Back to work

Bob116
New Member

Date Joined Dec 2006
Total Posts : 15

Posted 3/24/2007 2:00 AM (GMT -6)

Follow up yesterday showed everything going according to plan. Pathology report showed nothing outside or close to the margins. Using one pad per day and even a little growth in the private area.

My doctor wanted me to stay home until the end of April (9 weeks) but after some discussion we agreed on 7 weeks. Im walking 2 - 2 1/2 miles a day and am going crazy around the house.

There is some lifting involved with my line of work but nothing that I feel I should not be able to handle. Have always been an active person.

Has Anyone been in a similar position?

Bob

Diagnosed 12/14/06

Age: 54

Gleason 6

PCA - Positive

PSA 5.3

Biopsy 3 of 12 positive

T1C

Right Lat Mid - Gleason 3 + 3 = 6 - 4% of specimen
Right Lat Base - Gleason 3 + 3 = 6 - 5% of specimen
Left Base - Gleason 3+ 3 = 6 - 5% of specimen

RRP 2/20/2007

Cedar Chopper Regular Member Date Joined Mar 2007 Total Posts : 432	Posted 3/24/2007 4:21 AM (GMT -6)
	Bob, I am in a very similar situation. Age 54. Surgery Feb 16, 2007. I'm a Produce Manager in a grocery store. (30 years) I returned to work last Monday, 4 weeks and 2 days after surgery. However, I have a staff that is temporarily doing all of my "heavy" lifting. My first days back were very exhausting and I kept them short - focusing on paperwork. The staff did all the lifting then. Due to adhesions from several previous abdominal surgeries (laperatomy spleenectomy, hernia, appendectomy, and more) - the robotic laperoscopic procedure was abandoned for a "bikini cut." That is to say, non robotic-laperascopic surgery increases time before lifting should begin. I have been doing calesthenics (crunches and push-ups) and using a rowing machine since just after week 3. However, it was just yesterday (exactly week 5) that I even came near my pre-surgery work-out routine. I push myself to just where I am aware of the internal stitching. I now do a little lifting every day - I still avoid the 50 pound cases of cabbage, etc for awhile. My thoughts to you are that standing/walking for hours and especially lifting will increase your incontinence. Something we must work through eventually, anyway. While my "private area" is returning function some, I still leak when walking or standing unless I can go to the restroom every 15 minutes. This is not practical at my job. (I've only told one supervisor what the actually surgery was and no one but him knows about the incontinence.) I line my men's brief liners with a women's incontinence liner placed at 90 degrees. This holds 12 oz more liquid and keeps me from completely soaking the men's liner. The idea of working in public made me nervous at first. I use to drink almost 2 gallons of liquid every day. Now I ration myself to just over a half gallon and (as I start work at 4am) I stop drinking anything at 8 pm and don't drink anything at work. When I do, it goes straight through...... After the first 3 hours, I replace the women's pad. At this point, most of my previous night's liquid has passed. Then I just monitor the situation and usually change the men's and women's liner once at about 6 hours from start shift. I'm working 10 to 12 hour days. Don't do anything that hurts, but I have found from my many surgeries that (carefully) maximizing physical activity speeds healing - and helps wear off the residual anesthesia that makes me a little "fuzzy" for up to six months. Don't hurt yourself. It is never worth it. I find work keeps my spirits up, too. Godspeed. Cedar Chopper ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2 Years of PSA between 4 and 5.5 Biopsy 23DEC06 Only 5 percent cancer in one of 8 samples. Gleeson 3+3=6 Radical Prostatectomy 16FEB07 at age 54. 1+" tumor - touching inside edge of gland. Confined. :) ************* Texas Hill Country FRESH Produce Department Manager Have you had your 5 colors today?** Back to Top

Swimom Veteran Member Date Joined Apr 2006 Total Posts : 1732	Posted 3/24/2007 5:54 AM (GMT -6)
	I had a robotic assisted surgery and returned to full duty (FF) about 4 weeks post-op. In fact, the pathology was almost identical to yours Bob. The only orders that were issued was "don't do anything stupid." By that he meant to use common sense and do light lifting for a month, then I could do whatever I felt like doing. Paul Back to Top

Bob116
New Member

Date Joined Dec 2006
Total Posts : 15

Posted 3/25/2007 8:14 PM (GMT -6)

Thanks for your posts.
Im looking forward to getting back to routine and I'm sure everything will work out. Ill just have to be careful of the lifting. I've never been one for work outs but am doing a lot of walking. The incontinence issue is doing OK except when my bladder fills.
Everything in good time.
Bob

Diagnosed 12/14/06

Age: 54

Gleason 6

PCA - Positive

PSA 5.3

Biopsy 3 of 12 positive

T1C

Right Lat Mid - Gleason 3 + 3 = 6 - 4% of specimen
Right Lat Base - Gleason 3 + 3 = 6 - 5% of specimen
Left Base - Gleason 3+ 3 = 6 - 5% of specimen

RRP 2/20/2007

M. Kat Veteran Member Date Joined Jul 2006 Total Posts : 715	Posted 3/26/2007 7:42 AM (GMT -6)
	Bob, just think. you will be in better shape post-surgery than before because you are now walking a lot. keep that up - it will benefit you in all ways. I think you will be fine when you return to work. are there things at home that you can catch up on? Jeff returned to work 2 weeks after surgery but has a sales position so he did a lot of driving and sitting. he should have gone back part-time because he would come home exhausted. try and enjoy this time off.....kat Husband Jeff 56 years old diagnosed July 27, 2006 PSA 6.5, 2 positive areas in biopsy, Gleason 3+3=6 Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy August 30, 2006 pathology report - all clear - cancer gone 1st post-surgery PSA test <0.1, 2nd post-surgery PSA test <0.1, 3rd PSA <0.1 no more pads Oct 12, 2006 first "real" erection with use of pump 12/16/06 3/07 - occasional dribbles and erections with Cialis and pump Back to Top

Bob116
New Member

Date Joined Dec 2006
Total Posts : 15

Posted 3/28/2007 7:09 PM (GMT -6)

Im in the northeast so things are just starting to warm up now (weather wise)
If I can get outside it will make things a bit easier. If not I'll grin and bear it. Its only 11 more days!
Bob

Diagnosed 12/14/06

Age: 54

Gleason 6

PCA - Positive

PSA 5.3

Biopsy 3 of 12 positive

T1C

Right Lat Mid - Gleason 3 + 3 = 6 - 4% of specimen
Right Lat Base - Gleason 3 + 3 = 6 - 5% of specimen
Left Base - Gleason 3+ 3 = 6 - 5% of specimen

RRP 2/20/2007

Forum Information

Currently it is Sunday, September 23, 2018 12:05 AM (GMT -6)
There are a total of 3,005,793 posts in 329,263 threads.
View Active Threads