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Day 1 Post Surgery..

User
Posted 20 May 2022 at 07:09

I had my diagnosis of Pca in January. After 3 postponements, I finally had my surgery (Radical Prostectomy) yesterday morning. The consultant informed me the size of my prostate at 150 was 5 times the average. He also advised me I might need a stent and and a tube on one side of my stomach for drainage, thanks to God, I  came round without thus tube.


However, Day1 post surgery, I have a numbness on my left leg, with pins and needles, a bit of a lower back pain. I have just managed  2 steps and sat on the chair for 30mins, however, this left leg tingling will not go away. I am hoping the Doctors during the ward round will be able to advice.


I cannot fault the professionalism of the team at UCLH, they have been amazing on this journey. The Surgeon, the anaesthetists were warm, welcoming and knowledgeable, you felt you were in the best hospital in the world. However, the surgeon did promise to contact my wife post surgery to give her an update on how the surgery went, disappointingly there was no call. I called her myself when I came round. I don't know anything about the surgery suffice to say I am still here.. My wife received the call from the surgeon today, so panic over!


 

Edited by member 20 May 2022 at 21:00  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 21 May 2022 at 02:16

Hi welcome, just read your other post as well. Yes UK system is a bit weird, where they ask you how you want to be treated. That prostate size would explain some of your high PSA reading. But so would the 3+4 so glad it is treated.

Dave

User
Posted 21 May 2022 at 06:02

Wishing you a speedy recovery 

User
Posted 21 May 2022 at 06:39

They are fantastic as we all can verify good luck with your treatment 👍

User
Posted 01 Jun 2022 at 08:05

Gee, I now have a permanent catheter and found most anti spasm medications take a few days to become effective, I tried all the one you mentioned but found trospium chloride to be the most effective. I only got bladder spasms with the catheter in and the spasms did not usually coincide with the urge to urinate.The pain from the spasm was confined to the bladder.


Have you had your urine checked for infections. 


Thanks Chris 

User
Posted 01 Jun 2022 at 10:38

Gee , before finding the right medication I was having 30 -40 spasms a day.  I have a permanent catheter because I was unfortunately in the 5 percent of people who get damage from salvage RT.


I and a few others on here did have issues with the migration of surgical clips following surgery, but your symptoms do not match what I experience. 


You have lots going off inside with wounds healing,scabs dropping off and passing debris. You could have a kidney stone they are painful when passing urine.An issue with the new joint would probably result in you feeling quite ill. 


Have you been in touch with your urology team, they should have point of contact for post op problems, they should be able to give you relevant medical advice.


Thanks Chris 


 

User
Posted 01 Jun 2022 at 11:35
Chris's advice looks solid, as usual. Definitely speak to UCLH - didn't they give you the number of a specialist nurse?
User
Posted 01 Jun 2022 at 15:05

Chris, I forgot I was given some details to contact the nurses. I have now called the number but it was triaged by non-medical staff, and promised someone would get back to me, still waiting.


Thanks for reminding me.

User
Posted 02 Jun 2022 at 17:28
You shouldn't expect energy levels to be back to normal for a good 4 weeks, from memory.
User
Posted 02 Jun 2022 at 23:46


I don't know if it is in the mind, my energy level are still not back 100%.


Your body needs about 5000 calories per day to recover from abdominal surgery so unless you are consuming a huge amount of food, that energy is being drawn from your reserves. That's why the usual guide is that you will be off work for at least 6 weeks - many men are too knackered to work before then!

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard
User
Posted 03 Jun 2022 at 20:15

Re the incontinence, I was fully incontinent for  around 4 hours after my catheter was removed and that improved to around 90 % incontinent that night. My incontinence slowly improved after a couple of weeks and after 6 or so weeks I only leaked when I lifted really heavy objects. That is the case now, nearly 6 months after my operation.


I did do the pelvic floor exercises 6 weeks before my operation and continued them for 5 weeks after my catheter was removed. It was very recently suggested by the specialist nurse assigned to me that I should restart the pelvic floor exercises and undertake one exercise a day ( I was doing around 6 exercises  during the day previously).


 


Ivan

User
Posted 03 Jun 2022 at 20:53

Ivan


My advice from  a pelvic health physio was that PF exercises are for life. Like any other muscle, the PF will weaken if not exercised and hence the sphincter may not get the support it needs. She also advised that after 6 months or so it is only necessary to exercise 3-4 times per week but she always recommends once daily to ensure a regular routine.


Peter

User
Posted 04 Jun 2022 at 09:04

Thanks for that, Peter and, yes, I was told that the pelvic floor exercises are for life. It was also mentioned that everybody over 60 should be exercising their pelvic floor muscles, whether they have had an operation or not, as they weaken as you get older.


 


Ivan

User
Posted 10 Jun 2022 at 06:55

Omo Bami, Thanks for reaching out. Today is 3weeks and 1 day post op. The spasms have subsided, I have stopped taking the bladder relaxant. I gave up coffee last year before my pca diagnosis. I went back to work a day after the catheter was removed, day 11, energy levels are slowly returning. As for incontinence, that is mixed results. I am dry all day, but not through the night. I thought not drinking or eating after 18:00hrs and going to bed at midnight would help, I got up at 4:30 am soaking wet (almost like bed wetting!), don't really know what is going on there! However, today is a new day, and we go again. I am positive and grateful for small mercies. I am prayerful and hopefully all these minor hiccups will pass.


