So, your surgery has been scheduled and you are all set to go. But what should you be ready for after your surgery?
Post-operation recovery
Depending on the type of surgery you undertake, recovery may require up to a few days of hospital stay, and a number of weeks of home-recovery—i.e. radical prostatectomy *is* major surgery. During this time most patients will experience a period of incontinence (due to damage to the urinary sphincter) and will have to wear a catheter. You should be able to return to a normal diet after a day or two.
The other typical experience is a period of impotence. While drugs may assist with achieving erection, prostate cancer surgery eliminates the possibility of ejaculation (by removing the seminal vesicles)—though orgasm will still occur.
Diet
After your surgery, it is likely that you will be on an all-liquid diet. This should quickly progress back to regular foods. However, you may want to consider some long-term adjustments:
- more fruits and vegetables—foods high in lycopene (such as tomatoes, watermelon, carrots, asparagus, salsa and grapefruit) have been found to improve prostate health.
- more nuts and seafood—foods high in selenium have also been found to be beneficial. Look to tuna, nuts, oysters and shrimp.
- more fiber, less fat—increase your intake of whole grain foods, and limit fatty foods such as fried chicken, french fries, etc.
Pain
As with any surgery, there may be pain or bleeding following your operation. These side effects should go away after a few weeks—if pain persists, contact your healthcare professional.
Infertility
With the seminal vesicles removed, it is no longer possible for semen to travel down the urethra, prohibiting the fertilization of an egg.
Urinary Incontinence and Dysfunction
After prostate surgery it is common to experience urinary incontinence—everything from urinary leaking to complete loss of bladder control. Urinary dysfunction (pain during urination) is also common and is caused by the close proximity of the prostate gland and the bladder. Bowel dysfunction may also occur due to the damage done during surgery.