Flow after RP

Carlos

First few day post catheter passing water was uncomfortable at times getting rid of the debris, red wine at first changing to rose then cloudy urine.   My urine soon settled down then I had a small set back with water infection. My flow rate and comfort changed, starts like a fire hose slight discomfort then finishes with a dribble, but no post dribble once put away. Now seems to be settling back to normal flow and no discomfort. Pre op flow was good then squirts, milking, shaking, put away then dribble in the pants, so vast improvement.

I sometimes get up once in the night, other times sleep 7 hours without waking. I think a lot depends on what you drink but I have not quite figured out what suits me best, still early days. Having a camera inspection in three weeks just to check it out the bladder etc .  As my surgeon said the plumbing has been altered you need to retrain the bladder. Incontinence nurse recommends de-caf and of course my favourite hobby pelvic floor exercises. 

All the best Chris

Had RP last October. Flow before op was slow and I was used to a pee taking some time and then sometimesdhaving to go again 20 minutes later.

Since the op it is extremely fast flowing and all over in about 10 to 15 seconds flat! It just pours out. As for night time I now no longer avoid taking in fluid during the evening and usually experience the need to have a pee once or twice a night. I never get through the night without going at least once.

One tip is to avoid caffeine. I find that it irritates my bladder with the result that my bladder is very keen to expel it a,s,a,p. This can result in more than one urgent dash to the loo a couple of hours after a cup of caffeinated coffee. Not every time and I've never really got to the bottom of why one day I'm affected and another day I'm not.

I had new PJ's too but never used them. The gown they give you in hospital is very good actually. It is open at the back but as you're wearing a dressing gown (mostly) it doesn't matter. Good, as you have a catheter in and good for going to the loo too. Pyjama trousers would just get in the way.

Before my RP op my flow was quite weak and I had a fair bit of post-pee dribbling - in fact those were the reasons I originally went to see my GP, starting the process that led to PCa diagnosis and the op.

My catheter was removed last Friday.  I have been very lucky as I was continent as soon as the catheter was removed.  The flow has been amazing.  A pee takes about a quarter of the time it did pre-op.

Hi Carlos

The waiting between tests, for results and then the op itself is one of the worst parts. You probably just want to get on with it now and get the op out of the way.

Enjoy the nights out with your mates but you will find they dont want to know about the after effects. They probably will be pleased its not them that has to have the op and consequences. I didnt really talk about it to male friends or male family as i felt embarrassed and they did too.Have you joined a support group? I did and it was a great help. You could talk openly about incontinence and ED. Also talking here was a great help. Since the op I have only talked about it here and with the support group. I did mention incontinence to 2 close friends but felt after that it would have been better if i hadn't. did they really want to know? it's just i got so used to openly discussing it here and in the group that i felt i was quite normal to speak to others!

Dont worry about being vulnerable. This is a difficult and worrying time.You have had a hell of a shock and you are used to be independent. You are feeling a bit lost at home and at work. I think you have 3 weeks off before the op so keep busy. Must be plenty of jobs around the house and of course keep the fitness training up. someone said to me treat the op as a boxing match and get to that fitness level. I think you are much fitter than me and younger so you have that on your side.

Your psa is very similar to mine and you are a young and fit man. so recovery should be good. 

If you have any questions feel free to pm me.

Keep positive and smiling. you will be fine

"I know I must sound a whoose but I'm feeling quite useless & vulnerable both at work & at home. Had a bit of a doo last night with my OH as she said she feels she 'needs' to look after me. I'm fiercely independent and active."

Carlos, could I just say that for the wife or other half, what you are going through tears us apart inside.

We are helpless in all medical aspects, apart from a bit of research perhaps.

The only way we can really be supportive is to show we care. Sometimes maybe we do that by wanting to swamp you with our attentions.

IT doesn't mean that we feel you are a whoose or useless.
It does mean that we love you as our other half and that's how WE cope.

We too feel the fears that you men have. We too fear the future. What we can't feel is the pain, the difficulty peeing etc. We too have our concerns regarding ED.
We can probably understand your embarrassment at discussing and having your personal bits mauled around though.

If YOU (or any of the men on here) don't want to be looked after or think it's un-necessary please stop and think of us.
For a lot of women the "mothering" instinct is automatic, it's how we show we care.

Don't give us the cold shoulder or try to show us how brave you are. To some extent we too are on this journey.
Let us help shoulder that burden rather than making us another, different one to carry by ourselves.

Edited by member 12 Jul 2014 at 07:19  | Reason: Not specified