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Activity in days after Prostatectamony

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User
Posted 18 Aug 2024 at 21:13

Hi I was diagnosed with localised but aggressive (Gleason 9: 4+5) T2 pca 25th June and I had a prostatectamony last Thursday 15th August. I am now recovering post op with catheter in until next Thursday. 

My question is what level of activity should be attempted during this immediate post op phase. I was quite fit pre-op, jogging 3 times a week, (parkrun 5k, an intervals session & a longer run 7-10k). I guess it depends on the individual but there is no guidance on this. I’ve been walking in the house on same level very slowly as much as I thought reasonable and sitting for meals & a little bit of TV but trying not to overdo it. The rest / most of the time lying down resting / reading / listening to music. Have felt quite tired at times after being on my feet so have napped a bit afterwards.

I would be interested in others guidance / experience of activity post surgery. Thank you!

User
Posted 19 Aug 2024 at 13:01

Hi Andrew,

I had the same Gleason 9, T3a. I had my op 18 months ago. I'm 8 years older than you.

I was up and about on the first day. Like Kev,  wandering to the shop at the top of the road and doing a bit of light gardening. 

My target, unhealthy though it was,  was to get back to the pub. My avatar shows me having my first post op pint, 4 days after RARP. 

Best of luck mate.

 

Edited by member 19 Aug 2024 at 13:40  | Reason: Typo

User
Posted 19 Aug 2024 at 07:29

I think just short walks for now and see how you feel. I think it's important not to lift anything though as your body has got a lot of healing to do. In the next few days and weeks you'll be able to do more and more. 

A few days post surgery, I didn't go very far, I wandered around the garden a bit and walked to the shops at the top of the road. My body soon told me when I'd overdone things. 

Good luck with your recovery. 

Kev. 

User
Posted 19 Aug 2024 at 07:30

You’re right everyone is different. All I can say is take it easy and do not push yourself too much. I’m now 14 months post op. The 1st couple of weeks post op I felt permanently jet lagged but then recovered slowly. I started walking round a block gradually building up. After about 4 weeks I felt able to do more and regretted it the next few days! I returned to work after 7 weeks (desk job) but it was probably 5 months before my energy levels returned to allow me to do a full day with no issues. However after about 4 months I could walk 8/9 miles and if you know it got up Moel Fameau, which was a target I had set myself. Good luck and take it easy it’s a major op you are recovering from. 

User
Posted 19 Aug 2024 at 13:27

Here's a view from a couple of US doctors - see in particular the last exchange from about 7.20

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n0cIhamFvo

 

User
Posted 19 Aug 2024 at 13:57

It was all a gradual build up and on the flat! I always tried to get up and out and about once the catheter was removed. I found sitting up easier and struggled to lie down for the 1st few weeks (more an issue getting back up) but would often nod off in the chair! I felt like a zombie for the 1st few weeks. I had grand ideas before the op of catching up on reading and binge some TV. I was too tired to do either! The books I got are still unread.

User
Posted 19 Aug 2024 at 16:00

I felt fine after a few days and walked down to local shops / park etc with some care but no real discomfort. Removal of the catheter made general movement much easier and walking quite long distances felt straightforward. The four week check with the surgeon readjusted my outlook as he explained (again) the invasive nature of the surgery and the need to rest, even if you feel just fine.

Light jogging and swimming after 3 months was a major milestone. And back to 5-8k runs at around month 5.

As people rightly say, everyone is different..

User
Posted 19 Aug 2024 at 17:32

Adrian is right in the sense that it wasn't me - but this was not due to any intelligence on my part, just a lifelong cautious approach verging on timidity !

User
Posted 19 Aug 2024 at 17:57

I had my OP on 17th July so am just over a month into recovery. My surgeon told me to walk a mile every day straight away (albeit a very slow mile), so I did that from day 1. With hindsight, this was probably way too optimistic. I was wiped out by my walk and had to sleep for an hour or so after getting back.

