Hi, folks! I hadn't posted here with any regularity though I had checked
with the group from time to time. First a summary of my CaP history:

Age 56 - no health problems
Have been a long-distance runner since 1974 and still run 20-30 miles per
week. No prostate symptoms.

6/6/03  PSA 10.2
DRE normal
3 weeks Bactrium
7/01/03  PSA 7.6
Trans-rectal biopsy = negative but for PIN
3 month wait
10/16/03  PSA 6.4
11/17/03  Trans-perineal needle biopsy
7 of 24 cores + for CaP (5% to 8%) T2c/G3+3
2/11/04  RP done

Now, I had not had any surgery since 1954 when I had my tonsils removed as a
child of seven. Another time, another era. I started doing Kegles about 6
weeks pre-op just to get myself ready; continued my running schedule: 5
miles every other day.

Had my open RP on Wed, 2/11/04. Took 1 hr and 45 min for the entire
procedure. Spinal anesthesia with general sedation. Rest of day on the ward
with no real discomfort. Experienced surprise at sensations caused by
anti-embolia pressurized stockings and catheter. Liquid diet the rest of the
day. Comfortable througout day and evening.

First day post-op (Thursday). First time up out of bed and...Bang! Wow!!
Significant vaso-vagal episode as soon as I sat down on the chair next to my
bed. Expected it but not as severe as it was. Lasted only 5 to 8 min. No
recurrence. No real pain or discomfort during rest of first day post-op due
to lingering effects of spinal. Went for first walks around the unit after
lunch. Walked several hundred feet several times in a row. No real
exhaustion to speak of. Still no pain or discomfort.  That evening, my
daughter calls me from college asking for help with a paper due the next day
(!!). As absurd as it was, I'm on the phone with her for about 10 min.
listening and offering advice.

Second day post-op (Friday): Continued to take walks around unit until
discharge at noon that day. Spinal anesthesia less of a presence; sat in
chairs in room and in lobby area most of the day until discharge. Mild (very
mild) discomfort in abdominal area, some pressure and burning sensation but
all tolerable. Rode home with wife, 3 hour car ride. In-laws were waiting at
home and was able visit with them quite comfortably thru the rest of the
evening. Taking Percocet every 4 to 6 hours plus antibiotic and stool
softener, each 1 x day.

Third day post-op, at home (Saturday). Went for extended walks throughout
the day. Catheter in place, still taking Percocets as necessary. Only
discomfort was postdural frontal headaches in the morning, expected from the
spinal, but they generally resolved by mid-day. Percocet no real help here.
Just passage of time.

Sunday and Monday, 5th and 6th days post-op: Same thing: Early a.m. spinal
headaches resolving by mid-day. Continued to take lengthy walks. Still doing
Kegles when I remembered throughout the day. Went out to eat Monday nite. No
real discomfort or difficulty. Did not really "feel" the catheter in place.
Up and about the house, bored stiff.

Tuesday (7th day post-op). First day with no spinal headache. Drove to my
office just to get rid of the boredom, 30 min, drive, manual shift car. No
problems. Spent about 3 hours with my staff and partners. Lots of time to do
Kegles while driving the round trip.

Wednesday, one week post-op (and thereafter): Continued same schedule: Daily
walks, cath in place, less need for Percocet, switched to Tylenol. Out to
eat last Fri & Sat nights.

This week: Had cath taken out at 9am this past Wednesday, 2 weeks post-op.
Not sure what to expect. Used 4 pads and one Depends diaper that night.
Anticipation of leakage during first night w/o catheter found me awakening
repeatedly to check conditions. Very light leakage sometime after 3am. Got
up twice during Wed-Thurs overnight to urinate.

Thursday (yesterday): 3 pads total during day with 3rd pad lasting 9 hours
with minimal leakage. Depends diaper totally dry overnight. Will go back to
office today just to visit. First real work planned (pre-op) for next week.
First urology post-op followu-up scheduled for end of March.

So far, so good.

Thanks for all the help and info.
Ed