My Prostate Cancer Surgery experience

Hi Guys,

Another day of continued feelings of having a full bladder and feeling the need to go every hour but loo visits take around 5-10 mins and only seems like a an egg cup before I have to stop.   Then it's waiting for another hour to repeat again and then again every hour.   Is this "normal"?   If so how many days after they remove the catheter should some kind of more normal peeing activity kick in?    My catheter came out Thursday lunch time so only been 2 days and a bit so far.   Any views would be really appreciated.

Pauly

Hi Nick,

No sign of infection or bloods in my pee which is pretty cleqr most of the time.   Just sometimes getting stabbing pains (my bladder being overfull?) and the never ending urge to go.   Will see how things go over next 24 hours as that would by 4 full days since catheter was removed Thursday lunchtime.   

No problems eating or drinking but getting around can be difficult although manageable.   I wouldn't mind if leaked into my pads just to relieve the pressure but nothing.   Have to sit on the loo and wait and wait and wait for anything to happen, even when I squeeze my pelvic floor muscle just get little dribbles even after 5 minutes   I can sleep with it but only for 30-50 minutes at a time and then it's back to bathroom to repeat.   As I said before in the larger scheme it's probably a short term problem but was just wondering how long to give it.

All the best

Pauly

Thank you for your kind wishes and sorry to hear of some bad experiences. Having a Catheter in for 9 weeks must have been miserable and makes me feel even luckier now. I cannot begin to imagine your relief when it was eventually removed !!

Having a clamp left in must have been awful and that sounds like a basic mistake to make so not surprised the specialist was not impressed. I guess if staff are over worked it can lead to mistakes and that should not be the case when people need a high level of care.

Good news that you were dry within 3 weeks and you are feeling positive

I hope your recovery continues to go well

Best Wishes

Paul

Please keep us updated, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Chris

Chris

bloods nurses had 3 stabs trying to get sample all failed...ouch.  waiting for someone to try next. ...not nice 

Chris

Hi Guys,

Finally got out of A&E at @11pm yesterday.

Doc confirmed that the drain wound area has become infected post op and was in his words "full of puss"....I can definitely feel and see the difference on my left side which is larger than my right side now so must be a fair bit of muck down there at the moment.

No action taken last night, just given a course of anti-biotics Co-amoxiclav (3 doses per day over 7 days).

Glad I went to A&E in the end, it was the right thing to do otherwise no telling how much worse I would be feeling and how much the infection would have spread etc.

Fingers xxd this works out as the peeing seems to have actually improved since yesterday and got 2 hours kip instead of only 1 hour before visiting the toilet last night.  That extra hour really makes a difference...can't wait for that to become 3 hours.

All the best

Pauly

Only thing to add is that this needs to be followed up with the urology dept that did the op sooner rather than later, if only to make sure that they are fully aware of what is going on. Hopefully arrangements were made as part of your A&E encounter but if not I suggest ringing the specialist nurse today. Need to be sure that the infection gets fully resolved.

If you've got issues, don't be shy about contacting the nurses. All the ones I've had dealings with have been great but they can't help if they don't know there's a problem. And don't hang on until Friday afternoon 'cause that usually results in a weekend A&E visit. I have three of those t-shirts.....

Hope you are much more comfortable now!

Nick

Apologies I thought I had replied to your post a few weeks ago but I cannot now see it so it must have gone into the Internet ether so will try again!!

I am so sorry to hear you had the Catheter in for 9 weeks!!! I was lucky but even after only 7 days I was so relieved to have it taken out. I feel for you.The clamp on your catheter tube sounds really painful too and you must have been in agony. I am not surprised the specialist said he would be "having words"

Great news you were dry within 3 weeks too. After 5 weeks I am not yet dry but now on one pad a day and it is improving and I saw the Surgeon today who said I am ahead of schedule. How are you doing now ?

I got my Lab test results today. Thankfully the results showed all the cancer was removed and that the tissue he removed was surrounded by a layer of normal tissue so a clear or negative surgical margin. I was so relieved I shed a few tears.

He also said the laboratory report showed the cancer was more aggressive than the original biopsy and tests showed and that the Gleason Score that they downgraded from a 4:3 to a 3:4 was in fact the more aggressive 4:3 and I had more of the 4 than originally was thought which proved I needed the operation and the suggestion of going on active surveillance as I did at first was not the right thing to do.

I am now waiting for the results of my first PSA Blood test following the OP

I know like you I am lucky as the outcome for some is not as positive

Best wishes

Paul

Hi Paul,

Thanks for asking, btw I saw you had some excellent news following your op re zero cancer cells being found outside the prostate, fantastic result.

We both had our ops at the same time in September (mine was 10th).   I went back to work after 4 weeks (office based) and been doing ok since the infection cleared up with the anti biotics.   

Frustrating that the urge to pee is as strong as ever and still going every hour or so even at night.   Docs say no sign of any other infections in my urine etc and just have to wait until the sensitivity reduces.   Driving me slightly crazy as broken sleep means energy levels are low and wondering how and when I can ever expect to get back to some normality but it is what it is just a waiting game for me I guess.  Next follow up with the surgeon 15 november to see if any psa levels detectable.

For now just dog tired all the time but at least I am finally off the meds and no need to do those daily belly jabs which seem to go on and on.

Looks we both had great outcomes from surgery so fingers crossed that's it.

HI LynEyre 

re your comment that  Mechanically, there should be no reason for night weeing now if it continues you could ask the GP whether there are any bladder training classes in your area. Sometimes the brain stops trusting the messages it gets from the bladder leading to habitual waking. 

Thanks very much for this suggestion which I am sure others will also find helpful

Best Wishes

Paul 

Pauly, best to do it under the watchful eye of medical people if you can - it is important not to overdo it.

Pete

Thank you for this it is appreciated 

Best wishes

Paul 

Thank you so much Pauly C 

yes again I shed a few tears when the Nurse rang me. It was a relief 

Hope you are doing ok too 

Best wishes

Paul 

Thanks for this Steve. I wish you all the very best with the Surgery at the Broomfield hospital in Essex. I was nervous before surgery which is natural but now I am glad I had it. Let us know how you get on.

Best Wishes

Paul

Thanks for sharing this and good luck to you too for the future and I hope your recovery is going well

Best wishes

Paul