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Posted 9/5/2011 12:16 AM (GMT 0)
My husband is doing really well since his surgery on August 15th.  He has not had any incontinence since the catheter came out.  However, he does have to get up more often at night to pee.  Before surgery he would get up once or twice, now since the surgery he is getting up three or four times a night.  He also has to go more urgently during the morning hours, which in part is due to at least five cups of tea in the morning. 

Just wondering if this is typical while the bladder is healing, or if it could be a sign of a bladder infection?  He thinks his bladder "shrunk" after surgery.

He also noticed that on one side of his belly button there is a brown "mole" that he deosn't remember having had before.  He is worried that this is some kind of skin cancer, but I am wondering if it's some kind of "blood blister" from the surgery.  I think they took the prostate out through the belly button.  He has a zig-zag scar above the belly button. 

Posted 9/5/2011 12:45 AM (GMT 0)
The spot may just be a blood-blister or bruise. Yes, they take the prostate out throgh the camera port, which is the one above the belly button. Always ask the doctor if you have any question at all.

After the catheter, the bladder is a bit more drawn-up (it hasn't been "used" for a week or more), and also the sensations of needing to pee are heightened (as described by my uro).

I would suggest that he immediately cut down on the tea - I had to drop coffee, anything carbonated (beer, coke/sodas, sparkling water, sparking wine), orange juice, grapefruit, artificial sweetners, just for a few. My Phys. Theraphy nurse had quite the list of bladder irritants.

If he develops a UTI, there won't be any question. Mine all mainfested themselves with screaming pain. 20 on a scale of 0-10. If he uses them, he should change pads if they get damp/wet, and keeps things clean with a vengence.

I found that my bladder seemed to have gotten smaller, but over time that has improved. But, if I drink two beers I might as well plan at about 20 minutes to move to the "can".

Posted 9/5/2011 12:47 AM (GMT 0)
Fish: Your post caused me to go the bathroom mirror and inspect my own navel. In a robotic prostatectomy, they do indeed take the prostate out through the approximately 2-inch incision above the belly button. That's my only significant scar, and part of it does almost resemble a mole. It's likely that whatever you're seeing was caused by the surgical incision. If you have any doubts, though, you should have it checked either by your surgeon or a dermatologist.

As for the night-time urination, I've seen some guys report that visits to the bathroom have become more frequent during the night. For me, I'm fortunate to say that once a night is typical. Perhaps his visits will become less frequent as time goes on. I think you'll find out it varies from person to person.
Posted 9/5/2011 12:48 AM (GMT 0)
After I had my surgery I swore my bladder was the size of a walnut. I felt like I had to pee all the time then didn't go very much. 

If he had robotic surgery then yes the incision above the navel is where they removed the prostrate from.  

Posted 9/5/2011 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, glad to hear all is well. This getting up at night sounds all too familiar. I had the same issues, seems like I was up every hour or so, and really not going much volume. After a couple of weeks of this it just stopped happening, so hang in there. I think that the bladder is just reacting to the trauma and gets confused (??) I even went 1 1/2 hours back to the doctors to get an untrasound and it was fine. I do remember reading somewhere that magnesium supplements can help with this so I took some and that seemed  to help although it may have just been a coincidence.
Posted 9/5/2011 1:39 AM (GMT 0)
So glad your husband is doing better. The round spot of the scar might be the place where his surgeon might have inserted a drain and the incision would be a little round spot at the top of the big scar. The frequency will get better. I found that the whole sensation of having a full bladder has changed from what it was before. Once he gets used to his new plumbing he should do better on the frequency. For the first few weeks I was dry I had to go at night 2 or 3 times and now I am down pretty much to once a night. I also limit any liquids to no later than 2 hours before bedtime. I take a diuretic in the mornings which naturally cause me to have more frequent trips to the bathroom.
Posted 9/5/2011 10:50 PM (GMT 0)
I had my surgery on 20 July and I am still getting up twice a night to pee. I see my Uro this Friday for my first post op consultation and PSA test result. I intend to ask him if I can expect any improvement in the night time frequency.
Posted 9/6/2011 1:14 PM (GMT 0)
Fish,

I think the frequent nighttime urination right after the catheter is removed is normal (according to my Uro). I used to get up 1-2 times every night prior to surgery. For a week after the catheter was removed, I got up 5 times a night, but in about 6-8 weeks, it tapered down to just once a night (better than before the operation).

Good luck on the recovery!

Dan
Posted 9/6/2011 2:15 PM (GMT 0)
One trick with getting up at night to pee is to learn how to get back to sleep again afterwards, so that there is limited disruption.
Don't put on the light - Light sends signals to the brain to tell it to wake up. Even in our new house I have already learnt my way in the dark.
Yes I have to get up to pee, but it's not too bad. Last night I went at 10pm before going to bed then woke at about midnight and 6am. I then had to pee at 7am too after the alarm went off.

My bladder never seemed that big for the 49 years before surgery.

I have moles all over the place. I don't think I spotted any new ones. Blood blister sounds a possibility. But if in doubt check with a doc. (My deramtologist will be removing a suspect mole from me in a couple of weeks.)

FIVE cups of tea. No way! (or are they very small cups?) Or does he drink nothing else the rest of the day?

Alf
Posted 9/6/2011 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
Almost a year since my surgery and I get up 2 sometimes 3 times a night. Day time urgency is also up.
Posted 9/6/2011 6:57 PM (GMT 0)
After more than two years, sometimes I get up 3 or more times during the night. Other times I make it all night. But once or twice a night is OK, no reason to obsess about going all night. As long as the bed stays dry.
Posted 9/7/2011 12:54 AM (GMT 0)
Sounds familar. One year out from surgery.  Sometimes only once a nite other times two, three, rarely four.  It seems I don't go all that much during the day, but when I get in bed the urge kicks in.  Yes, my bladder does seem smaller. I base that on the amount of urine I pass. None of these issues really got bad until after ART. Prior to that I slept dry most of the night. 
Posted 9/7/2011 2:12 AM (GMT 0)
mr bill,

Same here. Things were looking better, then ART slapped me back in my place. I don't have to get up at night now (never did before), but I do have the less than random late-night flood, so pads at night are mandatory.

Posted 9/7/2011 12:31 PM (GMT 0)
142,

Only had one late night flood. Prior to ART I was 98% continent.  Now only about 80 to 85%.  Maybe to much coffee ( one cup in A.M. then cup of tea later).  I dunno.

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