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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Prostate Cancer / February 2005Well - So far so good.
Had my RP operation last Friday afternoon. After an evening and following day that I would just as soon forget (rolling heartburn to the edge of nausea, and the Mother of all Headaches) began to make serious improvement to the point that I came home yesterday. I'm not scheduled to have the catheter removed until Feb. 21 and that pisses me off (weak chuckle). According to the scalpel-wielder he found nothing unexpected, so I guess that's good unless he's a doom-and-gloomer in disguise. Bowels aren't totally back in action yet (nor is my appetite) but there are audible indications that the former concern may soon be alleviated. Although I am a little doubtful about whether I would recommend an RP to any male my age (65) or older, I witnessed first-hand the consequences of ignoring one's prostate. For the first evening and following day I shared a room with an elderly gent from out of town whose prostate had swollen to the point that he had to endure a total 'clean-up' at least four times a day. Plus, he was a wee bit demented and fought the staff every time they tried to do anything for him. On one occasion it took 5 staffers to physically control him. It seems that radical RP's are on a conveyer line here and since he was from out of town the earliest he could be fitted in was yesterday. Anyway, next step -Feb. 21. Charlie McQuarrie. PSA = 7.5, clinical = T1c, Gleason = 3+4=7 Charlie: Good luck to you on the recovery. I am sure you will be counting the days until Mr. Foley goes in the trash. I had it for three weeks, so I do know what you are going through. If you use tape to secure the tubing, be sure to shave your thigh first. No fun pulling off that tape when there is hair there. I found a velcro thing made specifically for the Foley catheter, and it worked great. It gave me a sense of security because I was sure I would catch the damn tube on something and.... Anyway, it cost about $12.00. Most guys just use the tape. Be sure and let us know when you get the path report. That will be the next hurdle. Take care and keep your spirits up. Soon this will just be a bad memory. Thank you. David S. > Had my RP operation last Friday afternoon. > {snip} > Anyway, next step -Feb. 21. > > Charlie McQuarrie. > PSA = 7.5, clinical = T1c, Gleason = 3+4=7 > Had my RP operation last Friday afternoon. > [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > Charlie McQuarrie. > PSA = 7.5, clinical = T1c, Gleason = 3+4=7 Fortunately, you're through the worst of it. As difficult as it may seem, try to walk as much as you can. I used to walk the neighborhood with the cath bag in a brown shopping bag. The neighbors were thinking I had lost my mind, until they asked why. Walking not only helps you with healing, I believe it gets the bowels moving again. Stoll softeners also helped - a lot. Good luck to you, Sandy K. Age 47 RRP 6/17/04 so far 2 PSAs post RRP < 0.01 WOOO HOOO another member of the club no one wants to join Welcome It was my experience 25 weeks ago that the worst is over. You seem to have a sence of humor and that will deffinately help. Some one here suggested that you use a shopping bag or plastic bag with handles to contain the Foley bag when out for a walk. I did that yand told people I was walking my dog. Seriously, Youll feel much better when your bowells do their thing. Might need help getting on/off the john. Best day of all was when the Catherter and staples came out. Instant releif.. Do walk and admire the bodies ability to heal Mike S > WOOO HOOO another member of the club no one wants to join > Welcome [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Seriously, Youll feel much better when your bowells do their thing. > Might need help getting on/off the john. Funny you should mention the b.m. Had my first one since the night before the operation at 6:05 pm tonight. HOOOOOOOOOOOOORAAAAAAAAAAAAAY !!!!!!! > Best day of all was when the Catherter and staples came out. Instant > releif.. > > Do walk and admire the bodies ability to heal > Mike S I was just WAITIN' for some wannabe mugger to demand to know what I had in "Da Bag". " You want it, you got it, freak! It's a warm bag of piss, and now it's YOURS. Wear it in peace." ;-) I.P. > I used to walk the neighborhood with the > cath bag in a brown shopping bag. Doesn't sound like he was a good candidate for RP. I'm glad yours went well. No reason why a 65-year-old in decent shape can't handle it, as to which I'm sure you will attest in a few more days. It's all down hill from here, and it sounds like you might have a cure.  