I wish you a quick and smooth recovery. God Bless you Brother.

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User
Posted 21 May 2022 at 02:16

Hi welcome, just read your other post as well. Yes UK system is a bit weird, where they ask you how you want to be treated. That prostate size would explain some of your high PSA reading. But so would the 3+4 so glad it is treated.

Dave

User
Posted 21 May 2022 at 06:02

Wishing you a speedy recovery 

User
Posted 21 May 2022 at 06:33

For a typical bloke, who just went through life thinking by eating right, not stressing, not smoking, no alcohol, exercised and that was enough to ward off illnesses, my diagnosis was a wake up call. I am really humbled with my interaction with the NHS (after having little or no experience with them until my late mother suffered a stroke), my treatment has been 1st class. I was offered 2 to 3 dates for surgery, one was 2weeks post diagnosis (I think someone dropped off the list), I declined them all because I was not ready! This is the same NHS that had been ravaged by the pandemic! The men and women I have come across within the service have been amazing!

User
Posted 21 May 2022 at 06:39

They are fantastic as we all can verify good luck with your treatment 👍

User
Posted 21 May 2022 at 17:52

Best of luck with your recovery. Really hope the numbness in your legs has subsided a little too 🤞🏼

User
Posted 22 May 2022 at 02:35

It has thanks a lot. I am back home now.

User
Posted 01 Jun 2022 at 06:58

Today is Day 13 post surgery. I had the catheter removed 2 days ago. However by Day 7, I began to suffer from this almighty cramps, (apparently similar to pregnancy labour pains). I was not warned about this. The pain felt like it came from my the tip of my penis and pain from inside my abdomen. Called my GP, he felt I should use Buscopan to alleviate the pain, but it did not feel right. So I reached out to my sis-inlaw in Holland, who is a consultant internist in Holland. She told me, what I am experiencing is not cramps but bladder spasms! She reached out to her colleague who is a consultant urologist, who recommended Oxybutine 5mg 3 x Dail it is short acting and vesicare 5or 10mg once daily.. Then went back to my GP, mentioned my conversation with my sis-inlaw. He now prescribed Solifenacin 1ce daily.


Suffice to say a few hours post catheter removal, I had a severe episode again at the hospital. I was so frightened they might want to re-introduce the catheter, I initially tried to manage the pain.. The pain however seems to subside once I have emptied my bladder.


First night of post catheter freedom, with my pads on, I woke up in agony, it was a struggle to get to the loo to pee. I did get there eventually, and immediately the pain would subside. The cycle continued like clock work every hour! My pads which was initially dry, was no longer dry! 


During the day, I kept onto of things by ensuring, I visited the loo to pee whenever the urge came. I did not get a single episode. Next evening roughly at the same time, same pain same issue, pads were even more wet than before! However, this time my wife gave me a dose of the bladder relaxant and codeine. I had a other episode, which was as bad as the first.


My sis inlaw reckons I should use the medication 3ce a day, so not so sure. So don't know if anyone has this issue and how long before it went away..

User
Posted 01 Jun 2022 at 08:05

Gee, I now have a permanent catheter and found most anti spasm medications take a few days to become effective, I tried all the one you mentioned but found trospium chloride to be the most effective. I only got bladder spasms with the catheter in and the spasms did not usually coincide with the urge to urinate.The pain from the spasm was confined to the bladder.


Have you had your urine checked for infections. 


Thanks Chris 

User
Posted 01 Jun 2022 at 08:24

Chris, Infection might be a probable cause, however, with an infection I would expect the issue to be fairly consistent. It was fairly random whilst the catheter was in place, think I had 3 to 4 episodes (all during the day), now with the catheter removed I had an episode at UCLH, which I think has to do with the amount of water I consumed in a short space of time. Soon as I emptied my bladder, the pain went away like it was never there. Now it appears to occur only at night, did make a promise to myself will not consume anything past 7pm, but lack of discipline let me down, was snacking and drinking water beyond 9pm. I also saw the list of food to avoid, wow! I might as well starve☹️. One I cannot avoid is spicy food, and the recommendation is to only eat bland food! 


Out of interest, why do you have a permanent catheter?


Thanks.

User
Posted 01 Jun 2022 at 10:38

Gee , before finding the right medication I was having 30 -40 spasms a day.  I have a permanent catheter because I was unfortunately in the 5 percent of people who get damage from salvage RT.


I and a few others on here did have issues with the migration of surgical clips following surgery, but your symptoms do not match what I experience. 


You have lots going off inside with wounds healing,scabs dropping off and passing debris. You could have a kidney stone they are painful when passing urine.An issue with the new joint would probably result in you feeling quite ill. 


Have you been in touch with your urology team, they should have point of contact for post op problems, they should be able to give you relevant medical advice.


