DaVinci robotic surgery + 5 days

[Guest guest]

Prostatectomy completed by Dr. Randy Fagin, Austin TX on Mon. 8/13 -

I was brought into the OR at about 12N and returned to my room at

245P after spending approx. 1 hr. or so in recovery. Got out of bed

around 7P for first walk around the hospital floor - maybe 5-7

minutes. Completed another walk of 7-10 minutes before going to

sleep for the night. During hospital stay and since, have taken no

narcotics for pain - only Motrin twice a day.

1 day post-op: did a couple more floor walks between breakfast and

lunch, received catheter care instructions and discharged early

afternoon. Returned to local hotel. Walked up set of stairs to

second-floor room at hotel. Took long nap. Completed a 10 minute

walk around hotel floor after in room dinner with family - all meals

consist of liquid and/or soft foods, e.g. mac and cheese.

2 days post-op: light breakfast, 10 minute walk on hotel floor,

sitting and reading, another 10 minute walk including down/up stairs

at both ends of hotel floor, soft lunch, checked out of hotel and

rode to airport for flight home to Dallas - 45 min. flight better

option than 4 hr. car ride. Felt really good until arrival home, then

had case of the " blahs " the rest of the day. Daughter-in-law brought

tasty potatoe soup for dinner. Good night's sleep in own bed.

3 days post-op: light meals, took shower, created walking path

throughout our house and completed 3 15-min. walks throughout the day

and evening, otherwise sitting and reading. Still feel bloated from

gas used during surgery which has not dissipated. Have been able to

pass gas but no bowel movement - took dose of Milk of Magnesia before

bed (issue resolved at 2AM!).

4 days post-op: friend from church picked me up at 1130A to go to

church rec center for 20 min. walk, then met another church friend

for lunch at restaurant - ate baked potatoe, small bowl of clam

chowder, and piece of gingerbread with whipped cream (my favorite

dessert there!). Church choir members brought dinner - fresh fruit,

roast chicken, potatoes and carrots, fresh rolls, plus ice cream for

dessert. Watched baseball on TV most of the day and forgot to walk

around the house - mistake - too much sitting led to sore perineum by

bedtime, but have been using donut pillow whenever sitting.

5 days post-op: light breakfast, 20 minute walk around the house,

reading and TV (Little League Baseball World Series). Another choir

provided meal for lunch - chicken salad on buttery croissants with a

few potatoe chips. Friend picked me up at 120P to gather at a

restaurant with a few other former IBMers for quarterly get-together -

had to pass on the pizza. Wife picked me up after an hour to go to

church for another 20 minute walk - actually did 25. Then came home

for an hour nap.

At this point, I feel great - minimal pain/discomfort, have survived

2 sneezes, appetite is improving as well as variety of food I am able

to eat. I am still to avoid all gas-producing foods until cather

comes out - scheduled for next Tues (surgery + 8 days). Anticipate

returning to work at least half-time the next Monday (surgery + 14

days).

I hope this somewhat blow-by-blow dialogue is helpful for others

considering the DaVinci procedure for resolution of your prostate

cancer. Post inquiries if any questions arise or you would like other

info I may have overlooked in the above.

[Guest guest]

What I find rather different was that patient was allowed food before he was able to pass gas. In almost all cases with myself and family members, no food by moth is generally allowed until able to pass gas. Maybe standards for laporopic surgical procedures is different.

Louis. . .