SignatureProstate Cancer Survivor (so far), not a doctor PSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46 Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3bN0M0 Seminal Vesicle involvement, Neg margins PSA .1 .1 .1 .27 .37 .75 EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47 PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 Lupron (1 mo) 07/21/2003 @ 48 PSA .07 .05 .06 Lupron (4 mo) 8/03 (48), 12/03, 4/04 (49), 09/04 (50) non Illegitimi carborundum > Had my RP operation last Friday afternoon. > [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > Charlie McQuarrie. > PSA = 7.5, clinical = T1c, Gleason = 3+4=7 > 3 weeks w/catheter? Was there some particular reason your doc is tripling the generally accepted time? I.P. > > Had my RP operation last Friday afternoon. > > I'm not > > scheduled to have the catheter removed until Feb. 21 >> 3 weeks w/catheter? Was there some particular reason your doc is tripling > the generally accepted time? [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >> > I'm not >> > scheduled to have the catheter removed until Feb. 21 He didn't say why and he was out the door before I had determined that it was 3 weeks. Maybe he's just more 'conservative'. He does have a good rep. here. Charlie. You don't have to take that lying down. If your catheter is no hassle, fine. If it becomes the PITA many do, I'd sure be demanding to know why he wants you to do an extra couple of weeks of penance. Eight days is becoming the standard with many surgeons, barring complications, and the better YOU feel, the WORSE that frigging catheter feels. FORTUNATELY, mine plugged for the second time on Day 11 (my docs argued between 8 days and two weeks, so I was trying to appease the more conservative one). The second time it plugged up, I called the hospital help line, which expertly talked me through removing it myself at home. 90 seconds and zero discomfort later and I was a free man again. I.P. > >> 3 weeks w/catheter? Was there some particular reason your doc is tripling > > the generally accepted time? [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Charlie. 18 to 21 days seems standard here. My doc said he is very successfull at 18 - 21 days re: continence and low stricture rate. Question: I am under the impression that the Catherter acts as a splint for RRP. Assentially holding the ureter in place while the anastimousis heals. If that is the case, how can one self catheterise > 18 to 21 days seems standard here. My doc said he is very successfull > at 18 - 21 days re: continence and low stricture rate. > Question: I am under the impression that the Catherter acts as a > splint for RRP. Assentially holding the ureter in place while the > anastimousis heals. If that is the case, how can one self catheterise My primary urologist recommends 8 days, his boss wanted a dozen or so, nature won by "rejecting" the dang thing (it began leaking around the tube) for the second time on Day 11. Slips right outta there imperceptively once you deflate the retention balloon. I'd guess the self-catheterization every 4 hours keeps the anastomosis (I STILL don't know how to pronounce that) reamed out sufficiently. It's not yet widely accepted, but is being developed and touted. Pts are taught how to insert and remove the catheter easily, and most prefer that to 24/7 plumbing. I'm sure they're also taught what to watch out for, and to rush to the ER if problems arise . . . just as I had to do the first time my full-time catheter plugged. Next time I just removed that sucker with the help of a short phone call to my doc. I.P. "ana" is like Anna "sto" is like "sta" in star (the "o" sounds like a "a" as in "ahhh") "mo" is just "mo" like in momentum "sis" is just like "sis" in Sister. > snip> > I'd guess the self-catheterization every 4 hours keeps the anastomosis (I > STILL don't know how to pronounce that) reamed out sufficiently. It's not That's a start. Now where's the accent . . . on the "sto"? Thanks. I.P. > "ana" is like Anna > "sto" is like "sta" in star (the "o" sounds like a "a" as in "ahhh") [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > I'd guess the self-catheterization every 4 hours keeps the anastomosis (I > > STILL don't know how to pronounce that) reamed out sufficiently. It's not > > 18 to 21 days seems standard here. My doc said he is very successfull > > at 18 - 21 days