After undergoing prostate robotic surgery, many patients find themselves eager to know, “How Long Does it Take to Recover From Prostate Robotic Surgery?” Once your procedure concludes, your medical team will transfer you to a dedicated recovery room or ward. Here, you’ll notice several tubes connected to your body. Among these is a tube designed to drain urine, ensuring the healing process goes undisturbed. An optional catheter may also be provided, serving a similar purpose, allowing urine to drain seamlessly while recovery is underway. It’s completely natural to experience some discomfort in the aftermath, but rest assured, the right painkillers will be administered to provide relief. Furthermore, patients might be provided with a pad, which is an essential tool to help collect any inadvertent urine leakage. As recovery progresses, many wonder how to speed up nerve regeneration after prostate surgery, especially with concerns like how soon after prostate surgery can you have sex looming in their minds. It’s essential to remember that recovery is a journey, and every step forward is a move towards complete healing.
How long will I be in hospital?
After surgery, you will stay in a recovery room until it is safe for you to return to your ward. When you awake from the procedure you may wake up with multiple tubes in your body that may seem scary but these tubes are there for a good purpose: draining urine after the operation and helping you urinate afterward. Typically, catheters must remain in for approximately one to two weeks following discharge from hospital and they should not be exposed to water (like showering or swimming pools) while still in place.
Your surgeon will create two to four small incisions (half an inch or smaller) in your abdomen during robotic prostatectomy surgery, then insert a thin rod equipped with a camera (laparoscope) into one of them to see inside your body and use other surgical tools to extract your prostate gland. Robotic prostatectomy tends to be safer and more precise than open surgery while aiding faster recovery time.
After surgery, you may experience some minor discomfort in the perineum area; this can be controlled with ibuprofen taken as needed. Some individuals also report bladder spasms following surgery which may cause cramping sensations to arise in your lower abdominal region or urinary tract, which will gradually subside over time.
After your operation, a nurse will check your wounds for any signs of infection and once healed they should allow you to resume most normal activities such as working, driving and exercising; but be careful not to overexert yourself – full healing takes one or more months so avoid heavy lifting until then.
As part of your discharge from hospital, you will receive instructions for care at home. Your doctor may also ask that you come back for a post-op checkup and X-ray so they can review results from surgery and biopsy as well as recommend possible future treatment options if necessary. You will need to visit your GP, practice nurse or specialist nurses regularly for follow up appointments and X-rays so they can monitor your progress and identify any problems as soon as they arise.
How long will I be in pain?
Your surgeon will perform your procedure laparoscopically, meaning they will make two to four small incisions (half an inch or smaller) in your abdomen and use thin rods with cameras attached called laparoscopes (which have cameras at one end) as well as tools in each one for laparoscopic prostate removal. They then remove your prostate.
This procedure reduces recovery time and side effects associated with traditional open surgery such as urinary tract problems, bowel issues and impotence, while helping preserve nerves that could have an impact on sexual function.
As part of your surgery, a catheter will be placed in your penis to drain urine while your surgical site heals. While initially uncomfortable, you’ll become used to it over time and when ready, your nurse will show you how to take out and dispose of the catheter.
Some patients may experience bladder spasms after surgery, which may present as moderate cramping sensations in the lower abdomen or bladder, though these usually resolve over time. Once you are mobilising safely, caring for your catheter properly, and your pain is being managed using oral tablets as directed, you should be released from hospital.
Your doctor will advise you regarding appropriate foods and beverages to consume after your procedure. After surgery, a soft diet must be followed for several weeks while gradually returning to regular meals. Your physician can give advice as to which are the most suitable to eat and drink.
After your procedure, it is wise to arrange for someone from your family or a close friend to drive you home from hospital and be available should any support be needed at home. Furthermore, heavy lifting and strenuous activity should be avoided to allow incision sites sufficient time to heal properly.
Your recovery may leave you feeling tired for several weeks or months following surgery, so try eating healthily and engaging in gentle physical activities, like walking. Over-the-counter painkillers such as Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB and others) or Acetaminophen may provide temporary relief; if it persists consult your physician who may suggest different types of painkillers or alternative solutions.
How long will I be in recovery?
Patients typically return home within 24-48 hours following their prostatectomy procedure. Over the following few days, you should begin feeling much better and drains and drips will clear away, your diet improving, and you can gradually become more active again. It is important to remember that everyone heals at their own pace; don’t push yourself too quickly – allow time for healing before pushing too hard!
Based on what your doctor has told you, you may be taking medication for pain relief. Follow instructions as directed and drink lots of fluids; many find it easier to consume liquid diets post surgery; if feeling queasy after eating solid food can help; eating soft foods (yoghurt, soup or jelly) might also provide comfort – additionally having some suppositories or stool softeners handy could prevent constipation from setting in too quickly.
Your hospital stay will include having a urinary catheter in place when you wake up after surgery and for approximately seven to ten days following, where urine will drain into a bag strapped around your upper leg. Sometimes the bag may contain blood, and when that occurs you will need to empty it regularly as instructed by your nurse.
As well as your catheter, temporary drainage tubes may also be placed through punctures in your skin – one leading to your bladder (suprapubic tube) and one to where your prostate was removed (pelvic drain). Both will need to be emptied regularly.
Your hospital stay typically will involve being moved from the recovery room into a ward as soon as it is safe to do so. Typically this occurs the day after or sometimes even earlier; having someone accompany you when entering hospital for support and transport home can be useful.
After several days, you should be able to walk freely and get in and out of bed more easily. Pressure should be avoided on any wounds until after about one month has passed; in rare instances some men may need up to one year for full urinary control to return after prostate removal due to changes to secondary control mechanisms, especially external sphincter muscles, being affected.
How long will I be able to urinate on my own?
On hospital discharge, most patients will have a urinary foley catheter installed that drains urine directly into a bag which you must empty each time it fills up with urine. While this may increase your need to urinate frequently, most men tolerate it well and lidocaine jelly will likely be provided to apply directly on your penis before use for added comfort and to help with irritation caused by catheter placement; to aid this discomfort a donut pillow is often recommended. Medications may be taken if necessary such as Hyoscyamine 0.125 mg quick dissolving tablets taken each 4-6 hours may help.
Once your catheter has been removed, you will need to wait for the muscles of the prostate to repair themselves and regain control over your bladder. This may take anywhere between 6-18 months; it isn’t unusual to experience partial or complete recovery of urinary continence following robotic prostatectomy.
Surgery requires the surgeon to access your abdomen through a small incision in order to extract prostate tissue through either local anaesthesia with sedation or general anaesthesia, depending on your individual needs and the pathology report from your biopsy. A robotic system helps surgeons see exactly what’s happening inside and around your prostate for more accurate surgery and quicker recoveries.
After surgery, it is common to experience slow bowel movements for several days to a week. To ensure smooth recovery and prevent constipation, it is vital that plenty of fluids and regular meals are consumed; some men find stool softeners such as Coloxyl or suppositories can assist. Also it may be wise to refrain from eating fatty foods during this period.
After having your prostate removed, erectile problems (erectile dysfunction) may develop temporarily or permanently. Kegel exercises may help improve or worsen erections; depending on who’s doing them they could either improve them or make them worse; for those impacted more significantly it would be worth speaking with their GP and seeking medication such as Viagra to address this.