My questions were mostly about the day of surgery and what to expect. I asked all I could think of but was still surprised at some of the things that happened. As an example, I assumed that I would be able to have at least ice chips right after the surgery. The protocol for nothing-by-mouth was held to until the morning after surgery. I expected to be in surgery about two and a half hours but ended up being there for four hours. The difference was mostly prep time. I expected to be put to sleep in the operating room. They gave me what they called a valium shot as I was being wheeled out of the holding room and I did not know anything until I woke up in recovery. I knew about the pulsating leg bags but what I did not know was that they could be set for either heat or cool. The nurses assume that most people coming out of surgery are cold so they set them on heat. In my case I was warm and it was the middle of the night before a nurse told me she could switch it to cool. I assumed the morning after surgery I would get something solid to eat but I was only allowed a liquid breakfast. I expected some pain but I had none. I expected to be groggy but I was just the opposite as I was wired and was calling family on my cell one hour after getting to my room.
This just gives you an idea of what you could ask. All of the questions concerning the catheter will be answered for you before you leave the hospital.
Tamu
Diagnosed 7/6/06, 1 of 10 core samples, 40%,Stage T1c, Gleason 3+3
Da Vinci on 11/01/06, Catheter out on 11/13/06
56 Years Old
Post Op Path, Gleason 3+3, Approx. 5% of prostate involved
Prostate Confined, margins clear
Undetectable PSA on 12/18/06
No more pads as of 1/13/07
Began injections in April '07
Undetectable PSA on 6/25/07