I'm interested in conversations about and I want to talk about
Know exactly what you want?
Show search

Notification

Error


My RALP

User
Posted 11 Nov 2019 at 20:00

Hi Chris,

Yes mine is statlock and like you I'm very cautious with it being early days for me, (and I don't know how robust it is). The hose is ruggedised so not flexible enough to wear the bag within reach, so for now my other half does the straps for me.

The gel is a good call so will get some as it does get a bit sticky.

Thanks

User
Posted 12 Nov 2019 at 07:51

Managed to have a successful poo, so I thought I'd share what worked for me, I started another thread to cover it.

This may or may not help others but I hope it does.

User
Posted 13 Nov 2019 at 09:18

Having said that, the second one was like a dry hedgehog, and left my belly feeling very tight. On the plus side, it's nice to have things moving again, but clearly my bowels are trying to reorganize and I'll have to be patient.

User
Posted 14 Nov 2019 at 10:07

Yesterday turned out a bit difficult, I had a couple of incredibly painful cramps which lasted a good 5 minutes or so each and left me feeling washed out for the rest of the day. The sensation was like a strong tightening across my front just below the navel which slowly subsided leaving me a bit shakey. Not sure what triggered them but the first one was not long after getting up from the toilet. Bladder spasm maybe? Got to say I had gallstones several years ago and the intensity and sensation was similar (different part of the body obv's).

Apart from that I'm pain free although I've been taking paracetamol since leaving hospital (other half believes in pain management) so maybe the pain could have been worse.

User
Posted 14 Nov 2019 at 10:51

Kev

A few days after my RARP I also suffered an excruciating pain in the abdominal area that resulted in paramedics, 30 mg ?  of morphine and a ride to hospital in an ambulance. After a few hours I was given the option of going to the urology ward at a different hospital or going home, I chose to go home. We decided it was constipation,  my bladder spasms are uncomfortable but only lasts for a minute or so and are usually or accompanied with leaking urine. Painkillers can   cause constipation. 

Thanks Chris

 

User
Posted 14 Nov 2019 at 11:12

Just received the bad news this week, doctor said RALP is probably my best option. So I though I do some research, see what the road ahead looks like. 

Thanks Kev for starting this post.

Craig

User
Posted 14 Nov 2019 at 12:27

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Just received the bad news this week, doctor said RALP is probably my best option. So I though I do some research, see what the road ahead looks like. 

Thanks Kev for starting this post.

Craig

Hi Craig,

If you like, start a new thread under your own name, and fill in the full details of your diagnosis (PIRADS, Gleason score, PSA readings, etc., which may not necessarily be that ‘bad news’) and that will help the good people here to offer you advice on the way ahead - if you need it.

Best of luck.

Cheers, John.

User
Posted 14 Nov 2019 at 12:53

Hi Craig,
My decision for RALP was unanimous between my oncologist, surgeon and myself with backing from my partner.

I'd consider the following:
Nerve sparing.. (no guarantee of course).
Penis: may be a bit shorter after.
There'll be pain and discomfort but I was quite comfortable by day 2.
The catheter can be uncomfortable and cumbersome, you need to keep an eye on the bag! I needed help with emptying as it's strapped to my calf (may be an issue if you're single).
On a busy ward, it helps to have a partner to fight your corner sometimes.
There'll be a wait for final pathology so it'll be a bit like the biopsy one I guess.

Prep:
I'm no athlete but do use a gym, so bearing in mind comments about shoulder pain, I used the arm bike(?) machine a lot. As well as using gym equipment I went running. I figured I needed to be in the best shape possible. I think this focussed my mind and cleared my head and gave me a positive attitude, so by the day of the op, I can honestly say that I was ready.

Apart from that, others have listed useful stuff like mattress protector, icopads etc.. as theres bound to be the odd drip when changing night bag etc..

I have no regrets (well too late now anyway)

I hope this helps in some way and best of luck.
Kev.

Edited by member 14 Nov 2019 at 14:10  | Reason: Typo

User
Posted 14 Nov 2019 at 12:57

Thanks John, will think about it.

 

Gleason score of 7 and PSA of 13.8, my PSA reading did jump from 11 in the 4 weeks between the tests. Not sure if this is an indicator or just normal. I had been fit until the last 12 months. Started to suffer with pain in my right hip last May.

User
Posted 14 Nov 2019 at 21:16

Pretty good day today. More mobility but definitely taking it easy.. took dressings off to see my new body piercings (21 staples in total) and a couple smart a bit.

Bowel movements working themselves out now (see what I did there?)

Interesting to see some debris flow through catheter tube as I was having a poo (guess a nugget tapped my bladder).

