Originally Posted by: Online Community MemberHi. I’m so chuffed that your doing so well after surgery, it’s nice to read good stories instead of the doom and gloom. Can I ask , did you have staples or stitches in your incisions ? It seems like a lot of guys have had staples sounds gruesome.
I’m having my surgery in Cardiff, I’ve got a covid test at 9am Monday morning. If I’m honest I’m getting really anxious as Thursday draws closer trying to get my mind around everything. Since my diagnosis I’ve been worried about the impact of ED will have on y marriage, even though I’m 53 I’ve only been married since 2017 so naturally lots of negative and insecure thoughts fill my mind on a daily basis. When I hear about positive stories like yours it takes the edge of the negative, so thank you for that keep them coming.
Stay safe and keep well
Carl.
OK Carl well here's another positive one for you then...
Surgery 12th June 2020. 4th night after surgery I felt "nocturnal stirrings down there", which I took to be an early indicator of successful nerve sparing. 😀 (Subsequently confirmed once catheter properly out). It was a bit uncomfortable though with a catheter in.
I've had a really good recovery so far with the one bad thing being that I had bad pain after TWOC1 (TWOC = trial without catheter), so they retubed me for another few days (not a common occurence though). But after TWOC2 it was fine and I used a total of 2 pads over 2 days and have been going padless with zero accidents for 6 days now (today is the 7th).
I've also been gradually increasing the walking. 2.9 miles today (day 21 post op).
Wounds, I had dissolvable stitches and glue. That's all gone now and the wounds are a little bit red but basically healed. No pain relief required any more and a pretty much full range of movement.
One more week of injections and compression socks to go and then I can start some more vigorous exercise, but still 3 weeks before I can ride a bike.
I hope your experience proves to be as positive or more so than mine. But as others have said. Waking up in recovery, it's like "phew - still here then. Oooh and I can see too. I'll take it." And then they told me I'd been trying to take out my canula while I was out of it. 😂
Edited by member 04 Jul 2020 at 17:29
| Reason: clarification of TWOC
_____ Two cannibals named Ectomy and Prost, all alone on a Desert island. Prost was the strongest, so Prost ate Ectomy. |
User
Hi Carl,
I was surprised to have metal staples. They gave me a staple remover to give to the GP. It was a very basic hook. They're thicker than paper staples and just make two holes. When they're out they leave two tracks of red marks but now I wouldn't know where the holes were. No problem at all.
If you click on this link it takes you to a photo of mine. I hope.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/vbvGQhUy9z3F3JEj9u8gBPN0DFlxJts1TVpRUzn39oC9ARX7ec7v2I8EQX44OFtv3tufvWzpoSgbudB7xEYFYct3Jm6yeIUPI0aWEDT_niuZJOvf3g=w1280
I was also surprised to find they shaved my stomach.
I suppose I was anxious before the op but it was balanced by excitement. Getting that thing out was all I could think about. On awakening I had no pain at all which seemed incredible and felt quite exhilarated that 3 months of worry was gone, removed. I knew that worry would be replaced by something else to worry about and I know that we live from psa test to psa test but it's been given a good shot.
All the best for Thursday. If you say what time it is I'll remember and think about you in the hospital.
Regards
Peter
Edited by member 04 Jul 2020 at 20:23
| Reason: Not specified
User
Hi Peter my surgery is booked for 7:30 am ..... Hope your well and not to worried about the psa roulette
Carl..
User
Carlos
From my experience finding solutions to the ED issue was fun.
Thanks Chris
User
Hopefully Carlos had a successful op this morning.
User
Hope so. I expect he'll let us know after he gets home (tomorrow?) 😀
_____ Two cannibals named Ectomy and Prost, all alone on a Desert island. Prost was the strongest, so Prost ate Ectomy. |
User
Carlos, hope all went well yesterday. I had surgery 18 months ago , and living in Belfast the hospitals did not offer Radical Prostatectomy so my wife and I took a flight a day before the operation at Cambridge. We took a few extra days after the operation in the hospital and then at a local hotel before flying back to Belfast. I can say that having surgery worked very well for me. I was told to exercise everyday after the operation and as others have mentioned was only allowed to leave the ward once I had completed 50 laps of the ward! 18 months on and I am grand. First few weeks needed to watch how long I was out for a walk to avoid being cut short , but this steadily got better as the weeks progressed. Pelvic floor exercises are essential, and these help considerably , but need to be continued on a regular basis to provide that extra help and confidence when you are out. ED is work in progress, and you need to be patient , thankfully I was lucky that I nerve sparing, which helped. Not easy going through what you are doing , during these bizarre times , but hope you are coping well and my best wishes to you.
regards
Keithyboy
Keithyboy
User
Hi Carlo. Hope everything went well on Thursday. It gets better every day after the surgery.
J
User
Hi. Had my surgery on Thursday and let home on Friday afternoon, sat was awful being sick all day which was not only worrying but incredibly painful. Thankfully this nausea stopped and although still not feeling great I’m keeping food down so that’s a positive.
Catheter is a bit of struggle and inconvenience but it’s a necessary evil, looking forward to getting it out and trying to have a decent nights sleep.
Onwards and upwards
Carl
User
Hope you're starting to feel better soon Carl
Did the surgery all go well ?
User
Interesting I was sick on day 2 also. As I say, it gets better every day.
Good luck with the catheter.
J
User
Surgery went well according to the main man, no drain in either. Showered today and took dressings off which was really nice. One question I do have is. Is it normal to have a bit of leakage around where the Catheter goes in ?
Carl.
User
Hi Carlos,
Good to hear that. I had some leakage too which seems to be normal. Make sure you keep the area clean though, and Instagel is always recommended on here.
Kev.
User
I did a few times. Happened when trying to pass wind. Tried to avoid though. Nurse said not to worry. I also note it is described in the handbook I got from hospital.
Glad your surgery has gone well.
J
User
Glad the surgery went well
If you feel the urge to empty your bladder just try and relax and the catheter will do the work. The moment you try to empty your bladder you will get some bypass and leakage. My guess would be this is what you are experiencing
Once you are having bowel movements a level of bypass/leakage is inevitable
You will feel so much better once that catheter is out-not long now
User
Originally Posted by: Online Community MemberSurgery went well according to the main man, no drain in either. Showered today and took dressings off which was really nice. One question I do have is. Is it normal to have a bit of leakage around where the Catheter goes in ?
Carl.
Brilliant Carl. Good to hear from you. Glad it went well. 😃
Yes, leakage around the catheter (bypass) is perfectly normal. I was told particularly when farting or having a poo. This is one of the reasons for washing the catheter each time you have a bowel movement (in my instructions, anyway).
If you can keep the catheter really clean you will reduce the chance of getting a UTI. I had to change my shorts at least daily as they can get a bit gross.
_____ Two cannibals named Ectomy and Prost, all alone on a Desert island. Prost was the strongest, so Prost ate Ectomy. |