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User
Posted 07 Dec 2024 at 03:05

Well, I am back post Surgery and as you might guess given the time I am writing this I am in a bit of discomfort. The good news is all went well and mostly to plan, the only down side is the surgeon could only save the nerves on one side. Then surgeon took great delight apparently in ringing my wife to give her an update and telling her that while in initial recovery I had an errection ! Apparently I gave them quite a surprise πŸ˜….

As you an imagine I am in some discomfort with the gas retention, still trying to work out what to do with the catheter bags at night, they have taped the leg clip to my left leg and I sleep on the right side of the bed, not a bad problem to have all thing considered.

It’s only day one, but I thought this might give some of you having or considering surgery a bit of reassurance.

good luck to you all

User
Posted 21 Dec 2024 at 10:25

Hi Morty

I didn’t have any problems with the catheter causing soreness, what I will say is make sure there is a little bit of slack in the tube between the end of you penis and the leg clip and make sure you wear jersey boxers, I wear a size medium, they are snug without being tight and they stop everything from moving around, I say jersey boxers as the are stretchy. Regarding the night bag I just let it hang on the floor, you will probably fill the night bag for the first few nights, I thought 2 litres a night was a lot but when you get back to drinking more normally it will settle down to about a litre or so, takes about a week. One thing they didn’t tell me regarding the incision sites is after about 7 to 10 days they start to itch and get sore if not painful. I am on day 16 post op and for the last four or five days it is driving me crazy, anything I wear irritates the wounds. I use cotton make up pads with simple soap to clean them every day and for the last two days have started putting germelene on them which helps a little. My wife bought a shower stool especially made for prostate op patients and a EAGAR foam cushion, I have used the stool four or five times in the shower and it is good as you can clean your bits better while sitting. The cushion has been a god send, it is formed so gives a lot of relief when sitting, as I said, day 16 and I still use it when sitting at the dining table on hard chairs.

My recovery is still progressing well. Totally dry at night, twice in the last week I have slept right through the night, day predominately dry, embarrassingly I only seem to have an oops moment when I fart 🀭. Given all possibilities I feel blessed with the outcomes, I know it is early days but even if it stays as is and does not improve I am calling it a win. Make sure you do the Keegels.  I was doing them on and off since I was diagnosed in March, maybe that’s why I am where I am with the recovery, currently I am doing them two sometime three times a day as it is still a bit achey under my scoot, bit like day three after a biopsy.

Good luck with your op and have a good Christmas but no more than one glass of wine.

User
Posted 07 Dec 2024 at 03:05

Well, I am back post Surgery and as you might guess given the time I am writing this I am in a bit of discomfort. The good news is all went well and mostly to plan, the only down side is the surgeon could only save the nerves on one side. Then surgeon took great delight apparently in ringing my wife to give her an update and telling her that while in initial recovery I had an errection ! Apparently I gave them quite a surprise πŸ˜….

As you an imagine I am in some discomfort with the gas retention, still trying to work out what to do with the catheter bags at night, they have taped the leg clip to my left leg and I sleep on the right side of the bed, not a bad problem to have all thing considered.

It’s only day one, but I thought this might give some of you having or considering surgery a bit of reassurance.

good luck to you all

User
Posted 18 Dec 2024 at 17:35

Hi MortyandRick

You may find some of the information here useful.

https://prostatecanceruk.org/prostate-information-and-support/treatments/surgery

Good luck mate.πŸ‘

 

Edited by member 18 Dec 2024 at 17:42  | Reason: Add link.

User
Posted 21 Dec 2024 at 18:08

Morty,

I used just a small mop bucket to put the larger bag in at night and during the day if I was at home. It then was below me on the floor at night and I wore loose longer shorts and just carried it in the small bucket around the house. It was easier then disconnecting to a thigh bag all the time and using alcoholic wipes to constantly clean the connection and at times even heading out such as a Doctors appointment, instead of a bucket I could put the bag in one of those nicer larger bags, and once the tube left my shorts, a very tiny distance it looped into the bag and too most people I was just carrying a bag. Now long shorts in Southern California works, I don’t think that would apply in the UK. As for the catheter I never had irritation but was told you could lubricate with vasoline. 

User
Posted 24 Dec 2024 at 22:32
Wow Morty, what a Christmas present! My best wishes to you, I remember the first few days being a bit rough but hopefully the festive period might cheer you up.

Good luck for the next few weeks.