DaVinci robotic surgery + 5 days

Prostatectomy completed by Dr. Randy Fagin, Austin TX on Mon. 8/13 - I was brought into the OR at about 12N and returned to my room at 245P after spending approx. 1 hr. or so in recovery. Got out of bed around 7P for first walk around the hospital floor - maybe 5-7 minutes. Completed another walk of 7-10 minutes before going to sleep for the night. During hospital stay and since, have taken no narcotics for pain - only Motrin twice a day.1 day post-op: did a couple more floor walks between breakfast and lunch, received catheter care instructions and discharged early afternoon. Returned to local hotel. Walked up set of stairs to second-floor room at hotel. Took long nap. Completed a 10 minute walk around hotel floor after in room dinner with family - all meals consist of liquid and/or soft foods, e.g. mac and cheese.2 days post-op: light breakfast, 10 minute walk on hotel floor, sitting

and reading, another 10 minute walk including down/up stairs at both ends of hotel floor, soft lunch, checked out of hotel and rode to airport for flight home to Dallas - 45 min. flight better option than 4 hr. car ride. Felt really good until arrival home, then had case of the "blahs" the rest of the day. Daughter-in- law brought tasty potatoe soup for dinner. Good night's sleep in own bed.3 days post-op: light meals, took shower, created walking path throughout our house and completed 3 15-min. walks throughout the day and evening, otherwise sitting and reading. Still feel bloated from gas used during surgery which has not dissipated. Have been able to pass gas but no bowel movement - took dose of Milk of Magnesia before bed (issue resolved at 2AM!).4 days post-op: friend from church picked me up at 1130A to go to church rec center for 20 min. walk, then met another church friend for

lunch at restaurant - ate baked potatoe, small bowl of clam chowder, and piece of gingerbread with whipped cream (my favorite dessert there!). Church choir members brought dinner - fresh fruit, roast chicken, potatoes and carrots, fresh rolls, plus ice cream for dessert. Watched baseball on TV most of the day and forgot to walk around the house - mistake - too much sitting led to sore perineum by bedtime, but have been using donut pillow whenever sitting.5 days post-op: light breakfast, 20 minute walk around the house, reading and TV (Little League Baseball World Series). Another choir provided meal for lunch - chicken salad on buttery croissants with a few potatoe chips. Friend picked me up at 120P to gather at a restaurant with a few other former IBMers for quarterly get-together -had to pass on the pizza. Wife picked me up after an hour to go to church for another 20 minute walk - actually did

25. Then came home for an hour nap.At this point, I feel great - minimal pain/discomfort, have survived 2 sneezes, appetite is improving as well as variety of food I am able to eat. I am still to avoid all gas-producing foods until cather comes out - scheduled for next Tues (surgery + 8 days). Anticipate returning to work at least half-time the next Monday (surgery + 14 days).I hope this somewhat blow-by-blow dialogue is helpful for others considering the DaVinci procedure for resolution of your prostate cancer. Post inquiries if any questions arise or you would like other info I may have overlooked in the above.

[Guest guest]

Wow, Tom!

You're doing great. I'm 19 days out of the same surgery and I need to

catch up to you!

I really have had a good experience too. I'd highly recommend it for

those wanting the surgical option. It was MUCH better than my hernia

surgery.

Best to you on continued progress!

Idaho

------------

Age: 54

PSA: 4.3

Biopsy: T1c, 3+3=6, 2 pos. samples in one side, <5% volume

Da Vinci 31 Jul 2007: saved nerve bundle on non-cancerous side

Final pathology: Confined to prostate, T2a, 3+3=6, <1% volume

My web site: http://pca-info.blogspot.com

[Guest guest]

Hi Louis,

I found the same about eating solid foods so quickly and was rather

surprised.

I was on a whole liquids diet (as opposed to clear liquids) right out

of recovery for dinner.

The next morning, the doc put me on solid foods. I'll tell you what,

that solid food breakfast sure tasted good! I was starving after the

purge on the day prior to surgery!

