John,
Glad to hear you got the final go ahead on surgery. I think all of us who have had the surgery know what you mean about mixed emotions. It is a VERY tough surgery to recover from.
You will not want to walk at all. You will want to just stay in bed and push the pain medicine pump. HOWEVER, you must get up and walk. It is the thing that gets you better fastest. Also, chew gum after surgery but don't swallow it. Both of these things wake the intestines up and that is critical to recovery. Have someone come to the hospital to help you walk and to make you walk. Even walking in place next to the bed is a good start. The day after surgery you need to be up.
After that, at least 3 times a day and then 6 times a day after a couple of days. That's at least! Your doctor should explain it to you. Ask him about it. Also, a key is the surgical nursing staff. Be nice to those people. You want and need their help.
The couple days after surgery are going to feel like a Mack truck hit you and then backed over you and did it again. Walking, even though it will feel like you do not have any energy to do so will do wonders. The longer you delay walking, the longer it will take for you to recover enough to get out of the hospital.
Best of luck! Let us know if you have any questions.
Mike
Age 54
10/31/06 dx CIS (TisG3) non-invasive (at 47)
9/19/08 TURB/TUIP dx Invasive T2G3
10/8/08 RC neobladder(at 49)
2/15/13 T4G3N3M1 distant metastases(at 53)
9/2013 finished chemo -cancer free again
1/2014 ct scan results....distant mets
2/2014 ct result...spread to liver, kidneys, and lymph...