User
Posted 25 Dec 2024 at 07:16

Fantastic news that you made it out for Xmas, mate! 

Do they give you festive surgical stockings? πŸ˜‰

Please keep us updated about your progress.

I wish you a full and speedy recovery.πŸ‘

Edited by member 25 Dec 2024 at 07:46  | Reason: Additional text

User
Posted 27 Dec 2024 at 08:23

Good morning Morty. Stairs will be a bit tiring for a day or two, regarding the catheter bags, I used to carry my night bag to the loo and empty it over the rim of the sink in the downstairs loo before I took it off, (all goes down the same drain)  with the leg bag I would release the bottom leg strap and do the same in the loo, that way you wouldn’t have to lift your leg as far. (My bag was just below the knee). If it is lower I would just empty it into a bucket if I were you, bending or lifting your leg will be irritating for a few weeks, remember necessity is the mother of all invention. 
All the best.

Paul

User
Posted 27 Dec 2024 at 23:28

Morty, are you attaching your night bag to leg bag or disconnecting the leg bag and fitting a night bag to the catheter. Normal UK protocol is leg bags stop in place for 7 days and a new night bag is fitted every day. For infection control after surgery anything disconnected from the catheter should be thrown away and not reused. Post surgery and long term use of catheters are normally different. 

Lifting to bag above the height of the bladder should not make any difference as the bags have an anti flow back arrangement. The bags I had 11 years ago the bags did not all have an anti flow back arrangement.

When you shower empty the leg bag and make sure the catheter is still attached to the leg. 

I have had a suprapubic catheter for over 7 years.

Added,  as Ned says normal position for a bag is below the bladder, a leg bag on the thigh may not always be below the bladder, but if you change position in the night it will at times be below the bladder. In addition usually your bladder will still produce pressure and expel the urine.

Thanks Chris 

Edited by member 27 Dec 2024 at 23:33  | Reason: Extra paragraph

User
Posted 04 Jan 2025 at 06:11

Hi Morty 

Glad to hear that you’re still progressing well and had the catheter removed. Surgery went well but had some blood loss so stayed in for 2 nights in the end as I didn’t feel great on day 1! Surgery was nerve sparing and the surgeon was happy with how it all went. I’m taking it easy and finding that each day I can move ever so slightly better than the day before! 

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User
Posted 07 Dec 2024 at 09:02

Hi Paul, 

Great update. Remember to take it easy and not over do things, particularly lifting. You'll start to feel better over the next few days, especially when you can dispense with the catheter. 

Have a smooth recovery. 

Kev.

Edited by member 07 Dec 2024 at 09:09  | Reason: Typo

User
Posted 07 Dec 2024 at 09:27

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
 while in initial recovery I had an errection ! Apparently I gave them quite a surprise πŸ˜….

I'm cock-a-hoop for you. πŸ™‚

Thanks for the update and please continue to post how you get on. πŸ‘

User
Posted 07 Dec 2024 at 11:08

Paul, great news. I use the adhesive clips, I toss and turn all night, I attach the night bag tube to my ankle with a strap, it reduces the risk of pulling on the joint. A statlok adhesive fixing will last for at least a weeks worth of showering,  the ugo ones were not so good when I last tried them 

Instilagel, hydrocaine or optilube are useful if the eye of the penis gets sore.

Hope all goes well, take it easy but keep mobile.

Thanks Chris 

 

User
Posted 07 Dec 2024 at 21:03
Hi Paul

I had all the nerves removed so nothing happening. I slept on the right side of the bed and I found sleeping on my back with the tube strapped to my right leg, with the bag on the floor and a pillow between my wife and I, really helped. I really didn't want to roll over and accidently pull on the tube. I was surprised how much urine was in the bag each morning. Did you have any catheter care advice as you can become really sore, as Chris says. Hope things go well.

Jerry

User
Posted 15 Dec 2024 at 08:40
Morning all.

Well, quick update, 10 days post-op and TWOC last Thursday. So far so good, totally dry at night only get up once usually around 4am for a pee. Only using one pad in the day as leakage is very minimal, I can feel it happen and usually can get to the loo before it reaches the pad. I feel very lucky at the moment.

Sadly no β€œstirrings” in the little fella yet but it is very early in the day for that I suppose.

Regarding healing the gas pain is gone but at this stage I have pain in my stomach when standing from a sitting position and my incision sites on my stomach feel like someone is dragging sand paper over them, not painful as such just bloody irritating. When I sit down I feel like I have had another biopsy, that is the feeling under my balls, not painful just uncomfortable.

