Exercise post RALP

User

Posted 23 Sep 2022 at 10:37

Post Op + 6.

I've got my doctor to sign me off work for 3 weeks which will make 4 weeks off work in total.

Like you I like my job, but I will follow the clinical advice. Key hole surgery makes me forget that I have had major abdominal surgery. Fitness wise I am 5% of where I was pre op. Its going to be a steady road back to where I was for sure.

User

Posted 23 Sep 2022 at 10:51

If you have to drive to work, check how long before your insurer will cover you. Some hospitals state on the patient leaflet for RP that you can drive after 2 weeks, sometimes it is the surgeon who tells you (and most will say 2 weeks), some insurers say you can drive as soon as the surgeon tells you, others say 2 or 4 weeks for abdominal surgery or that you can drive once you believe you can do an emergency stop safely. My husband had a company car so it wasn't that straightforward ... they wouldn't cover him until they had a letter from the urologist confirming he was safe to drive, which the uro refused to provide so in the event, it was 12 weeks before he could drive the company car.

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 23 Sep 2022 at 13:07

Jim, yes sorry you’re at about the same stage as me. Easy to lose track of who’s who (no offence)!

Yep, exactly how I feel. I reckon I walked a mile yesterday in one go, although aching a bit more in the buttock/perineum area after and today. I scaled it back this morning a bit but didn’t feel too bad. The odd little twinge down there too but I imagine it’s ok.

The bit I struggle with is not really knowing how much activity or exercise is too much. How do I know if the surgeon’s internal stitches are holding ok or if I’ve pulled them out or buggered up his plumbing job some other way? I imagine nobody can tell me this until it’s too late so have to take it easy…but my taking it easy could be the next man’s massively overdoing it. I’m probably overthinking this and just need to carry on as I am if it feels ok. But I’m a bloody fidget and usually very active so it’s very frustrating. Ho hum.

@Lyn, I’ll check my insurance details! Thanks, as always.

User

Posted 23 Sep 2022 at 16:03

Nick , I had a small procedure a few weeks ago , my discharge letter actually says consult with your insurance company before driving.

I was back behind my desk after five weeks and visiting UK building sites after 7 weeks, I did have to stop for a quick sleep on longer journeys.

Passing blood is frequently mentioned by guys that have done too much to early.

Thanks Chris

User

Posted 24 Sep 2022 at 19:13

Thanks Chris, no blood so hopefully all ok.

User

Posted 06 Oct 2022 at 22:08

Hi, just seen this post after starting mine, I am now 9 days post RALP how far should I be walking? I thought I was doing OK and not overdoing things but been told I am walking to far/long even though I feel fine

User

Posted 06 Oct 2022 at 22:46

Hi Biggy, my nurse said they won’t tell you how far or how much to do because everyone is different. One man’s short walk is another’s marathon so it’s about what feels right. I was walking somewhere between half a mile and a mile at day 9. It was the perineal aching that stopped me going further.

Hope that helps and good luck. I’m 21 days post op and movement/distance is hugely improved. I walked 5 miles today with the wife and dog.

Cheers

Nick

User

Posted 06 Oct 2022 at 22:56

Thanks for reply Nick, I'm just starting with the perineum pain today mainly from sitting more upright. Walked just under 3mile today with wife and dog and felt good but told by urology dept it's to far to soon so looks like I will reign it in.

User

Posted 06 Oct 2022 at 23:08

My surgeon told me to go by the colour of the urine in the bag. If it's pink or red, you're doing too much, so back off a bit.

_____

Two cannibals named Ectomy and Prost, all alone on a Desert island.

Prost was the strongest, so Prost ate Ectomy.

User

Posted 06 Oct 2022 at 23:20

Biggy, my perineum pain almost disappeared after I had the catheter out at day 14. Fingers crossed it’s the same for you.

