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User
Posted 27 Jun 2025 at 13:07

Iv had quite a lot of tooing and froing since diagnosis in Feb but finally got there , appointment booked for surgery on 22nd August at London Bridge Hospital

Quite a lot of my time has been spent searching for the right surgeon who I feel comfortable with and after speaking to quite a few I settled on one, I know your not allowed to say who so will just say that Royal Marsden brings him up , big thanks to Techguy , RobP9 and adthedad for all there help  and guidance on this and have to say it was hard to pick 

Strange as up until recently all advice had been for AS but I wasn’t happy with standard MRI I had back in January so recently paid for a much clearer MPMRI and also new PSA test , was definitely concerned that PSA ad gone up from 4.3 in March to 5.8 in June, the tumour also seems to have increased in size although my surgeon thinks that could be just the fact that it is a clearer image, either way suggestion changed from AS to treatment 

He thinks it should be full nerve sparing and and is confident that I should get continence back , no promises on ED though 

one thing I did want to ask is I notice that my private treatment package includes full care and re admission back into hospital if I have any problems for 30 days, my real concern is with the catheter and potential blockages infections etc, part of me wants to go home as soon as possible but the other part of me is thinking why not stay in a hotel close to hospital until catheter is taken out especially if it is within 7 days , I live over 100 miles away from hospital so obviously if I go home and any issues it would have to be nearest A&E where as if I stay I can go straight back into the private hospital , it would also mean I don’t have to arrange transport back to the hospital when it is ready to come out , welcome any thoughts on this especially if it looks like I am worrying to much ?

cheers

 

Nick

 

User
Posted 27 Jun 2025 at 19:52

hi Niko

thanks for the kind words.

I wouldn’t worry too much about the catheter as any problems you have can bounce off the CNS or here and I’m pretty sure we’ll solve them as I did when I had a couple of questions with temporary blockages with mine. Basically The feed out of the bladder is like a filter and can get clot debris blocking it but if you think about it with respect to gravity just changing the orientation of your body can move the clots and open up the reservoir. Outside of that it was all pretty simple. After a few days you feel like MacGyver of the catheter world :-)

I was about 60 miles from the hospital and the CNS was on email and phone any time I needed her but it wasn’t needed. As this forum was fantastic when I had one moment of panic a few days after surgery because of a blockage.

I went back to the place of treatment at guys cause I wanted the CNS to remove the catheter rather than someone in my local hospital that may not be a urologist specialist nurse. I’m sure in reality probably wouldn’t make any difference but it definitely felt more warm and fluffy to get it done by part of the incumbent team.

It seems a lot of information to digest at this stage, but I can assure you it’s very easy. The biggest drama I had was on the way home. I needed a pee badly and the train toilet was out of order. I was on the point of bursting and the guard helped me out with access. I was very close to having a pee on the platform at a train stop rather than releasing it in my pants. I’d also taken a travel John portable urinal but that would’ve scared the crap out of the Passengers on the train. I did have some fun emptying my catheter bag which was full of pink urine at my local station toilets. I’ve tried to get into a cubicle but they were all full so I cocked my leg up unzipped my trousers and emptied the catheter bag into a urinal. Two guys either side of me looked terrified and ran out. 

One of the best things to buy is full length zip track side athletic trousers because they make changing and any admin with the bag super easy on the go without having to take anything off. It’s also excellent if you wanna freak out your friends.

I picked up some Canterbury rugby style full length sports trousers on Amazon for about £35 and they were absolutely legendary. It was a top tip I picked up on here.

Best of luck with next steps

Simon

 

 

Edited by member 27 Jun 2025 at 19:57  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 27 Jun 2025 at 21:49

Thanks Simon , wise words as normal mate , tbh I forgot that I will have access to a CNS there 

Weird as it is the catheter that was worrying me the most , train journey in that condition sounds a bit scary mate, is traffic really bad in that area as I was planning on being collected from hospital and driving home 

User
Posted 27 Jun 2025 at 22:33
If you have any serious issues and need readmission you will be better in an NHS hospital. Private hospitals often don't have advanced ITU or sometimes even out of hours care.