All in all I think I am doing ok, has anyone else started off like this then regressed after the healing has finished, it would be good to know. Currently doing keegels a couple of times a day as it is still a bit painful.

Paul

User
Posted 15 Dec 2024 at 09:06

Hi Paul.

You're making a great recovery mate. I think any regression is extremely unlikely. Thanks for posting and have a great Xmas. πŸ‘

User
Posted 15 Dec 2024 at 20:03
All sounds normal, hopefully you get a stirring for Xmas!
User
Posted 18 Dec 2024 at 17:14

Hi Paul,

Good to read your updates. I have my surgery scheduled for Monday 23rd December - hopefully will be out before Christmas Day!

Do you have any suggestions of things I need to get to help post-op? I read about a bucket being good somewhere. Do they give you some of the gel for where the catheter comes out of the old chap?

I am somewhat anxious, but I remember being like that with the biopsy and it wasn’t anything like as bad as I thought!

User
Posted 18 Dec 2024 at 17:35

Hi MortyandRick

You may find some of the information here useful.

https://prostatecanceruk.org/prostate-information-and-support/treatments/surgery

Good luck mate.πŸ‘

 

Edited by member 18 Dec 2024 at 17:42  | Reason: Add link.

User
Posted 21 Dec 2024 at 10:25

Hi Morty

I didn’t have any problems with the catheter causing soreness, what I will say is make sure there is a little bit of slack in the tube between the end of you penis and the leg clip and make sure you wear jersey boxers, I wear a size medium, they are snug without being tight and they stop everything from moving around, I say jersey boxers as the are stretchy. Regarding the night bag I just let it hang on the floor, you will probably fill the night bag for the first few nights, I thought 2 litres a night was a lot but when you get back to drinking more normally it will settle down to about a litre or so, takes about a week. One thing they didn’t tell me regarding the incision sites is after about 7 to 10 days they start to itch and get sore if not painful. I am on day 16 post op and for the last four or five days it is driving me crazy, anything I wear irritates the wounds. I use cotton make up pads with simple soap to clean them every day and for the last two days have started putting germelene on them which helps a little. My wife bought a shower stool especially made for prostate op patients and a EAGAR foam cushion, I have used the stool four or five times in the shower and it is good as you can clean your bits better while sitting. The cushion has been a god send, it is formed so gives a lot of relief when sitting, as I said, day 16 and I still use it when sitting at the dining table on hard chairs.

My recovery is still progressing well. Totally dry at night, twice in the last week I have slept right through the night, day predominately dry, embarrassingly I only seem to have an oops moment when I fart 🀭. Given all possibilities I feel blessed with the outcomes, I know it is early days but even if it stays as is and does not improve I am calling it a win. Make sure you do the Keegels.  I was doing them on and off since I was diagnosed in March, maybe that’s why I am where I am with the recovery, currently I am doing them two sometime three times a day as it is still a bit achey under my scoot, bit like day three after a biopsy.

Good luck with your op and have a good Christmas but no more than one glass of wine.

User
Posted 21 Dec 2024 at 18:08

Morty,

I used just a small mop bucket to put the larger bag in at night and during the day if I was at home. It then was below me on the floor at night and I wore loose longer shorts and just carried it in the small bucket around the house. It was easier then disconnecting to a thigh bag all the time and using alcoholic wipes to constantly clean the connection and at times even heading out such as a Doctors appointment, instead of a bucket I could put the bag in one of those nicer larger bags, and once the tube left my shorts, a very tiny distance it looped into the bag and too most people I was just carrying a bag. Now long shorts in Southern California works, I don’t think that would apply in the UK. As for the catheter I never had irritation but was told you could lubricate with vasoline. 

User
Posted 21 Dec 2024 at 19:24

Hi Paul,

Thanks for the info. I like the idea of sleeping through the night as I’m still getting up 2-3 times at the moment!

I had to give up alcohol a fair few years ago after a couple of bouts of pancreatitis, but never really drank much before that anyway, but I did watch a guy on YouTube from the states advising to stay away from rich foods to avoid the dreaded constipation! 

User
Posted 21 Dec 2024 at 19:27

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Now long shorts in Southern California works, I don’t think that would apply in the UK. As for the catheter I never had irritation but was told you could lubricate with vasoline. 



I like the mop bucket and night bag idea, but wish I lived in Southern California and could wear shorts. Alas, I’m stuck with chilly Britain!!

