Everyone has a plan...

The famous philosopher Mike Tyson once said that 'everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face'. It's important to separate the plan from actual events, recognise that things will not always go as you think they will and that plans will always need to change. But a good plan is always a good starting point. I'm going in for my Prostatectomy in two days and so here is my pre-surgery plan. Be interesting to see how it actually turns out...

Pre-surgery. I've cleared out my work responsibilities and am basically sitting around waiting for the big day. It's a little frustrating because I need to be careful about picking up any injuries which rules out going mountain biking, and I need to be careful about picking up COVID which rules out going out much to busy places. I am also taking an antibiotic to counter a suspected urinary tract infection so I can't drink. (probably a good thing because I have been overdoing it recently but it would still be a funner way to pass the time).  I am doing a lot of internet shopping which is probably the only way to get any dopamine right now!  I have also charged up a couple of old devices (tablet & phone) to take into hospital with me and am finishing off the household chores that  won't be able to do for a month or two when I return. Any bills that come on get paid immediately to remove the need to remember them. 

Surgery days. I will be in hospital for 1-2 days and we have booked a hotel room near to the hospital for my wife. This is because we live about an hours drive away (worse in traffic) and she will want to see me when I come round. The weather here is 30 degree + during the day so hanging around outside or in shopping malls etc is not really an option for nore than a couple of hours, so this means she cab stay close and still have somewhere comfortable & cool to stay. It makes me happier knowing she will be near and not have to drive back and forth as well. I have an ebook reader (fully charged) for the initial wait and a few movies on my tablet and a magazine for when I'm recovering, although I'll probably be spending most of my time staring into middle distance, watching shit TV or nodding as my wife lists the failings of her accommodation. Or all three. 

First week. For the first week I will have a catheter in so I'll primarily be trying to not pull that out. We will also set up a day bed in the lounge so I can watch TV or listen to the radio lying down or sitting up.  Apparently it is important to be active so I'll try to have a walk around the garden every hour or so, but that may be tricky due to a heavy back door which may be difficult to slide open without damaging the stitches. I may tackle a walk down the road and back, depending on how obvious & unwieldy the bag is. But for week 1 the primary focus is immediate recovery so I'm expecting lots of vacant TV staring and many naps. 

Second week. The bag will be out and I'll be over the worst of the anaesthetic. So I will try to be more active, slowly extending my walks and possibly even taking a quick car ride & short walk in the forest if I can develop any degree of continence. I'll also start playing around with a couple of toys I picked up - a non-returning yoyo and a kendama (a Japanese kids toy). These will both get my mind / body interface firing without undue load or the need to bend over a lot to pick things up. I expect to be a bit bored so have picked up a Nintendo Switch and will be exploring some adventure world as well as reading and watching things I want to watch on TV. I may also sign up to the documentary channel to keep my mind moving. If I'm feeling perky I'll try to read some stats / data science articles or books - I have "Causal Inference - the mixtape" lined up. I'll also try to help around the house with dinner and light cleaning. 

Third week. Apparently this is the danger zone where people feel much better, lift something too big for their condition and pull stitches. So I'll just be extending my walking and maybe doing some light exercise band work on my shoulder (tendon tear last year). I'll also hopefully use this time to mull over the last few weeks and start to put some pointers on regaining fitness and generally being healthier all round. I also have a physio appointment so will get some pointers on what to do next. Because I'm more active I also hope to meet up with some mates on a breakfast ride - I'll park or get dropped close by and walk in though. I will also start to see if there is any activity 'down there', but not when catching up with my mates.  

Fourth week. Hopefully I will be able to walk around a km by now. I'll also log back into my work email accounts to see what is waiting for me and to start helping out some of the simpler problems. If there isn't a lot of light work I'll start playing around in the Data Science space again instead - I need to set my self up a GitHub account and revisit my python coding. After four weeks I'll also be drinking again (I am having Jan off the grog) which will be nice. 

Fifth & sixth week. More work (boo!), getting more fully into it. Also a trip to the beach for my birthday - it will be too soon to start playing in the ocean waves but I should be able to float in a pool. 

Onwards - I hope to be on a bike for some gentle riding by around week 7-8. I should be on the mend so again it will be pushing the movement as far as I can without causing damage. I have some day long training sessions lined up that I may be able to deliver in person but probably will need to be online with the assistance of someone in the room at their end. 

I have a few goals and stretch goals on the calendar to keep me aware of time, and I will try to write a few lines at least every day that I'll stitch together into more focused blog posts once I'm back on line...


  

   

 

           

   

 


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