I am still getting tired very quickly, and of course the more tired you get, the worse the incontinence seems to get.

I am doing things around the house and garden, but nothing heavy or that involves bending or lifting.

I plan on returning to work in a couple of weeks, but will ease myself in with a couple of days the first week, then 3, etc. until I feel up to doing a full week.

Good luck with your recovery.

Ian.

Edited by member 19 Aug 2024 at 22:19  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 19 Aug 2024 at 22:13

RP at 52. I was very fit pre op

First few days could barely walk to the corner. If I over did it my body would tell me.

Just steadily increased my walking distance over the following weeks. By eight weeks was walking 14 miles over moorland. Everyone is different though listening to your body seems to be the trick.

User
Posted 20 Aug 2024 at 17:46

Honestly your fitness carries you through. It's a bit of a shocker for the first week or so but once you start to heal you start to get your strength back. I over did it second day post op and that completely floored me. So be careful.

Incontinence was my biggest worry. I just followed the advice of the clinical nurses and did the pelvic floor exercises (6 times a day) pre and post op (once the catheter was removed). I was dry at night and the odd drip I experienced post op gradually dried up after a month. Everyone is different though. 

User
Posted 20 Aug 2024 at 22:33
I think Jim is exceptional, I did 14 miles over Kinder Scout one day last week and am pretty sure it would have involved several al fresco pad changes (no decent privacy available there) at 8 weeks after surgery.

But his advice is good, work up your exercise slowly at a rate which works for you.

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User
Posted 19 Aug 2024 at 07:29

I think just short walks for now and see how you feel. I think it's important not to lift anything though as your body has got a lot of healing to do. In the next few days and weeks you'll be able to do more and more. 

A few days post surgery, I didn't go very far, I wandered around the garden a bit and walked to the shops at the top of the road. My body soon told me when I'd overdone things. 

Good luck with your recovery. 

Kev. 

User
Posted 19 Aug 2024 at 07:30

You’re right everyone is different. All I can say is take it easy and do not push yourself too much. I’m now 14 months post op. The 1st couple of weeks post op I felt permanently jet lagged but then recovered slowly. I started walking round a block gradually building up. After about 4 weeks I felt able to do more and regretted it the next few days! I returned to work after 7 weeks (desk job) but it was probably 5 months before my energy levels returned to allow me to do a full day with no issues. However after about 4 months I could walk 8/9 miles and if you know it got up Moel Fameau, which was a target I had set myself. Good luck and take it easy it’s a major op you are recovering from. 

User
Posted 19 Aug 2024 at 10:38

Thanks Guys! Useful insight 👍

MGOR - impressive walking 4 months post op! 

Did you guys sit or lie down in days immediately post op. Apart from short periods walking, I’m generally lying down 4 days post-op as even found sitting tiring.

User
Posted 19 Aug 2024 at 13:01

Hi Andrew,

I had the same Gleason 9, T3a. I had my op 18 months ago. I'm 8 years older than you.

I was up and about on the first day. Like Kev,  wandering to the shop at the top of the road and doing a bit of light gardening. 

My target, unhealthy though it was,  was to get back to the pub. My avatar shows me having my first post op pint, 4 days after RARP. 

Best of luck mate.

 

Edited by member 19 Aug 2024 at 13:40  | Reason: Typo

User
Posted 19 Aug 2024 at 13:27

Here's a view from a couple of US doctors - see in particular the last exchange from about 7.20

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n0cIhamFvo

 

User
Posted 19 Aug 2024 at 13:57

It was all a gradual build up and on the flat! I always tried to get up and out and about once the catheter was removed. I found sitting up easier and struggled to lie down for the 1st few weeks (more an issue getting back up) but would often nod off in the chair! I felt like a zombie for the 1st few weeks. I had grand ideas before the op of catching up on reading and binge some TV. I was too tired to do either! The books I got are still unread.

User
Posted 19 Aug 2024 at 15:45

Thanks all! Really interesting the different experiences - further underlining the “everybody’s different”. 