Thanks Chris 


 

User
Posted 01 Jun 2022 at 11:35
Chris's advice looks solid, as usual. Definitely speak to UCLH - didn't they give you the number of a specialist nurse?
User
Posted 01 Jun 2022 at 15:05

Chris, I forgot I was given some details to contact the nurses. I have now called the number but it was triaged by non-medical staff, and promised someone would get back to me, still waiting.


Thanks for reminding me.

User
Posted 02 Jun 2022 at 15:10

Just to update. The Nurses did get back to me. However, not of much help as I had already with the help of my sister in law managed to resolve things. I have upped the dosage of the medication from 1ce to 2ce a day. Last night I only woke up 1ce to pee and the spasms even though there was manageable. Incontinence 95% in the day time and about 65% at night! Today is day14 of my surgery.


I don't know if it is in the mind, my energy level are still not back 100%.

User
Posted 02 Jun 2022 at 17:28
You shouldn't expect energy levels to be back to normal for a good 4 weeks, from memory.
User
Posted 02 Jun 2022 at 18:11

Gee , disappointing the nurse wasn't more help.  You have had part of your water works removed but did you get bladder spasms before surgery. I did notice that spicy food was mentioned as a possible cause but from your comment I assume it is part of your normal diet. 


Cranberry juice is often mentioned to calm down a bladder, doesn't work for everyone but worth a try, needs to be good quality.


As mentioned 100 percent energy levels can take time to return, post op I often required a power nap well beyond 8 weeks after surgery.


Thanks Chris 

User
Posted 02 Jun 2022 at 20:28

Chris thanks for that. Good shout with the cranberry juice. This forum has been really helpful on this journey, I am indeed grateful. I will give cranberry juice a shout tonight. Thanks a lot for the energy levels, nice to know I was not going mad!

User
Posted 02 Jun 2022 at 23:46


I don't know if it is in the mind, my energy level are still not back 100%.


Your body needs about 5000 calories per day to recover from abdominal surgery so unless you are consuming a huge amount of food, that energy is being drawn from your reserves. That's why the usual guide is that you will be off work for at least 6 weeks - many men are too knackered to work before then!

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard
User
Posted 03 Jun 2022 at 12:27

LynEyre, Thanks a lot. My fault for going into the process blind. I intentionally did not read up on the post op care, I thought better to carry on as normal in a relaxed mode. I even cheekily asked the consultant at my diagnosis what would happen if I buried my head in the sand and not do anything. He coldly told me, "you would be gone in 15yrs"!

User
Posted 03 Jun 2022 at 20:15

Re the incontinence, I was fully incontinent for  around 4 hours after my catheter was removed and that improved to around 90 % incontinent that night. My incontinence slowly improved after a couple of weeks and after 6 or so weeks I only leaked when I lifted really heavy objects. That is the case now, nearly 6 months after my operation.


I did do the pelvic floor exercises 6 weeks before my operation and continued them for 5 weeks after my catheter was removed. It was very recently suggested by the specialist nurse assigned to me that I should restart the pelvic floor exercises and undertake one exercise a day ( I was doing around 6 exercises  during the day previously).


 


Ivan

User
Posted 03 Jun 2022 at 20:53

Ivan


My advice from  a pelvic health physio was that PF exercises are for life. Like any other muscle, the PF will weaken if not exercised and hence the sphincter may not get the support it needs. She also advised that after 6 months or so it is only necessary to exercise 3-4 times per week but she always recommends once daily to ensure a regular routine.


Peter

User
Posted 04 Jun 2022 at 09:04

Thanks for that, Peter and, yes, I was told that the pelvic floor exercises are for life. It was also mentioned that everybody over 60 should be exercising their pelvic floor muscles, whether they have had an operation or not, as they weaken as you get older.


 


Ivan

User
Posted 10 Jun 2022 at 01:13

Hi Gee Oke, thanks for sharing. I’m still in bed recovering from my procedure. Was drawn to your thread as Oke is in my username too. Treatment and follow up really is a lottery but I’ve worked in the. NHS and understand the problem of solving variance in levels of care and communication you get from place to place. I’m worried about getting spasms so I’m sticking to water for the foreseeable. I’m passionate about coffee so a lot of this is life changing. My advice considering my lack of experience in this matter is embrace the changes in a positive Way and make the most of sharing on this forum. My day job is actually running an online support forum for a charity that deals with a different life changing events and seeking information and advice from peers really changes the lives of people like us. As they say where I come from wà d'aígbó bayi

User
Posted 10 Jun 2022 at 06:55

Omo Bami, Thanks for reaching out. Today is 3weeks and 1 day post op. The spasms have subsided, I have stopped taking the bladder relaxant. I gave up coffee last year before my pca diagnosis. I went back to work a day after the catheter was removed, day 11, energy levels are slowly returning. As for incontinence, that is mixed results. I am dry all day, but not through the night. I thought not drinking or eating after 18:00hrs and going to bed at midnight would help, I got up at 4:30 am soaking wet (almost like bed wetting!), don't really know what is going on there! However, today is a new day, and we go again. I am positive and grateful for small mercies. I am prayerful and hopefully all these minor hiccups will pass.


I wish you a quick and smooth recovery. God Bless you Brother.

 
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