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Posted 3/22/2007 9:26 AM (GMT -8)
My husband had RPP one week ago today.  He's doing very well except for the inconvenience of leaking and horrible swelling in his scrotum.  I have 2 questions for you experts out there:

1) what kind of pads did you use to absorb leaking?  right now, I'm using cloth diapers that I hadn't thrown out after the birth of our child -- didn't know I'd be doing more laundry from leaking than from a baby!!!

2) the doctor has said that the swelling of his scrotum is normal, but with it now the size of a large grapefruit, it is downright uncomfortable and is the only thing causing him pain.  If you had this problem, how long did it last and what did you do to ease the discomfort?

I appreciate all your advice!

McTexas, a wife who wants to make life as good as possible for her lover-husband!

Posted 3/22/2007 10:37 AM (GMT -8)

McTexas,

I'm happy for you two that you found this group.  I've been reading a lot here for 8 days.
It makes a big difference.  I'm no expert.  I have read about and tried these:

1)  Some of us have found that either "full brief" pads or "Men's" liner pads placed inside of a pair of briefs (I wear two pair of briefs...) works well.  When I'm working, I add a women's "super" absorbent pad at 90 degrees to/inside the men's pad.  It is easier to replace, needs replacing less often, and I usually use two women's pads before the men's liner pad gets wet. 

2)  Sorry about the discomfort in the scrotum.  Those blue "donut" cushions from the Drug Store  - partially inflated - give the most options for sitting still, riding in a car, or reclining - until the discomfort and swelling go away.  It's hard to say how long the swelling will last.
My experience was 2 or 3 weeks for swelling to go down and another week or two before the scrotum didn't bother me.

I'm glad you are otherwise in good spirits.  It speeds healing.

Cedar Chopper

McTexas said...
My husband had RPP one week ago today.  He's doing very well except for the inconvenience of leaking and horrible swelling in his scrotum.  I have 2 questions for you experts out there:

1) what kind of pads did you use to absorb leaking?  right now, I'm using cloth diapers that I hadn't thrown out after the birth of our child -- didn't know I'd be doing more laundry from leaking than from a baby!!!

2) the doctor has said that the swelling of his scrotum is normal, but with it now the size of a large grapefruit, it is downright uncomfortable and is the only thing causing him pain.  If you had this problem, how long did it last and what did you do to ease the discomfort?

I appreciate all your advice!

McTexas, a wife who wants to make life as good as possible for her lover-husband!

Posted 3/22/2007 10:46 AM (GMT -8)
Thanks!  both my husband and I found your post helpful.

Glad you're back to work.

Posted 3/22/2007 12:36 PM (GMT -8)
You are very fortunate to have found this forum.  It is the most informative and honest anywhere.  The people here (and/or their lovers-wives) are survivors of prostate cancer.  Most here have had surgery , but others can share other experiences. 

I am assuming that since your husband is a week past surgery, that his catheter has been removed.(let us know if it is otherwise).  Every man here had leaking (even gushing) after our catheters were removed.  The simplest pad to use is "guards for men" or a generic.  It self sticks to the inside of your underpants and is easily changed.

The swelling of the scrotum varies from person to person.  It can be very uncomfortable.  Remember, the doctor did a whole lot of cutting and stitching that we can't even see. It should begin to get better soon.  If it continues for longer than you are comfortable with, be sure to talk to the urologist. Most swelling and pain can be reduced by carefully placing an ice pack on the area.  My "icepack" of choice was a bag of frozen peas.(no perferred brand)  It is flexable and can easily be refrozen.

You will experience all sorts of "stuff" during this recovery time.  Please come back and ask us what we went through.  Be sure to read old posts and see how they relate to your situation.

We are all with you....

Posted 3/22/2007 1:29 PM (GMT -8)

Dear McTexas,

Regarding the pads, I have "shopped" and tried all of them except the femine ones.  I've been told by someone, or else I 've read on this forum, the feminine pads are designed to soak a thicker substance than urine and do not work as well.  That is just hear-say.  But I have discovered, after trying several, that Walgreen's "Male Guards" (Super Absorbency) do the very best job for me, and are also a little cheaper than more name-recognizable brands.   My main problem has not been "leaking" but "gushing".  So I had to find something that would contain all that urine.  I'm sure others would suggest another brand or type, but this works good for me.

