17 March 2020: OK, I admit I have a deep desire to reclaim physical fitness and get back to work after radical prostatectomy. The idea of “normal life” has a great pull on me. In this moment I’m celebrating small wins at work, out running, and in the bedroom.
Getting back to work in a time of coronavirus
Long before either the pandemic or my cancer diagnosis, we had scheduled a wonderful in-person ORSC systemic team coach training course in Johannesburg. We have participants coming from all across Africa. I had a big ambition to somehow co-deliver this with my wonderful colleague Ron Ndlovu in spite of my surgery. Yesterday it happened thanks to his wonderful support and co-leadership!
We had to research and make up antivirus precautions. This whole coronavirus thing is new for everybody. I also designed with my co-leader that “when I gotta go, I gotta go.” With him sharing the leadership, in spite of post-surgery incontinence I can run to the loo at a moment’s notice throughout the day.
Maybe this is mad. There is a part of me that is deeply satisfied by pushing to get up and out to work less than 3 weeks after radical prostatectomy. It doesn’t do away with the dark nights, but I revel in the action. My colleague’s advice to “take it easy” is ringing in my ears even as I ignore it.
Getting back to parkrun
Since 2013 my wife and I have been loving our Saturday morning parkrun/parkwalk ritual. I was so proud to walk the 5 km course already on Day 9 after surgery, and two days ago I managed to run most of the way! It feels like a way to get back to normal. I am convinced that the exercise advances the process of clearing anaesthetic and other drugs from my system.
Hopeful signs in the bedroom
They warned me that erectile dysfunction was a very common outcome after prostate treatment. It is happening to me some of the time and I am worried. My good feelings are hugely enhanced by some signs of life down there, and my wife saying “let’s put it to good use while it’s on the rise.”
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Getting back to work and to one’s regular exercise routines is a significant part of the healing process. because I had good sick leave benefits some people’s advice was to stay off work as long as I could, basically until my benefits ran out. I could have remained home for over 2 years. Not me. I was eager to get back and prove to myself that the healing had not only begun but was well on its way. And exercise is the best thing. Good for you Mish to get back into running so quickly post-op !
I’m so aware after reading your blog posts and chatting of how much our ability to recover is based on previous routines and life experiences. As someone who spends a lot of time working, this is getting me thinking about how to lay down new routines before its too late!
Mish’s underlying determination and fitness were on display from Day 1 after surgery. He posted a picture previously of walking the last 200 metres home 36 hours after surgery. We met our neighbour and told him about the surgery – turns out he had the radiation beads implanted in his prostate a few years back. He couldn’t believe Mish was up and walking then, and he nearly fell over when Mish ran past him at the Parkrun (picture above) where he was a route marshal the following week!