survivor_wannabee said...
Bluebird caught me on the Forum. Thanks for the welcome back.
Well, here is my story so far. I went into the hospital on Tuesday for my 10:45AM appointment and had to wait in the nursing station for 2 hours while they got the operating room rearranged after the previous DaVinci. I really didn't mind so much as it was like being at the circus with all sorts of activity going on around me. At one time there were 6 patients in queue. I had my surgery done at a teaching hospital, so I had visits from lots of folks from different functional areas prior to surgery. When they finally wheeled me in, I got a quick look at the machine and then was off to La La Land.
The surgery lasted for 3 1/2 hours. My surgeon came down to speak to my wife and 3 girls and let them know that it went extremely well and that at least initial indications were that the cancer was contained. He could however definitely feel the tumor. Since it was concentrated in one lobe near the edge though he did a partial nerve sparing on one side and total sparing on the other.
I woke up in recovery and had a hard time of it for a while, not so much I think from the pain as much as the disorientation. I say that to those that follow as informational as I don't know that you can really prepare for it. I just had a hard time of it for a while.
After recovery I was wheeled up to my private room, which was a total luxury. I have shared before when I had my blood clot episode and it is no fun being in pain or trying to sleep while your roomie is watching TV etc. The hospital was amazingly quiet and I slept pretty well between all the usual visits you get while in the hospital. I did experience quite a bit of soreness, which was largely alleviated by a couple of percocets. My wife and kids came up to visit and I called my Mom and they all said that I was hilarious although I remember little of our conversations. I did however get my butt out of bed and take the walk down the hall, which was pretty tough, but I was determined to do it.
The following morning I continued to feel a fair bit of pain, which was again alleviated with a couple of percs. I walked twice more each time a bit further. The night before I got a soft diet, but a normal one for breakfast and lunch. I did pass a tiny bit of gas, which they said was great and then was told after lunch I could go home. The ride home was very scary as the hospital was in the city and my wife is scared to death of driving in that kind of traffic and typically rides the brake way too much. I would like to say that I was a good sport, but did give her a bit of a hard time, which she didn't really deserve....sorry, I was feeling a bit miserable.
This is now my second day at home. I have had a fair bit of pain on and off, but am walking all over the house. I have taken up the bucket routine as my leg needs to be elevated due to residual damage from the blood clot situation, so the small bag is often not low enough. I am sure that this has been said before, but the most important thing I had to do when I got home was to find a comfortable place and position between walks. I was in bed a good bit of time yesterday and then had a tough time sleeping through the night as my back really started bothering me. I tried the lazy boy downstairs and that was no better. What ended up working well was to get on the couch situated with pillows that put me on a slight angle with one leg propped up. I had a nice pain free nap this morning which was great.
The only downside so far has been that I have not had a BM yet .... last one being Monday. I forgot to mention that I was put on a liquid diet all of Monday and then ate and drank nothing from Monday night on until my surgery. A buddy who had open radical a few years back didn't have to fast so much. I have tried to eat normally, but not stuff myself. I felt a bit bloated this AM, but am OK this afternoon. I am taking the stool softeners as prescribed so we will have to let nature take its course. I suspect that the percs didn't help matters much, but sure did make me more comfortable.
It is nice to be back in the land of the living. I will try to update as I go along, particularly after the catheter comes out, which is just about as much fun as I though it would be, but not unbearable.
Thanks for all your support.
J
Welcome home and glad all went well. I was uncomfortable for the first couple of days and I was in hospital for 3 days.
Take it easy. Each day is easier.
Army45
Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer in April 2006. Age 61 and no other medical problems - only take Thyroxin for thyroid but that has been for 40 years.
Surgery on July 7th, 2006 to remove prostate
PSA 7.5, Gleason 7 but downgraded to 6 after surgery biopsy.
T1-2
Lymph glands clean and cancer all gone - all within prostate.
Very minor leaking that ended after 3-4 months (1 pad per day)
2 month checkup - PSA "undetectable" 8 month check up PSA still "undetectable"
No further tests or treatment except PSA every 6 months.
Viaga now working and no longer use the Vacurect pump (for sale if any one interested! 1/2 price, all the rings and easily sterilized)