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Day Surgery for RALP

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User
Posted 04 Jun 2025 at 12:22

Hello everyone. My husband has found out today that his RALP next Monday is going to be a day case! This has freaked me out and wondered if anyone has experience of this and if so how did it go? 

User
Posted 04 Jun 2025 at 19:46

Hi ColwickChris, I have spoken to them, and they reassured me that Andy will only be discharged if they (and we) are happy with that on the day. The ward bed will be there for him just in case he needs to stay in. They also reassured me about the surgeon. He's only been at NCH for a month but he has lots of experience from his previous hospital and his speciality is robotic urology cancer surgery. I am feeling much better and calmer now - I just don't cope well with sudden changes and this definitely threw me out of sync earlier. 🙄

Edited by member 04 Jun 2025 at 21:19  | Reason: Typo

User
Posted 04 Jun 2025 at 20:43

Had the Op done 8 weeks ago and was the first on the list for that day.

I was discharged around 3PM the following day and there is absolutely no way I'd have felt ready sooner than this so same day does sound very optimistic to me.

 

User
Posted 04 Jun 2025 at 21:17

ZG, hope all goes well next week. In some ways you can be better off in your own home ,it is quieter and less disturbances. Worth getting some emergency contact information just in case you need some out of hours help. 

Keep him well hydrated, especially if the warm weather continues, avoid getting constipated. Ask for some instilagel, hydrocaine or optilube,just incase the eye of the penis gets sore, it is available at most chemists without prescription except Boots.

Nurses told me Rosé colour in the bag should be okay, red wine colour needs investigating. I attached my night bag to the leg bag at night, I got an extra g strap/ thigh strap and attached the night bag pipe to my ankle just save any pulling on the joint. Make sure the catheter to leg bag is tight, nurse often don't push them in far enough. Nothing worse than waking up in your own urine. 

Thanks Chris 

User
Posted 04 Jun 2025 at 21:21

Thanks Chris, this is all excellent advice and very much appreciated. 

User
Posted 04 Jun 2025 at 21:26

When I had mine the first patient went home the same day and second patient down for op stayed overnight. I was the second patient and to be honest I was glad to stay in overnight and get use to dealing with the catheter etc.

User
Posted 04 Jun 2025 at 21:59

I was a day case nearly 3 years ago. I was first in and discharged about 4pm. Truthfully day 1 was a bit of a challenge, but the nurses gave good instructions on how to manage my pain meds, deal with the catheter and constipation. The Uro-oncology nurses were only a phone call away, except they were not since my op was Friday and they did not work weekends!

I wanted to spend very little time in the alien hospital environment so was 100% happy with the arrangement.

User
Posted 05 Jun 2025 at 12:23

Hi ZooGirl,
Good luck to Andy and you for Monday. Hubby had his prostatectomy just over 4 weeks ago. He was first on the list and back to the ward at 2:30pm. No way would he have been able to leave that afternoon - he was high as a kite silly drunk on morphine and would not have been able to walk, never mind leave!! 

Edited by member 05 Jun 2025 at 12:23  | Reason: typo

User
Posted 05 Jun 2025 at 13:30

Hi ZooGirl,

I had my surgery back in October 2024. There was only me and another chap having surgery that day, he was first on the list and I was second. I was told at the time that he's be allowed home the same day and I'd be in overnight. As it happened we were both in overnight as the other guy had issues with his blood pressure.

I was taken down to surgery at about 2:00pm and back on the ward for about 6:00pm and discharged about 10:00am the following morning.

To be honest I'm not sure there would have been any benefit from staying in the hospital any longer than I did and was glad to be home to recovery in comfort.

Keep us updated on how he gets on

Dave

User
Posted 06 Jun 2025 at 04:08

I had RARP last August and despite being in good physical shape beforehand I ended up being in the hospital for THREE days. No surgical complications but I passed out cold the morning after my surgery while walking around the hospital with a nurse. I felt fine while walking so I ended up pushing myself a bit too much which lead to sudden light headedness and ultimately an intimate experience with the floor.

 

Anyway, not trying to scare you, but the moral of the story is hubby must rest, rest REST no matter how good he feels during the first few days (maybe even first 2 to 3 weeks) because bouts of light headedness will suddenly occur at various points during this period.

User
Posted 07 Jun 2025 at 21:08
Good luck Zoogirl, I guess the point is that some patients have problems that need an overnight or longer stay, but others are fine and as long as they have good care at home can be discharged. I ended up staying two nights, after almost fainting on the second day (the nurse steered me into a nearby chair after which I recovered).

If your husband is well enough to go home the same day that will probably be better for him - but it depends on your care (and the hospital providing you with lots of advice and pain medication in case of need). As others have said keep him from trying to do too much. The small incisions for robotic surgery are deceptive, it is very major internal surgery and your husband will need weeks to recover.

User
Posted 08 Jun 2025 at 14:40

Zoogirl, best wishes for tomorrow, don't forget to get a contact number just in case , better to have something you don't need than want something you haven't got.Take care of yourself as well as taking care of your oh. We are all here if you need some advice.

Thanks Chris 

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User
Posted 04 Jun 2025 at 15:04

Yes, when I was 'done', over two years ago, it seemed most people had to stay in overnight. I was amazed to find that was not now the case. It is major surgery having your prostate whipped out, but if they suppose it's safe to do it at breakfast and be out by tea times, all well and good.

Like many.of our prostate 'advances,' I can't help thinking that they're cutting corners to save a few quid?

Edited by member 05 Jun 2025 at 08:39  | Reason: Spelling

User
Posted 04 Jun 2025 at 19:18

Zoogirl, have you spoke to the urology nurses at our hospital, not sure it should be forced on you if you are both uncomfortable with the idea. Not sure if you can insist on T or B doing the op .

