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

Notification

Error

Update post RALP

Email this conversation Print this conversation
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. 

Show Most Thanked Posts
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. 

 

 
Forum Jump  
Email this conversation Print this conversation

Join the online community now.

Click through to become a member and gain access to support, information and real time replies.




MenuTop ▲
©2024 Prostate Cancer UK