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The BIG Operation is Monday the 27th- Tips for coming home

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Posted 11/25/2006 9:08 AM (GMT -8)
Gang,

The time has come to focus down. 

Please share any tips you may have to make recovery easier and more comfortable besides good movies.  I am mostly going to be by myself.  I am running around today getting organized.  I am going to Sloan Kettering in NYC. 

Thanks for your help.

JJK

Posted 11/25/2006 9:30 AM (GMT -8)
Easy does it! Especially with the catheter. You will find yourself wanting to do more than you should. Take your urologist's advice, and don't overdo it. Give your body the rest and recuperation it needs.

I walked a lot and did Kegel exercises until about eight weeks post-surgery, than gradually began to gradually ease into my normal exercise routine.

Wear comfortable clothing that will accommodate the catheter. Expect that you'll be using a lot of incontinence underwear for awhile after the catheter comes out. I had a catheter in for 2 full weeks, due to the 4th of July holiday, and kinda liked not having to get up in the middle of the night to make my bladder gladder.

Take care and hang in there. I wish you the best!

Tim

P.S. Memorial Sloan Kettering is one of the premier cancer centers in the U.S., and experts in prostatectomy. You're in good hands!
Posted 11/25/2006 10:03 AM (GMT -8)

Tim,

Thanks for the tip.  More exactly, what should the at home recovery set up be?

Sleep in recliner? or a bed?

Pain medication- how long?

When to walk- can you walk before folley is taken away? confused

What to expect?  Do I really need my mother-in-law there the first day home?

This message board is the best but also sobering.

JJK

Posted 11/25/2006 10:26 AM (GMT -8)

Only if you like your Mohter-in-law!!!!  She may see more of you than she wants!!  You can always start talking about being ready to start the ED treatment to get "working" agian....heheheheh

The first day or two I wore one of my wifes night gowns because they are so easy to get to the cathiter.  She finally bought a light robe and sewed up the middle so I would look more manly!!!!  Just take it easy, do what th Dr. said.  As soon as you get the cathiter removed start walking with short walks, even if you gush.

I wore the belted Depends undergarments.  Get the ones with velcro tabs.  The ones with buttons start pokeing after a while.

I'm now using the inserts that go in the front of you underwear.  Yeah, it feels like wearing a cup all the time, but it's better than the larger pads.

Be sure to ask the board if you hace any questions.  Great advise here from everyone.

Good Luck

Posted 11/25/2006 12:36 PM (GMT -8)
JJK,

Curtis tried a night shirt I bought for him, but he didn't like that at all and settled for wearing the nice warm robe I bought for him, but with the catheter in he didn't want anything rubbing against it so it stayed open all the time...Ah what a sight I got!!!  yeah Threatened to get the digicam out!!  LOL

Once the catheter was out he work combination jokey/boxer shorts that were tight but the legs went part way down the thigh...helped keep the pad in place better.

Hope this helps.

 

Posted 11/25/2006 12:44 PM (GMT -8)
My husband, who is an anti night shirt, PJ's, and robe kind of guy, actually found it very preferable to wear a 4X tee shirt to bed and with a robe during the day for the first few days home. It provides coverage and comfort where the incision and catheter are concerned.

Best of luck to you!
Posted 11/25/2006 1:01 PM (GMT -8)
Wittler,

Mine told me for years not to buy him a robe cause he never wore one and didn't want one.  I bought him one anyway for after surgery and he loves it...still wears it anytime he's in his night closes.  Just loves it...now he said he's begged me for years to get him one and I wouldn't....wouldn't you know he'd change things to his way.  sad :-)

Posted 11/25/2006 1:21 PM (GMT -8)

JJK said...


Tim,

Thanks for the tip. More exactly, what should the at home recovery set up be?

Sleep in recliner? or a bed?

Pain medication- how long?

When to walk- can you walk before folley is taken away? [img]/community/emoticons/confused.gif[/img]

What to expect? Do I really need my mother-in-law there the first day home?

This message board is the best but also sobering.

JJK





JJK--You've already got some good, personal advice to cherry pick from. I had no problem whatever sleeping on my side in bed. I hooked the big catheter drainage bag to the bed frame and slept like a log all night.

I won't touch the MIL question with a ten-foot catheter tube! Ha ha! Seriously, you probably won't need much help navigating around the house.

You can and should walk when the catheter is in. The sooner you start walking, the better. I found it best to insure that there was plenty of loose tubing between the penis and where the tubing attached to the inside of the thigh with velcro adhesive;if the tubing is too tight--you guessed 'er, Chester--it tugs on your penis and bladder (don't go there).

My dachshund Henry was a great companion to have around when home. He accompanied me on walks around the block twice a day. And if I was having a bad day, he sat quietly beside me without giving advice!

