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Night Sweats following surgery

User
Posted 24 Sep 2014 at 07:40

Hi everyone, I am new to the community. I had my prostate removed by the robotic assisted laparoscopic method 8 days ago. I was out of hospital within 24 hours and blessed with an amazing carer - my wife. Due to a narrowing of my Urethra, I have been advised to keep my catheter in for a minimum of 14 days. Although a little uncomfortable, it's a small price to pay for my overall recovery.

After four days, I felt I was getting somewhere, then unfortunately picked up a urinary tract infection (UTI) which seems to have set me back a few days. I understand UTI's are common for those wearing a catheter, so now on antibiotics for a week.

I awoke four days after surgery with an incredible night sweat. My shirt, bedclothes and pillow were absolutely soaked through. This has continued for the last few days.

My question is this...

Has anyone else experienced this?

Could it be connected with the UTI?

Is it common?

I would be grateful for any responses to my questions please, as I cannot find any reference to this elsewhere on the site.

Steve

User
Posted 24 Sep 2014 at 12:52

Hi Steve,

Just popped in to welcome you to the forum, my guess is you would rather not be here http://community.prostatecanceruk.org/editors/tiny_mce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif

I am on a different treatment path to you and get a lot of night sweats but for me it is down to the HT.

My guess is the UTI could well be the cause.

I hope Paul (yorkhull) picks this one up, unfortunately he has had a few uti recently

Good luck with your recovery

 

Best wishes

Si    

Don't deny the diagnosis; try to defy the verdict
User
Posted 24 Sep 2014 at 14:33

No such symptoms for me. I remember finding it difficult to sleep for 2 weeks afterwards - that may have been down to the anesthetic.

Stay Calm And Carry On.
User
Posted 24 Sep 2014 at 21:22
Steve

I had the Da Vinci surgery in April 2014, I do not recall getting night sweats but I did get recurring UTIs following caterer removal. I had 4 courses of anti biotics 1definite infection 1 border line and two possibles. Eventually I then had a bladder neck stricture and poor urine flow. The cause of the problem turned out to be migration of a surgical clip into the bladder. Although rare the advice is, clip migration should be considered if the are recurring UTI symptoms after robotic surgery. In the Da Vinci surgery, clips are left in as a matter of course.

Thanks Chris

User
Posted 24 Sep 2014 at 22:46

Aah the night sweats with a UTI while carrying a catheter.

I recall the evening when I realised that my catheter and related UTI was getting the better of me, it was so ydoolb painful, doubling me up at times. 

Some folks have no idea what a UTI can feel like. I had numerous sweaty nights when I was suffering. With antibiotics you will get over it. I only had the one UTI.

Good luck.

Dave

Edited by member 25 Sep 2014 at 07:59  | Reason: Not specified

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User
Posted 24 Sep 2014 at 12:52

Hi Steve,

Just popped in to welcome you to the forum, my guess is you would rather not be here http://community.prostatecanceruk.org/editors/tiny_mce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif

I am on a different treatment path to you and get a lot of night sweats but for me it is down to the HT.

My guess is the UTI could well be the cause.

I hope Paul (yorkhull) picks this one up, unfortunately he has had a few uti recently

Good luck with your recovery

 

Best wishes

Si    

Don't deny the diagnosis; try to defy the verdict
User
Posted 24 Sep 2014 at 14:33

No such symptoms for me. I remember finding it difficult to sleep for 2 weeks afterwards - that may have been down to the anesthetic.

Stay Calm And Carry On.
User
Posted 24 Sep 2014 at 21:22
Steve

I had the Da Vinci surgery in April 2014, I do not recall getting night sweats but I did get recurring UTIs following caterer removal. I had 4 courses of anti biotics 1definite infection 1 border line and two possibles. Eventually I then had a bladder neck stricture and poor urine flow. The cause of the problem turned out to be migration of a surgical clip into the bladder. Although rare the advice is, clip migration should be considered if the are recurring UTI symptoms after robotic surgery. In the Da Vinci surgery, clips are left in as a matter of course.

Thanks Chris

User
Posted 24 Sep 2014 at 22:46

Aah the night sweats with a UTI while carrying a catheter.

