Going in for the Operation - any tips?

Make sure things that you need like a phone you have easy access to. I had open surgery RP and wasn't that mobile over the first 24 hours

The nurses will be keen to get you up- the first time is the hardest but worth it.

Try to get mobile as soon as you can (whilst still listening to your body) I started short walks everyday as soon as they let me out

I hadn't expected the short term reduction in lung capacity so use the inhaler thing they give you as much as you can ( may not apply if surgery is key hole but I had no idea about this bit)

The first bowel movement is a huge sense of relief and I wish I'd started on the stool softeners earlier!!! Bowels just stop working for a few days after the op so that bits not uncomfortable but as things start to move again hard stools and the added challenge of dealing with a catheter( and bypass) and trying not to strain too much is a challenge!! 

Be prepared for a level of swelling. I swear someone must have got my meat and 2 veg on the operating table and smacked them with a mallet :-) 

Having said all of the above I felt a huge sense of relief waking up from the operation, knowing it had all gone fine. If you think that everyday is going to get better from there on in it helps. And once that catheter is out then life quickly starts to get back to normal.

Good luck.

Loads of advice above.   I took earplugs but they were in my bag which they'd left in the pre-op area for the first night.  We had a guy who snored like a lion roaring in the wild.  Someone with a beeping machine that got faster from time to time.  It was hell not helped by me being asleep all afternoon while they waited for a bed, induced I think.

Keep drinking water it goes into a bag so you don't need to worry about going to the loo.  The water will keep you soft.  The food was awful so after having the pre-op enema there was nothing in me.  I didn't use the hospital loo at all.

Get wandering round as soon as they remove the drip.  Slippers.  Dressing gown isn't much use when you're carrying a bag of urine in your left hand and perhaps a blood drain bag in your right hand.  So be ready to wander round in your NHS gown and DVT stockings.  Like a fancy dress.  There are plenty in there worse than you.  That you will be going home soon makes you grateful.

There was a bloke in the next bed in a bad way with 20 pipes and valves coming out that not even the consultant was allowed to touch, he lived near us.  I'd love to know what happened to him. He was a very pleasant person a bit younger than me.  I wish I'd exchanged more details.  It was a weird time my only stay in hospital.

Edited by member 17 Jun 2020 at 21:22  | Reason: Not specified

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.

Steve

Ear plugs and possibly eye mask, some hospitals will supply them. Don't get constipation again some hospitals issue them. 

Enjoy your sleep , when surgery is done take it easy, but not too easy, keep mobile. Listen to your medical team.

Best wishes, thanks Chris.

I had HDR brachy, which involved an overnight stay in hospital, the first time I have done this. I snore louder than that lion Peter mentioned, but I didn't disturb anyone because I don't think I got a wink of sleep.

Most people had some machine which made a random bleeping noise somewhere near them. One guy was in a lot of pain and moaned all night (normally this would have p****d me off, but I was just thankful I wasn't like that).

Every four hours I had blood pressure taken. So that meant no sleep. Food was actually very good at Christie's. I had my phone with me and a charger so could get on Internet and phone friends, that was essential.

I was in Friday before a bank holiday, I had some minor complications and they nearly kept me in all weekend. I would have hated that.

Can't help you anymore as mine was not RP so recovery would be different.

Hi Steve, like you I was on the waiting list for RP delayed due to C19 but was lucky to get it moved forward and today I am day 8 post op.

Every day getting better, and now looking forward to the future.

Good luck

Canterbury open hem stadium pants (side zipped fill leg length) were genius. Really easy to access the catheter bag discretely. Super useful for emptying on the fly.

TG