Good luck tomorrow, I hope all goes well.
I had LRP in July 2015.
I found although I was nervous I had a resolve to get on and get it over with on P day.
I was fortunate in that when I arrived at 7, it took till about 8:45 to go through pre op prep eg measurements of BP, enema, talking to surgeon to discuss things, talking through things with the anaesthatis, signing consent.
By the time I went for a seat I was taken thriugh to theatre after 15 minutes so hope you don’t have a long wait.
its a bit daunting when you see the size of the team involved but that is also reassuring. One of the theatre nurse promised me they would take very good care of me and they honoured that promise.
I felt surprisingly well when I came to in the high dependency unit around 3 and 3/4 of an hour later. Although I have to admit I was in and out of consciousness wakening up to find staff doing stuff, they could have been doing anything I didn’t care!
The high dependency charge nurse looking after me was fantastic.
I spent the next 4 or 5 hours there before going up to the ward.
I had oxygen attached, a heavy vessel clipped to the side of the bed to measure and collect my urine output through the catheter. There were also devices round my calves which inflated periodically to prevent clots.
I forgot about them at one point and thought my leg was swelling up.
My wife thought I looked really well, I’m sure that was the painkillers and the oxygen lol.
The next morning I was disconnected from the large overnight catheter vessel and told to go and shower.
That is the weirdest experience. Showering with a catheter tube dangling from your penis.
My surgical drain bag fell off while I was showering and there seemed to be blood everywhere so I pulled the emergency cord. No dignity having a nurse come in and clean you up before fitting a new drain bag.
I was then fitted with a leg bag on my catheter. Easy to go for a wee, you just unstrap the bag hold it over the loo and open the valve. Fastest flow rate I had in a long time!
I went short walks around in between rests to get moving.The wounds smarted a bit but heal amazingly quickly.
The staff were great. I had the drain removed the next day and went home.
Catheter removed 11 dayes later.
Let us know how you get on.
Ian