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Just diagnosed and terrified.

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User

Posted 07 Jul 2015 at 18:50

Hello Friends

ChrisJ kindly updated you all, thanks Chris

I came home this evening which I am so glad of, didn't sleep at all in the hospital, being woken up every 2 hours for ops. I am very very sore and cant walk to well as it pulls on the tummy but this is to be expected. I am told the surgery went well and they saved my nerves.

Catheter is horrible and so uncomfortable but tolerable and counting down the 10 days to have it removed.

Nerves got the better of me in the anaesthetic room as I couldn't stop shaking, they gave me something to calm me down and then put me to sleep 4.5 hours later they woke me up and I was all done.

The morphine made me very nauseous for about 7 hours after the op so I didn't take any self induced pain relief.

Fragmin injections for 28 days now which I am going to administer myself.

Thank you for all the support and I will post more when I can sit for longer.

All the best to Trish and Stuart for the 9th, will be thinking of you

User

Posted 07 Jul 2015 at 18:54

Steve,

Glad you are home, now for plenty of rest. Will DM in the week to see how you are getting on.

X

User

Posted 07 Jul 2015 at 19:28

So glad you are home where you can relax and take things nice and slowly
Nerve sparing is great news.

The catheter can be a pain but if you can try and keep the tube tucked close to your body supported by a snug pair of boxers do some men like to tape the bag to their leg others prefer to just let it rest close by and carry it when necessary. Also make sure you keep the area really clean not just the bit you can see but in as far as you can gently wipe with a moist soft cloth.

The panic you had pre op is really not unusual I am sure surgeons and anaesthetists see that all the time so don't beat yourself up about it at all.

Take it easy
Best wishes

Xx
Mo

User

Posted 08 Jul 2015 at 08:12

First nights sleep post op.......

Hello friends.

It was quite difficult finding a comfortable position to sleep in last night but after a few failed attempts and a rather large cushion for back support I got comfortable and slept pretty well considering.

I woke up at 2:15am with a full bag so got up and emptied that, getting up into a standing position really hurt on one side, it must just be where it's all fusing back together, I got up again at 6:15 with another full bag and same difficulties getting up. Going to see if I can get up another way today without putting too much pressure on my left side. The catheter doesn't help as it restricts your movement and starts to pull a little if I move my leg to much. I'll get there, just gotta find a happy medium.

I think tonight I will try the bigger night time bag to save me having to get up in the night, I just need to find a suitable position where I am not kicking it or pulling on it. They gave me a stand which I might try, I just hope the tubing is quite long.

As far as the sleep went I was very comfortable and once in my resting position my tummy was not hurting at all and could sleep fine. It's strange sleeping on my back as this is not a position I like to be in, but I will get used to it for a while especially while I have the catheter in and my tummy so delicate.

The carbon dioxide is floating around in my body causing a bit of gas, expelling this is not easy unless it finds its own way out, helping it out the back door is difficult as it just pulls everything in your tummy the minute you add any force, again not causing a problem and just gonna take a bit of time to disperse one way or the other, I've also been drinking peppermint cordial to help with the gas, I have tea as well.

I'd say my first night at home was a success and comfortable.

Taking it easy today, gonna rethink my whole getting up out of bed position and see how I get on finding a new one.

Need to inject the fragmin later, no biggy, deep breath push / squeeze and it's done. Best thing is not to spend to much time thinking about it and just get it done.

I've not looked at my 6 would areas yet, I'm just not ready for that at the moment. I saw something last night after I gave myself the injection and they do look small as the plasters are small. But will give it a few more days before I stand in the mirror.

Well that's me for day one. I'll keep updating my journey.

My thoughts are with all my new friends and there families and loved ones.

User

Posted 08 Jul 2015 at 09:05

Amazing mate -- great news . I just got used to sleeping on my back tbh for a couple of weeks . Get the night bag on numpty . I just connected it to the other and left it lying on the floor , tubing under both legs . As LONG as the thigh strap is correctly placed holding the catheter in the tip , you shouldn't get any midnight Arrrgghh moments. Ive only got 7 injections left and will kind of miss my recent "drug-taking" period. My actual scars are healing really well mate , but I look like ive had a thoroughly good base-ball batting round the middle now 3 weeks on . The sitting up and tummy thing and gas is the worse , but it passes soon .
So happy you had a good night
Chris

User

Posted 08 Jul 2015 at 09:10

glad to here all is going ok

must feel alot better just being back at home, hope your not snoreing to much laying on your back

take care

nidge

run long and prosper
'pooh how do you spell love'
'piglet you dont spell love -you just feel it'

User

Posted 08 Jul 2015 at 09:24

All sounding good pal. The catheter is a nuisance but it's not for ever. I remember the relief after it was removed. Chris is right about putting on the right bag. I did the same and let it stay on the floor but I wasn't given a stand.
Take it slow for a while.

Take care,

Paul

THE CHILD HAS GROWN, THE DREAM HAS GONE

User

Posted 08 Jul 2015 at 11:13

Dear Lord! Didn't we give you all a pre-op shopping list??? This is what the bucket is for .... fix the day bag to the night bag and stand the night bag in the bucket.

John slept on his side with a pillow under his top knee.

Did they give you any local anaesthetic gel or lube for the eye of your penis? It can get a little sore from the rubbing. If not provided, try a little KY jelly

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 08 Jul 2015 at 14:02

I did get the night bag but wanted to really know if I'd need it. Tonight I will definitely connect it and put it on the stand and see how I go. Although they only gave me 4 night bags.