re: continence and low stricture rate. [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > I.P. >From what I heard when I had one, two weeks was adequate to heal and that you could could take either a RRP or robotic out at this point without doing a cystogram(sp). With the robotic RP they ran a cystogram on me at 7 days to make sure that I healed. This checks the ureather/bladder healing with fluid to make sure that it is sealed. I was without pads at two weeks. My local urologist was only willing to take it out at two weeks. I talked my wife into driving to Detroit and back from Chicago to get it out at a week. I can not imagine going three weeks with a catheter because the doctor does this way all the time. A catheter must be easier on some than others. "Gary G>" <g.gunnerson@comcast.net> wrote > > With the robotic RP they ran a cystogram on me at 7 days to make sure > that I healed. . . . > I talked > my wife into driving to Detroit and back from Chicago to get [the catheter] out at > a week. I was surprised -- and reassured -- that my surgeon had pressure tested my anastomosis during surgery, so he could patch any leaks real time. For those still facing catheters and with docs at a distance, ask your doc if it's OK to take it out yourself when he says it's time. It's easier and quicker than programming a VCR to record an evening's "entertainment". I.P. Sorry, but three weeks is the norm for most RP'ers Bev > > 3 weeks w/catheter? Was there some particular reason your doc is tripling > the generally accepted time? [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > > I'm not > > > scheduled to have the catheter removed until Feb. 21 Believe me, the affteraffects don't last forever. I thought I could never do situps again, but I am doing them just fine 7 months after an RRP. Also, I am fully continent (yea!). I was doing them at 6 weeks, but I'd gladly give them up to get rid of the diapers. I'd LOVE to get rid of this wet cat in my pants, and haven't figured out how I'm going to manage it when the beach season arrives in April. Diapers in my swim suit, or wet legs? I'm guessing leaving a trail will be more interesting -- maybe even good for some occasional fun -- than fooling with diapers. I.P. > Believe me, the affteraffects don't last forever. I thought I could > never do situps again, but I am doing them just fine 7 months after an > RRP. Also, I am fully continent (yea!). My surgical team (the guys who wrote "PC for Dummies" advised 8-12 days, but some doctors (see Phoenix5 website) are moving towards nothing more than intermittent self-catheterization every four hours or so. The longest catheter times I found in a long list of web sites was two weeks -- up to three if there are complications -- and the shortest was until the patient is sufficiently awake to catheterize himself every few hours. Most run from one to two weeks. When I phoned my doc at 11 days with another plugged catheter, he said, "deflate it, slip it out, and fugheddaboutit." It was that simple, and almost that quick. I.P. > Sorry, but three weeks is the norm for most RP'ers > Bev > > > > 3 weeks w/catheter? Was there some particular reason your doc is > tripling > > the generally accepted time? Mine was 18 days SignatureProstate Cancer Survivor (so far), not a doctor PSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46 Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3bN0M0 Seminal Vesicle involvement, Neg margins PSA .1 .1 .1 .27 .37 .75 EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47 PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 Lupron (1 mo) 07/21/2003 @ 48 PSA .07 .05 .06 Lupron (4 mo) 8/03 (48), 12/03, 4/04 (49), 09/04 (50) non Illegitimi carborundum > Sorry, but three weeks is the norm for most RP'ers > Bev [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > > > I'm not > > > > scheduled to have the catheter removed until Feb. 21 Mine got "eased out" in 10 days - 74 days and 3 1/2 hours ago - GLADLY... The highlight of ma' life... (lol) I guess after reading the posts in this group that I'm very lucky that I haven't had to wear any pads since, either.. However, I'm not doing any situps, yet, either. A few light crunches sitting on one of those big air filled balls (helps the bad back deal with them.) There seems to be a muscle (or, something) up on my right side of my belly (almost to the bottom of the rib cage) that won't heal, yet. Feels like the same muscle that used to cramp when I ran as a kid... Paul |
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