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Robotic RP post op recovery

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User
Posted 23 Mar 2017 at 23:37

PSA, yes and no. If the PSA is very high then it is much more likely that there is spread. I think Paco's was around 4. At this level it does not indicate spread but it does not completely rule it out. Unfortunately it is not that accurate.

User
Posted 24 Mar 2017 at 00:09

We were under the Spire - I suspect with the same urologist you have - and it was 7 years ago so yes, some things may have moved on.

Edited by member 24 Mar 2017 at 00:13  | Reason: Not specified

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard
User
Posted 24 Mar 2017 at 00:12

Lola, some kinds of prostate cancer secrete very low amounts of PSA so a man can have low reading but there is spread all over his body while another can have PSA over 100 and yet all tests are negative - no cancer found. In your case, Paco has low PSA, his biopsy did not diagnose one of the rare types of cancer and they are pretty confident that he has no spread to bones - otherwise they would not be offering him the operation.

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard
User
Posted 24 Mar 2017 at 00:31

Thanks again.

I'm so tired. We have been coming to Madrid almost every week within last month. Paco doesn't want to stay here longer than necessary despite our daughter , granddaughters and siblings living here. We are leaving for Coruña tomorrow and on Tuesday back to Madrid again. He likes our garden, our house etc but as it results stressing to me. I have recently had surgery in my back and I am still feeling poorly.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge and wisdom. I get much benefit of it.

Thanks Julie and Lyn

Lola

User
Posted 24 Mar 2017 at 08:02

Hi lola,
Yes I did have da-vinci, the cancer was confined to the prostate  and I had negative margins and he is confident he got it all, he sent the prostate to the lab for a frozen section during the OP so he knew how much to cut out, I said to him cancer  first incontinence second erections last, make sure you have all the questions when you meet the surgeon, I had bad incontinence for 4 weeks then it started to get better 6 months and I am 98% dry, I will tell you that the incontinence is horrible so be prepared having said that everybody is different and the lucky ones are dry as soon as the catheter comes out, you must take things easy after the OP and above all be patient and no straining when going to the toilet, take things easy,
best wishes
Paul

User
Posted 24 Mar 2017 at 08:34

Thanks, Paul.
All the information is so helpful to me. As I said above, as soon as I arrive home I'll translate it all for Paco. He must ask all these questions.
I'm lucky to have found this site.
Thanks a lot,
Lola

User
Posted 24 Mar 2017 at 10:38

Hi Lola,
Also I was told before my OP to ask the surgeon how many of these OPs he has done and also what his success rate is, he should have done at least 400 or more OPs, recovery rate I think depends a lot on the surgeons experience, my surgeon had done over 500, make sure your OH does his PFEs before the OP there is a good APP called Prostate Aerobics you can download it free to a Android phone,
best wishes
Paul

User
Posted 24 Mar 2017 at 11:29

Thanks for new information.

Do you think this app is available for Android? Ok, I'll check.

You're really nice, Paul, add Lyn, Julie and many others
You are really helping me.

User
Posted 24 Mar 2017 at 11:32

Hi Lola,

Yes it is free to download on Android, I am glad I and everyone else is helping, I know what a help this site was when I was first diagnosed,

best wishes

Paul

User
Posted 24 Mar 2017 at 11:50

Yes, I have already downloaded it.

You know, my OH doesn't like to speak about this subject. May be he doesn't want to make me feel scary. On the other hand he is not very talkative.
He isn't either fond of forums and this stuff

Right now we're driving back home. I have talked to him about this site and how supportive it is. To my surprise he was glad to know and we have decided I'll translate all the information I get from you as he doesn't speak the language. He appreciates and values all that I've told him.

We are going to make a list of questions to ask the surgeon as many of you have advised.

I'm thankful to you.

Xx
Lola

User
Posted 24 Mar 2017 at 12:06

Hi Lola,

Make sure he does the exercises properly, you can find the muscles by stopping the flow in midstream or squeezing your bum as you would to stop a fart, I know how he feels us men don't talk about this stuff but it does help,

Paul

User
Posted 27 Apr 2017 at 20:55

Ok, so we are now 11 weeks post op and healing is going very well. OH has just been for a pee and there is a small amount of blood in the urine, has any-one else experienced this so late after surgery having had nothing really since catheter removal.

My theory is that it is a scab or something that has dislodged from the join site but is this realistic.

As you can imagine this is freaking husband out a bit. Says he hasn't done anything unusual, some penile exercise earlier and hasn't overstretched the bladder or been holding on for the loo.

User
Posted 27 Apr 2017 at 21:41

I can't really remember the timescale I'm sorry , and I certainly don't want to advise, but I had some heavy bleeding and scabs weeks after I had been clear. One day I drank way too much and hung on way too long , and when I had a wee I nearly fainted. So a small amount -- you can phone Urology ward direct if worried or just watch a couple of days.

User
Posted 27 Apr 2017 at 21:59

Thanks, I'm not particularly worried and think watch and wait is probably right approach. Just thought if I could back this up with anecdotal evidence that this happens it might be easier for OH to take on board.

User
Posted 03 May 2017 at 12:08

An update in case any-one else Googles the question in the future.
Consultant has confirmed that the bleeding is quite normal even this many weeks post surgery. The stitches in the urethra and around the bladder neck break up at around the 3 month mark and so there could be some small movement or strain that causes a small bleed. The scabs / dead cells have been washing out of the system for the subsequent 4 or 5 days which again is completely normal.

User
Posted 11 May 2017 at 19:59
Great to hear all's well Paul. I had da Vinci op three days ago. I said the same as you about erectile function being least important however my surgeon was able to spare one side.
6 weeks now till follow up. Hard to stop my mind working overtime so any help/advice most welcome. Good luck to everyone on here.
User
Posted 11 May 2017 at 20:00
Great to hear all's well Paul. I had da Vinci op three days ago. I said the same as you about erectile function being least important however my surgeon was able to spare one side.
6 weeks now till follow up. Hard to stop my mind working overtime so any help/advice most welcome. Good luck to everyone on here.
 
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