Just diagnosed choice of treatment

User

Posted 18 Jan 2015 at 19:59

Thanks Lynn

At the moment they have not said anything but RP not saying keyhole , robotic or old fashion surgery. I see my surgeon on Wed and will discuss but it seams to be very variable.

I would go with the average not the exceptional

Paul

User

Posted 19 Jan 2015 at 16:30

Afternoon Paul

I to had the Davinci Robotic operation and I was also up and on my feet quite quickly. I am fortunate enough to work for myself and so I was able to decide when I was going to be ready to go back to work, and that was not one of the factors that I even gave any thought to when I was thinking about my choice of treatment. For me the most important factor was family and how they were feeling about the news, my wife especially was very upset as she lost her father to cancer at the age I am now.

We are all different and the choice of treatment really is a decision that you need to think carefully about, and suggest that it has to made given what is right for you and your family. I was very impressed by the Urologist treating me and I suppose vary fortunate that not only was the Robotic operation available in my local NHS, but that he was the consultant sat behind the machine doing the operation. Having discussed options with him, I was happy with the choice that I made, and even though the side effects are still with me, I have been very lucky with the speed of my recovery. I was driving after four weeks, and working on my feet all day (12 hrs ish) after about six weeks.

Good luck on Weds.

User

Posted 21 Jan 2015 at 17:07

Afternoon Trevor

Meet with the surgeon today who only offered me open surgery ,could not really answer my questions , the query I had about spreading to my lympth glans.

He said the spread of cells ruled out keyhole or robatic operation. Been trying to speak with my nurse today but can not get a response so a little disappointed with Buckinghamshire hospital trust so no nearer moving forward.

All I am trying to do is get the information to make a choice but yet forth coming.

User

Posted 21 Jan 2015 at 17:53

Hi Pinny,

I too live in Bucks and was not offered robotic surgery. I wasn't happy with this and got myself refered to a London hospital that did it.

OK, robotic surgery may not be the best choice for you (I don't know), but my message is that if you're not comfortable with the surgeon / hospital, vote with your feet and get a referal / second opinion.

flexi

User

Posted 21 Jan 2015 at 19:38

Evening Paul

Sorry to hear that you had a disappointing day. I wonder if Flexi is right to see if a referral offers better choices and more information on the different operations.

I had my surgery in Cheltenham and the team and consultant there really were very good, but I don't know how you go about getting a referral, maybe someone else can help you out there.

Trevor.

User

Posted 21 Jan 2015 at 20:42

Sorry - I am going to put a different view to others - I would want my husband or father to have the operation that gives the best chance of a) getting it all and b) leaving the least side effects. This idea of open RP being somehow inferior to LRP or Da Vinci is a myth not supported by data. In John's case, Da Vinci was available but the surgeon felt that he could do a better job by getting in the old fashioned way. So we chose open RP. Yes, the hospital stay is slightly longer and it may take 3 or 4 weeks more to recover but what is 3 or 4 weeks in comparison to the rest of your life?

Edited by member 21 Jan 2015 at 20:43 | Reason: Not specified

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 27 Jan 2015 at 13:25

Thanks Lynn and every one who comment both positive and negative.

I have decided to go with surgery it will be open and are told I will be off work for around 6 weeks . So hopefully I will be fully back coaching end of April.

I am now looking at setting personal goals to reach week 1 ,2,3,4,5,6. this will include a daily distance for walking , so would be interested in how far and quickly they achieved doing this.

I will also doing a internet online course that will keep me positive.

I need to use my sports background to get this resolved , I just hope the NHS can keep to their promise of surgery being with in 6 weeks.

Regards

Paul

User

Posted 27 Jan 2015 at 13:51

Hi Pinny,

My best wishes sent to you for your forthcoming surgery.

I had da Vinci surgery and was told to allow at least 6 weeks before considering a return to work.

Fortunately for me I had been retired for 5 years so timescales in that respect was not important.

I may well be wrong, but depending on what your work involves and the after effects of surgery etc I feel 6 weeks for a return to work after open surgery may be a little optimistic?

It's good to set yourself targets but they need to be realistic as I'm sure you are well aware.

Try not to overdo things too quickly as you may well end up taking a few steps backwards as a consequence.

Of course I only have myself to draw a comparison with as we all have different recovery rates etc

I was told that despite me feeling pretty good at 3 / 4 weeks post op it was still major surgery and a lot of healing needed to take place.

I would imagine recovery times for open surgery will be a little longer than keyhole surgery....

Luther

User

Posted 27 Jan 2015 at 16:32

Good evening Paul

Good to hear that things are moving forward and that you have settled on your choice of treatment. Wishing you well with that and a timely recovery, but do take your time about it.

As mentioned we all respond differently to treatment and my own experience was four weeks after surgery before taking too much exercise on, and even then it was light walking (1-2 miles) for a week or two, then gradually I upped the distance a bit. Keep in mind that I had robotic surgery I do think the advice at six weeks really does need taking into account.