Thanks Chris 

User
Posted 04 Jun 2025 at 19:46

Hi ColwickChris, I have spoken to them, and they reassured me that Andy will only be discharged if they (and we) are happy with that on the day. The ward bed will be there for him just in case he needs to stay in. They also reassured me about the surgeon. He's only been at NCH for a month but he has lots of experience from his previous hospital and his speciality is robotic urology cancer surgery. I am feeling much better and calmer now - I just don't cope well with sudden changes and this definitely threw me out of sync earlier. 🙄

Edited by member 04 Jun 2025 at 21:19  | Reason: Typo

User
Posted 04 Jun 2025 at 20:43

Had the Op done 8 weeks ago and was the first on the list for that day.

I was discharged around 3PM the following day and there is absolutely no way I'd have felt ready sooner than this so same day does sound very optimistic to me.

 

User
Posted 04 Jun 2025 at 21:17

ZG, hope all goes well next week. In some ways you can be better off in your own home ,it is quieter and less disturbances. Worth getting some emergency contact information just in case you need some out of hours help. 

Keep him well hydrated, especially if the warm weather continues, avoid getting constipated. Ask for some instilagel, hydrocaine or optilube,just incase the eye of the penis gets sore, it is available at most chemists without prescription except Boots.

Nurses told me Rosé colour in the bag should be okay, red wine colour needs investigating. I attached my night bag to the leg bag at night, I got an extra g strap/ thigh strap and attached the night bag pipe to my ankle just save any pulling on the joint. Make sure the catheter to leg bag is tight, nurse often don't push them in far enough. Nothing worse than waking up in your own urine. 

Thanks Chris 

User
Posted 04 Jun 2025 at 21:21

Thanks Chris, this is all excellent advice and very much appreciated. 

User
Posted 04 Jun 2025 at 21:26

When I had mine the first patient went home the same day and second patient down for op stayed overnight. I was the second patient and to be honest I was glad to stay in overnight and get use to dealing with the catheter etc.

User
Posted 04 Jun 2025 at 21:59

I was a day case nearly 3 years ago. I was first in and discharged about 4pm. Truthfully day 1 was a bit of a challenge, but the nurses gave good instructions on how to manage my pain meds, deal with the catheter and constipation. The Uro-oncology nurses were only a phone call away, except they were not since my op was Friday and they did not work weekends!

I wanted to spend very little time in the alien hospital environment so was 100% happy with the arrangement.

User
Posted 04 Jun 2025 at 22:26

Thank you for this reply Jim. It's good to hear from someone who has had a positive experience of being discharged on the day of surgery.  Fingers crossed things go as well for Andy on Monday. 🤞

User
Posted 05 Jun 2025 at 12:23

Hi ZooGirl,
Good luck to Andy and you for Monday. Hubby had his prostatectomy just over 4 weeks ago. He was first on the list and back to the ward at 2:30pm. No way would he have been able to leave that afternoon - he was high as a kite silly drunk on morphine and would not have been able to walk, never mind leave!! 

Edited by member 05 Jun 2025 at 12:23  | Reason: typo

User
Posted 05 Jun 2025 at 13:30

Hi ZooGirl,

I had my surgery back in October 2024. There was only me and another chap having surgery that day, he was first on the list and I was second. I was told at the time that he's be allowed home the same day and I'd be in overnight. As it happened we were both in overnight as the other guy had issues with his blood pressure.

I was taken down to surgery at about 2:00pm and back on the ward for about 6:00pm and discharged about 10:00am the following morning.

To be honest I'm not sure there would have been any benefit from staying in the hospital any longer than I did and was glad to be home to recovery in comfort.

Keep us updated on how he gets on

Dave

User
Posted 06 Jun 2025 at 04:08

I had RARP last August and despite being in good physical shape beforehand I ended up being in the hospital for THREE days. No surgical complications but I passed out cold the morning after my surgery while walking around the hospital with a nurse. I felt fine while walking so I ended up pushing myself a bit too much which lead to sudden light headedness and ultimately an intimate experience with the floor.

 

Anyway, not trying to scare you, but the moral of the story is hubby must rest, rest REST no matter how good he feels during the first few days (maybe even first 2 to 3 weeks) because bouts of light headedness will suddenly occur at various points during this period.

User
Posted 07 Jun 2025 at 21:08
Good luck Zoogirl, I guess the point is that some patients have problems that need an overnight or longer stay, but others are fine and as long as they have good care at home can be discharged. I ended up staying two nights, after almost fainting on the second day (the nurse steered me into a nearby chair after which I recovered).

If your husband is well enough to go home the same day that will probably be better for him - but it depends on your care (and the hospital providing you with lots of advice and pain medication in case of need). As others have said keep him from trying to do too much. The small incisions for robotic surgery are deceptive, it is very major internal surgery and your husband will need weeks to recover.

User
Posted 08 Jun 2025 at 14:40

Zoogirl, best wishes for tomorrow, don't forget to get a contact number just in case , better to have something you don't need than want something you haven't got.Take care of yourself as well as taking care of your oh. We are all here if you need some advice.

Thanks Chris 

User
Posted 08 Jun 2025 at 15:16

Thank you so much for your message Chris. I've got a list of things to remember for tomorrow and a contact number is top of the list! Andy's just packed his bag, so we're all ready for an early start in the morning. I'll post an update when he's safely back at home. Sheila. 

User
Posted 08 Jun 2025 at 19:37

Zoogirl, I didn't think I would need my dressing gown until after the surgery, Oops, I finished up waiting around for surgery in a couple of hospital gowns. 

Thanks Chris 

User
Posted 09 Jun 2025 at 06:53

 

Sheila and Andy.

I'll be thinking of you both today. Good luck and I hope everything goes well. 👍

 
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