There are many post-op tips to be shared, but copious amounts of soup with ginger isn't one of them I'd be making. ;-) To each his own diet, though. Raised toilet seat: I didn't need that, nor do I see much value in it . . . but some few people may have a physical condition where it would help. The catheter wasn't an "issue" for me during the two weeks post-op I had it attached. Coughing will be a good thing to do for someone out of the hospital, but I recognize that can cause some leaking. Congratulations on a successful procedure.
Age: 59 (58 at diagnosis - June, 2008)
April '08 PSA 4.8 ("free PSA" 7.9), up from 3.5 year prior
June '08 had biopsy, 2 days later told results positive but in less than 1% of sample
Gleason's 3+3=6
Developed sepsis 2 days post-biopsy, seriously ill in hospital for 3 days
Dr. recommended robotic removal using da Vinci
Surgery 9/10/08
Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL
Dr. Robert Nadler, Urologist/Surgeon
Post-op Gleason's: 3+3, Tertiary 4
Margins: Free
Bladder & Urethral: Free
Seminal vesicles: Not involved
Lymphatic/Vascular Invasion: Not involved
Tumor: T2c; Location: Bilateral; Volume: 20%
Catheter: Removed 12-days after surgery
Incontinent: Yes (1/2 light pads per day)
Combination of Cialis and MUSE (alprostadil) three times weekly started 9-27-08
Returned to work 9-29-08 (18-19 days post-op)
PSA test result, post-op, 10/08: 0.0; 12/08: 0.0; 4/09: 0.0