Originally Posted by sallison
I will be undergoing robotic prostate surgery next week, but would like to get back to racing by the end of June. I would appreciate hearing about the experiences of those who have gone through this procedure and gotten back to riding. I am told that it is important to stay off the bike for up to 8 weeks, but other forms of training will be ok.
Thanks,
I had robotic surgery on October 2, 2006. The projected hospital stay was 1-3 days. Due to some complications ( internal bleeding, infection at drain site, low O2 sat) I was there for 6 days. Catheter was removed after two weeks and I was told I could exercise but to stop if I felt pain. I tried to go to the gym 2-3 days a week but the abdominal incisions (there are 7) were slow to heal and I was limited by the pain and, to a lesser extent, by incontinence.
I took my first ride on a real bike on December 2, 2006. It was a very easy and flat 6 miles. I stopped often to rest. Due to the bad weather and abdominal soreness from overdoing some of the gym workouts, I didn't ride again until Jan 22, 2007. I went 12 miles on a single speed MTB with big soft tires. I felt good, stopped every 3 miles to rest and stood often.
For the rest of Jan. and Feb., I rode 12 miles 5 times and 18 miles once. I would have liked to have ridden more but the weather was very wet.
In March, I rode 20 miles on the 4th and all was well... just a little soreness. I stopped to rest every 3 miles. On March 6th, I rode the same 20 mile route and felt as though I didn't have the energy for the ride. I had some soreness in the saddle but continued on anyway. I stopped every 3 miles to rest. Because of some slight incontinence, I was wearing absorbent pads at this time and when I changed out of my riding clothes, there was some bleeding. I drank a lot of water to flush it out but there was a urinary blockage. I spent the evening in the emergency room having a catheter installed. My Urologist says that the blockage is probably due to scar tissue and NOT caused by the bike ride... just coincidental. This is also the opinion of all of the Doctors in the ER (been back several times). Needless to say, I am not riding now. When I can get back to it will be up th the Docs.
This has been my experience and you may have a different outcome. I just thought you might like to know what it was like for me. FWIW, I am 61 years old.
If I would offer any advice, it would be to ask questions about the type and intensity of exercise you want to engage in, and do what your Doctors say would be appropriate for you.