A question for the "robotic" guys.

How long were you out of work after surgery?

I have a desk job, and have the ability to get up and stretch at any time.  the only prolonged sitting that I have to do is the commute to and from, which will be about 40 minutes each.  We also have a gym in the building, and I plan to walk on the treadmill twice a day.  (the first week is only 3 days, then thanksgiving)

I am having surgery on Thursday, and plan to take until the following monday (including surgery day... 11 days).  (the first week is only 3 days, then thanksgiving).

In your experience(s) is this too ambitious a plan?

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Age:49
Dx 9/29/11 (age 49)
PSA 3.9
Biopsy: 2/12 samples positive, Gleason 8 (4+4)
Robotic Prostatectomy 11/10/11

I worked the day after my surgery (home-office) but I seem to recollect a lot of napping, and of course the pads...lots of trips and changing pads. When those taper off you should be good to go.

Also my PT guy said to avoid sitting, implying laying or standing was better for recovery.

Try it and if you have to leave early at least you tried!

 

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Age 59 PSA: 8/09 - 5.7, 10/09 - 6.4, 12/09- 7.2, 2/10 - 7.4
12/09 FreePSA 10%
Biopsy 12/09 3/12 cores positive for 3+3 (10%, 20%, 20%)
Multi-focal Adenocarcinoma, 4th core Hi PIN
DREs negative
daVinci 2/9/10
Path: still 3+3 clean margins, appears contained to 5% of prostate
Dry at 5 weeks, total ED corrected with TRIMIX
09/11 PSA <.01

Thanks Guys, sounds like my plan is reasonable.

I had my surgery on a Wednesday, home Friday....home the following week until catheter removed that Friday.  Took three more days the following week, then worked for two days to finish the week.  Leaked like a sieve and had to wear a Depends AND a pad for a number of weeks...But, no one was the wiser.  As you're discovering, "your results may vary." 

---

Age at Dx: 56
DaVinci Prostatectomy: 10/28/09

Stage: T2C

Gleason - 3+4 = 7

Prostate: 52 grams

Incontinence - absolutely at first, better with time and kegels

ED - Indeed

All post Davinci PSA tests: <.10

Post Edited (cantexplain) : 11/4/2011 3:21:11 PM (GMT-6)

Tenpin,

I did the same as davidg. I worked from home for a few weeks, though in reality, I probably could have gone back into the office after a week or so. Started driving as soon as the catheter was out (8 days post surgery). At the time, I was working in a dangerous part of the city, so I really couldn't take walks at lunch time. I used the time at home to go for good brisk daily walks.

---

Dx: in 6/2005, 49 yrs old (55 now) Reside in CT
daVinci RRP 8/2005
Post-surgery pathology G7 (3+4), pT2c, NX,MX, neg. margins, PNI present, tumor focally invaded capsule wall, but not through it.
PSA All <0.1 until... 7/2009 0.1, 10/2009 0.2, 1/2010 0.2, 2/2010 0.14, 4/2010 0.16, 8/2010 0.25, 9/2010 0.23, 12/2010 0.22, 4/2011 0.32, 7/2011 0.30, 10/2011 0.33

I'm retired but I can say that if I was still working (I had a desk job) I could have gone back to work right after my catheter was removed. Of course I used a pad for three months before I became continent.

TenPin,
It simply isn't the same from one patient to another. I would say that I could have worked that soon after surgery, but I didn't have to so I took the time I needed to heal. I was between jobs (first time I wasn't working in 23 year at the time) But I could have if I wanted to. Still don't try to push things and ask your doctor when you follow up after the surgery. I work out of my home office so things are easy in that way for me. But that 40 minute drive is a different story.

Tony

---

Advanced Prostate Cancer at age 44 (I am 49 now)
pT3b,N0,Mx (original PSA was 19.8) EPE, PM, SVI. Gleason 4+3=7

Treatments:
Da Vinci Surgery ~ 2/16/2007
Adjuvant Radiation Therapy ~ IMRT Completed 8/07
Adjuvant Hormone Therapy ~ 28 months on Casodex and Lupron.
Undetectable PSA.

Blog: www.caringbridge.org/visit/tonycrispino

Post Edited (TC-LasVegas) : 11/5/2011 7:32:48 PM (GMT-6)

Tenpin - very glad to see you back
- wishing you all the best for your upcoming surgery -

-I am more of the cautious side - work out a plan with alternatives - creating a high ideal situation can get you depressed and stressed if things are not as ready for recovery as you planned.
Basic routine for open surgery is NO lifting of anything 10# or more ( the weight of a laptop) - do not recall what lifting restrictions are with da-vinci guys.

-You are going through surgery -your innards will have bits removed and sewn back - you will have a catheter to keep your urethra in place as the new connection to the bladder heals up.
-some doctors have the catheter in for 6 days - my doc has his patients keep them in for 3 weeks.

-once you are home and feel confident - start a walking programme - a bit more each day - you have no one to compete with - healing up should be your priority at that time.
-treadmills are a good source of exercise but do NOT use the incline - that will put stress on your innards and we want everything to heal in place -

-I hope I am not sounding too harsh - your posting sounded like you were eager to do laps around the hospital ward floor the same day after surgery.

again, wishing you all the best for the upcoming surgery - and here's to a successful and boring recovery.

