Going in for the Operation - any tips?

- large bucket (to stand the catheter bag in at night)

- pants (not boxer shorts) one size larger than you usually wear - your penis and scrotum may be very swollen afterwards and will appreciate the extra support

- comfy track suit bottoms / leisure pants, ideally in a dark colour & with a drawstring waist rather than elastic if possible - M&S do some in sweatshirt type material

- a waterproof sheet (Dunelm sells one which doesn't feel like plastic) or some disposable puppy pads from any good pet shop (to protect the mattress when your catheter comes out)

- ask whether the hospital will give you some instillagel to bring home with you post-op - if not, try to get a prescription for it now. It is a local anaesthetic gel to help stop the eye of your penis becoming too sore while the catheter is in

- clarify whether they will provide you with continence pads or whether you need to buy your own. If you have to purchase your own, get a couple of packs in but not hundreds because you might find you don't need them

- puzzles, books, etc

You may be very lucky and not need all of these so don't spend a fortune!

Your bowels will be seriously disrupted by all the robot arms delving round your abdomen, and it will take a few days for them to rearrange themselves, so a soft stool should make your motions easier to pass.

The first fart is the greatest!

Best of luck.

Cheers, John.

This all sounds so horrible, I'm really glad I chose RT 😆

Had my RP sept 18 at the Marsden. Got out from surgery around 2pm I was well drugged up and felt nothing. Overnight was ok but had to sleep on my back for obvious reasons. Felt rough in the morning and I was a grumpy patient - nurse was very patient. First poo was a daunting thought but happened without drama. Warning DONT PUSH HARD your new plumbing won’t like it. Wife drove me home late afternoon. I had my one and only major leak on the way home so maybe something to protect the car seat. I had a supra pubic catheter (not thru penis, thru lower tummy) hence the leak. Not much I could do about it, it happens. I felt sore but hospital gave me a good supply of pain killers (forgot name but not strong no ones). It was manageable. Tummy was still quite bloated from gas put in during surgery. Anyway that night made it up to bedroom with relative ease and had a good nights sleep. From then on every day got better. I made sure I got out for a very gentle walk each day - started off being 10 mins. Bowels nice and regular.

By day 7 back to Marsden and catheter removed - even caught a bus such was my progress. Now going solo. I was so surprised, all the work I did on pelvic floor muscles pre op starting to pay off. I had good urinary control, but I was glad I overstocked on pads, gave me some confidence.

By week 2 some slight soreness but life quickly returning back to normal. I kept on with the walking, good for the mind too. After one month it was all a distant memory. No major leakages but I resumed kegal exercises after nurse gave me heads up - this helped me greatly to retrain my mind to sub consciously manage stress situations that cause leakages.

At 8 weeks went on a long flight to Mauritius for 10 Day holiday. Salt water and gentle breaststroke was great for recovery.

Nearly 2 years on I have no significant issues, scars hardly noticeable - even my ED started to disappear and I can now have a 80% erection that does the job. And the best of all my PSA is undetectable - you’ll learn to love that word!! I have no regrets.

No idea if some of the advice above is good in general. For me, at 68 probably at the more senior end of RP, here's my experiences:

1. Sleep in hospital was pretty much non-existent, but it was only one night and my bag was definitely not in range to put on my headphones. Maybe those who go private have more helpful night staff, but my experience is that on the NHS they pretty much ignore the patients as much as they can. Most appear to be studying.

2. It definitely helps to not be pushing your stools, but the biggest factor in this is to be moving asap - I got moving as soon as they let me and was doing 30 minute walks as soon as the catheter came out. That said, I took my course of lactulose because I tend to suffer from constipation anyway.

3. I also found that despite the catheter I felt the need for the toilet on the way home (a 1.5 hour journey for us, as our local RARP surgeon left our closer hospital just before the operation). Emergency stop at petrol station saved the day.

4. Really not much pain - I took the Paracetomol and Ibuprofen prescribed for a few days, then dropped the latter (caused some indigestion) and then the former, with an OK from the Cancer Nurse.

5. Never had a leak at night and never took any special care of the bag, just went in a bowl on the floor. Have had bad bladder reaction to general anaesthetic thrice previously, so a bit blase about the catheter; not found the need to pussyfoot around it much. Great relief when it comes out, of course.

6. Scars are nothing, at least to someone that has had proper carve ups (my melanoma scar is about 8" long and not pretty, for instance).

7. Bruising comes out over time - don't be surprised when your balls suddenly turn black & blue. It all goes.

8. You can get some continence pads/pants in the free pack from this site. They are actually quite heavy duty, so are almost certainly enough to get you going. If you need more, any decent sized supermarket is likely to have some - although likely hidden in female products! Otherwise Incontinence Choice have a very wide range at reasonable prices that can be delivered to your door. I was able to switch to the light pads quickly so never needed to buy any more of the heavier pads. Of course YMMV.

9. Definitely trackies are the thing post-op, but any reasonably loose trousers are OK with a catheter - whatever you feel comfortable in. For underwear, I used trunks, which offer support but are not too tight - I wear them a size up (in waist terms) anyway.

Thanks Lyn - really appreciated good practical tips!

Actually can I just thank everyone who contributed on this - so good to get this feedback. Until this I'd never been in hospital (I'm 63) so I think my concerns are more about the unknown really. Ironically I've never felt fitter - dropped a stone in weight as being fit for the Op has given me the focus I've needed for a couple of years. Also didn't have any symptoms until they started taking lumps out of my prostate!

I'll be going in well equipped after these contributions. Cheers all

Edited by member 18 Jun 2020 at 08:45  | Reason: Not specified

For pads, they suggest buying NEWBORN DIAPERS.

Why diapers and why specifically "newborn" diapers, and not a larger toddler size?:

* Diapers are less expensive AND more absorbent than products for adults.

* the smallest newborn diaper size actually fits perfectly. You basically cup the penis and the scrotum with the newborn diaper, and secure the back to the front with the diaper tabs. This is not bulky at all (I could even use with short gym shorts). When I posted this before, another poster here said their nurse suggested preemie size diapers -- having used newborn, I do think preemie size might fit even better and be even less bulky, but I don't think you can find preemie size diapers as easily as newborn size.

Here's the link: https://www.uhn.ca/PatientsFamilies/Health_Information/Health_Topics/Documents/Incontinence_Products.pdf

Someone mentioned earplugs, but even better a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones and something to play your favourite music or audio books on them.

If sounds of other people talking, groaning in pain or instrument 'beep beep', eating noises or any other noises (and there will be plenty unless you have a private room) bother you, then these are a life-saver.

I had mine on nearly all night and it got me through it. Noises bother me. It would have been hell without them. They don't totally block it all out, but they reduce it to a level I can cope with.