Treatment Experiencies

Hi my op was four and a half hours I had open surgery , very noisy  ward so was pleased to get home got me up walking the morning after and out after 3 days . catheter was a relief to get removed , remember your not alone many of us have been in your position . get everything ready for your return home . Andy

Hi Paul

The best of luck for the 29th. You will soon be able to put my mind at rest about the operation. My robotic assisted surgery is planned for the 10th of October. I go for my pre op on the 30th of September.

Brian.

I can still remember all the fear and doubt I had prior to my op. I had never had major surgery and was scared. I also didn't want to outwardly show how scared I was because I knew my good lady was worried too.

On the day I asked the anethatist how many people died under anaesthetic and she told me one in two hundred thousand. Even then I thought I would be that one. Then apparently, my wife tells me, a look of calm and acceptance came over me and I told her she could go and I would see her later. I walked down to theatre, climbed aboard a trolley, got hooked up to the equipment. They put a cannula in my hand then I nodded off. I woke up later and it was done. Easy in hindsight to say it was a piece of cake but it was nothing like the experience my mind had blown it up into.

Take care. Onward and upward to the recovery camp.

I think you have had most of the normal tips already. One thing I would add... Dont aloow constipation to make things really uncomfortable if you take laxatives do so with caution and in small doses to start with. When you feel you want to go to the loo to do a poo take a small footstool or box with you. Put your feet up onto it when you are sat on the loo. Your feet should be raised about 9 inches or so off the ground and slightly further forward than perpendicular. This takes a lot of pressure off your back passage and therefore makes it easier to pass a motion. The last thing you want to do is strain for any normal bodily function.

Best of luck for the op, let us know how you get on.

very best wishes

xx

Mo

Hi all,

Did anyone read the article in the paper saying that most men will live for 10 years after being diagnosed with PCa even if they have no treatment

Incredibly irresponsible journalism. Makes me so sad that this did not have any qualifying factors like age, severity etc.

Most could be 51% or 99% so that would be pretty misleading if presented that way.

my best wishes

xx

Mo

sorry for posting this here but your inbox is full!

xx

Mo

Good luck tomorrow Paul.

Fingers crossed for you. It's a good luck day and special for us.

Tomorrow is my grandson's birthday. Diagnosed with inoperable cancer at 13 and here we are 7 years later aged 20, living life to the full

I'm sure you'll be fine. Just remember to do as you're told and not rush things.

All the best

Sandra

********

Hope all goes well for you tomorrow and that you have a good recovery.

Keep us posted when you can.

Kind regards

Kevan👍

here's to you having a very successful op tomorrow and a safe but speedy discharge from hospital.

Then feet up and take it really easy for a while.

best wishes

xx

Mo

Hi Guys,

well I got through it, went to theatre at 7.30 am back at 12.30 pm so about 4 hours, surgeon said all went well with negative margins, so fingers crossed, came home yesterday morning and had my first decent nights sleep last night, a bit painfull around my stomach from entry wounds but mostly when i cough or get up from a chair, the biggest problem was the gas but a few good farts and it is a lot better now, all I am worried about now is looking after the catheter, how robust are they, so now one step at a time, 

best wishes to all

Paul

We told you it would be okay and great news from your surgeon. As regards the catheter the first time round I was like you very wary of how robust they are, could I pull it out.

It would take a fair bit of effort to pull out, I accidentally caught some of mine a few times it keeps you alert. Keep it clean and wash round the end of the penis, the advice is non perfumed soap/gel.

You may get by-passing where urine comes out between the catheter and the penis,can be quite uncomfortable but with soon pass.

Keep active but no marathons,moving around will help keep the motions soft.

Thanks Chris

Well done Paul.

Very pleased that's over for you. Wishing you a speedy recovery

Best Wishes

Sandra

*******

So pleased that all went well and that you are feeling pretty good. As the others have said, take things easy as your body has experienced a bit of trauma and things need time to settle. The catheter is pretty robust so shouldn't cause any problems but hygiene is important.

I did have a smile as I could hear the note of relief in your post. It's a beautiful day here today and reading your post has just made it even better.

Every good wish for your recovery.

Kevan

Edited by member 02 Oct 2016 at 11:55  | Reason: Not specified

Hi Paul

Pleased everything went well for you. This has given me more confidence for my operation on 10th October. Keep us posted on how the recovery goes and I will see if I can catch up.

Brian.

Hi Paul

Getting very nervous myself now! I have been told to present myself at the hospital at 11am on Monday morning and have nothing to eat after midnight tomorrow! Meeting up with friends tomorrow for a nice Sunday lunch in an attempt to take my mind off things. Thanks for the good wishes and continued good wishes for your recovery.

Brian.

Hi Paul

Just to let you know everything has gone well so far. I have posted more information on Un welcome news by Oxonian on the site, very much hope everything is still going well with you.

Best wishes

Brian.

Hi all,

Has anybody had leakage around the catheter where it goes into the penis, I get a little when I walk or go to the toilet, the catheter is draining fine,

Paul

Hi Chris,

Still getting quite a bit of by passing, catheter seems to be draining OK filling a bag every hour, its just a pain in the butt,

Paul

As regards having the catheter removed I posted to HH the other day my surgeon is convinced the swift pull on my sticking catheter was the start of my stricture problems.

You could be lucky and be dry from day one. At first you will want to go as soon as the urge comes on, as things progress try to hang on a bit longer before going to the loo. You are probably going to need too retrain the bladder, try to avoid going just in case. I had a Boots urine bottle and a towel and spare briefs for when out in the car,i think I only needed it a couple of times. Standing up from sitting seems to be the most common time to leak along with coughs and sneezing.

A tenna2 pad can hold over 500cc of urine, I had a tenna2 pad inside a snug pair of briefs. I also tested the absorbency of the pad by standing in the shower with a pad in the briefs and let the bladder go.

Stopping mid stream is frowned upon by incontinence nurses but occasionally I would stop mid stream to see how well the sphincter was working.

Hope all goes well

Thanks Chris

When my RARP catheter was removed I then had to drink water in a controlled way i.e. do not drink all the water in one go. I then had to urinate three times before being allowed home, it has recently been changed to twice. So you Will have some idea how you bladder is leaking or retaining before you leave hospital. I was given pads to wear before I left the hospital. On the down side the water you drank before urinating is still working its way to your bladder. I recall that I leaked getting into the car and getting out but not enough to fill the pad or wet my clothes. I did put a towel on the seat just in case, I only had a twenty minute journey home so not to bad. There may be blood in the urine when you start urinating naturally, I was told rose wine colour is okay red wine colour should be checked.

Remember to relax and do not get anxious about passing urine once the catheter is removed. Do not try to rush things.

Thanks Chris

Added, You will probably have a bladder scan to ensure your bladder is reasonably empty.

Edited by member 22 Oct 2016 at 15:52  | Reason: Not specified

How did you get on Paul with your catheter coming out yesterday? Hope all has gone well for you.
HappyH