Re: Ralph's Surgery

[Guest guest]

Dear K,

I was so happy to read that the surgery went well and that he is on the mend. Please keep us informed of his progress. You know you are both in my prayers and in my thoughts.

Sincerely,

Sheila

-------------- Original message --------------

Hi everyone,

Ralph had da Vinci surgery yesterday, as planned.

It went well. The surgeon said that all was as they had thought - no nasty surprises.

As I write, Ralph is zonked out in bed, having 'walked' himself out of the hospital. Translated, that means, he was told that as soon as he was walking and produced gas, he would be good to go. Talk about a man on a mission, he put me to shame. I got exhausted just watching him make that effort.

Ralph has never had problems producing gas.......until yesterday, of course! Apparently having a bowel movement is not the same. Somehow he was allowed to go without having produced the required bowel sounds! Footnote, he is making up for that aspect now.......

We wanted to thank everyone here. We felt comfortable with our knowledge that we had aquired from this group and our own reading, but we didnt realise how much knowledge we had absorbed. It was great to know what was what at every stage, and to know what to ask.

You may remember also that we had serious issue with our treatment by the surgeon's office beforehand? Ralph and I had documented our experience with their rudeness and lack of response. Given the surgeon wasnt going to be present today, I tackled him after the surgery (certainly wasnt going to tackle him before!) and presented him with our three page statement.

I was pleasantly surprised at his response. He was appreciative of us telling him, stating that one girl was fired last week. He came and saw us later that day, stating that another staff member was fired today, and that his administrator would be contacting us in the near future regarding our issues.

I do hope they got the right people in all this, that worries me somewhat.

One question for you surgery recipients. Is it likely that Ralph will step 'backwards' in how he feels over the next few days? I suspect that after a few days, bruising etc will take it's toll, to say nothing of his exertion over the last two days. That and the coming down from the anxious build up beforehand? I am ready to tell him that what he is feeling is normal....it is, isnt it?

Thank you all again - I know this would have been far more traumatic had we not found you all.

Kind Regards,

(and Rip Van Winkle!)

[Guest guest]

JULIE,

I'm so happy that things went well for you two.

is now through his third day since surgery. As to bowel

movements, yep the gas came easy....yesterday we decided on a

supository. It made him very sick and didn't work. 6 hours later he

was talking to a friend on the phone,(in the bathroom), and told her

the suposity finally worked. I could hear her,(on loudspeaker) and

him both cheering in the bathroom. Geezerhood descends! so far

is feeling better everyday. walks around the yard are very

therapuetic as the sun has finally came out and spring is here with a

vengence so the weather is spectacular. Did you cry when they said

No surprises? I did. I had no idea how worried about that I really

was. originally was a 3+3 and after the patholgy came back it

was amended to a 3+4. they got the prostate cleanly able to spare

nerves completely. They said the prostate was full and just getting

ready to spill. I too worry about gary going backwards with the

healing. he does seem to go up and down with how he feels. And is

having some issues with lack of appetite. But the pathology couldnt

be any better and we are happy. the catheter is even less obnoxious

as time goes by. is looking forward to getting it removed. but

the eternail optimist in him is thrilled he doesn't have to get up 3

times a night to pee.

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> Ralph had da Vinci surgery yesterday, as planned.

>

> It went well. The surgeon said that all was as they had thought -

no nasty surprises.

>

> As I write, Ralph is zonked out in bed, having 'walked' himself

out of the hospital. Translated, that means, he was told that as

soon as he was walking and produced gas, he would be good to go. Talk

about a man on a mission, he put me to shame. I got exhausted just

watching him make that effort.

>

> Ralph has never had problems producing gas.......until yesterday,

of course! Apparently having a bowel movement is not the same.

Somehow he was allowed to go without having produced the required

bowel sounds! Footnote, he is making up for that aspect now.......

>

> We wanted to thank everyone here. We felt comfortable with our

knowledge that we had aquired from this group and our own reading,

but we didnt realise how much knowledge we had absorbed. It was

great to know what was what at every stage, and to know what to ask.

>

> You may remember also that we had serious issue with our

treatment by the surgeon's office beforehand? Ralph and I had

documented our experience with their rudeness and lack of response.

Given the surgeon wasnt going to be present today, I tackled him

after the surgery (certainly wasnt going to tackle him before!) and

presented him with our three page statement.

>

> I was pleasantly surprised at his response. He was appreciative

of us telling him, stating that one girl was fired last week. He

came and saw us later that day, stating that another staff member was

fired today, and that his administrator would be contacting us in the

near future regarding our issues.

>

> I do hope they got the right people in all this, that worries me

somewhat.

>

> One question for you surgery recipients. Is it likely that Ralph

will step 'backwards' in how he feels over the next few days? I

suspect that after a few days, bruising etc will take it's toll, to

say nothing of his exertion over the last two days. That and the

coming down from the anxious build up beforehand? I am ready to tell

him that what he is feeling is normal....it is, isnt it?

>

> Thank you all again - I know this would have been far more

traumatic had we not found you all.

>

> Kind Regards,

>

> (and Rip Van Winkle!)

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I had DaVinci surgery about a month ago, and I wish your husband (and

you) the best.

You asked about " stepping backwards " . For me, I went backwards for one

day, but after that it was steady progress. I had my surgery on a

Tuesday, and came home Wednesday, a little more than 24 hours after the

operation. I may have overdid my physical activity on Wednesday, who

knows, but by Wednesday night and through Thursday I felt horrible -

very weak and my entire body felt sore. Coughing or laughing was

incredibly painful. I felt like I should have been back in the

hospital. But Friday was better than Thursday, and Saturday better than

Friday, and so on, and I haven't relapsed since. (I'm 51 and wasn't

exactly the picture of health before the surgery.)

