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Only the small dime size scars on my abdomen remind me that it has only been 60 days since my robot assisted prostate surgery, and 2 weeks after receiving the pathology/ultrasensitive PSA results showing I am cancer free. I owe this to you, Dr Slawin, John Dodge, and Pat Meyers. My fear of cancer surgery, pain, incontinence, and erectile dysfunction prior to the operation were totally overblown! Pat, your counseling weeks before the surgery, describing what I should expect before, during, and after the surgery was invaluable in helping me prepare mentally.
Your descriptions were straightforward and accurate, and even the smallest detail wasn’t left out. Your attention to my questions and concerns made me feel like I was your only patient that day. John, the same goes for you! Looking back at the descriptions you gave me of the operation and its aftereffects;
I am happy to report you were right on target. Before meeting with you I was imagining the worst; months of pain from surgery, no bladder control for months, the end of my sex life and much more. You told me I would be out the morning after the operation- and I was. You told me I would be able to move about normally (albeit with a catheter for a week)-and I did. You told me the pain would be tolerable-and it was (I only took one Tylenol after being released from hospital). You told me I would quickly regain control of my bladder - and I did - one day after surgery (23 of the 24 depends diapers you suggested I buy are still in the box!) You said I would regain partial erections 3 months after the surgery-I’m glad to say you missed that one by a month (partial erections already).
Dr Slawin, you put me completely at ease when you arrived at the pre op room before my operation and described what and how you were going to remove my prostate and the cancer. Your comment of "it will be over before you know it" was barely out of my mind when i found myself waking up after the surgery. I have to thank the three of you from the bottom of my heart for a job well done, and in closing, if I had another prostate that had to be removed, I wouldn’t change a thing.
Thanks Again!
George Hachar, Jr.
101 W Hillside Ste 3
Laredo Texas 78041
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
956-723-9141
P.S. For anyone interested in a more detailed description of pre/post surgery, attached is a "calendar of events"
- Day 1 - Surgery Pre op consisted of registering, disrobing, iv's attached, and a brief conversation with anesthesiologist. Dr Slawin checks to make sure all is prepared. Don’t even remember falling asleep. Wake up from operation and immediately notice dull pain in abdomen. As disoriented as I was, I still managed to ask and get the best news of the week - Dr Slawin feels he removed all cancer. Dull becomes sharp but not intolerable. Takes about a couple hours for effects of anesthesia to wear off. Sharp pain now dull and totally tolerable. I decide not to take any pain killers for duration of hospital stay. That night, nurses take me for a walk down hall several times. It helps tightness in abdomen, but also makes me aware of slight discomfort from catheter needed for urination-still totally tolerable. After couple of walks, I change my mind and take a pain- killer, the last I will take while at hospital.
- Day 2- Release I awake and am surprised at how much pain has diminished. I wonder if this is due to the robot assisted procedure as opposed to open manual procedure. Acquaintances that I spoke to that had the non robotic procedure complained of pain and much longer hospital stays. As a matter of fact, the discomfort of the catheter was more on my mind than the pain. I’m starving but afraid to eat worried about abdomen pain during a bowel movement. Released from hospital about noon and go to relatives for weekly stay. Sleep well with only very tolerable pain - take a Tylenol, the last pain relief medication I will take.
- Day 3 - Again awake and surprised at how much pain has diminished from day 2. Walking up and down stairs is not much of a problem. Matter of fact, stay on feet for two or three hours at a time before tiring and taking small rests. Decide to join family in afternoon for quick lunch out. Getting in and out of car not much of a problem either. Tough to get used to catheter! Decide to name it "damn". First bowel movement this afternoon; painful and blood in urine. Scares me to death so I call Pat Meyers who tells me it is perfectly normal.
- Day 4 - Same as day 3 with pain almost all gone and stairs not even a concern. Damn catheter still there and really starting to bug me. Run several errands and stay out until about 4 pm before returning home to rest.
- Day 5 -Same as day 4 but barely any pain at all now and don’t even notice going up and down stairs. Bowel movements almost painless now (stool softeners doing their job) but still a little blood in urine. Cant wait for catheter to be removed!
- Day 6 - Almost normal activities other that the catheter.
- Day 7- Catheter to be removed today. Show up for bladder x-ray to make sure bladder healed enough to remove catheter. Procedure involved filling bladder with fluid (dye) and taking x-ray to check for any leaks. I panic when result show a tiny leak. Rather have my teeth removed than have the catheter in another week. Go to Dr Slawin's office for checkup with John Dodge. Reviews x-ray and gives me the second best news of the week -catheter can be removed. John tells me to go have lunch and make sure I can urinate before returning home. I have no problem whatsoever only notice it is much easier to urinate than before prostate removed. Release instructions advise buying diapers and practicing Kegel exercises to regain bladder control. I don’t seem to notice much of a problem (I did start Kegel exercises a month before surgery so don’t know if this was a factor in regaining control quickly) but wear the diapers all day and night.
- Day 8 - Still don’t notice any problem controlling bladder so decide to go diaperless. No problem and don’t ever wear them again. Begin Viagra regimen to enable blood flow for nerve bundles to recover sooner after trauma from surgery.
- Day 8 - 30 - Uneventful and everything normal. Did notice I would tire earlier than normal during workday, but by end of first week energy level back to normal. Started walking on gym treadmill on day 30.
- Day 30 - 60 - Life normal other than wondering when full usable erections will return. John tells me 3 months after surgery should show some improvement. As of now only partials but usable enough to have sex several times. Do notice that they are improving daily. Return for pathology report and PSA test on day 60. Pathology report shows no cancer outside of removed prostate and PSA now reads <0.003 as opposed to 5.7 beforesurgery. Dr Slawin and John both tell me this is great news and I am cancer free. Best news I've had for two months, even betterthan having the catheter removed!
-----Original Message----- From: George Hachar [mailto:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
] Sent: Sunday, July 15, 2007 10:55 PM To: John Dodge Subject:Dear Dr Slawin/John Dodge/Pat Meyers |
Patient Testimonials 