 

KS25 - downing a pint in the local 4 days post op!?! 😃 Amazingly determined!

 

Also the US docs’ view on exercise post op - focusing on “Max” rather than minimum! But I guess within reason (walking but no other vigourous or potentially damaging exercise). 

 

After this exchange I feel like trying to do a bit more walking - round the garden up the road, just going by what I feel I can do, then resting afterwards.

User
Posted 19 Aug 2024 at 16:00

I felt fine after a few days and walked down to local shops / park etc with some care but no real discomfort. Removal of the catheter made general movement much easier and walking quite long distances felt straightforward. The four week check with the surgeon readjusted my outlook as he explained (again) the invasive nature of the surgery and the need to rest, even if you feel just fine.

Light jogging and swimming after 3 months was a major milestone. And back to 5-8k runs at around month 5.

As people rightly say, everyone is different..

User
Posted 19 Aug 2024 at 16:49

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

 KS25 - downing a pint in the local 4 days post op!?! 😃 Amazingly determined!

 

That was me, not KS25 He's far too intelligent to do an idiotic thing.like that. 😁

There was another regular in the pub, who had a robotic prostatectomy 9 months before me. He had his first pub pint a week after his op. I had to beat him to claim bragging rights. 😁

 

 

User
Posted 19 Aug 2024 at 17:32

Adrian is right in the sense that it wasn't me - but this was not due to any intelligence on my part, just a lifelong cautious approach verging on timidity !

User
Posted 19 Aug 2024 at 17:57

I had my OP on 17th July so am just over a month into recovery. My surgeon told me to walk a mile every day straight away (albeit a very slow mile), so I did that from day 1. With hindsight, this was probably way too optimistic. I was wiped out by my walk and had to sleep for an hour or so after getting back.

I am still getting tired very quickly, and of course the more tired you get, the worse the incontinence seems to get.

I am doing things around the house and garden, but nothing heavy or that involves bending or lifting.

I plan on returning to work in a couple of weeks, but will ease myself in with a couple of days the first week, then 3, etc. until I feel up to doing a full week.

Good luck with your recovery.

Ian.

Edited by member 19 Aug 2024 at 22:19  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 19 Aug 2024 at 22:13

RP at 52. I was very fit pre op

First few days could barely walk to the corner. If I over did it my body would tell me.

Just steadily increased my walking distance over the following weeks. By eight weeks was walking 14 miles over moorland. Everyone is different though listening to your body seems to be the trick.

User
Posted 20 Aug 2024 at 10:53

Hi Ian (Harty 17/21) a mile a day immediately post op, that does seem ambitious! Amazing how there is no standard “official” guidance on this.

I’m now on day 5. I was up around the house a fair bit yesterday, and was pretty tired at the end of the day. Will probably extend to walking around the back garden today. 

 

 

User
Posted 20 Aug 2024 at 11:00

@Jim234 - walking 14 miles at 8 weeks, impressive! I’m hoping I can return to slow short distance jogging within 8-12 weeks, but will see how continence goes. If I can’t run I’ll find a different activity. Probably walking - your example is encouraging! 🙂

User
Posted 20 Aug 2024 at 17:46

Honestly your fitness carries you through. It's a bit of a shocker for the first week or so but once you start to heal you start to get your strength back. I over did it second day post op and that completely floored me. So be careful.

Incontinence was my biggest worry. I just followed the advice of the clinical nurses and did the pelvic floor exercises (6 times a day) pre and post op (once the catheter was removed). I was dry at night and the odd drip I experienced post op gradually dried up after a month. Everyone is different though. 

User
Posted 20 Aug 2024 at 22:33
I think Jim is exceptional, I did 14 miles over Kinder Scout one day last week and am pretty sure it would have involved several al fresco pad changes (no decent privacy available there) at 8 weeks after surgery.

But his advice is good, work up your exercise slowly at a rate which works for you.

 
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