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Tips before surgery??

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Posted 3/14/2008 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
Hello friends,

The surgery is scheduled for the 26. It will be open because of the size of the prostate (116 grams, it's not a walnut but a bagel!) and also from previous hernia repairs on both sides. We've been reading a lot and are still looking for tips from those who've been there before. Like what kind of enema? The big one like before a colonoscopy or a little fleet. I read it's a good idea to shave your thighs because of the tape for the catheter. How much shaving? Should I bring my lounge chair to the hospital or is it crazy to think anyone can have a nap? How about bribing the nurses with chocolates or muffins! What kind of underwear to hold everything whithout hurting the belly (for the walking)? As you see I'm going a little nuts, thanks for any answers.

Lili

Posted 3/14/2008 7:47 PM (GMT 0)
Lili,

I copied this thread link from the index in the "Resource" thread at the top of the page.
Read all the postings and you will see some great thoughts about getting ready for surgery.
I ALWAYS recommend Ms. Bluebird's "Our Journey" link found in her signature.
Click on this link:

Shopping List For Surgery

Wittler

06-30-07


Godspeed!

CCedar
ICTHUS

Posted 3/15/2008 12:15 AM (GMT 0)
Like what kind of enema? The big one like before a colonoscopy or a little fleet.

.......I took a Fleet, then no solids for the next 36 hours before surgery.

 

I read it's a good idea to shave your thighs because of the tape for the catheter. How much shaving?

 

......Probably a good idea.  In my case that tape was on my thigh for 22 days...most do not have catheter in that long......wish I had shaved my thighs before surgery, but never thought about it.

 

Should I bring my lounge chair to the hospital or is it crazy to think anyone can have a nap?

 

......Is "I" the patient or the wife?  If wife, you might be able to catnap some.  Patient will get very little sleep...someone in there every hour at least checking this or that....

 

What kind of underwear to hold everything whithout hurting the belly (for the walking)? 

 

......Doubt hubby will need underwear.  Just wore hosptial gown until I was released to go home.  Doc and nurses always checking catheter and such, and when the patient walks, the gown is closed in the front and open (but tied) in the back.

Posted 3/15/2008 1:14 AM (GMT 0)
I brought a robe and that really helped. Matter of fact I went comado for most of the time wore the robe a great deal of the time.

I would have thought your doctor would have given you a preop procedure.

Our hospitals have a chair that flattens to a bed albiet uncomfortable.

With the pain meds make sure your doctor adds in stool softeners.

The more you walk if you are able, the quicker you get out of the hospital.

Make sure you get trained on the catheter on what to do and not to do. Not much to it, but don't assume you know.

In no time at all you will be back posting your helpful tips and thinking well that really wasn't that bad.

Best of luck!
Posted 3/15/2008 2:11 AM (GMT 0)

Thanks Guys,

DanMan, I am the wife. I thought my good folding chain would be more comfy than whatever they have at the hospital. We did get the preop papers but I'm always looking for the real answer. Like maybe they suggest something, but those with experience know a little more. As in shaving your thighs! The underwear question is more for when we'll be back home and he goes walking with all the equipment. I know Mo will be sore with the staples, ouch! Thanks for the link Cedar. Lot's of stuff to read.

    Lili

Posted 3/15/2008 2:13 AM (GMT 0)
Lili, My husband is a boxer wearer. I bought some of the hanes tight boxers for him as well as th "tighty whitey's" He wore both in the hospital. The tight boxers, gave more assurance that the cath would not pull out, not that it would, but any assurance is good. We also bought a wrap around the leg cath stay. He loved it and as a matter of fact, I saved it and just pulled it out to take to AZ for his dad's surgery, and he was excited that I saved it. My husband had his surgery 1 year ago today. I was terrified, and overly prepared. Take a knee pillow for him. Helps to sleep on the side, but allows enough space for the cath. We totally agree with the waste basket by the bed when you get home. I thought kurt would say a waste (no pun intended) but he thougt helpful. Kurt, after surgery wore a pair of my dad's pj shorts and shirt. Just remember, you will be bloated and need a larger size. good luck to you. Courtney
Posted 3/15/2008 5:35 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Big One - Kziz is right -- have some "tighty-whiteys" on hand too. After surgery, your husband may need the extra support -- kind of like a jock-strap thing. I was a boxer shorts wearer before surgery but switched to the "Fruit-of-the-Loom" tighties after surgery.
Sadly, according to my 13-year-old son and his best friend, wearing "Fruit-of the-Loom" is like totally, er, weird.
But it works for me.
Best to ya,
Tom
Posted 3/15/2008 5:51 AM (GMT 0)

Lili,

I can honestly say that I had little pain from my prostate surgery.  Was very sore the first time I got up and moved around in the hospital, then less sore every time after that.  By the time I got home (spent two nights) I had relatively little soreness (other than gas pains)....but that darn catheter drove me up a wall.

I had only missed 3 days or work in my entire life due to sickness, so this was a very different experience for me.

Once I got home, I struggled to find underwear that seemed "right" due to the presence of the catheter.  I tried boxers, briefs, Depends, just about anything at one time or another....then settled on Depends once the catheter came out.

Whatever else you do, be patient and encourage Mo to be patient also.  Recovery is a day by day thing but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.