I did have some leakage problems with my catheter, though luckily it

only happened while I was in the bathroom. I've forgotten what the

exact explanation was, some sort of overflow problem, but the doctor

said it wasn't indicative of a serious issue, and I had the catheter

pulled on schedule. (I had mine in for 6 days - I understand some

DaVinci patients have it pulled after 3 or 4 days.)

If you have any other questions, ask away!

Regards,

[Guest guest]

Hi Sheila, Thanks for your kind words. Ralph is doing pretty good - much better than we thought he would. How are things with your husband. Isnt he starting treatment now as well? How is it going? shedorman@... wrote: Dear K, I was so happy to read that the surgery went well and that he is on the mend. Please keep us informed of his progress. You know you are both in my prayers and

in my thoughts. Sincerely, Sheila -------------- Original message -------------- From: K <juliekalber> Hi everyone, Ralph had da Vinci surgery yesterday, as planned. It went well. The surgeon said that all was as they had thought - no nasty surprises. As I write, Ralph is zonked out in bed, having 'walked' himself out of the hospital. Translated, that means, he was told that as soon as he was walking and produced gas, he would be good to go. Talk about a man on a mission, he put me to shame. I got exhausted just watching him make that effort. Ralph has never had problems producing gas.......until yesterday, of course! Apparently having a bowel movement is

not the same. Somehow he was allowed to go without having produced the required bowel sounds! Footnote, he is making up for that aspect now....... We wanted to thank everyone here. We felt comfortable with our knowledge that we had aquired from this group and our own reading, but we didnt realise how much knowledge we had absorbed. It was great to know what was what at every stage, and to know what to ask. You may remember also that we had serious issue with our treatment by the surgeon's office beforehand? Ralph and I had documented our experience with their rudeness and lack of response. Given the surgeon wasnt going to be present today, I tackled him after the surgery (certainly wasnt going to tackle him before!) and presented him with our three page statement. I was pleasantly surprised at his response. He was appreciative of us telling

him, stating that one girl was fired last week. He came and saw us later that day, stating that another staff member was fired today, and that his administrator would be contacting us in the near future regarding our issues. I do hope they got the right people in all this, that worries me somewhat. One question for you surgery recipients. Is it likely that Ralph will step 'backwards' in how he feels over the next few days? I suspect that after a few days, bruising etc will take it's toll, to say nothing of his exertion over the last two days. That and the coming down from the anxious build up beforehand? I am ready to tell him that what he is feeling is normal....it is, isnt it? Thank you all again - I know this would have been far more traumatic had we not found you all. Kind Regards, (and

Rip Van Winkle!)

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

So glad to hear your husband is doing so well. My husband had his second injection of Hormones last Wednesday and Thursday came home at lunch time and went to bed. First time in 30 years he has done that. He had body aches along with severe fatiuge. We don't know if it was the injection or if he has a touch of a bug. But yesterday he had a good day, then about supper time he had the chills so bad he was shaking. He bundled up and went to bed. Now this morning is doing better and went to work. We see the doctor tomorrow and we will see if he can give him something for the fatigue and we will find out the date he will start this IMRT treatments, which should be in about a week. Even though his PSA dropped to 0.58 the side effects stink but he is hanging in there. I'll let you know when he starts his treatments. I'll keep you and Ralph in my thoughts and prayers.

Best Wishes,

Sheila

-------------- Original message --------------

Hi Sheila,

Thanks for your kind words. Ralph is doing pretty good - much better than we thought he would.

How are things with your husband. Isnt he starting treatment now as well?

How is it going?

shedormancomcast (DOT) net wrote:

Dear K,

I was so happy to read that the surgery went well and that he is on the mend. Please keep us informed of his progress. You know you are both in my prayers and in my thoughts.

Sincerely,

Sheila

-------------- Original message -------------- From: K <juliekalber>

Hi everyone,

Ralph had da Vinci surgery yesterday, as planned.

It went well. The surgeon said that all was as they had thought - no nasty surprises.

As I write, Ralph is zonked out in bed, having 'walked' himself out of the hospital. Translated, that means, he was told that as soon as he was walking and produced gas, he would be good to go. Talk about a man on a mission, he put me to shame. I got exhausted just watching him make that effort.

Ralph has never had problems producing gas.......until yesterday, of course! Apparently having a bowel movement is not the same. Somehow he was allowed to go without having produced the required bowel sounds! Footnote, he is making up for that aspect now.......

We wanted to thank everyone here. We felt comfortable with our knowledge that we had aquired from this group and our own reading, but we didnt realise how much knowledge we had absorbed. It was great to know what was what at every stage, and to know what to ask.

You may remember also that we had serious issue with our treatment by the surgeon's office beforehand? Ralph and I had documented our experience with their rudeness and lack of response. Given the surgeon wasnt going to be present today, I tackled him after the surgery (certainly wasnt going to tackle him before!) and presented him with our three page statement.

I was pleasantly surprised at his response. He was appreciative of us telling him, stating that one girl was fired last week. He came and saw us later that day, stating that another staff member was fired today, and that his administrator would be contacting us in the near future regarding our issues.

I do hope they got the right people in all this, that worries me somewhat.

One question for you surgery recipients. Is it likely that Ralph will step 'backwards' in how he feels over the next few days? I suspect that after a few days, bruising etc will take it's toll, to say nothing of his exertion over the last two days. That and the coming down from the anxious build up beforehand? I am ready to tell him that what he is feeling is normal....it is, isnt it?

Thank you all again - I know this would have been far more traumatic had we not found you all.

Kind Regards,

(and Rip Van Winkle!)