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Da Vinci Single port robot recovery..

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User
Posted 19 Nov 2024 at 16:55

Hi all is there anyone on here with any details/experience about post op recovery from the single port Da Vinci machine? I'd be greatful for any (positive) information, I am having surgery next week.

Many thanks

Gus

User
Posted 02 Dec 2024 at 10:59
It's been nearly 3 weeks since I went in for the op and I thought I'd update on progress for the benefit of others considering similar.

 

At 1 week post op, I had the catheter removed. A weird unpleasant but not painful sensation of scratching inside my urethra as it was taken out. That was the bit I wasn't looking forward to and it really was fine. Then, once they knew I could pass urine effectively, I was sent on my way home. 

 

At 2 weeks post op, I met with the surgeon for the final histology report - which confirmed the original diagnosis of Gleason 7 (3 + 4). All clear margins and no spread. He was very happy with my progress. I was prescribed 5mg Tadafil daily to help with the ED rehab. Next meeting will be for the follow up PSA in January. 

 

I'm now down to one precautionary pad every 24 hours - a leak a little bit if I laugh or cough without tensing but that's it. ED might take a little longer to sort but there's certainly rumblings down there.

 

I find my best time of the day is late morning - maybe managing a little walk - after which I've gotten in the habit of taking it very easy in the afternoon (sometimes napping). But recovery is tangible - every day I feel a little stronger. Although there are definitely moments I am wiped out.

 

All in all - recovery is going as well as had hoped and expected!

 

I'm aware Gus will have had his surgery by now, so hoping for a positive update from him soon too.
User
Posted 03 Dec 2024 at 15:20

Mark

Thanks for the update. I will be 3yrs post RARP in May 2025, so I am a bit ahead of you as regards treatment. Thankfully, PSA has remained undetectable, recovery in the early days was not too dissimilar to yours, however I think I did over do the exercise a earlier on in my recovery. So I would advise you to listen your body and don't rush the process of recovery. I was pretty much dry within 2weeks, the only issue that sadly still persists till date is the night time incontinence (bed wetting) and ED. However, the good old VED pump works in that regards. I was also GL3+4 like you however was slightly older.

Just out of interest, what made you do a PSA test initially. I was completely unaware of PSA tests until my mid to late 50s.

User
Posted 03 Dec 2024 at 16:49

I was looking to get an appointment with my GP for something else. We spoke on the phone and he included the PSA test in a bunch of blood diagnostics he wanted to do before meeting with me IRL.


Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Just out of interest, what made you do a PSA test initially. I was completely unaware of PSA tests until my mid to late 50s.

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User
Posted 21 Nov 2024 at 13:50

I'm about a week in following a round with the single port Da Vinci machine - and doing good. There's a single 3 inch incision across my waistline, with a smaller additional one close by; both were glued rather than stitched and I feel like they are healing well (I'm aware there's more going on under the surface, which is easy to forget). I'm certainly finding my energy levels ebb and flow - needing a nap in the afternoon. But I have only been home 7 days (I had 2 nights in hospital). About 4 days in I thought I would walk to the corner shop, only to turn back 3 doors down! It definitely wipes you out. The last week with the catheter was awkward but bearable and it came out yesterday. Pain management has been paracetamol and ibuprofen - nothing more, post surgery. I'm in pads now but only a bit of leakage here and there (although it does feel like more). I've been told not to start any pelvic floor stuff until next week, at which point I should be in a better place in terms of leakage control!

ps - this message is more or less a cut and paste from here, where I first saw your question. But I thought it best to reply to this post too as it relates to the single port aspect specifically

User
Posted 02 Dec 2024 at 10:59
It's been nearly 3 weeks since I went in for the op and I thought I'd update on progress for the benefit of others considering similar.

 

At 1 week post op, I had the catheter removed. A weird unpleasant but not painful sensation of scratching inside my urethra as it was taken out. That was the bit I wasn't looking forward to and it really was fine. Then, once they knew I could pass urine effectively, I was sent on my way home. 

 

At 2 weeks post op, I met with the surgeon for the final histology report - which confirmed the original diagnosis of Gleason 7 (3 + 4). All clear margins and no spread. He was very happy with my progress. I was prescribed 5mg Tadafil daily to help with the ED rehab. Next meeting will be for the follow up PSA in January. 

 

I'm now down to one precautionary pad every 24 hours - a leak a little bit if I laugh or cough without tensing but that's it. ED might take a little longer to sort but there's certainly rumblings down there.

 

I find my best time of the day is late morning - maybe managing a little walk - after which I've gotten in the habit of taking it very easy in the afternoon (sometimes napping). But recovery is tangible - every day I feel a little stronger. Although there are definitely moments I am wiped out.

 

All in all - recovery is going as well as had hoped and expected!

 

I'm aware Gus will have had his surgery by now, so hoping for a positive update from him soon too.
User
Posted 03 Dec 2024 at 15:20

Mark

Thanks for the update. I will be 3yrs post RARP in May 2025, so I am a bit ahead of you as regards treatment. Thankfully, PSA has remained undetectable, recovery in the early days was not too dissimilar to yours, however I think I did over do the exercise a earlier on in my recovery. So I would advise you to listen your body and don't rush the process of recovery. I was pretty much dry within 2weeks, the only issue that sadly still persists till date is the night time incontinence (bed wetting) and ED. However, the good old VED pump works in that regards. I was also GL3+4 like you however was slightly older.

Just out of interest, what made you do a PSA test initially. I was completely unaware of PSA tests until my mid to late 50s.

User
Posted 03 Dec 2024 at 16:49

I was looking to get an appointment with my GP for something else. We spoke on the phone and he included the PSA test in a bunch of blood diagnostics he wanted to do before meeting with me IRL.


Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Just out of interest, what made you do a PSA test initially. I was completely unaware of PSA tests until my mid to late 50s.

User
Posted 03 Dec 2024 at 19:05

Hi fellas.
Yes, had my surgery on Thursday afternoon.


Surgery went ok but had a PSM of 10mm at the right-side base after the Neurosafe frozen section procedure, which was a bit of a blow. The prof went back in and took 50% of my right side NVB as a precaution to ensure disease control. The left side had a clear NSM, so all is not lost, but that knocked me a bit tbh, I was not really thinking about not curing the cancer as I was 3+4, T2c, last PSA 4.7 with no sign of EPE. Every prof, consultant, and oncologist I had seen told me it was contained within the prostate but now I have been catastrophising a bit about reoccurrence after such a large PSM.
Post op not feeling too bad. The catheter, though not something you would ever choose is manageable, 9 days to go and counting. Feeling tired in the afternoons, but again nothing unmanageable. The single incision looks to be healing nicely.
I have asked the prof for a follow up as I cannot really recall much of the conversation we had on the Friday morning after surgery, it was generally positive I think even with the resection after the PSM, but after a little reassurance as it’s a few weeks until the final pathology report and longer again for the first PSA. 

Cheers 

Gus

 
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