before so I had a dread of not waking up however it was not half as bad as I imagined best of luck.
Posted 3/2/2008 1:03 PM (GMT -7)

  I drive on service calls; I took the advice of some of the people on this Board and reduced my Tool kit down to 7 lbs from 25. I walk all day. I am concerned about the sitting and driving, also the car is a standard, how will that affect my recovery?   Thanks 

Posted 3/2/2008 1:08 PM (GMT -7)
I had never had major surgery before my prostate cancer surgery and was filled with anxiety and apprehension in the days and weeks before surgery. Mentally, however, my wife and I were ready and eager to complete that phase of treatment. 

One of my biggests fears was about what life would be like after surgery. I was fortunate that I recovered quickly from surgery and regained continence before going through an entire box of industrial size Depends from Costco. ED remains an issue, but is manageable with Quad-Mix injections.

In reality, the surgery was hardest on my wife who was the one awake during the whole operation. The surgery took longer than expected, which was especially hard on her. 

Hope you'll post here as soon as convenient for you after you get home.  You'll be back on your motorcycle before you know it! Take care and hang in there...Tim

Age 59  PSA velocity quadrupled in 1 yr (0.6 to 2.6) 

1 of 12 biopsies positive (5%) 

Open surgery June 2006 

Cancer confined to one small area Gleason 5 

PSA's non-detectable

Posted 3/2/2008 2:06 PM (GMT -7)
Fat cat,
as you know, you're perfectly normal. As one friend told me..."you've got some rough paddling ahead of you, but you will be fine. This will ultimately be nothing more than an inconvenience." And he was right. The pain is not bad, the catheter is a pain but not literally, you don't even feel it. The whole thing is a drug induced fog and you go through it without anxiety. NOTHING is that bad in this whole experience. It is normal to feel anxious, nervous even afraid. you will look back on it as a pain in the butt, but not the worst thing you have ever done.
How long will you be out of work? a standard transmission won't be bad after 3-4 weeks. Actually, might be good exercise. Don't worry about work. They want you back, but not if you come back too early and have a relapse. They don't give out raises or medals for being a hero anymore...so leave that stuff for superman.
OK...for a laugh...I told my buds about the whole surgery thing and how everytime I went into an office they wanted me naked, all the women in the operating room had me naked as soon as I was under. i don't know about you, but where were all these women wanting me naked when I was 19? too little, too late.
Paul

47 at Diagnosis.

Father died of Pca 4/07 at 86.

1/06 PSA 3.15

1/07 PSA 4.6      (Biopsy 3/07 just suspicious)

10/07 PSA 5.06   (Biopsy 11/07  1 of 12 with 8% involvment) (1mm)

Da Vinci surgery Jan 5, '08 at Mt. Sinai Hosp. NYC  www.roboticoncology.com

Saved both nerve bundles.

Path Report:  Stage T2cNxMx

-Gleason (3+3)6

-totally contained to prostate,

-10% involvement in L & R Mid lobes

Posted 3/2/2008 4:13 PM (GMT -7)

Fatcat-

My father too took a long road trip on his bike prior to surgery.  He went all through Idaho and loved it.  His surgery was August 31st.  Your body tends to let you know if you are overdoing it....like my father tends to do :)  I caught him trimming my rose bushes 4 days after surgery.  I couldn't believe it....I was glad he was feeling good, but I almost had a heart attack.  :-) He was anxious to get back on his bike (thankfully the winter months stopped him)  but he has been on numerous rides since his surgery.  Obviously shorter ones at first and they keep getting longer. 

I agree with the previous posters...no medals for being a hero.  Your doctor will most likely advise you against it too.  Not sure how long you are going to be in your car between service calls, but you don't want to risk getting a clot from sitting too long.  Take care of yourself first.  Good luck and cheers to being cancer free next week :)

Doting

Father's Information

DX July 15, 2007

Age 62 (now 63)

PSA 5.5

Original Gleason 3+4=7 

Post Surgery Gleason- 4+3=7

DaVinci Surgery Aug 31, 2007

Focally Positive Right Margin

One positive node

Bone Scan/CT Negative (Sept. 10, 2007)