Had the district nurse come round today she was happy with how everything looked. I asked about night bags and she said they don't have them and that I'd need to get them on prescription and see my GP. I said I can hardly walk and she said she will speak to the GP and see what they can do. Silly really I only got 4 nights bags for 10 nights and there are one time use only.

As for snoring probably ha ha but it's only me so not to bad at all. A least I'm comfortable and able to sleep.

User

Posted 08 Jul 2015 at 16:41

OH only had four bags for three weeks- the nurse said they were fine to use for a week or so

User

Posted 08 Jul 2015 at 16:48

The original day-bag attached to the catheter stayed on for 7 days. Not sure of the hygiene / sterility issues though , if you empty it and then re-attach it next night . Realistically absolutely fine . Medically maybe a no-no . Im sure you'll get advice

User

Posted 08 Jul 2015 at 18:08

John had one night bag and emptied it into the toilet each morning. The importance of the night bag Raiden is to ensure urine doesn't backflow towards your kidneys if the day bag and your bladder get too full. The last thing you need is kidney damage!

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 08 Jul 2015 at 19:23

The term one time use for the night bags is a bit deceptive, the bags are actually Ok to use for 3 - 5 nights or more, the ctiical bit is to keep the catheter site entrance clean and to do the normal hand washing stuff after emptying, attaching etc. Lyn has made a really important point and I would always recommend using the night bag even if it were for that reason alone.
xx
Mo

User

Posted 09 Jul 2015 at 08:48

2nd nights sleep.....

The district nurse came back round last night and gave me some more night bags so I now have enough for the 10 days, which is better.

Putting the bag on last night was a real struggle, the whole bending down is not easy with everything pulling, but I got it on and looking this morning it was a success, all the waste was in the night bag that I rested in a bucket beside my bed, and I didn't have to get up through the night which was a bliss.

Realising that so much of my every day life and movement relies on my tummy muscles I have swallowed my pride and asked for help, My brother is travelling from London to Liverpool today to spend a week with me, I will be so glad of the company and support, there are so many little things I just cant do. Its made me realise how lucky the men are with wives are partners who support, love and look after them. Its put a lot into perspective for me.

I brought one of those claw pick up devices which should arrive today from Amazon, that might help when I drop things or to grab things out of my reach.

I didn't sleep to well last night, kept waking up every couple of hours and was dreading getting out of bed this morning as it pulls and stings so much on my tummy, I am worried I am going to tear something, but I did manage to get up this morning and it wasn't to bad at all. Once this catheter is out it should be easier as I will have more leg movement to support myself.

I am keeping myself nice and clean, as I always do, although I do feel a little bit of stinging around the entrance but I am told this is normal, and although I had some kind of discharge in my undies on the first day I was out of the op, I don't have anything new, so I am hoping all is ok with it. Counting down the days until I can have it taken out.

My thoughts and thanks are with you all, especially Trish and Stuart, hope all goes well today with the op.

User

Posted 09 Jul 2015 at 08:58

Well done mate . Ive just got back from walking the dogs , and I genuinely wondered how you were coping on your own because it IS Bl....y painful for a good few days . You've coped better than I would have mate. My doctor friend says that when she trained , this operation would have involved a minimum 10 day stay
Cheers Chris

User

Posted 09 Jul 2015 at 09:17

Steve
With regard to getting out of bed, how are you doing this? The way to do it is to log roll. from lying flat on your back, put your feet as close to your bottom as you can get them. Then roll your whole body on to your left side. Use your right arm to push yourself up (or the other way round). This puts minimum strain on your stomach muscles.

I'm glad you've finally asked for help. The company will do you the world of good. Stops you thinking about every twinge. You are doing really well. At this point in the proceedings, my OH was still in hospital.

User

Posted 09 Jul 2015 at 09:30

Steve,

I so glad your brother is coming to look after you, it's time like this when you need your family and he sounds like a great bloke to drop everything for you. Stuart has gone down so will report back later.

Xx

User

Posted 09 Jul 2015 at 11:33

Getting out of bed, I sleep on the left side of the bed, my bag is on my right leg as I am right handed.

I am swivelling my legs round to the left so both feet are on the floor and using my arms to push me upwards from the mattress in little stages then I have a big piece of wood which I am using as a support to actually get me on my feet. Its the getting on the feet which is doing all the pulling and stinging.

The courier delivered one of my parcels today.. My Tena 3 pads "cause I'm a man of a certain age" ha ha, just waiting on the other package with my hand gripper and extra long iPad cable. Typical, I want to go and have a lay down but I know the minute I do, the buzzer will ring and I'll have to get back up again.

User

Posted 09 Jul 2015 at 13:26

I was so pleased that my good lady was around to put my night bag on and take it off again in the morning. At night I would just flop into bed and she hooked up the night bag. If your btother can help with this it will make life easier. It shouldn't be so long before you feel fit enough to change your own.
I hope you are not having any problems with constipation. That was a real concern for me until I got some liquid dynamite to shift the backlog.

THE CHILD HAS GROWN, THE DREAM HAS GONE

User

Posted 09 Jul 2015 at 13:43

Hey Paul,

It will be a lot easier having my brother do it especially while this catheter is in.

I'm terrified of needing a number two, although I have started taking the Senna capsules last night and I have some liquid if I need too, I just don't know what to expect, I have no push at all in me, sitting so low down will be a killer on my tummy.

I've not been eating a lot to afford me a few days of tummy repair.

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