Take care, and seriously, don't worry about putting your feet up and enjoy being looked after. 😄

Trevor

User

Posted 27 Jan 2015 at 18:05

Good luck. As said above, 6 weeks after open surgery seems quick. I started my golf 6 weeks after robotic surgery. I am sure Lyn will remind you of her husband's experience, where recovery was another 3/4 weeks.

Paul

Stay Calm And Carry On.

User

Posted 27 Jan 2015 at 18:28

Hi Paul
For what its worth here is my experience and "advice".

I had an LRP, it healed up uneventfully and I went back to work full time after about 5 1/2 weeks.

My experience was that for the first 3 weeks I just wanted to sleep and even though I had set myself up with things to do before hand I did not do many of them.

It was at least 2 weeks before I could sit at my computer and then not comfortably at first. Don't forget that you will have a foley catheter in and a leg bag so that will restrict any walking you do even if you feel up to it. Once the catheter was out I did more and the weekend before I went back was carefully doing some quite heavy DIY (I changed the the hot water cylinder!) which probably wasn't a good idea.

As you are having open surgery you will have a much larger wound than I had; something like a 10cm cut right through your tummy wall, which is held wide open during the op, that will take a long time to heal much longer than key hole. So keep your plans very tentative and listen to your body, Give the wound plenty of time to heal and don't try to do to much to soon.

I see you are a coach so if that involves vigorous movement remember that when you are moving about the whole weight of your innards is bouncing on that cut so you will need to limit what you do until it is fully healed

You will have to get your GP or specialist to sign you off and clear you to go back to work. Your employer should not let you back before that as it is unlikely their insurance would cover you being at work. My GP gave me quite a stiff interview over the phone including lots of questions about my job before he would sanction my return to work.

Another point to be aware of is that your car insurance will be invalid until your Doctor says you are fit to drive and the company may a minimum recovery time (6 weeks?) before they will reinstate your full cover.

As Trevor said "put your feet up and enjoy being looked after"

Good luck with the wait, the op and your recovery.
Best wishes
Andy

Edited by member 27 Jan 2015 at 18:33 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 27 Jan 2015 at 18:38

just Received my date for pre-op the 4th and surgery the 11th so This is good so the target of mid april looks good.

User

Posted 27 Jan 2015 at 21:32

What I can not understand is the negativity .The surgeon says six weeks

He also says to do light exercise and build up to it maybe to walk 10 yards week one , 20 yards week 2 and so forth.

But success leads to success my job is not over physical and I would allocate how much I do each week.

As to playing golf I would not play until 10 to 12 weeks and then a few holes . As to driving I would not drive until an expert tells me I am cable.

As to putting my feet up and letting my wife look after me, we will work it out but she has her own life as well. And look forward to celebrating 40 years mid April too.

pinny

User

Posted 27 Jan 2015 at 21:59

Hi Paul,

I just wanted to say good luck and wish you all the best for the op. I opted for DaVinci surgery myself and my recovery was pretty quick. A month after the op I was holidaying with friends in Belgium and 7 weeks after I was motorcycling around Europe. I know that recovery from open surgery takes longer because of the damage the surgeon has to do in order to get to ground zero. With robotic surgery the wounds a very small indeed, just about an inch long each (4 of them in my case) and they heal up very quickly. What happens at ground zero is much the same and so the skill of the surgeon is of paramount importance to the eventual outcome.

You must be pretty fit but even so your body will need rest afterwards so don't be tempted to rush things as by doing so you may well impede your recovery rather than assisting it.

Good luck once again and be sure to let us know the results as soon as you feel able.

Steve

User

Posted 11 Feb 2015 at 08:48

Let you all know off to Hospital today to go under the knife about 1.30 today.

So time will tell what experience I have at the pre-op the nurse took me through not only the operation and recovery .

Interesting she stated amount I should try to walk each day (far higher than everybody says) Driving should be 2 to 3 weeks (again quicker than people experience) .

Working 6 weeks (again quicker)

So will keep updates to see what happens but will only do what I feel I am capable .

Speak soon

User

Posted 11 Feb 2015 at 09:00

Good luck - stay relaxed. You're in good hands.

Paul

Stay Calm And Carry On.

User

Posted 11 Feb 2015 at 10:33

Good luck for today, and make good use of the blue button.

Roy

User

Posted 11 Feb 2015 at 10:42

More good wishes from me for today. Hope all goes well for you.

Recovery is different for everybody. Some can run about very soon, others take longer to run about. Your body will tell you and let you know when it can take more and when it has had enough.

I threw the supposed recovery timetable out of the window and went with my mind and body, and that meant I was fine and happy getting up at 5am one morning to do some fence painting. Gentle fence painting. Everything was gentle for a while.

Driving, once you can operate all pedals and fully control the car and that includes stamping on the brake pedal for an emergency stop should you need to then you should be ready. Again your body will tell you and if you can not extend your legs fully to operate the pedals to go and stop etc you will not be safe to drive.

atb

dave

User

Posted 11 Feb 2015 at 11:55

All the best for today matey...

Wishing you a successful procedure and a speedy recovery

Luther

User

Posted 11 Feb 2015 at 12:27

Hi,

Sorry only just seen that you have your op today.

Best of Luck. Hope it goes well and you have a good recovery.

Steve

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