By the way, this forum has been a "life-saver" for me... almost literally.  My what great encouragement I have received for these folks.

Gene 

Posted 3/22/2007 7:02 PM (GMT -8)
Hi McTexas, I am still having alot of leaking myself. I use the Depends Underguards. They slip into the front of your briefs.
When I had my cath in I was using the Belted Depends. I had to use part of a womans pas taped around the cath tube to control the leaking down the tube.

As far as the swelling, mine never got that big! Not sure what is going on there. You may want to call your Dr.

Good luck with the leaking.

KW
Posted 3/23/2007 5:04 AM (GMT -8)

McTexas said...

1) what kind of pads did you use to absorb leaking?  right now, I'm using cloth diapers that I hadn't thrown out after the birth of our child -- didn't know I'd be doing more laundry from leaking than from a baby!!!

    Wow I never thought about using them!. Especially when DH ran out of pads. I have plenty of nappies around.

I am a newbie as well. My hubby had the surgury in Feburary. We are trying to cope with the inncontince, neither of us was quite prepared for that, especially the way it made him feel.

Sorry can't help with the swelling.

Posted 3/23/2007 6:48 AM (GMT -8)
Hi ~    McTexas   &   Loved Ones,        A    “Special”   Warm Welcome   to   You!         I know we can “all” make “Your Journey” smoother just by being here for you!   This is truly a great forum!!! ~ You have joined!  You are now part our forum family ~ a group of wonderful individuals who are so willing to share...   It helps “all of us” ~ to help you ~ if we know where you are on your path. So ~ Please stay with us and take our hand when you need it!   Keep posting.... OKAY!!     KNOWLEDGE      IS      POWER   ...   and   POWER conquers   fear   YOU MAKE THE DECISIONS… YOU HAVE OPTIONS… ~ and ~ Your decision will be the right decision for you!!!     We invite you to visit our personal thread in the signature area below . Our thoughts and prayers will be with you as you continue to move forward with your decision.   In Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy   “God Bless You” It's a little prayer   ~   "God Bless You" ...but it means so much each day, It means may angels guard you and guide you on your   way.     (Direct Link ~ just click on the title below and a new window will open!   Reminder … click on the REFRESH icon once you get there) Helpful Hints ~ & ~ Direct Links to Important Topic Threads ~ Hope this helps you!! :)
Posted 3/23/2007 8:04 AM (GMT -8)
Mctexas,

Scrotal swelling....sounds sort of silly....but do the following.

Prop a small towel or something similar under the scrotum just as you would elevate any other swollen limb. It takes only a small amount of elevation obviously. Place a cool pack on the swollen area...I dare not susggest ice directly on a poor guys jewels. These two things a few times a day for 20 minutes works wonders. Think swelling....it's all treated the same.

I am also a huge Arnica (google Arnica Montana) advocate. It's a pretty amazing remedy. 30x.....4 sublinguals 3-4 times a day for a week to boost the body's own ability to combat inflamation......love the stuff! Take a break for a week and do one more week then just stop. Our body is an amazing self regenerating machine.....

Take Care, Swim
Posted 3/24/2007 6:36 PM (GMT -8)
THANKS to all of you.

We ended up in ER on Thursday night because we thought catheter had stopped working and whole lower body was retaining fluid. After 6 hrs and blood tests and catheter flushing, they sent us home to raise feet over his head. Along with other suggestions of y'all's and their command for feet above heart, we're happy to report that scrotum is back to merely a grapefruit with a small lime thrown in -- sure beats papaya!! Must say, the male nurse at ER was wonderful with a great sense of humor and helped a great deal.

Thanks for the support and suggestions. I'm going to tell my husband's doc to recommend this site to others. And to tell him to stop saying "leak" and switch his language to "gush" -- much more accurate!

Appreciate you and we know where to find support.

McTexas
Posted 3/25/2007 11:32 PM (GMT -8)
Ok, I have another question and this seemed to be the best thread to place it. Two weeks post op, four days post cath removal. No gushing but leakage. No feeling in bladder as to need to urinate but head of penis aches when I need to go. Anyone have similiar feeling? Also can't do kegels as I need to strain  ( slight ) to keep flow of urine stream. Stream stops when I take the pressure off. Any thoughts. Barrister.