User
Posted 21 Dec 2024 at 20:02

Thanks for the updates Paul and for the advice on the cushion and shower stool, I’m to get those on order this week as I’m going in on 30th. Useful to hear about the mop bucket too!

All the best Morty, hope you get home for Christmas. 

 

User
Posted 24 Dec 2024 at 21:41

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Thanks for the updates Paul and for the advice on the cushion and shower stool, I’m to get those on order this week as I’m going in on 30th. Useful to hear about the mop bucket too!

All the best Morty, hope you get home for Christmas. 

 

 Hi there,

 Just got discharged this evening and doing okay.

I was second on the list and didn’t go down for surgery until almost 13:30 which meant that I didn’t get out of recovery until 19:00!

 That first night was pretty rough and I felt dreadful, but it’s amazing how quick you improve. By around 08:00 I was feeling okay but didn’t think I’d be well enough to go home, yet when they discharged me around 17:00 I felt like I was ready and looking forward to a night in my own bed.

 Just trying to get used to the catheter now and move about to get rid of the pain in my shoulder.

 Good luck for your procedure mate, if you have any questions just ask πŸ‘πŸΌ

User
Posted 24 Dec 2024 at 22:32
Wow Morty, what a Christmas present! My best wishes to you, I remember the first few days being a bit rough but hopefully the festive period might cheer you up.

Good luck for the next few weeks.

User
Posted 25 Dec 2024 at 07:16

Fantastic news that you made it out for Xmas, mate! 

Do they give you festive surgical stockings? πŸ˜‰

Please keep us updated about your progress.

I wish you a full and speedy recovery.πŸ‘

Edited by member 25 Dec 2024 at 07:46  | Reason: Additional text

User
Posted 26 Dec 2024 at 09:36
Hi chaps, well here we are, Christmas done and dusted. My wife has been a star post surgery, I normally do all the cooking in our house but she has done s sterling job of Christmas dinner, I only had a couple of glasses of wine but hay ho that’s how it goes. Quiet day otherwise, the daughter has come down to help out for a couple of days so we took her out so she could have a run around Tamar lake. She asked if I wanted to join her on her run, as you can imagine I politely declined. Progress regarding the post-op …… still dry at night only very occasional leakage during day. Had to go to see my GP on Monday, I wasn’t happy with the healing and the constant itching, he said there was one wound in particular he was not happy with so has put me on antibiotics just to be safe, he was also surprised the stitches had not started to dissolve yet. The antibiotics seem to be working as the wounds are not as red or bumpy, still itching though, I am hoping that is part of the healing process.

All in all not bad recovery and I am hoping it continues 🀞

Hope you guys have had a good Christmas, and Morty, I hope you have at least as good a post-op journey as I am having.

All the best for the new year.

Paul

User
Posted 26 Dec 2024 at 10:42

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Fantastic news that you made it out for Xmas, mate! 

Do they give you festive surgical stockings? πŸ˜‰

Please keep us updated about your progress.

I wish you a full and speedy recovery.πŸ‘

Thank you very much.

They didn’t give me any stockings post surgery, which I was surprised about. Although I have the injections to do at home for 28 days so maybe that covers it.

User
Posted 26 Dec 2024 at 10:50

Hi Paul,

Good to hear you’re still doing well. I tackled the stairs a couple of times yesterday and it felt a bit like I had climbed Everest!

Starting to sleep better though, but catheter is by far the most bothersome aspect at the moment. I’m just trying to keep it as clean as possible to avoid any issues. It’s more of a logistical problem than being particularly uncomfortable though. Lifting my leg up to the toilet to drain it is still hard work.

My surgeon used clips for the wound that will come out when I go for the catheter removal, and apart from catching them a couple of times, they have been okay. I took your advice and got some germolene in case they do get sore.

It’s good to read your updates though, it keeps me positive that it gets better πŸ‘πŸΌ

User
Posted 26 Dec 2024 at 12:26

Sounds like everyone’s recovery is different but all seeing improvements day to day. Great to hear Morty & Paul… And to JP77 - good luck for the 30th.

I’m now 6 weeks post RALP - getting back to being active. Still not fully there but got the best Christmas present of them all yesterday - waking with “spontaneous glory”. Didn’t last long but it gave me cause for hope!