T3a N1 M0

Oct. 17 PSA 0.07

Nov. 13 PSA 0.05

Casodex adm. Nov 07

Lupon beg. Dec 03, 2007 2 yr

Radiation soon to follow

Posted 3/2/2008 7:09 PM (GMT -7)
    Hi ~   fatcat & Loved Ones,   Thinking of you and sending special thoughts your way as you move toward surgery day…     We hope   “Our Journey” helps to guide you over at least one stepping-stone on your path.   Keeping you close… in thoughts and prayers.     “Our hands will be on your shoulders” special words borrowed from hamala   In Friendship,   ~~ * ~~ * ~~ * ~~~ )*&^%   Group Hug %^&*( ~~~ * ~~ * ~~ * ~~   From the 3 of us... Lee, Buddy, & Murphy mama bluebird - Lee & Buddy… from North Carolina   v           We invite you to visit our personal thread :   Click Here:   “Our Journey” ~ Sharing is Caring   April 3, 2006  53 on surgery day RRP / Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy PSA 4.6   Gleason  3+3=6    T2a   Confined to Prostate 4th PSA 2-13-2008 (23 months) Less than 0.1 Non-Detectable :)
Posted 3/2/2008 7:58 PM (GMT -7)
Fatcat,
Like others have said, you'll breeze through the surgery and be back on the bike very soon. I had my surgery on 11/29/07 and was back riding the Goldwing trike in 6 weeks. If the weather had been better, I would have been riding sooner than that.

Best of luck to you on Wednesday!
Walter
Walter

Age 58
10/06 - 1st PSA ever - 4.6
11/06 - PSA retake - 5.3
12/06 - Biopsy, 12 cores - negative
7/07 - PSA - 9.0
7/07 - PSA 13.8 (after 10 days antibiotics)
8/07 - Biopsy, 12 cores, 1 positive @1%; Gleason 3+3=6
9/17/07 - Bone scan - negative
9/18/07 - CT scan - negative
10/12/07 - John Hopkins recheck of biopsy slides Gleason 3+3=6
11/29/07 Da Vinci surgery performed at Northside Hospital in Atlanta
12/7/07 Catheter out; Post surgery path report: Gleason 3+3=6; Negative margins; T2C
2/1/08 PSA zero
2/5/08 Pad free

Posted 3/2/2008 8:52 PM (GMT -7)
Hello Fatcat,

I was so scared the night before my daVinci surgery I hardly slept at all. The next morning at the pre-op; the staff made me feel confident that everything was going to be just fine. I was wheeled into the OR, and the anesthesiologist assured me that I was in good hands. Then he said:"You'll feel a little coldness in you arm first, and"...the next thing I heard was the nurse saying: "You're all done, and everthing is OK". I think the surgery lasted maybe 2 minutes start to finish; although My wife said 2 hours. So try not to get yourself too worked-up, and you'll be just fine.

Good luck to you this Wednesday.

Glen
Diagnosed at age 60

PSA went from 2.2 to 3.8 in 14 months

2 of 14 cores positive at 10%

Gleason 6(3+3), negative DRE, neg. margins

DaVinci surgery on 02/23/06

Last PSA 02/26/08 @ 24 months "0"

Posted 3/2/2008 9:22 PM (GMT -7)

Dittos to all the above FatCat.  I would just add that a few weeks after surgery, you may find sitting in an upright chair -- in a restaurant for example -- a bit uncomfortable.  So, I think you will naturally not want to hop on your bike within the first six to eight weeks. 

That's my opinion from my experience.

BUT, if, for some reason, you feel "just great" within a couple of weeks of surgery, stay away from that bike anyway!  Trust me.  You need to let nature take its course and heal internally.  I've heard stories about guys who just couldn't wait to run after their surgeries, play basketball, lift weights etc. and they wound up with problems they shouldn't have had in the first place.  You have to take the six-to-eight weeks to heal inside.

So be patient.  Before you know it, you'll be back to your old self and ridin' like the wind.

Best to ya,

Tom


D.O.B - 8/9/52

PSA: First ever was 9.8 in late Oct. ‘06, two weeks later, 10.1

DRE: Negative

Biopsy results 11/22/06.  Both lobes involved.  Six out of eight cores positive - from 100 percent to 90, to 60, to 50, two 20s and two zeros.