Idaho

--------

Age: 54

PSA: 4.3

Biopsy: T1c, 3+3=6, 2 pos. samples in one side, <5% volume

Da Vinci 31 Jul 2007: saved nerve bundle on non-cancerous side

Final pathology: Confined to prostate, T2a, 3+3=6, <1% volume

My web site: http://pca-info.blogspot.com

[Guest guest]

Thanks for this wonderful post Tom. My 45 yo dh undergoes the procedure this Thursday 8/23 in Toledo. He found you account very helpful Tina B Tom Dillon wrote: Prostatectomy completed by Dr. Randy Fagin, Austin TX on Mon. 8/13 - I was brought into the OR at about 12N and returned to my room at 245P after spending approx. 1 hr. or so in recovery. Got out of bed around 7P for first walk around the hospital floor - maybe 5-7 minutes.

Completed another walk of 7-10 minutes before going to sleep for the night. During hospital stay and since, have taken no narcotics for pain - only Motrin twice a day.1 day post-op: did a couple more floor walks between breakfast and lunch, received catheter care instructions and discharged early afternoon. Returned to local hotel. Walked up set of stairs to second-floor room at hotel. Took long nap. Completed a 10 minute walk around hotel floor after in room dinner with family - all meals consist of liquid and/or soft foods, e.g. mac and cheese.2 days post-op: light breakfast, 10 minute walk on hotel floor, sitting and reading, another 10 minute walk including down/up stairs at both ends of hotel floor, soft lunch, checked out of hotel and rode to airport for flight home to Dallas - 45 min. flight better option than 4 hr. car ride. Felt really good until arrival home, then had case of the "blahs" the rest of

the day. Daughter-in-law brought tasty potatoe soup for dinner. Good night's sleep in own bed.3 days post-op: light meals, took shower, created walking path throughout our house and completed 3 15-min. walks throughout the day and evening, otherwise sitting and reading. Still feel bloated from gas used during surgery which has not dissipated. Have been able to pass gas but no bowel movement - took dose of Milk of Magnesia before bed (issue resolved at 2AM!).4 days post-op: friend from church picked me up at 1130A to go to church rec center for 20 min. walk, then met another church friend for lunch at restaurant - ate baked potatoe, small bowl of clam chowder, and piece of gingerbread with whipped cream (my favorite dessert there!). Church choir members brought dinner - fresh fruit, roast chicken, potatoes and carrots, fresh rolls, plus ice cream for dessert. Watched baseball on TV most of the day and

forgot to walk around the house - mistake - too much sitting led to sore perineum by bedtime, but have been using donut pillow whenever sitting.5 days post-op: light breakfast, 20 minute walk around the house, reading and TV (Little League Baseball World Series). Another choir provided meal for lunch - chicken salad on buttery croissants with a few potatoe chips. Friend picked me up at 120P to gather at a restaurant with a few other former IBMers for quarterly get-together -had to pass on the pizza. Wife picked me up after an hour to go to church for another 20 minute walk - actually did 25. Then came home for an hour nap.At this point, I feel great - minimal pain/discomfort, have survived 2 sneezes, appetite is improving as well as variety of food I am able to eat. I am still to avoid all gas-producing foods until cather comes out - scheduled for next Tues (surgery + 8 days). Anticipate returning to work

at least half-time the next Monday (surgery + 14 days).I hope this somewhat blow-by-blow dialogue is helpful for others considering the DaVinci procedure for resolution of your prostate cancer. Post inquiries if any questions arise or you would like other info I may have overlooked in the above.

Fussy? Opinionated? Impossible to please? Perfect. Join Yahoo!'s user panel and lay it on us.

[Guest guest]

Tom, that is a terrific account.

Mine was traditional RRP surgery as neither laproscopic nor robitic

were available here and I opted for local treatment. I went in at

12N. Returned to my room at 6PM. Evidently complications arose.

They used all (4) of my " pre-banked " blood units during the

operation and used one more unit a couple days later.

My first walk was early the morning following surgery. Though

assisted, I recall pain getting back into bed after that first

walk. I also recall I walked as often as possible. They gave me

the traditional hospital ultimatums. No solid food until gas passed

and etc.

My hospital stay was 5 days total. I walked several times a day

while there and after returning home. I remember feeling great

gratitude toward my Uro, the hospital staff, food preparers and

anyone involved with my treatment.

