Age 39 and diagnosed this week

User

Posted 07 Jul 2022 at 03:46

Just said I would post a quick update.

I had my op (da Vinci) 10 days ago. 27/06/22 and home from hospital on the 29/06/22

All going good so far. Had a little pain afterwards but all very manageable. The surgeon was happy with how the operation went.

To be honest the worst pain I had was shoulder pain which is a side affect from surgery which lasted 4 to 5 days, a heat pack worked best for me for that.

I’m going in to get my catheter removed in the morning and honestly cannot wait to be rid of it!! No more bladder spasms, bag changes, getting tangled at night and that uncomfortable tug when you get it caught on something!

Thanks to everyone for all the messages of support and well wishes.

User

Posted 07 Jul 2022 at 06:53

Good stuff - onwards and upwards!!

User

Posted 07 Jul 2022 at 08:23

I am pretty certain that you will have been warned but only lift light tings and progressively until you fully heal over the three or so months. Things may not look much on the outside but you have had major surgery internally which takes tie to heal.

Pleased for you that that OP seems to have gone well. You will be much more comfortable with the catheter out. Unfortunately you will have to have PSA tests but if results are good timings between these should be extended.

Barry

User

Posted 07 Jul 2022 at 08:42

Glad surgery went well and you’re on the road to recovery. Take it easy once catheter is out and don’t overdo it. Don’t underestimate the surgery and what they have done in there! My hubby felt so much better once catheter was out. Keep on with the prune juice to avoid any constipation. Plenty of naps and some fresh air, but only gentle walks. Your body will let you know. Wishing you the very best. X

User

Posted 07 Jul 2022 at 17:59

Hey Martin, Welcome to the other side of this recent nonsense we've both been through. Its in our rear view mirror now mate. Fingers crossed lad.

Jamie

User

Posted 07 Jul 2022 at 19:01

Glad the op went well Martin. And hope all has gone well at TWOC aswell and you are now catheter free. I made sure my husband didn’t do too much for quite a while after the op, definitely no lifting, even a kettle for a couple of months (think he got used to it 😂) he is a lot older than you but we pretty much stuck to everything they said and are so pleased with how well he recovered from the surgery. Wishing you all the best for full recovery and looking forward to the future now 👍

User

Posted 07 Jul 2022 at 20:55

Great to hear everything went well Martin. I sympathise with the shoulder pain, which I found worse than any surgical pain. The crazy thing is it's a referred pain caused by trapped gas in the abdominal cavity from the surgery irritating the diaphragm area. It hangs around until the gas gradually dissipates. Mine lasted for about four days. Hopefully it's now onwards and upwards from here. Chris

User

Posted 16 Jul 2022 at 20:49

Just said I would post a quick update. The catheter is gone nearly thankfully. The freedom without it is amazing!!
There is still the incontinence to deal with but it hasn’t been as bad as I thought. Using 3 or 4 pads a day but only small leaks or dribbles mostly due to stress I think. Leaving it too long to go and bending but I think it’s getting better. Using a pull up at night but I have woke up dry every morning. I do wake 2 or 3 times a night for the toilet but I’m just glad there is a feeling there to wake me. I’m sure this will get better in time.
The old mental state is pretty good this week but it has its ups and downs. I have booked in with a counsellor tomorrow to try and sort that out.
I have a soft lump over one of my testicles which is giving a bit of pain now and again which I am having checked out on Tuesday. Curious did anyone every come across this?
other than that pretty good all round.
I wanted to put the update up Incase anyone was reading this just to let you know it’s not all bad and there may be light at the end of the tunnel after all. Just keep on plugging away one day at a time.

User

Posted 26 Sep 2022 at 11:46

I have just been reading your post it sounds similar to me iam 52 and nearly 8 weeks past operation. Just wondering how things are going for you as you are a few months further on than me. I also have hopefully had some nerves spared ect on one side. I also have one son of 14 at home and I know he thinks it's all sorted and everything is back to normal apart from still being away from work. Cheers greg

User

Posted 26 Sep 2022 at 13:09

Hi Greg

Glad you have the op over and hope you are doing well.
I’m doing well. I have full bladder control back. I do go to the toilet a bit more often than before but I don’t have any leaks at this stage at all. I think the pelvic floor excercises are to thank for that. Went to a physio appointment last week and they discharged me as I had control back but advised me to continue doing some of the excercises to maintain the muscles.
I still haven’t gone back to work yet. I’m a mix of office and site work and like you mentioned in some of your posts toilets aren’t always available. To be honest I probably could go back but was hit with a bout of depression so that slowed things a bit. I’m getting over that now and planning on returning in a couple of weeks.
The sex side of the house isn’t right yet but hoping to start rehab therapy on that soon to get things going again.
Any questions fee free to ask away. I know it can be hard at the stage your at because from the outside you look like your over it but there’s still a lot going on.

martin

User

Posted 26 Sep 2022 at 18:52

Brilliant update Martin and glad to hear youre pulling yourself forward as best and quickly as you can. Journey much like mine, Re the mind struggle bit? Listen lad, You have well and truly nailed the cancer diagnosis malarkey, which gives you rhino skin to pretty much everything else. Stay strong comrade, oh and throw in a comment from the one and only Chippers on this thread and it has me all over it!!

