Hi All,
I have posted previously, slightly worried after the RARP and probably wanting a bit of reassurance that some of the side effects that I was having were normal. I think I am beginning to realise that there are a big bag of side effects from the surgery that we all could face but that we are all different and may share some and not others.
Hopefully the following may help someone else.
13 days ago,
Day 1 - I had the Robot Assisted Radical Prostatectomy - I woke at approximately 1pm with sharp pains in my abdomen. I was a bit drowsy but it felt like trapped wind on a massive scale but with no ability to get rid of it. I was given morphine to kill the pain - I am not sure if this was due to the gas used the during the operation or something else. I probably dosed a bit and woke with no more pain, waking in the ward.
After coming to, I realised the catheter was piped through my Japs, into the bladder. I can't believe I never realised the catheter went there! For some reason I just believed it went though the stomach! We live and learn.
The catheter felt a bit strange in that I always had the feeling I needed to wee but couldn't force one. This did get slightly easier over the next couple of days.
The second shock after realising where the catheter went, was the button mushroom which was now my penis! It was totally withdrawn and in hiding, never mind, hopefully it will feel safe again, sometime soon, and get back to something near normal!
The surgeon, all the hospital were brilliant and I actually enjoyed my time in there, watching films, dozing, munching on Maltesers and wine gums. Was allowed home before lunch the day after op.
After a couple of days I started getting a bit of burning in the penis. I had tried to walk outside a few hundred yards but found the catheter a bit restrictive, I could only take tiny steps at a very slow pace. After 5 or 6 days the burning sensation was worse and the need to wee was not going away. Mucus was seen on a pad and was obvious I had an infection (UTI).
The hospital told me to return on day 8 and have the catheter removed, instead of day 10 and to go on a course of antibiotics.
The catheter was removed 7 days after the surgery. Drinking 1.5 litres of water, and urinating was required before I could leave, after an ultra sound scan to see if the bladder was emptying. Just a 5 mile drive home but with the slowest car in the world in front of us. Lesson No2, carrying a wee bottle in the car would have been a great idea. The pad couldn't take the full amount that came out and I had absolute no control.
That day, I hardly got off the toilet. I had virtually a dribble / drips and no faster. A toilet visit seemed to take forever and then the urge was back 30 minutes later. A bit defeated I thought I would keep a diary of toilet visits, water drank, pad changes, etc. Any slight improvement would raise my spirit. The next day I went for a wee 26 times. Mainly every 30 mins during the day and every couple of hours during the night. 4 days later this had improved to just 10 toilet visits with mainly 2 -4 hour intervals. Result!
Unfortunately, I noticed a swollen testicle about 4 days after the catheter removal / UTI. I believe this can be caused by the UTI. Back in hospital today (day 13) and told I have a bad infection. Been given some super strong antibiotics which I need to take for 6 weeks! Any side effects and I will need to stop and then will need IV antibiotics, so fingers crossed. I will also mention I noticed some air / bubbles come out my penis a few times, which was slightly worrying. After looking this up, it seems it can be gases caused by the infection bacteria. The hospital didn't seem concerned.
I still have just a dribble and drips but this could be due to the infections, so once these have gone I will have a better idea where I am recovery and continent wise.
Despite all this, I feel that I am improving and am thankful for surgeons skills and the great NHS staff.
If you think somethings not right, get back in touch with the hospital and let them decide if you need any kind of treatment. I wish I had reported my swollen testicle as soon as I noticed as I would 2 days further in with the treatment.