Opting for surgery

In my case, I got my bike out and started a serious exercise regime. I'm 64 years old and the first outing on the bike (first in almost 5 years) was 10k and I thought I was going to pass-out. I was in A-Fib, my heart rate stayed above 120 for over an hour and my blood pressure dropped though the floor. A week later I was doing 40km without any problem.

I also walked everywhere I could do so reasonably, rather than taking the car. I stopped drinking alcohol and eating takeaways and other crap.

I also started doing 100 squats and crunches every morning to augment the pelvic floor workout.

In the 6 weeks or so prior to the op I lost about 5kg and I've kept that going in the 5 weeks since surgery, losing another 2kg so far (my cholesterol also dropped from 7.2 to 5.5 and continues to fall).

I will never know whether this helped my recovery but it certainly boosted my mental health and I've kept this going since. I was dry at night from day one post-op and after 10 days I was, and remain, completely dry.

Good luck with your surgery!

I'm just bumping your post up, it seemed to get lost in the moderation process. I'm sure someone will be along soon with some answers. Whilst we are waiting you may as well be doing some pelvic floor exercises though.

Hi Stuart, 

Dave makes an excellent suggestion, to start pelvic floor exercises now as they will be vital post surgery. Also, depending on your level of fitness, it may help to do some extra exercise beforehand, I found it helped me both physically and mentally. 

It's worth buying a waterproof mattress protector for the bed as a precaution. 

Hopefully more people will add to the list. 

Good luck, Kev.

Edited by member 06 Jul 2022 at 18:22  | Reason: Typo

"Why did people go for surgery ?"

I didn't like the sound of the RT side-effects and it looked like the cancer was entirely confined within the prostate so surgery should eliminate it completely - I'll get a good idea whether that's happened when I have the follow-up with my surgeon tomorrow 🤞🏻

It was also likely that the very poor flow rate I've suffered with for more than 35 years would be improved and that has certainly been the case. RT wouldn't have done that.

It was the specialist nurse who attended my consultations at the hospital  (and hence knew my story) and worked with the Urology team. But the PCUK nurses are wonderful. 

RP after RT, I meant salvage surgery. Some surgeons won't touch it.  If you are at UCLH, then you are in good hands. 

Edited by member 18 Jul 2022 at 19:02  | Reason: Not specified

I found out that I have prostate cancer in March and chose surgery as I was 56, now 57, and I wanted to get rid of it and have the best recovery I can whilst still relatively young. My BMI was high but I lost about a stone and a half in weight before surgery so felt fit.

I had the RALP operation on the 12th of July, today is the 22nd and I have an appointment to have my catheter removed on the 27th. I am self employed and went back to work at home three days ago without any issues at all. I had expected to maybe work short days but haven't felt that to be necessary.

For me I think the decision to go for surgery has been vindicated so far. The entire NHS team were excellent, I am healing well and have no pain or real discomfort at all other than where the catheter goes in. My solution for that is to stick with loose pyjama shorts while it's in.  I did buy some Instillagel but it hasn't made much difference. I will just have to live with the discomfort for a few days. Having a shower is a great feeling and helps psychologically.

I was keen to get out of hospital after one night but didn't push myself much for the first couple of days at home. I am fortunate to have the support of my wife and 18 year old daughter who have been wonderful with their managing of my catheter. I've been fed a healthy diet of salads, sultana bran and protein rich food that I am sure has helped my healing.

The biggest struggle has been with constipation, you can't push but I stuck with the sickly Lactulose solution and things started to move after four days. Having dropped what resembled a babies arm 😊 this morning I now feel much better. I found that I could bend enough to get my own compression socks on and off after a week and have been fine with injecting myself with blood thinner each evening.  

Only you can decide what is best for you but I would say surgery possibly gets you over the hump quicker if you can take it and I have found some very good advice on this site that has no doubt made my recovery so far much each easier.

Definitely buy a bucket for the night bag and catheter draining. Best couple of quid you will ever spend. Don't over eat but eat the right things. Go to bed earlier and keep yourself clean. Make sure you take your laxatives and injections and keep on top of your pain control. Take the chance to watch as many Marvel Avengers and Underworld films as you can while your family feel they have to indulge you.

Wish you well with you own decision, I am sure it will be right.

Edited by member 22 Jul 2022 at 20:30  | Reason: Not specified