Nick

User

Posted 07 Oct 2022 at 09:54

Thanks fellas apart from that feeling good , catheter due out next Wednesday

User

Posted 28 Oct 2022 at 18:07

I’m just over 6 weeks post op and down to one pad a day. I didn’t think I’d improve this quickly, especially in the couple of weeks after the catheter came out, which felt distressing at the time.

I’m back at work more or less full time as of next week, although mostly from home.

The big hurdle came last week when I woke up one morning and realised I’d accepted my situation. I stopped being angry and upset. It helped that my incontinence was improving and I could manage that side of things better, but it really came out of nowhere. Accepting how things will be is a massive step for me and I feel much better for it.

First post op appointment with the surgeon in 4 weeks. Hoping for the best, preparing for the worst.

Nick

User

Posted 28 Oct 2022 at 23:07

Sounds like you are doing well Nick, well done.

I have to say that when I was recovering from surgery (over six years ago now) the big changes were psychological. I guess things were improving slowly all the time, but my confidence that I could do more normal things happened in steps.

User

Posted 29 Oct 2022 at 19:10

Thanks JB. I agree, the psychological stuff is difficult. I really needed to talk to people and just offload this stuff, family, friends, colleagues and especially my wife. It helps me keep a positive frame of mind which has been essential. Difficult to do all the time but important to try.

User

Posted 09 Nov 2022 at 07:45

I’m now 8 weeks post op.
Scars are healed apart from one tiny scab.

I wear a pad which I could wear for a few days without needing to change, although I do change more regularly because of the stale wee smell!

I get random pains in my perineum, usually when I’ve been sitting in one position for a while. Difficult when driving as I need to find somewhere to pull over and get out and walk around.

I’m back at work full time, mostly wfh but with one or two days going to the office which is an hours drive each way.

I also have lower back pain from two months of sitting around, usually with a walk each day but no other exercise.

so my question is, after 8 weeks post op, what exercise do you recommend for lower back pain? I’m 6ft, 11.5 stone and usually quite fit.

Thanks in advance

User

Posted 09 Nov 2022 at 14:35

Nick I'm 2 weeks behind you and I'm itching to get back to some normality, my wife is keeping me in check though. I had the catheter in for 2 weeks then taken out then i caught an infection so it's been back in for 2 weeks I'm hoping to have it removed again tomorrow and able to drive again, I'm doing plenty of walking to keep active. I'm a keen cyclist and kitesurfer but I know they're out for another month or two , I know I'm healing well on the outside just need everything to settle and heal on the inside

Good luck with your recovery and keep us updated

User

Posted 09 Nov 2022 at 14:44

Nick , re the pads, I found with a small amount of leaking tena pads were excellent at containing any odour, even if used for more than a day. I sometimes put some tissue in a nappy liner inside the pad , the tissue and liner would catch any small leak and be changed rather than changing the pad. Sainsburys are the only supermarket I know that still sell nappy liners, they are not as good as they used to be now they are eco friendly.

Thanks Chris

User

Posted 09 Nov 2022 at 14:46

Sorry to hear about the infection Biggy, hope you don’t catch another once the catheter is out.
my wife is the same, good job they are around otherwise we’d all be back inside with hernias by now!

My next move is trying some gentle running, build it up bit by bit. But that will probably aggravate the back pain, hence the need for some other type of back exercise that won’t muck up whatever they’ve done inside.
if I’m lucky then I reckon surfing is back on the cards after Christmas. I’ve spent the last 2 months having to watch my 13 yr old boy have all the fun!

Good luck with recovery too.
cheers

Nick

User

Posted 09 Nov 2022 at 14:48

Chris thanks, another good tip. I’ll try Sainsburys. Pads aren’t cheap!

User

Posted 09 Nov 2022 at 15:25

Cheers Nick, I also suffer from sciatica and a bad neck, but if there's a good thing that's come out of all this is that since I've been off the bike and kiting my aches have gone !!! I am thinking of starting pilates again as this concentrates on core muscles but will check with consultant 1st

Cheers Biggy

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