Shopping List For Surgery

Kate,
I'm also trying to set up a list of what we'll need for the surgery, but I see on your list scrips...what are they? I never saw that mentioned.
Thanks

Spinbiscuit,

Why do they keep editing your posts Glen?  You have such good ideas I hate to think we can't read everything you have to say.

Hi, Wittler. Don't forget surgical gloves. It's just a lot easier to deal with the catheter and applying ointment and cleaning around the wound area, too.

The mindless reading (book) is for you. Husb. probably won't be interested the first 24 hours.

PJs with velcro tabs - I did both sides, just in case.

Regarding Catheter attachment:

-They didn't give husb. a choice on which leg. Turned out to be opposite from the side he sleeps on, but wasn't a problem.

Also, the leg tape is sort of butterfly shaped with a nylon strip in the middle. One side of the wing is the "female" (fuzzy) velco side. At the tip of the nylon strip is the "male" (wiry, prickly) side (much smaller). This wraps around the catheter and then presses together. The nylon strip is not that stable - ours broke completely off after first losing the "male" part. I would highly recommend finding a piece of "male" velcro strips to have handy. It saved us - I just cut a three-inch piece down the middle to make it thinner and wove it around the catheter tubing (just below where it branches out - there is a junction), then, pressed both ends onto the female wing. That held us until removal time. I know it's hard to picture, but you'll get it when you see the setup. Your husband will guard that tubing carefully, because if it gets yanked on (as in a heavy leg or overnight bag or even turning over in his sleep), that could be not fun.

Hi Wittler (Kate & Tom),   J   You have truly done well!!!   Your list will really help others along the way…   and thank you for your special thank you’s above J   It touched my heart!   I’ve answered a few of your questions and added a few things too... using our experience...    Baggy Pants & Catheter: We did use the leg closest to the floor for the attachment for the bag.   Buddy never got tangled up and it made it easier for me when I emptied the bag in the middle of the night.   He walked and walked and walked...with his big catheter bag using the pants with the slit up the side...and never had any problems. The hospital provided 2 bags (big and small) we kept the big one on at home and used the small one only for our doctor visits. I’m a true believer that recovery time means recovery time.   Going out to eat or visit was not on our agenda.   We had no plans to venture out until the catheter was removed.   Even then we took it nice and slow.   The bag was our friend from beginning to end.   I wish you the same! Catheter Bag Holder: Our plastic basket is 15” x 15” x 12” and it worked perfect!! The catheter bag hooked on the inside edge allowing for a stable environment and the bag remained lower than the catheter…   I now use the basket for my small laundry items. J Another positive reminder that we came through this!! Good Book: I took my “Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer”. I found the book helped me not be scared…. I did not read Chapter 12 because I truly feel that POSITIVE THINKING is a must!!!!   Why??   Because Prostate Cancer is CURABLE…. So ~ while I waited in the waiting room to hear from the nurse in the operating room….. (She called to let me know that surgery had begun and a second call on how things were going) I read.   At times I couldn’t see the page for the tears… but they are a part of this process and it really does help to shed them.   Underwear: After catheter is removed we had 2 items.   Depends Adjustable Underwear Sm/Med 28”/45” and Depend Guards for Men.   These really worked well for Buddy. He’s 5’9 160 lbs.   Very comfortable around the incision too!   I got the adjustable ones not knowing what to expect.   Figured I’d have them for easier access.   See the back of a package to help you decide which ones you’d like to have on hand.   I send special wishes that Tom won’t need them but for a few days and then for comfort only J   Stool Softener: Buddy was given a stool softener in the hospital and one was prescribed for home.   The prescript ion was Surfak 240mg 1 per day.   This just wasn’t enough!   The pharmacist suggested equate natural vegetable laxative so we did the prescript ion in the a.m. and the vege lax in the evening…. RELIEF J Head Brace:   this is really a must!!! I  took 2 very soft ankle socks and stuffed them with soft material. The pillows in the hospital are really not very good.   I placed them on the sides of Buddy's head so when he slept his neck was not strained, as his head would roll to the side.   This really helped!!   Special Helper!!! I’ll do a new posting on this and add it to “OUR JOURNEY”  J   Looks to me like you are ready to go!!!! This will really help you in the long run having everything in place.     Reminder:   Take care of you!! During this time…   Don’t hesitate to take your Klonopin….. Sleep is a healer for the mind and soul.   If you’re concerned about taking it every night and still need sleep… call your pharmacist and ask if taking Klonopin one night and something like Excedrin PM the next night.   You don’t want a reaction but you definitely need your sleep.     Take care and know we are keeping you close in our thoughts and prayers. Lee & Buddy

LW,

I had no idea there would be leaking around the catheter...Guess I'll have to get pads earlier than I thought.  I didn't expect he would need them til after the catheter came out.  Always learning something new in here alright!!

Thanks Bluebird. 

I just didn't realize that he would have to wear a pad plus the catheter in case it leaked.  Glad I did see that post.  I haven't read all that much in the book yet.

I just posted this elsewhere, but this is a good thread for people to find the info. This was our list. Compiled from reading helpful posts from others here as well as this site that was helpful:

http://www.malecare.com/prostate_cancer_surgery_patient_hints.htm

CLOTHING

Bought a pair of tear off basketball warm-up type pants with the snaps on the side. Easy to get on and off with the snaps and can hang the big catheter on a snap down low when moving around. But since you are having your surgery in summer maybe big mesh basketball shorts?

*Robe and slippers (with good sole, to not slip on the tile) for hospital

Some tightie whities for post-catheter out. Holds pad in tighter. We aren't that point yet, but have them on hand.

PHARMACY
Asked our doc for prescriptions for post-op at pre-op appointment (as some suggested on here). Filled them prior to surgery so didn't have to deal with stopping at Walgreens on way home, etc. (He prescribed detrol LA for bladder spasms, percocet for pain, an antibiotic, and ambien for sleep).

Pre-op stuff: in our case magnesium citrate (laxative) and a couple of Fleet enemas. Also baby wipes for wiping sore butt from all the laxative action.

Post-op stuff:
* Stool softener.
* Electronic thermometer (already had)
* Bought some pads for after catheter is out (we bought serenity pads, but some recommend attends ... haven't tried any yet ... but there are some threads on this)
* Neopsorin with pain gel (good for putting around opening of catheter) ... they also gave us some in hospital, but didn't have the numbing stuff in it.
* Alcohol wipes for cleaning off catheter connections, cleaning tip of penis
* We bought one washable bed pad for post-surgery in case of leakage, blood, etc. Although we have used it, didn't really need it

OTHER
*Vinegar for cleaning and draining catheter (oh and a funnel is handy, even though wasn't on my pre-surgery list)
* We bought an extra velcro catheter strap (we got one from the hospital, but Ken liked using two to keep it from pulling)
*Ken also added a few inches to his leg catheter with 1/2" sterile tubing. So the tubing was extended beyond his ankle. He then tucked it up under one of the straps. Works well for draining.
* We stuck a plastic hanger in between the top mattress and bottom one, hung the big night bag from that over a plastic garbage pail. Also had several plastic garbage pails around in sitting/resting places to hang catheter on during day.

FOOD
*lots of liquids, buillion/broth, lemon ice, jello for pre-surgery liquid diet
*Lots of pudding, yogurt, ice cream, soup, etc for post-surgery diet

That is everything I can remember!

Tanya (and Ken)