The best option IMHO is an NHS hospital with a private "wing".

User
Posted 28 Jun 2025 at 08:25

Francij1 is spot on. I was told with my temporary blockage if it couldn’t be sorted by me I’d need to go to A&E. 

I suspect you should be fine with good management. I had massive worries for post surgery but I really didn’t have any serious issues at all that weren’t resolvable. I had some flow issues and I worked out how to solve them using basic engineering skills.

The hardest thing was not being too much because I honestly felt I hadn’t had surgery the day after and onwards apart from obviously the catheter bag in place. You have to really check yourself in not doing too much for the first three months and following the medical guidelines and recommendations. 🤪😵‍💫

User
Posted 28 Jun 2025 at 15:53

Indeed you can. However if you don’t want to travel and are at home A&E or local private is a plan b. London Bridge is effectively part of Guys NHS flagship hospital as they share kit. You’ll stay on the private floor in Guys Cancer Centre.

London Bridge Hotel is very close and used to have an HCA room rate. Unless you feel flush and stay at The Shard. I was tempted but didn’t think I’d benefit much from an amazing Shard top end suite night before surgery so did London Bridge Hotel. Walked across at 6:30am for 7am checking….5mins walk.

Edited by member 28 Jun 2025 at 15:54  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 03 Jul 2025 at 18:36

Hi Nikko1000, 

Had my RARP at the London Bridge back in March and catheter in for 2 weeks post op.  I was very nervous about it all and I can assure you that the CNS team were brilliant and also very patient with me.  We live about 40 miles from the London and the journey back after the catheter was taken out was a bit of saga, however, just had to plan the toilet stops and pack extra pads/underwear/trousers in case. I had gone through one set before even leaving the hospital. It all worked out well in the end. Good luck. BTW I was roundly told off by the surgeon (and rightly so) for eating too much the day after the op. I felt so uncomfortable and bloated. So my recommendation is a very very light diet. 

User
Posted 03 Jul 2025 at 18:43

Just a bit more Nikko1000, 

A friend kindly picked me and the wife up after the operation. There is a NCP car park about 300m from the hospital. I was released around 11am and the traffic was a bit busy (London busy) but nothing too bad.

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User
Posted 27 Jun 2025 at 19:52

hi Niko

thanks for the kind words.

I wouldn’t worry too much about the catheter as any problems you have can bounce off the CNS or here and I’m pretty sure we’ll solve them as I did when I had a couple of questions with temporary blockages with mine. Basically The feed out of the bladder is like a filter and can get clot debris blocking it but if you think about it with respect to gravity just changing the orientation of your body can move the clots and open up the reservoir. Outside of that it was all pretty simple. After a few days you feel like MacGyver of the catheter world :-)

I was about 60 miles from the hospital and the CNS was on email and phone any time I needed her but it wasn’t needed. As this forum was fantastic when I had one moment of panic a few days after surgery because of a blockage.

I went back to the place of treatment at guys cause I wanted the CNS to remove the catheter rather than someone in my local hospital that may not be a urologist specialist nurse. I’m sure in reality probably wouldn’t make any difference but it definitely felt more warm and fluffy to get it done by part of the incumbent team.

It seems a lot of information to digest at this stage, but I can assure you it’s very easy. The biggest drama I had was on the way home. I needed a pee badly and the train toilet was out of order. I was on the point of bursting and the guard helped me out with access. I was very close to having a pee on the platform at a train stop rather than releasing it in my pants. I’d also taken a travel John portable urinal but that would’ve scared the crap out of the Passengers on the train. I did have some fun emptying my catheter bag which was full of pink urine at my local station toilets. I’ve tried to get into a cubicle but they were all full so I cocked my leg up unzipped my trousers and emptied the catheter bag into a urinal. Two guys either side of me looked terrified and ran out. 

