RP 17th December

User

Posted 22 Dec 2019 at 10:39

So here we are Day 5 after RP. All things being equal, I'm doing OK. Managed to fend off the cold I had mostly as well.

Pain is managed well, bowels open day 2 - though still plenty of wind! Drinking plenty, and monitoring colour in the bag - the very odd fleck of blood, but that's about it.

Keeping mobile, but not overdoing it. My fantastic wife is a nurse and is (rightly so) ensuring I keep to sensible regime, and unfortunately she is also picking up all the chores I would normally have to do at this time of year. I must admit, I dont feel particularly Christmassy- I've not even got around to send out cards!

Managed to work out the overnight bag - just had the bag pop off once as I woke up!

Details now received of the next landmark - the TWOC - 30th December. There was me thinking that it would be a simple removal - obviously not!

I can't help thinking back over this year of how surreal this whole episode is.

For me, I had almost no symptoms of PCa, even my initial PSA of just over 4 which started this journey off didn't ring alarm bells with me. Having had leukaemia for 8 years, I am acutely tuned to even the smallest changes in my bloods, and some of my levels (mast cell tryptase) have fluctuated outside of the normal range for years (due to me being on a maintenance chemotherapy dose), but walking into hospital Tuesday with no discernable symptoms for major surgery, and waking up with bits missing and holes in my tummy was just surreal. Sorry went on a bit there....

Anyway, there are a few of us on here that have had recent surgery and the advice from the many contributors is so very valuable - thank you.

User

Posted 22 Dec 2019 at 13:15

TWOC is quite straightforward, keep yourself well hydrated the day before and on the day. Drink little and often on the day and then follow the instructions of the nurse at the clinic. Stay relaxed and it will be a breeze. Take a towel and seat cover to put on the car seat for the return journey just in case.

Have a great Christmas.

Thanks Chris

User

Posted 22 Dec 2019 at 13:24

Good to hear things are moving along nicely. It would appear your catheter will be in for longer than me. I have just received confirmation of my TWOC, which is on the 27th. Hope you continue to recover and try and enjoy your Xmas as much as possible. I have been fortunate in having a 5 year grandson who lives very close by. Fortunately we will be spending some of the time with him and family on Christmas day. Which will fortunately give my wife a break as I haven't been able to help much. Hope you manage to sort out some of your other issue out and agree this forum has been a great help

User

Posted 22 Dec 2019 at 13:27

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Have a great Christmas.

Thanks Chris

Good idea to take a towel and cover for the car seat.

User

Posted 22 Dec 2019 at 14:38

Take tena or boots pants with you better than pads. My husband only just had enough. Wish you well.on the day.

Edited by member 22 Dec 2019 at 14:40 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 22 Dec 2019 at 21:37

Great to hear you are making excellent progress. Check this the nursing staff who will be doing the TWOC. I took some tens level 3 and they gave me an adult nappy and pads anyway but additional were for reassurance. Better to be over equipped. I also took a couple of gel travel Johns with me but didn’t need them on long train journey back...although not sure how I would have used as at min need a quiet area :-/

hope you have a fabulous festive week.

User

Posted 30 Dec 2019 at 14:28

Well I passed TWOC today - now catheter free. Yippee!

No wet pads during TWOC either.... Although padded up for my journey home , just incase. I hope this is something to be optimistic about!

User

Posted 30 Dec 2019 at 15:27

That’s good. I found I leaked when walking fast or coughing after the catheter was removed. Watch out if you exert yourself!

Sounds like you’re doing well.

Did you get scanned to see if you were emptying your bladder?

Best wishes,

Ido4

User

Posted 30 Dec 2019 at 16:26

Thanks Ido4, yes scanned 4 times.

Fully empty twice, a tiny bit of residual the other two times. Made it home dry - peeing is a bit uncomfortable now, but leak free for the time being!

User

Posted 30 Dec 2019 at 16:41

Wow sounds like you are doing amazingly. Here it's like Niagra falls. Only joking. Keep us posted and we'll done.

User

Posted 30 Dec 2019 at 16:50

That's a great start, don't go to the loo "just in case" but don't wait too long either. Tense the pelvic muscles when standing up.

Thanks Chris

User

Posted 30 Dec 2019 at 18:38

Thanks for that Chris, I'll keep that in mind. Must admit things feel a bit sore internally down there at the moment, but is suspect that is to be expected only 10 hours since catheter removed, and them urethral muscles haven't been used for 2 weeks!

Managing to retain about 150mls before bladder starts to feel a little full. Onky on water and tea for now until things progress further. Standing up is definitely better than sitting!

User

Posted 31 Dec 2019 at 09:37

First night without a catheter. Another little victory! Woke up twice: 2.15am and 5.15am to pee - but the pad was dry. Still very sore stopping and starting to pee; and its a bit of an effort and it works better standing than sitting - but the fact that my body knew that I needed a pee and didn't just leak, I'm going to put down as progress. Need to keep the fluids going in!

User

Posted 31 Dec 2019 at 10:15

Hi BHP,

Another milestone in the bag. I found peeing sore too, especially in my urethra (maybe chafing from the catheter) but I kept the fluids up and it improved over time. I also had a dull ache inside after peeing but that passed too.

Kev.

Edited by member 31 Dec 2019 at 10:28 | Reason: Grammar

User

Posted 31 Dec 2019 at 10:53

Brill

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

User

Posted 02 Jan 2020 at 11:22

Update 16 Days post RP op, 3 days post TWOC.

Peeing is getting better, hurt like hell for the first 3 days starting and stopping - it wasn't a sting, almost like muscular pain. Sitting better than standing, although alternating seemed to ease things. Flow is quite slow, and I cant hold a lot in the bladder at this time - but getting better every day I think. Only stress incontinence (sneezing, coughing and farting) - although my wife has reminded me that that is no different to many women after childbirth - pelvic exercises helping here.

Still sore in the lower pelvic area and across the tummy - so behaving as far as taking it easy.

Although still early days, absolutely no movement whatsoever in the erection department - smaller than before and deader than a dodo - small price to pay however - and my brilliant wife is really supportive.

So glad to get 2019 behind me, and looking forward to 2020 with renewed motivation.

To those of you who have contributed to my various musings on here - a massive thank you - following your own journies (present and past) has been hugely informative.

User

Posted 02 Jan 2020 at 16:18

Good to hear you are doing really well .

User

Posted 02 Jan 2020 at 18:14

Happy New Year and I hope your recovery continues smoothly.

Ido4

User

Posted 05 Jan 2020 at 17:55

Hope all going well with your recovery.

I am nearly 6 weeks post op and am still feeling so relieved and pleased with what has in my case been an easy recovery from the procedure itself with very few SE that I was so worried about pre op.

Best wishes for 2020.

Grant60

User

Posted 06 Jan 2020 at 09:04

RP was 3 weeks tommorrow. Last few days have much better. A lot less discomfort peeing and flow and bladder capacity up about 60% on last week. Still aching in the area of the prostate, but at least it doesn't feel like I'm sitting on a brazil nut all the time. Incontinence limited to coughs, sneezes and farts - and last night I didn't need to get up to pee for the first time since the op. Tummy still tender in places, and fatigue easing as I make up the blood I lost during the op.

Took the dog for a gentle walk yesterday, which was another milestone - but definately not pushing things.

All in all I can't complain at all really!

Edited by member 06 Jan 2020 at 15:41 | Reason: Not specified

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