After surgery now: I thought it would... - Prostate Cancer A...

Prostate Cancer And Gay Men

1,451 members1,298 posts

After surgery now

Paulo1968 profile image
18 Replies

I thought it would be time to post here how I am doing after surgery.

I had surgery on April the 5th 8 am and it took 4 hours. I didn't feel much pain to be honest or they kept it controlled during the time I was in hospital, which I left Sunday - 3 days after surgery.

According to the doctors the surgery went technically well. As far as they could be able to see so it seems the "thing" was confined to the gland and I had the right side nerve spared. I believe these were good news because there were fears there was extracapsular invasion. Of course the pathological report will have to confirm this. I had around 15 lymph nodes removed.

The part of the lymph nodes removal procedures is what is still causing me a lot of discomfort as it creates still some liquids in the lower part of the belly. This is causing me some pain some times but mostly as it swells I get relieved only when laying down.

I had the catheter removed 6 days after surgery and gained continence 2 hours after its removal. It stayed this way for 3 days. Now I have some times when I have leakages and this is the part of this whole surgery procedure that is frustrating me as for the rest I am seeing and feeling improvements... Why would that be that I was completely continente for 3 days and now not always so? I don't wear any pad during the nights though and I have been kept dry always. I do the kegel exercises twice a day and I feel I cannot do more because the muscle hurt after sometime. Am I doing ok?

Today is the 5th day I am taking cialis - precribed by doctor - and I was told to start stimulating my penis which I am doing and I now I know what an orgasm without erection is :-) They were very weak though.

I guess that is it. Happy to receive any comment. I have a doctor appoitment by close the end of this month and by then we should be knowing what the pathological report says.

Thank you,

Paulo

Written by
Paulo1968 profile image
Paulo1968
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
18 Replies
Tall_Allen profile image
Tall_Allen

Congratulations on getting to the other side. Ask for a penis pump - maintaining blood flow is especially important if you want to maintain penis size. unfortunately, daily Cialis encourages urine flow, so some urologists advocate taking a larger dose only twice a week to help maintain continence. let us know how the path report turns out.

Paulo1968 profile image
Paulo1968 in reply toTall_Allen

Thanks for your message. Indeed since I started taking Cialis, 1 day after I am peeing at night 4 to 5 times.

Paulo1968 profile image
Paulo1968 in reply toTall_Allen

About the penis pump. Should we start using it already now? I mean tomorrow is my 2nd week after surgery.

Tall_Allen profile image
Tall_Allen in reply toPaulo1968

Mulhall advocates starting to use it as soon as the catheter is removed. Check with your urologist first.

healthy1234 profile image
healthy1234

Congratulations Paulo it's good to see your update. The only advice I can give at this time during your recovery is to be gentle on yourself (psychologically). You just had major surgery and there has been a great deal of trauma to your body and it's going to take time to heal. Good nutrition , walking and healthy positive thinking will help in your recovery. Any research I did with regard to kegal exercises said to not over do it, aim at 3 times a day 3 sets of 10 repetitions a day. Shortly after surgery I started Sildenafil 20mg , 2 tablets at bedtime. I also retained a lot of fluid to the point I was so concerned I called the Dr. Office. I was told it was normal and it would drain on its own with time and it did. My orgasm's got better with time. Sounds like you're doing Pretty well considering it's been only a few weeks since your surgery. Hang in there and try to stay out of your head😊.

Paulo1968 profile image
Paulo1968 in reply tohealthy1234

Thanks healthy1234 for your encouraging words and you positive thinking :-)

koiboi profile image
koiboi

Hey Paolo! Congrats! There are alot things going on in your body right now and as we all know....in your head too!

Remember everyone is different (generally speaking) and results can really vary. I just had my anniversary of 7 years and this last year I get up 4-5 times a night to pee! Way more than ever before, even before my procedure. I used to sleep nude but now I wear tighter underwear because I leak at night only!!! Very frustrating to say the least. I took L-arginine for awhile and it did help alot (someone from this site suggested it) but I think I overdid it and stopped. I do plan on taking it again but like other supplements it's probably good to stop for ahwile. I cannot stress enough the need to keep that blood circulating in your penis! Pump it up!!!!! Not for sex necessarily but to NOT lose anymore size. You'll have "up" days and of course alot of "down" days but hang in there. I've learned to look at some things differently......now I have alittle foreskin, before I didn't! I "bottom" alot more now, before I rarely did. I use alot of cockrings and "toys" now too!