I recall the evening when I realised that my catheter and related UTI was getting the better of me, it was so ydoolb painful, doubling me up at times. 

Some folks have no idea what a UTI can feel like. I had numerous sweaty nights when I was suffering. With antibiotics you will get over it. I only had the one UTI.

Good luck.

Dave

Edited by member 25 Sep 2014 at 07:59  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 01 Oct 2014 at 15:50

Thank you to everyone who responded to my question. I now have the answer... I attended a pre-op medical on 3rd September 2014. As far as I was aware, everything was fine and I went ahead with the removal of my prostate, by the Da Vinci process. I was discharged less than 24 hours after surgery..
I discovered yesterday exactly two weeks after my operation, that I already had a UTI from my pre-med on 3rd September, but no one in the medical profession spotted it! Since been given two course of antibiotics which proved ineffective as the UTI bugs were resistant to both antibiotics. As a result the pain and night sweats continued.
I was given an antibiotic booster injection, then the catheter was removed, one hour later. Apparently the bugs are attracted to the catheter then mutate.

What a fantastic relief to have the catheter removed. Now on a course of antibiotics for two weeks. I was told I would have little or no bladder control due to the severe UTI. But, I must say, I do seem to have some control. I managed to use the toilet several times with a good flow of urine. I also managed to wake up three times over night, headed straight for the bathroom and again managed a good flow. This may well turn out to be beginners luck. However, I am hugely encouraged by the fact, I have been able to do this on the same day as the catheter was removed. Early days...

Thanks again to Si, sixfoottwo, Chris and Dave.

Steve

User
Posted 01 Oct 2014 at 20:20

Sounds more than beginners luck to me! Glad the problem was diagnosed. How many pads are you using a day. Just 5 months post TWOC, I need 1 on a relaxing day, 2 if I've been gardening or playing golf. Keep doing those PVE's!

Paul

Stay Calm And Carry On.
User
Posted 01 Oct 2014 at 20:40
Steve

14 weeks post Da Vinci I had a dilation due to poor flow, this followed repeated antibiotics for UTI symptoms, during the procedure one of the hem-o-lok clips was removed from the bladder . Today six weeks later I saw my surgeon and will have another dilation in three weeks time again due to reduced flow 4ml / sec. The surgeon reviewed the video of the op and could not see any reason for the scar tissue, but is coming to the conclusion that the catheter removal may be to blame. The balloon of the catheter would not deflate fully and it got stuck on the way out, it was not tugged out but firmly pulled out.

In relation to your UTI have a look at the link below as it make reference to UTI symptoms following RARP see towards bottom of page. It is rare but worth bearing in mind.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3034071/

Thanks Chris

User
Posted 02 Oct 2014 at 11:43

Hi Paul, I am using the pads supplied by my local Continence Nurse. They are the size of a single duvet! The official size is Normal Plus. I think they hold half a litre. It's very early days, but yesterday, I managed to go through the day from 10.00 until 22.00 hours using one pad. It doesn't appear to be incredibly wet. I would hazard a guess at a 4 inch circle only - where it is wet.

I have got into the habit of heading straight for the bathroom when I get up from the chair, that must be helping. I am aware of the fact there are leaks if I sneeze, cough, move quickly etc, but have been managing to get some flow when reaching the bathroom.

Last night, second night without the catheter, I awoke five times, headed straight for the bathroom and managed a reasonable flow each time. As a result, my pad was relatively dry. I am not getting up with the urge to urinate, just working on instinct.

Having been told I would have no control whatsoever, I am hugely encouraged, but fear this may be down to luck?

Thank you for your response to my post, it's very much appreciated.

 

Steve

 

 

 

User
Posted 02 Oct 2014 at 11:58

Thanks Chris for your response and I am sorry to hear about your ongoing problems.

I must confess that I had no prior knowledge of the hem-o-loc clips. Kinda hoping I don't have that problem. But we'll see in due course.

I have just called the rapid access clinic (Urology Dept in Portsmouth) and the specialist nurse, agrees that I should be hugely encouraged by the fact that I am regaining some control. Let's hope so.

Thanks again Chris and good luck for the future.

Best regards

Steve

 

 
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