I'm interested in conversations about and I want to talk about
Know exactly what you want?
Show search

Notification

Error


Post Diagnosis - The Next Chapter

User
Posted 14 Sep 2015 at 21:15

Thank you Dick, Much Appreciated.
Time for me to turn in and prepare for tomorrow.
I'll be back !

User
Posted 21 Sep 2015 at 17:37

As promised, I'm back following my meeting with DaVinci. The op took place a week ago tomorrow and I arrived back home last Friday afternoon, so here I am 3 days later quite honestly feeling that I've not been through what I obviously have been through.  Not without a few hiccups of course but I'll come to them in a minute but in the hope that my experience might be useful to someone else choosing the path I chose, I'll bring you up to date with my journey.


All went as planned last Tuesday - the op day - and having arrived at the hospital early, as you do, I wasn't kept hanging around to my allotted time, the wonderful medics started preparing me straight away, the only blip being that having the op in a different area to mine, they couldn't find the documents that had been faxed over by my hospital. This was soon resolved thank goodness and everything went ahead as planned.


After the op, on waking up and finding myself on my way back to the ward, I couldn't believe how well, although a little groggy, I felt.Then of course I became aware of the "dreaded catheter" ! That said I always knew it would be there and put up with it I must.


To be honest, over the next couple of days, the catheter and the shoulder pain from the gas plus constipation were the 3 things that caused the earlier mentioned "hiccups". Thanks to the help of pain killers and laxatives and teeth gritting, all three became manageable.The shoulder pains had reduced by the end of Thursday, with occasional reminders BUT constipation remained the biggest villain.I had been told I could go home on the Thursday if I'd wanted but I decided against it hoping that by Friday, the problem would have been dealt with. It well and truly was ! From about 6 a.m., things began to happen and continued at regular intervals throughout the morning, so much so that I was terrified of getting into the car for the one and a half hour journey home until I was absolutely sure I could make it and eventually left the hospital at around 1pm. At the same time, I remembered well Dick B's wonderful description of his journey home ,which resulted in finding a convenient farmyard to empty his catheter bag. Knowing there was no such safe haven on my journey we attached a night bag for the journey as a safety measure and it worked a treat.


Since being home all is going ok and once again the only hiccup has been the catheter, which tends to overflow at times when there's a visit to the loo to deal with bowels. Fortunately not every time but being a bit concerned I contacted my hospital urology nurse who told me that is a number 1 complaint with many patients and is quite normal, although annoying. It's being removed a week today -Yes !


So there we have it and here I am. Once again I'd like to thank you all for your kind messages of support and invaluable advice, particularly the advice from those of you who have also met up with DaVinci - your experiences have helped me enormously in dealing with the op and aftermath. I've no regrets choosing DaVinci and I feel very lucky and fortunate as I know many don't have that choice and opportunity. I've also learnt that a  little snooze and rest each day, something I've never done before, are a great help.


Thank You All Again, Keep Well, I'll keep you posted.


Cobbles


  

User
Posted 21 Sep 2015 at 17:46
Well done Cobbles!

You are on the road to recovery - wishing you all the best.

Keep strong!
User
Posted 21 Sep 2015 at 17:59

Thank you rivertweed and for all your earlier support too.
I will keep strong.

User
Posted 21 Sep 2015 at 17:59
Hi Cobbles

Glad to hear that you're back home and upbeat and positive.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery

Arthur
User
Posted 21 Sep 2015 at 18:28

We all knew you would do it tough-guy . Easy isn't it ........ ?? Well very well done and glad to hear you seem to be doing really really well , and you have 22 years on me ! I remember clearly big catheter moments whilst having a No2 in hospital. Leaks and blood etc everywhere . Quite frightening yeh . All the best and a few of us have very fresh memories , so ask away .
Chris

User
Posted 21 Sep 2015 at 18:32

Thank You Arthur, Much Appreciated.

User
Posted 21 Sep 2015 at 18:35

Chris, again Thank You to you too. Your support, given your own difficult ups and downs, has always been there and you know I appreciate it.


Easy ? Let's just say, once is enough !


Take Care


 


 


 


 


 

User
Posted 21 Sep 2015 at 18:39

Well done Cobbles and welcome home.

Wishing you a speedy recovery from the intrusions of Mr DaVinci

We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails
User
Posted 21 Sep 2015 at 18:55
Pleased to read this Cobbles. My friend had this op last Thursday, lasted 4.5 hours and sent home the next day, pretty horrific in my opinion as it took around two hours to get home.

Hoping he does as well as you seem to be though.

All the best
Allison
User
Posted 21 Sep 2015 at 19:18

Thank You Superwoman Sandra xx

User
Posted 21 Sep 2015 at 19:32

Allison, I can't believe your friend was sent home so soon ! I agree it's pretty horrific, not sure I could have done that. Anyway the op is over and he's at home and hopefully with the necessary tlc, which I'm sure he'll get, he'll be fine. One day at a time, keep drinking water, plenty of rest, no straining in the loo - keep taking the tablets ( Dulculax are helping me ), a short walk when he's feeling up to that, each day, and if worried about anything get on to the medics. As you know there's plenty of help and support here too, just ask any of the guys who've experienced it. If you want to private message me about anything please do and if I can help I will.


I wish him and yourself well and Thank You for your good wishes. Keep us all in touch with his progress.


Cobbles


 

User
Posted 21 Sep 2015 at 20:44
Cobbles
bravo!! you are through the first hurdle and now on the road to recovery.
So pleased to hear everything went so well.
keep in touch to let us know how your recovery is going.
xx
Mo
User
Posted 21 Sep 2015 at 23:06

Cobbles,


All sounding good. Re the catheter leakage during bowel movements. I was advised to put my feet on a small stool thus raising my knees up. It didn't totally alleviate it but it did seem to make it easier and caused less bowel straining.


Hope all continues to go well. 


 


Paul

THE CHILD HAS GROWN, THE DREAM HAS GONE
User
Posted 22 Sep 2015 at 09:32

Thank You Dear Mo.


Yep first hurdle over. Recovery so far so good.


I will keep you updated xx

User
Posted 22 Sep 2015 at 09:34

Thanks Paul and Thank You for the tip too.

User
Posted 22 Sep 2015 at 09:43

Thanks Paul and Thank You for the tip too.

User
Posted 22 Sep 2015 at 11:00

Cobbles,

How good to hear about the next step in your journey, thanks for sharing! It's a cakewalk really!

Re taking a kip, just listen to your body, I'm nearly 5 months post DV op and still having a kip in the afternoons!

Pablo

User
Posted 22 Sep 2015 at 11:41

Hi again Pablo,


Thanks so much. Yeh looks like I could get into this afternoon doze thing too - something I used to laugh at my Mum and Dad doing when I was a kid ! What comes around - goes around.


Take Care Pablo

User
Posted 23 Sep 2015 at 07:23

Mr Da Vinci has a lot to answer for when you are feeling a bit sore and fed up in the first few days but once the original plumbing is restored you will move on in leaps and bounds. Gentle excercise, loads of naps and snoozes, the right sort of food and hopefully you will be feeling more like your old self soon. So pleased it all went well for you. I for one, took huge comfort from other people's posts on here about their experiences and tips for dealing with the minor problems that come up on the road to recovery. My fingers are crossed for you!

 
Forum Jump  
©2025 Prostate Cancer UK