It's not the bowel movement they're looking for, it's bowel sounds
which show your bowels are operating.  The first movement won't come
for a day or two or three after you get home.

There may be some leakage along the outside of the catheter tube as
the swelling up inside goes down.  It may not be an issue though since
not everyone experiences this and the leakage is minor - not an issue.

One thing I experienced was some discomfort just inside the end of the
urethra everytime I moved.  After a few days of this I went exploring
and found a little dried blood on the catheter tube rubbing on the
urethra.  I scraped the dried blood off with my fingernail and all was
well.

Have you seen the list of things to get posted regularly on this
newsgroup?  One of the most important for me was the coathanger tucked
between the mattress and boxspring allowing the bag to hang suspended
on the side of the bed rather than sitting on the floor or a chair.

There were no diet limitations for me post-op.  They sent me home with
stool softeners which I didn't need and pills for bladder spasms which
I also didn't need.

Good luck with all this - it will all be a foggy memory a few months
down the road.
Dave Perry

Earplugs
Recliner
Gym Shorts/Robe
Prunes work excellent.
Throw away the meds they give you!
Double anti-biotic creme to lubricate the tube at the penis.
I slept downstairs and put in earplugs to not hear frig. etc. It took a bit
to learn how to sleep in recliner, but it was the best.
Get into practice of showering, and getting up to walk.  Walk every
day....The more you walk the better you feel.
Learn to use the portable leg bag real soon.  It will free you up, and you
can drain it anywhere.......no one knows...
Use plastic wrap over incision area during shower......
Drink lots of fluid, bladder spasms happen and get better with time.
You will do fine.
John Loomis

Hi Dwight. I'm sorry to hear that you are also going to join the club. You
MAY leak even with the catheter. It is "normal" to get some leakage outside
of the catheter drainage tube. I had a few episodes of this. Don't be
alarmed if it happens. It is expected.

No. It depends on the doctor. I was thrown out to fend for myself 3 days
after surgery even though I had not had any bowel movements at all.

This is stupid. Talk to your doctor and raise this issue. I was put on solid
food two days after my surgery and had such cramping and gas that I thought
I was going to die....and  then I wished that I would. I finally managed to
pass some gas on the third day and they sent me home. This might not happen
to you but going back on solid food so quickly is a mistake that I wouldn't
wish on anyone.

Sorry to dump this on you, but you should discuss this with your doctor and
see what sort of response you get. If he insists on putting you back on
solids on the day after your surgery and will not listen to you, I would
consider getting a second opinion  and perhaps even a different doctor.

If you have any questions,  feel free to ask.

Nick

That was Joe Price.  He's has religiously posted it periodically for years.

You will probably have leakage during bowel movements.  But otherwise, it's
not likely.

It was with me, but I've hear of some being released lately after passing
gass.