Posted 3/26/2007 3:14 AM (GMT -8)
That;'s interesting Barrister.

That's what Paul said happened for a couple of weeks after surgery. He had an elevated sensation for a short time. It's got to have something to do with a stunned bladder. Organs rebel when messed with and will spasm. They will deminish sensation temporarily as a defense mechanism or be out right be painful....or any combination of the 3 I suppose. Your bladder is objecting to having been yanked around. It'll settle down soon. As the healing process continues your bladder will be less annoyed at losing it's good friend and next door neighbor, the prostate. The space hog will learn to love the idea so much he'll move right onto the lot next door and he'll cozy right up to his new surroundings with his new single stitch, anastomosis :>)

I would bet if men think about it, there is always a sensation at the tip of the penis when your bladder is full. It's probably a subtle feeling and so normal none of you noticed. Our body is an amazing thing...it has a mind of its' own :>)

Off to work.....have a great Monday, Swim
Posted 3/26/2007 3:29 AM (GMT -8)
Thanks for the reply. It makes me feel a little better. Barrister
Posted 3/26/2007 4:33 AM (GMT -8)
Barrister,

The loss of the sensation of needing to urinate from the bladder was the first thing that I noticed. I was concerned about it and when I went back for the six week post op appointment I asked my surgeon if it would come back. He assured me that it would. It did come back at about the two months post op timeframe and today is just like it was prior to surgery.

Tamu
Posted 3/26/2007 5:51 AM (GMT -8)
Parson

Your experience sounds very simular to mine and I am now 11 weeks out of surgery. The tip would burn and have pressure indicating the need to urniate and not the bladder. As the days went by this got much better but there are still days and times where the tip of the penis feels the pressure and burns but not nearly as much now, it does get better. They told me last week at my doctors appointment that it could be another 6 months or more before I feel have normal feelings and functions.

norskie
Posted 3/26/2007 6:43 AM (GMT -8)
McTexas - just an opinion based on a comment of yours in your first post on this thread . . having to do with cloth diapers . . . my suggestion if you are still using these would be to TRY the male underguards that can be purchased. . . . usually in the urinary incontinence part of any drugstore or big box type store (cheaper there).

First off, they fit way more discreetly than any cloth would do and of course are made of materials that avoid any leakage. My remberance of cloth diapers is that moisture soon goes right through. Also, a grown man puts out way more urine than our little kiddies did.

Secondly, these guards virtually eliminate any odor.

Thirdly, (probably most important) is that if you are taking to washing and drying these items, you are adding one more stressor to your life which at this time is already more stressful than you need it to be.

But, this is just my opinion and I wanted to express it to you.

Continued good luck with your journey.
;o) Linda & Bob
Posted 3/29/2007 8:59 PM (GMT -8)

McTexas said...
My husband had RPP one week ago today.  He's doing very well except for the inconvenience of leaking and horrible swelling in his scrotum.  I have 2 questions for you experts out there:

1) what kind of pads did you use to absorb leaking?  right now, I'm using cloth diapers that I hadn't thrown out after the birth of our child -- didn't know I'd be doing more laundry from leaking than from a baby!!!

2) the doctor has said that the swelling of his scrotum is normal, but with it now the size of a large grapefruit, it is downright uncomfortable and is the only thing causing him pain.  If you had this problem, how long did it last and what did you do to ease the discomfort?

I appreciate all your advice!

McTexas, a wife who wants to make life as good as possible for her lover-husband!

We are in exactly the same position as you, my husband had his RRP a week ago on weds and he's been very swollen, luckily we haven't had any leaking, but he's VERY sore I already have the depends in for him so tonight he has been trying them and the relief for him has been amazing, it really helped to take the bag of and just wear the depends for a few hours,we also use a ring for him to sit on and the recliner takes some weight off for him, I have him padded up with plenty of pillows too.

We have the full size adjustable depends but they also do a pad that will work for you with the leaking, you can get them in extra and super plus absorbency. You both have our sympathy as we know how you feel, he's not quite so swollen today, I think its starting to go down a little. so maybe you will see some improvement tomorrow and over the weekend.I truly hope you do..:)

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