Good day to all,
Had my surgery last Tues, 14 Dec. Even though my Gleason was 4+4=8 and the
Pathologist recommended removal of everything including nerves, I was able
to (pleading and begging) have the surgeon "do what he could". He did. My
nerves were spared. There was no microscopic node involvement but the
surgery was fare more invasive and painful than I expected.
The next day they tried to get me out of bed. I had no use of my right leg
and "thought" strength and sensation had returned to my left. Wrong. I
got partially up on my left then crashed to the floor. I had also lost most
of my arm strength so could not help out. 15 desperate and painful minutes
to get a machine to lift me back onto bed.
They finally took the epidural out on Thursday and I was able to stand
unsteadily within hours.
The whole hospital experience all in all was unpleasant, very embarrassing
to have a nurse wipe me up.
They sent me home Saturday, I drove myself and should not have.
Since Saturday I've mostly just slept. It's all I can do to get up and make
a small meal. Doctor says I'm supposed to go for walks each day, yah right.
Can't sit for more than a few minutes as the main surgical cut starts to
burn and coughing is torture. Standing is a little easier but not by much.
Staples come out on 28 Dec; the urethra tube a week later.
I am still not sure I did the right thing but right now I guess I'm feeling
sorry for myself.
What's next? I suppose I'll be hearing from the Cancer clinic.
There are many more occurrences and conditions of the entire hospital stay
to report and will do so as time and my strength return.
For now,
Regards to all
Dan Coyle
Sandy K. - 22 Dec 2004 16:50 GMT
Dan -
Do all you can to try to walk. Take small steps at first. Walk 20 yards,
then 50. Walking is the key to a sucessful recovery.
Sandy K.
> Good day to all,
>
[quoted text clipped - 37 lines]
>
> Dan Coyle
Rob Constable - 22 Dec 2004 22:15 GMT
I remember feeling horrible when I got home (not in much pain) but
feeling like I didn't want to be in my body. I had the opposite
reaction you did which was that I couldn't sit still and couldn't
sleep. I think it was mostly because my anxiety level was through the
roof. The thing that helped the most was pushing my self to walk as
many times as possible during the day and alos pushing myself to go
farther each day. It was when I was walking that my outlook would
improve.
Glassman - 22 Dec 2004 22:30 GMT
> Good day to all,
>
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> The whole hospital experience all in all was unpleasant, very embarrassing
> to have a nurse wipe me up.
Geez I haven't heard a story close to yours re: the pain and bounce back
inability. But it's done now and all downhill hopefully!

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tomrp@juno.com - 22 Dec 2004 23:21 GMT
> Good day to all,
>
[quoted text clipped - 37 lines]
>
> Dan Coyle
Sounds like you did just fine, I had RRP 2 years ago. Gleason 7(4+3) Be
greatful they were able to save your nerves. I'd jump for joy! I wasn't
so lucky, no nerve sparing for me and not a glimpse of an erection, not
even with pills.
Have a good recovery!
Tom
I.P. Freely - 22 Dec 2004 23:25 GMT
<tomrp@juno.com> wrote
> not a glimpse of an erection
Yer not pullin' hard enough, Tom! ;-)
I.P.
tomrp@juno.com - 23 Dec 2004 02:52 GMT
> > not a glimpse of an erection
>
> Yer not pullin' hard enough, Tom! ;-)
>
> I.P.
Yes I am! (not even Penthouse works!) At least I can pump 'er up enough
to surprise the wife.
:>)>>>>boing!!!
Tom
Mike - 23 Dec 2004 01:57 GMT
Hi Dan,
Had my RRP on 11/10/04. Found the whole thing extremely painful from the
moment I woke up from surgery, till weeks later. The staples swelled and
hurt. The foley catheter really hurt each day I had it in until the day it
was removed which was 2 weeks after surgery.
I am 47. Having surgery wasn't an easy decision for me but it was by far
the best decision I could make under the circumstances. Everything is
healing nicely now. It has been 6-7 weeks post surgery and I feel pretty
good and you will too!!
Good luck. The time will go by fast enough.
Mike
> Good day to all,
>
[quoted text clipped - 46 lines]
>
> Dan Coyle