Today I am 15 mos:10 days post surgery, alive and kicking.

Appreciatively, Mick -- Abilene, TX

-- In ProstateCancerSupport , " Tom Dillon "

wrote:

>

> Prostatectomy completed by Dr. Randy Fagin, Austin TX on Mon.

8/13 -

> I was brought into the OR at about 12N and returned to my room at

> 245P after spending approx. 1 hr. or so in recovery. Got out of

bed

> around 7P for first walk around the hospital floor - maybe 5-7

> minutes. Completed another walk of 7-10 minutes before going to

> sleep for the night. During hospital stay and since, have taken no

> narcotics for pain - only Motrin twice a day.

>

> 1 day post-op: did a couple more floor walks between breakfast and

> lunch, received catheter care instructions and discharged early

> afternoon. Returned to local hotel. Walked up set of stairs to

> second-floor room at hotel. Took long nap. Completed a 10 minute

> walk around hotel floor after in room dinner with family - all

meals

> consist of liquid and/or soft foods, e.g. mac and cheese.

>

> 2 days post-op: light breakfast, 10 minute walk on hotel floor,

> sitting and reading, another 10 minute walk including down/up

stairs

> at both ends of hotel floor, soft lunch, checked out of hotel and

> rode to airport for flight home to Dallas - 45 min. flight better

> option than 4 hr. car ride. Felt really good until arrival home,

then

> had case of the " blahs " the rest of the day. Daughter-in-law

brought

> tasty potatoe soup for dinner. Good night's sleep in own bed.

>

> 3 days post-op: light meals, took shower, created walking path

> throughout our house and completed 3 15-min. walks throughout the

day

> and evening, otherwise sitting and reading. Still feel bloated

from

> gas used during surgery which has not dissipated. Have been able

to

> pass gas but no bowel movement - took dose of Milk of Magnesia

before

> bed (issue resolved at 2AM!).

>

> 4 days post-op: friend from church picked me up at 1130A to go to

> church rec center for 20 min. walk, then met another church friend

> for lunch at restaurant - ate baked potatoe, small bowl of clam

> chowder, and piece of gingerbread with whipped cream (my favorite

> dessert there!). Church choir members brought dinner - fresh

fruit,

> roast chicken, potatoes and carrots, fresh rolls, plus ice cream

for

> dessert. Watched baseball on TV most of the day and forgot to

walk

> around the house - mistake - too much sitting led to sore perineum

by

> bedtime, but have been using donut pillow whenever sitting.

>

> 5 days post-op: light breakfast, 20 minute walk around the house,

> reading and TV (Little League Baseball World Series). Another

choir

> provided meal for lunch - chicken salad on buttery croissants with

a

> few potatoe chips. Friend picked me up at 120P to gather at a

> restaurant with a few other former IBMers for quarterly get-

together -

> had to pass on the pizza. Wife picked me up after an hour to go

to

> church for another 20 minute walk - actually did 25. Then came

home

> for an hour nap.

>

> At this point, I feel great - minimal pain/discomfort, have

survived

> 2 sneezes, appetite is improving as well as variety of food I am

able

> to eat. I am still to avoid all gas-producing foods until cather

> comes out - scheduled for next Tues (surgery + 8 days).

Anticipate

> returning to work at least half-time the next Monday (surgery + 14

> days).

>

> I hope this somewhat blow-by-blow dialogue is helpful for others

> considering the DaVinci procedure for resolution of your prostate

> cancer. Post inquiries if any questions arise or you would like

other

> info I may have overlooked in the above.

>

[Guest guest]

I had the same laprascopic surgery from the same surgeon

in May, and his post-operative patient instructions booklet

says to stay on clear liquid diet until (1) you have had a

good bowel movement, and (2) you can pass gas easily. For

me I got to that point 72 hours after surgery. I actually

never noticed the surgical gas, unless it was in some burps

I had 8 hours after surgery. But maybe Tom felt " soft "

diet was safe enough...and it turned out OK for him.