Tim

P.S. For those of us, men and those who love them, who are thru the surgery or other prostate cancer treatment,and recovering or back to normal, it is a privilege to help out those who are just beginning the prostate cancer journey. My only regret is that I did not find this forum until after I had surgery. I have found it a great help since.
Posted 11/25/2006 4:10 PM (GMT -8)

JJK:

Like others have said, you are in good hands at Memorial.  Your surgeon has a nurse who can provide invaluable assistance to you and answer any question you have, even after surgery.  Make sure you get her card and call her any time you are not sure about post-surgery care.

I found the most comfortable positions the week after surgery were either standing or reclining on a couch or in the bed.

I used pain medication for as long as I felt uncomfortable.  I think it was about a week.  I simply reduced the frequency until I finally reached zero pills per day.

I walked a good bit with the foley.  I never used one of those leg bags.  Rather, I simply carried the larger bag in my hand when I walked.  Had surgery in August and wore shorts which made matters easy with the catheter.

Posted 11/25/2006 4:21 PM (GMT -8)
JJK,

Another thing that Curtis found invaluable when he had pain in the perinum (sp) was Iburpofen for the inflamation.

Posted 11/25/2006 5:40 PM (GMT -8)
Hi JJK,



I’ve attached our personal threads at the end of this posting….so you can check them out. They answer most of your questions…. as to what we did….If just 1 thing from "Our Journey" helps you ~ it’s worth looking at.



We all have the same goal to be cancer free and doing it the way we feel best.

A lot of things are the same; a lot of things are different. Pick & choose smile



Hope you found the Thread titled: Kegel Help? Started by kw…. It’s on page 2 as of right now…. It has great info about kegels… Doing them before surgery gets the sphincter muscle ready to do a new big job because he’s never had to work before. Since you’ve not done them…. before surgery…start immediately after the catheter is removed…. You have to train this guy and the sooner he knows what his job is…. The sooner you will be continent. It takes time and everyone is different in his timeframe for being completely continent. So don’t be alarmed if you have leakage… expect it ….



Know that your journey is not being traveled alone. We are there with you!!! Each and every one of us will be sending extra strength to carry you through.



In fact ~ here’s a “Special Hug” to carry you in to Monday’s surgery date!
Posted 11/26/2006 1:48 PM (GMT -8)
JJK,

my thoughts and prayers will be with you tomorrow. Jeff wore very loose cotton sports shorts and a big T-shirt. he did not take any pain medication, but you'll know if you need any or not. get the prescription filled - your mother-in-law could take care of that. he also carried the large bag around instead of changing to the leg bag. take it easy, read some books, and walk around the house if you're more comfortable doing that instead of going outside. you'll be able to move around and get food and drinks. take care and let us know how you're doing once you're up to it. kat
Posted 11/26/2006 2:26 PM (GMT -8)

JJK,

Everyone has a little different experience post surgery.  In my case I had the Da Vinci which I assume is your situation.  First of all you will want some privacy.  I would run off my daughters when it was time to get ready for bed and hook up to the night bag.  I wore some light flannel sleeping shorts.  These were big enough that the catheter did not get caught on them.  I slept in my bed and had no probelms.  You just have to watch rolling over in the middle of the night.  It was previously mentioned by someone on this forum that the use of a small office plastic garbage pail worked well for the night bag.  That is what I used.  The bag hung off the side into the pail perfectly.  This way I could just grab the garbage pail and walk around and not have to find something to hang the bag off of.  It also was more visually pleasing as it hid the urine from casual sight.  You will find the leg bag very easy to use.  Be prepared to have some leakage around the catheter at the tip of your penis.  You may have some blood and urine especially when you have a bowel movement.  I found keeping a container of baby wipes and the tube of neosporin out by the toliet where I could reach them to be very handy.  The baby wipes work great for cleaning the catheter.  about the third day the perineum tenderness showed up.  I had to use a pillow when sitting straight up especially when typing on the keyboard.  Make sure you drink plenty of liquids.  This helps the healing process.  Also, walk, walk, walk.  Don't over do it but every couple of hours during the day get up and walk.  This will promote healing but more importantly it will prevent blood clots.  As already mentioned you will feel so good you will want to do a lot.  I pushed myself too hard about the third day post op and was completely wiped out that evening.  You will need to rest in the evening. 

Good luck!  You have chosen one of the best facilities to have your surgery.  You will do well.  Look forward to hearing from you in a few days.

Tamu

Posted 11/26/2006 4:03 PM (GMT -8)
Gang,

Thanks so much for the help.  I have taken in everything and I am ready to relax. 

I will check in with everyone on Wednesday.  I have my shorts, books and DVD's.

BTW

54

Gleason 3+3

PSA 3.7

Found out 9/22

Laparoscopic at Sloan Kettering 11/2706

JJK

Posted 11/26/2006 5:57 PM (GMT -8)
JJK Our prayers are with you on the eve of your surgery you will find you are much stronger than you thought. Heres a little tip lots of pillows on your bed big and small to help prop you up or under legs and arms ect. God Bless. jwtw
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