Gleason 3+3 = 6

Da Vinci Robotic RP surgery, City of Hope, Jan 12, 2007

Post surgery pathology – Organ confined, Gleason still 6, margins clear.  Volume of tumor much less than biopsy suggested.  12 percent overall.

First post-surgery PSA -- Undetectable, 2/20/07

Second post-surgery PSA -- Undetectable, 9/11/07

Third post-surgery PSA -- Undetactable, 2/15/08

Post Edited (PianoMan) : 3/2/2008 10:25:51 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 3/3/2008 5:04 AM (GMT -7)
Hey FatCat
Let me echo what everyone else has said, its gonna be a "Piece-of-cake"
As long as you are comofrtable with your surgical team, know youve checked into everyone and know what youre gettig yourself into, youre be fine
I had Da Vinci on 25 Feb 08 and had a great team. I thought there would be pain but I had one pain pill the first night, no more pain since, just obviousy soreness
your Dr may or may not want you walking much the 1st week, if so, just take it easy, remember, theres alot of moving parts moving together down there with body parts, bags and tubes ha ha
ONE word of advice thought. make sure someone at the hospital teaches yu, to your satisfaction, how to "Flush a Catheter" just in case
Another thing, DONT WORRY about WORK, WORRY about YOU, they survived before you got there, they can survive til you gt back
GOOD LUCK!
Bob1949 (Bob)

Southern Maryland

Pre-Treatment PSA:  7.38

2004: Trus Biospy: Suspicious but followup

2007: Trus Biospy, 12 Samples, "Positive"

Gleason 3+3 = 6, T1C Diagnosed December 2007

Prostate, 60 grams

Age 58, 6'5, 233

DX:  Kidney Cancer/Removal, Prostate Cancer/Scheduled Removal, Atrial Fibrillation, Gastric By-Pass

Da-Vinci Ccompleted: 25 February 2008 @

INOVA Fairfax Hospital, Fairfax Virginia

Dr. Simon S. Chung

Both nerves sparred

Posted 3/3/2008 6:48 AM (GMT -7)
  "Flush a Cather" ?  what is that ? also Triker, I have a 2 wheel GL, how was the sitting and how long your first ride ?  I know a lot of questions, but as The Out Hour approachs , I have more questions. I keep thinking I won't ask THE question.  thanks again all of you.
Posted 3/3/2008 8:49 AM (GMT -7)
Sitting was a little uncomfortable to start. I found that I rode a little side-saddle, letting the pressure point be on one cheek rather than in the middle. The first rides were not long, maybe 30-45 minutes at a time. I towed the trike behind the motorhome to Florida for a couple of weeks R&R and just used it for transportation to go out to eat, buy groceries, etc. I am now 3 months post surgery, and distance riding would no longer be a problem. I have some trips planned; just waiting on the weather to improve. I did ride for a couple of hours yesterday, but the Blue Ridge Parkway trip with my son will have to wait until Spring is really here.
Walter

Age 58
10/06 - 1st PSA ever - 4.6
11/06 - PSA retake - 5.3
12/06 - Biopsy, 12 cores - negative
7/07 - PSA - 9.0
7/07 - PSA 13.8 (after 10 days antibiotics)
8/07 - Biopsy, 12 cores, 1 positive @1%; Gleason 3+3=6
9/17/07 - Bone scan - negative
9/18/07 - CT scan - negative
10/12/07 - John Hopkins recheck of biopsy slides Gleason 3+3=6
11/29/07 Da Vinci surgery performed at Northside Hospital in Atlanta
12/7/07 Catheter out; Post surgery path report: Gleason 3+3=6; Negative margins; T2C
2/1/08 PSA zero
2/5/08 Pad free

Posted 3/3/2008 1:52 PM (GMT -7)
Greetings, Fatcat.  You will do great!  As others here have said it will be over before you know it and you will be on the other side  and ready for the healing to begin.  I had my surgery (RRP) on Feb 4 and still remember the anesthesist coming in and saying I'm going to give you a little something to help you relax and then a minute or so later the nurse in the recovery room was telling me that everything went great.  It was actually about 4 hours later but I didn't know a thing.  Was in the hospital 2 nights and then home with the catheter for another week.  I went back to work part time at the 3 week point (last week) but I have lots of people who are making sure I take it easy.  Walking has been great exercise for me and I would encourage you to move around as you can but don't overdo it. I plan to go back to work full time next week.   We'll be praying for you - let us know how things go when you get a chance.  David

