An update to advise that I underwent RALP surgery on 21/12/21.
To assist others who may be contemplating surgery for their prostate cancer I have outlined below what occurred.
My surgery was at Addenbrookes and I had to get to the hospital by 7 am. I was instructed to take 15 mg of Lansoprazole ( For acid reflux) and a suppository (to clear the bowels) by 6 pm the night before and the same tablets by 5 am the day of the surgery. I got up at 4 am, had a shower, took the tablets and at 6.15 am my son drove me the to the hospital (6 miles away). I got to the hospital at 6.40 am and was surprised to find that there were already around 20 people waiting to be admitted to the surgery units. They were not, though, all undergoing surgery for prostate cancer.
I was admitted to a ward, assigned my own bed, and was told that my surgery would take place in the afternoon, around 1.30 pm. The morning surgery for prostate removal took place at around 8.15 am. Aware that the wait for my surgery could be a number of hours, I had taken a book with me and underwent several blood pressure and other tests during the period up to my surgery. I was called into surgery at 1.50 pm and after being given painkillers and an anaesthetic via a vein in my hand, I woke up at around 5.30 pm, minus my prostate, in a recovery ward.Fifteen or so minutes later I was taken back to the ward and the bed I had been assigned to in the morning. I was immediately approached and asked whether I wanted a drink (I was instructed not to drink anything after 5 am the day of the surgery, though was allowed to drink water up to 10 am at the hospital because my surgery was scheduled for the afternoon) and food ( I was instructed not to eat after 10 pm the night before, but had actually not actually eaten after 6 pm). Because I was ravenous and thirsty, I asked for and was given 2 cups of tea, a constantly filled up jug of water and a meal of roast chicken.
The catheter had already been inserted during surgery and it was interesting seeing the night bag filling up as I drunk copious amounts of liquid. It was regularly emptied and measured and at least one of the bags of urine was dipstick tested. The bag was checked and where necessary regularly emptied throughout the night and up to the point I was discharged from the hospital. The first couple of bags had a pinkish hue to them but after that the contents became much clearer. The catheter down the penis is obviously an inconvenience, but it was childishly amusing to note that while I could lay in bed and pee the other 5 patients in my room of the hospital were constantly getting up throughout the night to go to the toilet.
All 6 of us in that room who had had surgery and been anaesthetised found that we could only get to sleep for an hour or so and would then wake up for a while before again going back to sleep. The night nurse said that was usual for patients that are given a general anaesthetic. One of the other side effects is that it reduces blood pressure and that is the reason you are told not to take blood pressure pills on the day of your surgery.
I was visited by the surgeon who had performed the operation at around 7.50 am today ( 22/12) and because I had already walked the outside of the wards corridor 20 times ( I wanted to get it done before the days new surgery arrivals arrived by 7 am) and was readily passing urine, I was told that I could go home later today. After further blood pressure tests, having some food and drink, and being given 5 different types of medicine to take now and after my catheter was removed I was allowed to leave the hospital at just before 2 pm.
The surgeon was very pleased with the operation and said that not only had he been able to spare the nerves on the left side of my prostate but that he had also been able to spare most on the right side too (which initially he did not think he would be able to do). Another nice touch was that one of the nurses with me during surgery phoned my son at 5.45 pm on the day of the surgery to let him know that everything had gone well. I eventually phoned him at 7.30 pm after I had had some food and drink and felt less groggy.
I meant to mention that all of us that had had general anaesthetic surgery had sore throats and for a number of hours found it hard to eat and swallow. We were warned about this prior to surgery and was told that this would be because a breathing tube would be inserted down our throats after we were unconscious.
Though it is very early days (hours in fact), I am in no pain, the catheter is an inconvenience and not an issue, though, that said, I have already used some Instillagel on the top of my penis to alleviate some pain.There is a slight leakage from the top of the penis but this is being absorbed by the Tena incontinence pads that I bought in readiness for the period after my operation. Similarly, I have bought a soft cotton incontinence waterproof sheet from Dunelm which I have put on one of my spare beds where I will be sleeping until my catheter is removed.
Apart from the 7 wounds around my stomach area and the catheter you would not know that I had had an operation and I actually feel quite good. The catheter will be removed next Friday (31/12) and a follow up chat will take place with the surgeon in 6 weeks time. He will then have the results of the histology of my removed prostate which, hopefully, will show that a) it has negative margins and b) it is the same grading as the original biopsies.
Finally, I would like to thank all of you that post on this forum as it has greatly assisted my prostate cancer journey and ensured that I not only had the right information but that I had the right equipment for my post-surgery recovery.
Edited by member 23 Dec 2021 at 17:03
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