Wishing you both well lads.

Jamie.

User

Posted 26 Sep 2022 at 19:57

This is great to hear Martin. Literally had the catheter taken out today - what a relief - just starting to work out how to deal with incontinence. Mentally just trying to keep the lid firmly on the 'what ifs'.

User

Posted 28 Sep 2022 at 08:03

Hi Martin thanks for getting back to me. Glad you are thinking about going back to work as I found going to work before OP kept me normal and i thought about it all alot less.

I was dry at night as soon as pipe was removed and have been since. I am doing my exercises every day and my leakage is minimal using the lightest Tena man and changing pads twice a day. I try to squeeze when I get up but then as I walk away I leak a small amount but I think it's getting better, just worried about more manual lifting on return to work in Nov but only time will tell.

I was interested in whete you are going in the erection department now as this is playing on my mind. I am behind you on timeliness I don't see my consultant until Oct 18th to hopefully get the all clear. I obviously know about all the tablets and other things they can give you pump ect but none of this has been properly discussed with me yet. Cheers Greg

User

Posted 28 Sep 2022 at 08:50

Greg you describe exactly the same incontinence pattern that I currently have. Dry at night, but loose a bit of urine after a few steps after getting up. Sort of reassuring that this seems to be normal. The uro-oncology nurses said I might leak when laughing, coughing etc but the opposite is true of me. Still got ED no signs of anything happening yet but I can dry orgasm which is something.

All the best for the recovery

Jim

User

Posted 28 Sep 2022 at 22:54

Oh Martin! In your 30's for this. I was 54 when I was diagnosed this July. 4 out of 18 biopsy samples were positive so had a very low rating. I have had the Robot assisted job done 4 weeks ago and am now 2 weeks post catheter removed. I totally understand the mental health issues you have expreienced as pre op my head was a train wreck. Even post op I was all over the place. Dealing with the catheter and adding the extra bag at a night time really got me down. It also felt like I had a garden hose going up there at times with a bit of nob ache which I still have very slightly. Apparently I had a larger sized catheter and not being due to having a big willy. Probably on the smaller size the poor little battered thing.

Post catheter removal was mentally challenging. A one our journey home I p****d my self 7 times on the way home. I think this was due to being fed about 3 ltrs of water and 5 cups of tea to check all is working at the appointment. Get home and cleaned up and it all settled down that evening. I wore pullups at night for 2 nights before I decided I did not need them. Thank goodness they were aweful. Managing to get a grip on it all now. Have only needed one pad a day and have used a thin one on a night just in case. Don;t think I need one at all on a night time but more of a confidence thing. Leakage is getting less and less now. Was getting random squirts up until a few days ago and just getting some dribbles. Please with the progress. Haven't given it a test drive in the bedroom yet. I did wake up with a semi when I had the catheter in. That makes your eyes buldge so I am sure that will all come back. All my nerves have been saved. Was back at work 3 weeks post op so recovering well.

Keep your head together and be thankfull it was found early. One day at a time. Do understand the mental side of things but getting my head together now and really feel greatfull for the early discovery.

All the best

User

Posted 29 Sep 2022 at 08:28

Hi YorkiePaul, welcome to the forum. Good to hear the recovery is going very well. The nature of a forum like this is most posters have a problem, so it is good to get posts like yours where things are going well, it gives a more balanced view on treatment.

It also shows that even when things are going as well as expected "prostate cancer is the best cancer to get" falls a long way short of "no cancer is the best to get".

Keep us updated on your progress.

Dave

User

Posted 29 Sep 2022 at 21:55

Hey Dave, Thanks for the welcome.

You are correct mate. Although my consultants constantly told me there is nothing to worry about the word cancer resonates in your head. If you are going to get it this is the one to have. I think every man will arrive at this at some point in their life and awareness is so important. Pre knowing I had anything I never gave it a second thought but every male I know I am now badgering them to make sure they understand this silent time bomb. Don't wait for it to arrive, go looking for it.

I do seem to be texbook in my recovery and hitting benchmarks ahead of expected times. Some people can't believe I was back at work 3 weeks post op although I am working from home mostly. I work in IT so nothing to physical. I do feel exausted by the end of the day but am building up slowley.

I think my biggest move forwards was getting out of the house. After I physically felt better at home post op I did have some mental health issues abd would not leave the house. I think mainly due to having the catheter and being very self aware. I had so many fears and really bad anxiety. I was actually frightened all the time. Of what I could not tell you. Something snapped in me and snapped out of it and started going for short walks. I think went in to town with my wife (she really dragged me there) and had a nice lunch. I then realised there is a world out there and I have just been through this whole operation to enable me to live in it for a long time. Couldn't tie me down after that revelation.

I do consider my self very luck now with regards to side effects. Incontenence was a big worry for me but over the last two weeks I have come along in leaps and bounds and every week is a noted improvement. Although my wife has nick named me Tinkles. People do join these type of forums looking for answers to problems or are crapping them selves after a new diagnosis. I certainly hope I can help reduce somebody's worries or make someone feel a bit better or more positive by sharing my story. I have a strong sense of giving back somehow.

All the best Dave and hope you are making positive progress.

User

Posted 03 Oct 2023 at 08:55

Yorkiepaul. Just wondered how long did it take to get back continence ?

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