I've been mostly lurking this group for a couple of months, and decided
it was time to make
my contribution.I am 64 years old and in good health.
I was diagnosed around the end of April, 2006.The Uro was suspicious
during the DRE and ordered
a biopsy, even though PSA was only 1.9
Result was Gleason 3+3=6, 1 core out of 6 (Upon further review by
John's Hopkins, 2 cores out
of 6). Less than 1% cancer. Chose the robotic surgery. Dr. Jean Joseph
does about 10 surgeries
a week and no one can come close to that volume in the Rochester, NY
area.
The operation is now behind me, and so far so good.
Arrived at 8:30 AM for a 10:30 operation, August 29, 2006.
Saw Dr. Joseph as well as most of the surgical team at one time or
another.
Operation started at 11:00
They wheeled me in to surgery and said we're going to put you under
now, and then it was over.
No further recollection.
I was very groggy in recovery room, just wanted to sleep.
Got out out at 12:50 Lasted less than two hours!.
First night hard to sleep, Last of noise in hosp, they wake you
constantly to give you meds,
and I had the annoying feeling that I had to urinate even tho I had I
cath. in. Not painful but
annoying. They were very liberal with pain killers (didn't really need
them, but it did help the
bladder full feeling)
Doing  good at home, appetite back second day, cath a pain, not
literally, but needs constant
attention.Have to empty leg bag every two hours, That might change when
all the IV is finally
drained from me.Big bag is OK at nite, but I have to empty once during
the night, No real pain,
still occasional feeling of full bladder which goes away with short
walk in the house.

Can sleep on back and one  side, not bad!
Only thing I might suggest is  a doughnut pillow to sit on. If I don't
sit just right there
is pain in rear groin.
.
the Cath came out Friday morning, 10 days later. Pathology was good, no
positive margins,
no extra capsular escape, but Gleason went from 3+3=6 to
3+4=7,apparently not uncommon.Only
10% of
8 of 18 cores had cancer.
Also had perineural invasion, apparently cancer trying to find a way
out but didn't.
Told it was nothing to worry about.
The nurse removed cath. Not too much leakage at the time. I had
Depends Guards with me.
( in hindsight, I should have used Depends Underwear along with
guards. More later.)
They do Viagra for the first two weeks after cath is out. Not directly
for sex, but to
exercise the penal veins. Pill very other day, she gave enough samples
to last.
By the same token, We have an appt with a vacuum pump sales rep, end of
month. Apparently they
feel it's important to exercise erections, even if you can't use them.
I drove home with my wife (first time since operation).When I stepped
out of the car, I was
flooded with urine! Turns out that any change of position was enough to
start dripping or more.
I was going thru lots of pads( and under wear and sweat pants), my wife
went out and got
the depends underwear. Much better. But...
I noticed I really wasn't urinating, and it seemed like I had to go.It
didn't seem like the drips
could account for the amount of fluid I thought I still had in my
bladder.
I called a Uro who was sitting in for my doctor.
Dr. Rashid is in his 70's, slow moving, but seemed to know what he's
doing. Did an ultrasound,
said there wasn't much urine in bladder, then did a cystascope (or
something like it) and
couldn't find any blockage, He said strictures don't usually develop
for weeks after operation.
He said I probably had dripped a lot more volume than I thought and the
bladder fullness feeling
was probably bladder spasms.
Anyway, he decided to put cath back in, since it was the weekend. He
said that back in the day,
they always kept them in for 14 days.
He suggested I remove the cath myself (showed me how), on Monday AM or
Sunday nite
(apparently, less leakage over nite , lying down, so it should be full
in AM  should be able
to urinate.)
However, I never seriously considered removing it myself
I had the cath out Tues. They wanted to keep it in a full 2 weeks.
Doing much better this time,  control is pretty good, still go thru
5-6 pads/ day, doing Kegels like mad,
walking 1 1/2 mile/day. It's all good. Very strong stream at nite,
like the proverbial horse!.
I was up 6-7 time a night to urinate.
PA  said it's normal (something about bladder not being used for two
weeks and is kind of
overreacting). It will get better soon. I've asked 2 of my support
group, they said, Oh yeah,
I guess we did go a lot the first nites.
She also said to start Viagra now. I was worried about side effects,
she said to take 1/2 dose
every other day for 4 weeks, instead of full dose for 2 weeks.
Took it , no problem other than feeling flushed.
Still going thru about 4 pads/ day. Nite urination is down to four/
nite.( 3 weeks since surgery)
Walking about 2 miles/ day ( I have arthritis in both hips, so that's
about as much as I can
tolerate. I used to swim, but that will have to wait till I'm drier).
No problem with the Viagra. I see the pump guy Tuesday.
The Viagra seems to do the job. Even without out it, under there
"proper circumstances",
erection is  not too far from what it was!(Of course, with all the
dripping, I can't do
anything serious. Supposed to abstain for 4 weeks, anyway.)
First PSA test is  3 months after surgery.
We'll keep our fingers crossed!