Age: 56. PSA: 4. Biopsy: T1c, 3+4=7, 2 pos samples.

DaVinci 10 May 2007, margins clear, nerves saved.

PSA: 0.

[Guest guest]

tjdillon7 -

Your experience sounds typical, as in the hands of a good experienced surgeon and in a good hospital, most appropriately selected PCa patients do well and have minimal problems. After the catheter comes out, you may be instantly continent, or it could take awhile, but anticipate recovery. The same with erectile function.

Laughing generally hurts more than sneezing! That discomfort will soon be a thing of the past for you.

- jdnmd>> Prostatectomy completed by Dr. Randy Fagin, Austin TX on Mon. 8/13 - > I was brought into the OR at about 12N and returned to my room at > 245P after spending approx. 1 hr. or so in recovery. Got out of bed > around 7P for first walk around the hospital floor - maybe 5-7 > minutes. Completed another walk of 7-10 minutes before going to > sleep for the night. During hospital stay and since, have taken no > narcotics for pain - only Motrin twice a day.> > 1 day post-op: did a couple more floor walks between breakfast and > lunch, received catheter care instructions and discharged early > afternoon. Returned to local hotel. Walked up set of stairs to > second-floor room at hotel. Took long nap. Completed a 10 minute > walk around hotel floor after in room dinner with family - all meals > consist of liquid and/or soft foods, e.g. mac and cheese.> > 2 days post-op: light breakfast, 10 minute walk on hotel floor, > sitting and reading, another 10 minute walk including down/up stairs > at both ends of hotel floor, soft lunch, checked out of hotel and > rode to airport for flight home to Dallas - 45 min. flight better > option than 4 hr. car ride. Felt really good until arrival home, then > had case of the "blahs" the rest of the day. Daughter-in-law brought > tasty potatoe soup for dinner. Good night's sleep in own bed.> > 3 days post-op: light meals, took shower, created walking path > throughout our house and completed 3 15-min. walks throughout the day > and evening, otherwise sitting and reading. Still feel bloated from > gas used during surgery which has not dissipated. Have been able to > pass gas but no bowel movement - took dose of Milk of Magnesia before > bed (issue resolved at 2AM!).> > 4 days post-op: friend from church picked me up at 1130A to go to > church rec center for 20 min. walk, then met another church friend > for lunch at restaurant - ate baked potatoe, small bowl of clam > chowder, and piece of gingerbread with whipped cream (my favorite > dessert there!). Church choir members brought dinner - fresh fruit, > roast chicken, potatoes and carrots, fresh rolls, plus ice cream for > dessert. Watched baseball on TV most of the day and forgot to walk > around the house - mistake - too much sitting led to sore perineum by > bedtime, but have been using donut pillow whenever sitting.> > 5 days post-op: light breakfast, 20 minute walk around the house, > reading and TV (Little League Baseball World Series). Another choir > provided meal for lunch - chicken salad on buttery croissants with a > few potatoe chips. Friend picked me up at 120P to gather at a > restaurant with a few other former IBMers for quarterly get-together -> had to pass on the pizza. Wife picked me up after an hour to go to > church for another 20 minute walk - actually did 25. Then came home > for an hour nap.> > At this point, I feel great - minimal pain/discomfort, have survived > 2 sneezes, appetite is improving as well as variety of food I am able > to eat. I am still to avoid all gas-producing foods until cather > comes out - scheduled for next Tues (surgery + 8 days). Anticipate > returning to work at least half-time the next Monday (surgery + 14 > days).> > I hope this somewhat blow-by-blow dialogue is helpful for others > considering the DaVinci procedure for resolution of your prostate > cancer. Post inquiries if any questions arise or you would like other > info I may have overlooked in the above.>