One of the best things to buy is full length zip track side athletic trousers because they make changing and any admin with the bag super easy on the go without having to take anything off. It’s also excellent if you wanna freak out your friends.

I picked up some Canterbury rugby style full length sports trousers on Amazon for about £35 and they were absolutely legendary. It was a top tip I picked up on here.

Best of luck with next steps

Simon

 

 

Edited by member 27 Jun 2025 at 19:57  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 27 Jun 2025 at 21:49

Thanks Simon , wise words as normal mate , tbh I forgot that I will have access to a CNS there 

Weird as it is the catheter that was worrying me the most , train journey in that condition sounds a bit scary mate, is traffic really bad in that area as I was planning on being collected from hospital and driving home 

User
Posted 27 Jun 2025 at 22:33
If you have any serious issues and need readmission you will be better in an NHS hospital. Private hospitals often don't have advanced ITU or sometimes even out of hours care.

The best option IMHO is an NHS hospital with a private "wing".

User
Posted 28 Jun 2025 at 08:25

Francij1 is spot on. I was told with my temporary blockage if it couldn’t be sorted by me I’d need to go to A&E. 

I suspect you should be fine with good management. I had massive worries for post surgery but I really didn’t have any serious issues at all that weren’t resolvable. I had some flow issues and I worked out how to solve them using basic engineering skills.

The hardest thing was not being too much because I honestly felt I hadn’t had surgery the day after and onwards apart from obviously the catheter bag in place. You have to really check yourself in not doing too much for the first three months and following the medical guidelines and recommendations. 🤪😵‍💫

User
Posted 28 Jun 2025 at 11:06

But I thought London Bridge hospital was just a private wing off the main NHS hospital Simon is this not the case as I have been told that if I do have any complications related to surgery then I can go back at any time day or night and it will be resolved even if I have to be re admitted ?

User
Posted 28 Jun 2025 at 15:53

Indeed you can. However if you don’t want to travel and are at home A&E or local private is a plan b. London Bridge is effectively part of Guys NHS flagship hospital as they share kit. You’ll stay on the private floor in Guys Cancer Centre.

London Bridge Hotel is very close and used to have an HCA room rate. Unless you feel flush and stay at The Shard. I was tempted but didn’t think I’d benefit much from an amazing Shard top end suite night before surgery so did London Bridge Hotel. Walked across at 6:30am for 7am checking….5mins walk.

Edited by member 28 Jun 2025 at 15:54  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 28 Jun 2025 at 22:18

Yep London Bridge hotel is favourite mate 👍

User
Posted 03 Jul 2025 at 18:36

Hi Nikko1000, 

Had my RARP at the London Bridge back in March and catheter in for 2 weeks post op.  I was very nervous about it all and I can assure you that the CNS team were brilliant and also very patient with me.  We live about 40 miles from the London and the journey back after the catheter was taken out was a bit of saga, however, just had to plan the toilet stops and pack extra pads/underwear/trousers in case. I had gone through one set before even leaving the hospital. It all worked out well in the end. Good luck. BTW I was roundly told off by the surgeon (and rightly so) for eating too much the day after the op. I felt so uncomfortable and bloated. So my recommendation is a very very light diet. 

User
Posted 03 Jul 2025 at 18:43

Just a bit more Nikko1000, 

A friend kindly picked me and the wife up after the operation. There is a NCP car park about 300m from the hospital. I was released around 11am and the traffic was a bit busy (London busy) but nothing too bad.

User
Posted 03 Jul 2025 at 20:57

Thank you golfnut , especially good information on parking as I was worried about that , still very much undecided as whether to drive home after surgery ( not me driving ) or stay at local hotel until catheter out , I have been told catheter is taken out between 7-14 days , if 7 days then it is worth staying as I am in hospital for 2 days anyway but 14 days could be to long especially for my wife 😂

 
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