Posted 3/15/2008 8:30 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,
I just looked at "eating before davinci" from Kitz and tada all the info was there, regarding the enema. Thanks biker, that's the kind of indepth (ha ha)answer I was looking for. Clean colon may or may not be an issue but better safe... The leg wrap may save a few hairs too. I read about the bag doing "bungee jumping" which may look funny (sorry guys!) but is really traumatic. Let's secure that bag.

Lili
Posted 3/15/2008 5:48 PM (GMT 0)

New to the forum, but we've been reading the very, very useful posts for the past few months.  On this subject, I was told to forego eating the entire day before, only clear liquids, then had the horrid 4 liters of "drano" for dinner the night before and nothing, nada, zip the day of the surgery.  While this seemed extreme, let's face it: They are operating near the bowels, and if there were a perforation, a scrupulously clean intestinal systems seems like a good thing. 

What tape on the thigh?  I had a 1 1/2 inch wide elastic band that had velcro on it that secured the end of the cath to my thigh before the tip that connected to the bag.  It was very secure.  The catheter was secured to the band too with another velcro strip.

Re: Underware:  Boxer briefs here, snug enough to hold the pad, and I got larger ones when I had the cath.  Worked fine.

One thing no one mentioned about the surgery, from which I had no specific location pain, but I had killer shoulder and abdominal pain for a few days from the laproscopic gas.  I knew it was going to be used in, but I didn't understand the post op consequence. I just assumed they let it out (somehow) afterward.  

13 days on the cath.  No pain, no problems, not so bad at all.  Dr. preferred a longer duration than 7 days, minimizing the possiblity of stricture and the need to reinsert. 

Now I'm trying to kegel and get control of my plumbing.  Thanks all for advice I've read. 

Posted 3/15/2008 9:40 PM (GMT 0)
Getting ready for major surgery includes mental and emotional as well as physical preparation. In my opinion this is as important as being physically ready.

My open prostatectomy was the eighth abdominal surgery that I've had beginning with a series of testicular and hernia surgeries as a teenager. In those days surgery was terrifying. They tied you down, put a mask over your face and dripped ether on it to put you under. I hatted it every time. Nowadays they put in an IV then start meds that relax you and by the time you get to the OR you don't really care what happens.

I mention these things because fear of the future is our major enemy in the days preceding surgery and they take the fear away in the pre-op procedures. So go over the prep procedures with your doc to build confidence that it ain't gonna hurt. Knowing what is going to happen relieves the mind of speculation and makes things easier. Make a list of questions to ask the doc about the procedure itself and what to expect in the few days after the surgery.

On the emotional side, build confidence in the decision you have made. Build on the expectation that you will be cancer free. Don't worry about continence and ED now, they haven't happened yet and you don't know if they will or the extent that they occur. The time to solve those problems is when thay happen. Don't future trip.

Become a cheer leader for you surgical team. Tell your doc that you expect him/her to do an excellent job and encourage them to get a good night's sleep before the surgery. Convince them that you are in control of you thoughts and feelings and you will be. Stay busy before the surgery. Keep you mind on your daily duties and your emotions will be easier to control. My surgery was at 1:30 pm and I went to work teaching school that morning. It made the time pass quicker. Be informed, be upbeat and positive. Don't bury negative emotions, face them and turn them positive.

Remember that we are all thinking and praying for you. Let's get well together...

Jim
Posted 3/18/2008 10:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all, regarding the cath stay. Some docs/hospitals will give the velcro wrap. Our hospital gave Kurt the tape kind. Velcro wrap good, tape bad!! As for the depends after the cath came out, I went out and bought allmost every kind I could find here in OKC. Kurt tried them all in tighty whiteys, tight boxers and regular boxers. He HATED them all. TOO hot he would say. They even caused a slight rash from the rub. I work in the rehab industry and remembered a sample that my boss had gotten at a conference of a incontenance protector for men. Very light and well shaped. I searched and searched the web and finally found them. They are called Attends. I found them at www.justattends.com . A little more expensive than the others, but VERY worth it according to Kurt. It is shaped like a baseball cup and fits into both of his tighter underwear. We will be thinking of you on the 26th. Courtney
Posted 3/19/2008 12:10 AM (GMT 0)
Guards for Men is enough, not a full brief.  Knockoff not as good I decided.  Now that I think about it, I was using the pads with the cath. (Oh, the things you forget so fast.)  I was concerned but I was told the leakage was not a problem.   We bumped up the size of the briefs which afforded a bit more room for the pad without making things too tight overall, especially if one isn't used to the snug fit.  As to tips before surgery, probably getting the pelvic floor muscles identified so you can kegel would be desirable.  Relaxing some would be good.    You will feel a lot more relieved after surgery.  And this condition is definitely a "we" thing for couples. 
Posted 3/19/2008 2:55 AM (GMT 0)

Just a couple of items that I have posted before:

Have a chair in your master bathroom - works well when you're changing bags.  We have a large counter that helped - bleach and other stuff to rinse bags.

I ended up storing away almost all of the depends I purchased as well as the men's pads.  In other words, don't purchase a lot initially.  I was fortunate and just used a womens maxipad soon after cathedar removal.

Good luck!

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