Anyway - wishing you all a restful Christmas break :)

User
Posted 27 Dec 2024 at 08:23

Good morning Morty. Stairs will be a bit tiring for a day or two, regarding the catheter bags, I used to carry my night bag to the loo and empty it over the rim of the sink in the downstairs loo before I took it off, (all goes down the same drain)  with the leg bag I would release the bottom leg strap and do the same in the loo, that way you wouldn’t have to lift your leg as far. (My bag was just below the knee). If it is lower I would just empty it into a bucket if I were you, bending or lifting your leg will be irritating for a few weeks, remember necessity is the mother of all invention. 
All the best.

Paul

User
Posted 27 Dec 2024 at 20:34

Day 4 post-op and the catheter seems to be playing up. It started yesterday when I changed it from the night bag when I got up in the morning and by lunch time there was very little in the bag despite drinking lots of water. Felt really uncomfortable so read through my catheter passport and follow the steps and after raising it above bladder level it eventually started to drain. Has been similar situation today, requiring frequent adjustment. There was over two litres in night bag so doesn’t seem to be an issue with the overnight one.

I also managed to drop the bag whilst drying myself after the shower. This was an unpleasant experience I am not in a hurry to repeat!

Has anyone else had similar issues with the catheter draining?

User
Posted 27 Dec 2024 at 23:22

I believe it is always to be definitely below bladder , that is why its been okay at night.

User
Posted 27 Dec 2024 at 23:28

Morty, are you attaching your night bag to leg bag or disconnecting the leg bag and fitting a night bag to the catheter. Normal UK protocol is leg bags stop in place for 7 days and a new night bag is fitted every day. For infection control after surgery anything disconnected from the catheter should be thrown away and not reused. Post surgery and long term use of catheters are normally different. 

Lifting to bag above the height of the bladder should not make any difference as the bags have an anti flow back arrangement. The bags I had 11 years ago the bags did not all have an anti flow back arrangement.

When you shower empty the leg bag and make sure the catheter is still attached to the leg. 

I have had a suprapubic catheter for over 7 years.

Added,  as Ned says normal position for a bag is below the bladder, a leg bag on the thigh may not always be below the bladder, but if you change position in the night it will at times be below the bladder. In addition usually your bladder will still produce pressure and expel the urine.

Thanks Chris 

Edited by member 27 Dec 2024 at 23:33  | Reason: Extra paragraph

User
Posted 28 Dec 2024 at 11:19

Hi Chris,

I just connect the night bag to my leg bag, which is positioned just below my knee.

I woke up this morning with an idea running round my head for some reason! When I have been emptying the night bag in the morning I have left the tap on my leg bag open, only closing it when I disconnect the night bag. I wondered if the pressure created when emptying the night bag almost made a kind of vacuum in the leg bag as it looked like when you suck all the air out of a plastic bag, and maybe that was making it difficult for new urine to flow in?

Anyway, this morning I closed the leg bag tap and then emptied the night bag and so far it seems to be flowing okay with none of the discomfort I had yesterday 🀞🏼

User
Posted 28 Dec 2024 at 13:27

Morty, you are certainly right about the vacuum effect. During the day when draining the leg bag there have been times when I only part opened the tap to reduce the vacuum effect.

Hope all goes well,  make sure you are hydrated before you get to hospital for the catheter removal. I had to produce three lots of urine after removal, much easier if you are hydrated. I also took the view that it was better to leak than have a catheter put back in because I couldn't urinate. Removal should be painless, just remember to relax and there should be no issues.

Thanks Chris 

User
Posted 03 Jan 2025 at 12:20

Just thought I’d update post catheter removal.

Feel like a new man today without the bag, and have been dry since removal and overnight which is promising. The removal wasn’t painful just felt strange! First few times I passed urine were a bit stingy but no issues really.

The only issue was that my main wound reopened when they took the staples out and has been quite oozy! They’ve told me just to keep it dry and have provided me with dressings.

JP77 - I hope your surgery went okay and you’re doing well at home. You definitely get better each day and for me so far the biggest milestones for feeling better have been having my first poo and getting the catheter out. I made sure I drank at least 2 litres of water per day and ate lots of plain fibre rich food and everything seems back to it’s normal routine now πŸ‘πŸΌ

User
Posted 04 Jan 2025 at 06:11

Hi Morty 

Glad to hear that you’re still progressing well and had the catheter removed. Surgery went well but had some blood loss so stayed in for 2 nights in the end as I didn’t feel great on day 1! Surgery was nerve sparing and the surgeon was happy with how it all went. I’m taking it easy and finding that each day I can move ever so slightly better than the day before! 

 
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