Bronson

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Age:56 -gay with spouse of 15 years, Steve -Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
PSA:10/06/09 3.86
Biopsy:10/16/09- 2 of 12 cancerous, 5% involvement -Gleason 7 (3+4)
Radical Prostatectomy:11/18/09
Pathology:pT3a -Gleason 7 -extraprostatic extension -perineural invasion -prostate weight -34.1 gm
PSA:
04/08/10-0.05 -ZERO CLUB
09/23/10-0.05 -ZERO CLUB
03/24/11-0.02 -ZERO CLUB
11/17/11 -
03/24/12 -

My husband took off three weeks and then found he didn't have the energy to do full time. His role is about 60% in the office and 40% driving out to various sites to speak to teams and so inspections of sites (he project manages Surveyors).. So after three weeks he worked three days a week for a couple of weeks and then four days for a couple more then he was fully back in the job. My husband is a fit sport loving person but if you ask me I don't think he was back to his normal energy levels for about six months. He had absolutely no problems with incontinence.

So the point I am making is that everyone is different and although some people spring back very quickly, others take more time. I think my best advice would be to leave things a bit open so that you can go back when you are ready.

An

---

Husband's age: 52. Sydney Australia.
Hereditary PC: Mat. grandfather died of PC at 72. Mat. uncle died of PC at 60.
PSA: Aug07 - 2.5|Feb08 - 1.7|Oct09 - 3.67 (free PSA 27%)|Feb10 - 4.03 (free PSA 31%) |Jun10 - 2.69.
Biopsy 28Apr10: negative for a diagnosis of PC however 3 focal ASAPs “atypical, suspicious but not diagnostic” for PC. Review of biopsy by experienced pathologist, 1/12 core: T1c, 10% 3+3 (left transitional), 1/12 core: ASAP (left apex)
Nerve sparing RP, 20Aug10 with Dr Stricker. Post-op path: 3+4 (ISUP 2005). Neg (margins, seminal vesicles, extraprostatic extension). Multifocal, with main involvement in the fibro-muscular zone. T2C.
Post RP PSA,
Lab 1: Sep10 – 0.02|Nov10 – 0.03|Dec10 – 0.03|Feb11 – 0.03|
Lab 2: Nov 10 - 0.01|Dec10 – 0.01|Feb11 – 0.01|Apr11 – 0.01|Jun11 – 0.01

The plan is fine, but it's also good to have a plan B.

I had my catheter out after a week. But had to have it put back in (well, not the same one ), and so had it in another week. By that time it was Christmas Eve, so I didn't return to work until after New Years. Even then, it took a few days before I had the stamina to put in a full day.

From the day I was released from the hospital, I started walking alternated with periods of rest. No problem going up and down the stairs and continued working from my home office. The catheter was out in six days and now I am going out driving and running errands. Just some fatigue.

---

Age 70 healthy
PSA 1.2
One core left side base Gleason 3+3 (5%)
One core left side lateral base Gleason 3+4 (50%)
Partin Score 70+24+2+3
Stage T2a
DaVinci performed by Dr. Tim Wilson 10/26/11
Catherer out 11/01/11. Continent since
POST SURGERY PATHOLOGY REPORT
No margins involved
Prostate 67.5g
T2a N0 M0
Gleason 3+4
Tumor Size 1% of total prostate pT2a
28 lymph nodes disected - zero involvement

Thanks everyone.

Yes, I am eager to get back to 'normalcy'. BUT ... I am aware that things may not go perfectly, Plan B is to take the three days pre thanksgiving and work form home (limited, but my boss has approved). then I get the four day T-Giving holiday as well.

On a side note: My brother and family is coming from out of town (T-giving was supposed to be at thier house this year, but since I wasn't traveling 6 hours, and they wanted to come see me). Our history has been that we stay in each others houses. He said "no worries, he and his wife will shop and cook for t-giving".... UM, 12 days post surgery, My son will be in from college (along with my other 2 younger ones), and Wife and I am supposed to entertain my brother, wife, and his two.

Sorry. ... I couldn't figure out how to say it, so my sister who lives 20 minutes away called brother, and offered up her house, even though she is spending t-giving with the other family this year. BTW, I am very close with my brother, but sometimes he just doesn't think.

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Age:49
Dx 9/29/11 (age 49)
PSA 3.9
Biopsy: 2/12 samples positive, Gleason 8 (4+4)
Robotic Prostatectomy 11/10/11

Great luck to you come this Thursday...your approach to "planning" is perfect.  By the time Thanksgiving arrives you'll also have your pathology report, and if all goes well (meaning negative margins, nerve sparing, and so on) I'm sure you have more than the usual to be thankful for.

---

Age at Dx: 56
DaVinci Prostatectomy: 10/28/09

Stage: T2C

Gleason - 3+4 = 7

Prostate: 52 grams

Incontinence - absolutely at first, better with time and kegels

ED - Indeed

All post Davinci PSA tests: <.10