Back to work after prostate biopsy?

Posted , 13 users are following.

My urologist wants me to have a transrectal prostate biopsy.  I'm wondering what the recovery time will be like and if I will be able to go back to work that day or just take the whole day off?  He makes it sound like no big deal, 10 minute procedure. 

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  • Posted

    I don't know what country or state you live in if you are in the u.s., But a trans perineal prostate biopsy has a much lower infection and sepsis rate than a transrectal one. I live in Ohio and my urologists pretend that the infection rates are the same even though everything you read indicates the opposite in favor of trans perineal.

    • Posted

      Ben my GP advised me for Transperineal. I did have private healthcare so that speeded things up but he was still suggesting I go to Transperineal as he’d only just been on a lecture about it the evening before. He thinks that it’s going to be the treatment of choice very soon! Strangely though the NHS want biopsy before MRI?? I had MRI which suggested the biopsy was needed! All a bit topsy turvy of the NHS but sounds like a change is on the horizon! 
    • Posted

      Dear Michael

      I think that the reason for the biopsy first is because if nothing found there is no point in having an MRI scan.

      I had to wait for 28 days after the biopsy for the MRI scan. Something to do with waiting for the healing of the punctures to take place.

      Cheers Richard

    • Posted

      Hi Richard 

      It’s all quite confusing then! My MRI revealed three abnormal areas of the prostate PIRADS 4 and 2 x PIRADS 5! I was so convinced it was the worst possible outcome! Yet the biopsy revealed no Ca! Thankfully! So I guess I should have had the biopsy first! I did ask the consultant about this but he said If nothing abnormal is found on the MRI then there would be no need for an invasive and potentially risk of infection Biopsy! 

      Confused.com!!! 

      Who are we to question why eh? 

      Thanks for your response 

    • Posted

      Dear Michael

      Yes very confusing. I take it that your psa is very low.

      Cheers Richard

  • Posted

    I've had two of these without unexpected incident. The first was with me being fully conscious with just some lidocaine but the second was with general anesthetic. Presuming yours is to be more like the first, I'd advise you to have the whole day off. Perversely, I think I took longer with initial recovery with the first because I experienced a mild shock reaction similar to having a filling at the dentist..

  • Posted

    M husband had a general anesectic so you are told not to drive for 48 hours. As his a driving instructor he had to lose two days work as although he felt ok, he couldn’t risk his job if there was an accident
  • Posted

    I walked out after mine and onto the bus home. OK, I waddled a bit and declined the generous offer of a seat on the bus, explaining to the would-be seat donor that if she had had what I'd just had done, she would know why I preferred to stand ;-)

    I didn't go back to work next day, nor forever thereafter, but only because I am retired. Had I still been of working age, I might have taken the next day off but it wouldn't have been essential.

    .... and, hey, why did that lovely young lady offer me a seat at all? Do I look that decrepit?????

  • Posted

    The big question is whether you need one. I guess you have already had an MRI and this has shown the need for a biopsy. Does your PSA justify it? If you are convinced you need one then the day off should be OK but expect blood in your urine/semen for some time afterwards.
  • Posted

    Dear Frat

    I had mine at the end of the morning felt a bit unsteady fo half an hour or so but after a coffee my partner and I walked back to to the hotel. Rested for the rest of the day, enjoyed some sex to make sure everything was still working. Next day made the several hour train journey back home. Felt fine.

    Cheers Richard

  • Posted

    In my honest opinion you’ll need the whole day off! Even perhaps the next! Can’t speak from experience of that procedure as I had Transperineal MR Fusion Biopsy.  That has to be done under GA but is proven to be much less risk of infection post procedure plus it’s a Targeted biopsy directly to the area of abnormality. You will pee blood, perhaps have blood in bowel movements and be warned your ejaculate will resemble something from the movie alien! Not that you’ll be checking your ejaculate in the work place unless your Harvey Weinstein or a UK politician! But certainly for the first day or so I would stay around my home comforts just till it settles down! With the Transperineal procedure however I was offered a week off due to the nature of my work as it was painful to sit down for several days. To your urologist it’s probably no big deal but trust me it’s very invasive and I’ve heard the transrectal procedure can produce some discomfort for a day or so! Sorry for long winded response but my advice will be to take at least a day off! Good luck with it all hope nothing is found during the procedure! 

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