So buddy, you have opened another chapter in your book of life! You are allowed to get depressed but leave yourself enough to climb back out.

Allan

Paulo1968 profile image
Paulo1968 in reply tokoiboi

Thanks Allan for your kind words,

I have been advised to get a pump. I need to ask my doctor then about a pump. Or do we buy them wherever?

Did you start stimulating the penis just after surgery?

I haven't gotten depressed feeling so far. I had them after my diagnisis. So now I just need to look ahead and keep fighting. :-

koiboi profile image
koiboi in reply toPaulo1968

Your doctor can actually write you a prescription for one but not all insurances cover them. Go on line and check them out! I started using one about 6 months after my surgery. I was already doing evrything I could to keep that blood flowing. I was taking one viagra everynight also right after the catheter came out. Be good!

TimCo profile image
TimCo

Hello Paulo, You are following my surgical path almost to the point. I trust you will adjust in a positive way to the new orgasms and the Cialis will be supportive. Still struggling with ED and lack of confidence in performance I am encouraged by many supportive men in this forum to seek further guidance and advice from a urologist. Thus am looking for a new doc in the mens sexual health field. Just reach out if I can help you with anything related to your new life station and being cancer free. Tim

Paulo1968 profile image
Paulo1968 in reply toTimCo

Thanks Tim,

My worries now are to gain 100% continence. Today it was a good day but I got back working at home and didn't move much. I did my kegel exercises and hope for a good day tomorrow too. Anything I should do more? Is resting better or moving / walking?

Next priority will be the ED issues. I have a partner and we are both fighting this together. Of course he hasn't lost anything but he is very supportive. For now I have made him happy in bed and I also had my orgams even though dry and weak... I am having cialis everyday prescribed by doctor. I don't feel anything so far. I hope you find good advice and come through this.

What about the disease... have you been free of it? I will receive the pathologic report soon and have a doctor appoitment for Friday this week.

I find this forum so helpfull. For sure I will ask more questions.

You take care,

Paulo

TimCo profile image
TimCo in reply toPaulo1968

Yes Paulo cancer free 4 years!

Yup the kegels- try to do at least 3 sets/day, that was my mission :-)

All the best!!!

YostConner profile image
YostConner

I hope you continue to improve. The orgasms should get more intense over time. Best to you.

Paulo1968 profile image
Paulo1968 in reply toYostConner

Thanks 😀 good to know

TimCo profile image
TimCo

Sounds like you are doing quite well Paulo.

My surgery in 2014 very similar to yours.

I have ED issues which because of this site

am more actively addressing and am cancer

free which is the most important thing.

So far injections work moderately well and

am seeking a new mens sexual health doc

to help me explore other options for a more

satisfying sex life. Be well and take care, Tim

Paulo1968 profile image
Paulo1968 in reply toTimCo

Hi Tim,

Ah! I saw now an answer for a question of mine :-) Most important you are cancer free :-)

About ED I will place more question later in time as my priorities are for now gain continence and see what do do next to fight this "thing".

You take care, Paulo

Paulo1968 profile image
Paulo1968

I got the post surgery report on the lymph nodes. 18 removed and all cancer free.

Wish you all a great weekend.

davey1957 profile image
davey1957 in reply toPaulo1968

Great news Paulo!

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

What next, after surgery?

A month after surgery and here is the information about the pathology report: It is a pT2. So no...
Paulo1968 profile image

Just over Surgery

I had an open prostatectomy last week and also all lymph nodes were removed as the cancer had...
Bcgkelly profile image

Diagnosed mid February and waiting to start treatment

I have posted already in another community, but as I am having a gay relantioship I wondered here I...
Paulo1968 profile image

Semi Erection & Orgasm 3 days after surgery

So i know this is 3rd email today but wanted to share that after going through the post-op material...

Depression and sex after Prostate Surgery

I am 58 years old and have had a long term relationship for 37 years. In june of last year (2016) I...
LvGuy1 profile image

Moderation team

Bethishere profile image
BethishereAdministrator
Number6 profile image
Number6Administrator
Darryl profile image
DarrylPartner

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.