Looking forward to getting out to hospital tomorrow for a review on my haemoglobin and decision on blood thinning, bit early to get catheter or staples out yet (maybe next week).

P.S. My scrotum is the size of a grapefruit, it's not painful just uncomfortable, so I'll ask the doctor about it .

Edited by member 15 Nov 2019 at 06:23  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 15 Nov 2019 at 08:49

Hi Kev

Sounds like you are making steady progress. Due for my Retzius sparing RARP + neurosafe in just over a week. One pre-op yesterday the nurse mentioned about scrotal swelling and said to be prepared for significant swelling as the bruising comes out. She said although from outside the surgery looks minor inside it’s quite a different story and takes quite a while to settle. Defo get it checked out for reassurance but sound like you are on a good road to recovery. Will start a thread too when things kick off.

best of luck and keep those tips and updates coming as they are invaluable.

TG

User
Posted 15 Nov 2019 at 16:12

End of week 1
It is now exactly one week on from my surgery so this serves as an update/summary.

Hospital visit done: haemoglobin ok, so looks like I'll be having those anti-coagulant injections after all (30 days).
Doctor assured me that my grapefruit sized scrotum would return to normal and that no she didn't want to see it.

Returning Monday 18th to TWOC (Trial WithOut Catheter) so fingers crossed.

A summary of highs and lows below, (highs outweigh the lows):

Highs:
Surgery over and moved to the ward.
A bed by the nurses station where I could see down the corridor.
Pain under control.
Watching the Sunrise.
Surgeon advises successful operation, good margin and nerves spared.
That bowl of rice crispies when allowed to eat for the first time.
Getting out of bed for the first time. (and shuffling to the day room for a smooch with my better half).
Less frequent ob's at night.
A good night's sleep.
My first shower.
The visitor who brought a box of trivial pursuit questions and the laugh a minute quiz we had in our bay (we called cancer corner).
Going home.
My own bed.
My own sofa.
My first poo.


Lows:
Some pain.
1 hourly ob's.
Room mate's suffering.
Not going home first night as planned.
Two excruciatingly painful spasms.
That itchy staple.

Oh yeah, the catheter.

 

Edited by member 15 Nov 2019 at 16:23  | Reason: Typos

User
Posted 15 Nov 2019 at 17:17

Hope you don't get any more spasms. May be worth getting some Buscopan or equivalent. Check out my post from 9th September.

User
Posted 16 Nov 2019 at 01:50

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
Did you have a nerve block into your spinal cord though, Bollinge?

Yes Matron, I had a spinal injection which I referred to as an epidural, but the anaesthetist told me it was not that. Can’t remember what she said it was called.

She also seemed intrigued when I asked her exactly what drugs she was pumping into me, and we discussed their uses / and recreational abuses, including the opioid Fentanyl. She was probably glad when she finally knocked me out to shut me up!

Anyway, she did a bloody good job.

Cheers, John.

Edited by member 16 Nov 2019 at 04:23  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 16 Nov 2019 at 09:58

John, 

I was going to ask you about the spinal tap...answers that question.

Think she will be looking to knock me out pretty quick too. After sedatives/anaesthetic dad jokes are unrelenting. 

TG

User
Posted 16 Nov 2019 at 10:48
You should feel an awful lot better once the staples are removed, Kev. They really pull on the edges of the wound. When mine were removed it was instantly much less painful to walk.

Very best wishes for your recovery,

Chris

User
Posted 16 Nov 2019 at 11:28

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
I was going to ask you about the spinal tap...answers that question.

Mention it to your anaesthetist to see if they feel it appropriate, don’t forget my surgery was on the NHS by Professorwhocannotbenamedhere at Guildford, so your anaesthetist will surely be a different one.

Cheers, John.

User
Posted 16 Nov 2019 at 12:23

Hi John

Ah yes forgot that. Epidural is also the path for me I believe via the pre-op staff. 

Seems to be favoured as less load on heart/lungs/immune system apparently. I wonder if it will cure me of my fear of needles. Had so many now the bloods on Thursday I didn’t even break into a sweat 😲

cheers

TG

User
Posted 16 Nov 2019 at 13:24

Thanks for the kind messages of support, it's great to see all the advice and encouragement.

Hey TG, looking forward to tracking your progress when you have your op, good luck!

User
Posted 16 Nov 2019 at 21:10

Just had my last antibiotic so that's another step. 

Had a leak of urine and a little blood from the end of my penis while having a poo. Thinking maybe the catheter is causing irritation, it's draining ok and comes out Monday, so I'll see how it goes and phone urology if it persists.

 
Forum Jump  
©2025 Prostate Cancer UK