Posted 3/3/2008 2:52 PM (GMT -7)
:-)  Fatcat, I think each and every one of us was very uptight before the big day, I had to wait from August 1 until October 9th for my Di Venci, and was frustrated at the wait, and in the quiet times, scared to death, but it was all for nothing. I'm sure you have picked a very experienced team, and soon you will be like those of us on the other side that say it was never anywhere near as bad as we thought! Follow the experience of those online here and you will be riding again in no time. If you go to Sentara.com and look up Di Venci, they have a web cast of a fellow biker, and show him on a dirt bike four weeks after his operation! Not taking any hills, but just around his yard at first, but he was riding! Good luck and keep us up to date.

yeah  Beachbum

Beachbum

 

PSA 10 June 2007

Biopsy July 2, 16 of 16 samples positive

T2C

3+3=6

prostate weighed 40 grams

Di Venci 10/09/07, four hours on table, 3 in recovery

Total time in Hospital: 29 hours

Record for Dr. Lance, 65% of prostate had cancer, but NO spread, clean margins

Clean nodes,

First PSA at 5 weeks, UNDETECTABLE!

Catheter out at seven days, dry from hour one!

Second PSA 19 weeks post op, UNDETECTABLE 2/11/2008

The Lord has truly Blessed me.

Posted 3/3/2008 3:03 PM (GMT -7)
 

Thank you each and every one of you for your kind words and encouragement. Finishing up at work now and will be loading up the car tonight. Have a 6 hour trip ahead of us tomorrow. Then Wednesday am “It’s Showtime”. Taking the Laptop, will keep you informed.  As the Great One used to say “A Waaaaaay We Go”!

Posted 3/3/2008 7:09 PM (GMT -7)
You will be fine.

Just be sure to do what the Doctor says.

From my experience, you can get in trouble if yoy try to do too much too soon.

You are in my prayers.

Ed
Age: 64

PSA 2.62, Negative DRE

Biopsy: Gleason 3,3  Stage T1c

Prostate 71 grams 

Biopsy: Cancer 5% in one of twelve modules

DaVinci April 16, 2007, Cathter Removed Day 8

Tumor Confined To Prostate,  Gleason 3,3

Surgical Margins and Seminal Vesicles Are Negative for Tumor

Playing Golf: Week 5

PSA:  Week 6 .02:  6 Month: .01:  1 Year .03

Posted 3/3/2008 8:46 PM (GMT -7)
FatCat,
As you can see, you have many pc peeps here looking out for you! Just be a good boy & do as the doc says and you'll recover fine.
Don't rush things (even if you think you're fine), eat well, walk and get your rest.
We'll be looking for you,
Susan
Husband Diagnosed 11/17/05 Age: 63 PSA: 7.96 No Symptoms
2/09/06: LRP - Post Pathology - Gleason 4+3 Stage T2b NO MX
3 mo. PSA: 11.8 Stage T3a
6 mo. PSA: 18.8 Stage IV Systemic w/ distant lymph node involvement
Start HT - Lupron 3 mo. shots
12/06/06: PSA 0.8
03/07/07: PSA 0.3
PSA - Undetectable since 6/07/07

Posted 3/3/2008 9:49 PM (GMT -7)

Hey fatcat,

Although everyone's experience is a little different... my surgery was very, very easy.  I'm hopeful that you will have the same experience.

I just followed the advice of all the health care professionals involved and it was great.  As many have said, all should go well and you should start feeling better rather quickly.  If so, you'll need to fight the desire of overdoing it... doing too much, too quickly.  We need to give our bodies some time to heal.  The surgeons do a lot of work in there! yeah

You'll do fine.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Kind regards,

Barry

"Idaho" ~ Barry

 

Da Vinci Surgery July 31, 2007… 54 on surgery day
PSA 4.3  Gleason 3+3=6  T2a  Confined to Prostate

1st PSA  9/11/2007   <0.04 (undetectable)

2nd PSA 12/10/2007  <0.04

My web site: http://pca-info.blogspot.com

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