Back from surgery

I had my robotic prostatectomy done yesterday at 12 noon and I'm back at home. I have very little pain but mostly discomfort from the catheter. I'm scheduled to have the catheter removed and my biopsy report on 2/17. I'm praying and hoping for good report. The doctor did remove the nerve bundles on the left side. He wants me to take Viagra (100 mg) every other day. Unfortunately my insurance doesn't cover it and the cost is about $15 each. Can I get cheaper from somewhere else?

---

Age: 67
5ft 10 inches 182 lbs
Retired in 2001 and living in Austin TX.
Dx 12/30/08
Scheduled for Robotic surgery on Feb 9th
Surgeon: Dr. Randy Fagin, Austin TX.
12 sections tested 2 with cancer
Left Medial Apex 4.0 mm. Gleason score 9 (4+5)
Left Lateral Apex. 2.0 mm Gleason score 8 (4+4)
Negative CT scan and bone scan done on 1/16
PSA 3.5

old67,
Congratuations, and welcome back from the other side. Now you are on the side of recovery. Glad you are back home. There is nothing good to say about a catheter, so hopefully your short time on it won't be too bothersome. It's only a week away. I hope your surgeon did a super job, and I am sure you will be looking forward to getting in the Zero Club, btw, I did make my entrance yesterday while you were in surgery. Hope you get to feeling better soon, and the pain stays away from you. Good luck to you, brother.

David in SC

---

Age 56, 56 at DX, PSA 7/7 5.8, 7/8 12.3

Welcome to the other side..Its all downhill from here

David,Congratulations on entering the zero club. I hope to see there till the end of time.

---

Age: 67
5ft 10 inches 182 lbs
Retired in 2001 and living in Austin TX.
Dx 12/30/08
Robotic surgery performed on Feb 9th
Surgeon: Dr. Randy Fagin, Austin TX.
12 sections tested 2 with cancer
Left Medial Apex 4.0 mm. Gleason score 9 (4+5)
Left Lateral Apex. 2.0 mm Gleason score 8 (4+4)
Negative CT scan and bone scan done on 1/16
PSA 3.5

Old67, welcome to the other side. Start exercising-walking- as soon as you can, little short trips, with plenty of rest afterward's, and building up to longer sessions. It'll make a world of good in your recovery. Also, drink water, lot of it, bunches of it, to flush out the drugs, and leftovers from surgery. Now's the time to really flush the system while you can pee in a bag and not be bothered with a trip to the bathroom each time. lol

Here's the direct link to alldaychemist generic viagra (Sildenafil Citrate 100mg) page, they are 56 cents a pill, with a $24.95 shipping fee no matter what the quantity you buy.
www.alldaychemist.com/men_health.html

---

James C. Age 62
Co-Moderator- Prostate Cancer Forum
4/07 PSA 7.6, referred to Urologist, recheck 6.7
7/07 Biopsy: 3 of 16 PCa, 5% involved, left lobe, GS 3/3=6
9/07 Nerve sparing open RRP- Path Report: GS 3+3=6 Stg. pT2c, 110gms, margins clear
16 mts: ED- 50 mg Viagra 3X week, pump daily,Trimix .35ml 2X week continues
PSA's: .04 each 3 months

Post Edited (James C.) : 2/10/2009 12:49:59 PM (GMT-7)

Welcome to the other side Old67....you need to change your screen name...somehow I don't think 67 is old at all. Anyway do what James says...it will make all the difference in recovery that is for sure.

---

You are beating back cancer, so hold your head up with dignity

old67,
Thanks, can't wait till you get your first zero too. Listen to James, walk and walk, and drink all the water you can handle, that big cath bag should hold over 2000cc, that's a lot of water, so flush away all the toxins from you, and let that nasty catheter and bag do the work for you for now, least it can do.

David

---

Age 56, 56 at DX, PSA 7/7 5.8, 7/8 12.3

Congrats - it sounds like things went very smooth. All you got to do now is heal-up and that will take place on a daily improvement basis. The catheter removal will be no big deal. They will run some liquid into the catheter to fill your bladder than pull it out over a bed pan. I didn't even feel it when it came out. I am confident the doctor will give you good news on the zero PSA reading (.04 is as low as his machine goes). Take it easy the next week will pass quickly.

---

RB
Age 61 (now 62)
Original data - pre-operation
PSA: 5.1
T1C clinical diagnosis, Needle biopsy - 10 cores, Gleason 7 = 3+4 in 1 core (40%), 7 cores Gleason 6 = 3+3 ranging from 5% to 12%
All scans negative
Lupron administered 4/9/2008 for 4 months (with idea I would undergo external beam radiation followed by seed implants - then I changed my mind).
Robotic DiVinci surgery - Dr. Fagin (Austin) May 19th
Post operative - pathology
pT2c NX MX
Gleason 3+4
Margins - negative
Extraprostatic extension - negative
seminal vesicle invasion - uninvolved
1st Post PSA <.04
2nd Post PSA <.01 10/30/2008

Congratulations old67,

Welcome to the other side. Now just let the healing begin!

---

Age at DX 57

Very glad you are home and doing well.

It gets better soon.

Regards. Scott

---

Diagnosed @ 48yo 04/07

Sounds like everything went allright.  All good advice from the guys above.  Especially the liquid intake.  Flush all the nasty drugs right outta you.  Patience on the catheter situation is recommended.  Just count the days until it's out.  Welcome to the other side.

Bob