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Early days after surgery. Some questions

User
Posted 10 Aug 2019 at 13:46
Hi,

I used to worry about the night bag not filling. To some extent you just have to trust to gravity and let it work. You might be surprised how much fluid is resting in the tubes, so it can look like nothing is happening but it is. Just make sure that the nightstand is on the floor. I kept worrying about it and ended up getting so tired I fell asleep, and presto the bag was full when I woke!

The catheter removal is painless - will definitely need some snug-fitting pants, the pads need to be held in place.

Tell your OH not to be too worried about what happens immediately after the catheter comes out. The first couple of days without it are just weird, no idea how much is going to come out & when.

User
Posted 10 Aug 2019 at 13:50

Hardly leaked at night, and got rid of the waterproof mattress cover after a couple of weeks as it wasn't' necessary.  The Tena pants were enough to deal with any problems.

laughing, coughing and sneezing just aren't the same any more 

 

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
He has gone some underwear that seem to be ok with pads as he has been leaking down the side of the catheter and using pads for that. We have also stocked up on some disposable pants - mainly for nighttime.

How did people deal with night time leaks? I purchased a waterproof sheet thinking it would be easy to just wash and dry daily if needed - however - you can't tumble dry it - so in this weather it would have taken off by now.

We have also stocked up on plenty of disposable bed pads from Boots.

User
Posted 10 Aug 2019 at 23:03

hi

How much has been leaking then ?  a small pad should more than suffice .    nighttime bag on floor at side of bed there shouldn't be much horizontal tubing.   It's obviously awkward moving off back or onto side.

the tubes shouldn't tightly  loop. 

The inflated balloon should seal catheter at base of bladder. Has OH made sure he's not been pushing or pulling catheter in penis ? pants should support yet allow easy and comfortable  flow , ideally minimal or zero leakage.   Maybe a few drops on bowel movements etc.   Urine of any quantity shouldn't be bypassing. 

I assume you have an appointment for catheter removal soon and no longer an issue.  A decent sleep awakes.  

all the best 

 

Edited by member 10 Aug 2019 at 23:19  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 11 Aug 2019 at 13:21
It's been more of a seepage really which has been like that since he came home from hospital. Pads have coped well and night pad/pants. He has the catheter out tomorrow so we're both looking forward to that being gone. Onwards to the next stage in this journey.
User
Posted 21 Aug 2019 at 22:32
Hubbie just returned home yesterday after surgery. This thread has answered so many of my concerns & helped my anxieties. Thank you all & huge best wishes for continued & full recovery for you all xx
User
Posted 22 Aug 2019 at 14:49

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
Hubbie just returned home yesterday after surgery. This thread has answered so many of my concerns & helped my anxieties. Thank you all & huge best wishes for continued & full recovery for you all xx

Good luck to your hubby with his recovery.  Thanks to the good people here I got lots of good tips and advice but it has also been such a learning curve for me.

After just one night in hospital you will effectively become a nurse for the first week or so till the catheter comes out.

As you have no doubt seen, he has been sent home with lots of meds and other bits and pieces maybe but the one tip I would pass on to you is in the early days and before the catheter is removed - is to log everything - all meds and especially pain killers (what they are, what dosage, what time etc...). It's easy to lose track of them otherwise. Include in that log any regular meds he already takes. 

Log all fluids he drinks - quantities mainly -  (just to ensure he is drinking plenty - try and get him to 2 litres per day) - For fluids out you don't need to log anything as you will see how well he is doing by the frequency of you emptying the bag and the colour of the it - the paler it is, the more hydrated he is. 

He won't be able to bend at all - so you will be doing tap duty (opening and closing) on the catheter line. (I purchased a travel pee pot from Boots for £4.99 - (and found it so much easier and less mess/splashes etc to drain the tube into that and then pour down the loo). If he really feels too sore or unwell you can do this in situ where he is (although you should try and encourage him to walk a few steps each hour).

You will note from earlier posts my night time sagas with the catheter line - it may have been me but I became worried it was not draining properly and just sitting in the line and there was an air lock etc..... so I was up every 2 hours physically checking it (maybe it was overkill but I don't think so).

You will work ways that suit you both - we even had to devise a way for the cat to still be able to sit on him without jumping on him!

As for my hubby - his op will be 3 weeks ago tomorrow and he is recovering very well. He is much more mobile and since the catheter was removed the continence he was expecting to be bad has not been so. He is finding it is mainly when he moves, coughs etc... - but he's doing his exercises and starts physio tomorrow.

No news yet from the hospital as to whether the op removed all the cancer - fingers crossed they did.

 

 

 

 
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