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Prostate Cancer
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Posted 6/1/2013 1:20 AM (GMT 0)
Hey, guys, any tips on keeping the bowels moving smoothly post-op?  What worked for you?
Posted 6/1/2013 1:53 AM (GMT 0)
- there are different stool softeners on the market - do NOT use laxatives - your pharmacist can recommend what is best for you ( tell him about your PCa surgery). Mine was extremely helpful.
- also, personally, do not force the issue - your plumbing has to heal up where your doctor put things back together - you don't want to move them around.
-also , your plumbing and that area has been through a major trauma so don't beat yourself up if things don't work the way they used to - take time to heal and getting use to the "new normal"

-wishing you all the best inyour recovery,
Bronson
Posted 6/1/2013 1:54 AM (GMT 0)
Hubby used milk of mag, along with the stool softners, for probably the first two weeks. I think walking as much as comfortable
would also be good.
It was a biggie when that area got back to normal. ;)
Posted 6/1/2013 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
Hold off on milk of mag unless you are constipated, remember the softeners ad, soft and lilting, " it doesn't make you go, it helps you go"
Posted 6/1/2013 3:13 AM (GMT 0)
Any of the OTC stool softeners should do the trick, and keep properly hydrated, drink mostly plain water and lots of it.

david
Posted 6/1/2013 3:25 AM (GMT 0)
Find the right number to take for you and stick with it...I take four our or five a day depending on the effort to let her go and tensile strength of the most recent dumpola.. I get them from wally 400 for cheap same as the ones our doc gave you just after surgery...they are red/white gels...STOOL softeners....waxes poetic to a man's heart.
Posted 6/1/2013 7:55 AM (GMT 0)
After my da Vinci procedure, Mayo sent me home with lots of stuff, including a bottle of DocQlace stool softener. I have to say that it worked like a charm. 1-1/2 years later I still have the bottle in my medicine cabinet just to keep handy.

Chuck

Resident of Highland, Indiana just outside of Chicago, IL.
July 2011 local PSA lab reading 6.41 (from 4.1 in 2009). Mayo Clinic PSA Sept. 2011 was 5.7.
Local urologist DRE revealed significant BPH, but no lumps.
PCa Dx Aug. 2011 at age of 61.
Biopsy revealed adenocarcinoma in 3 of 20 cores (one 5%, two 20%). T2C.
Gleason score 3+3=6.
CT of abdomen, bone scan both negative.
DaVinci prostatectomy 11/1/11 at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN), nerve sparing, age 62.
My surgeon was Dr. Matthew Tollefson, who I highly recommend.
Final pathology shows tumor confined to prostate.
5 lymph nodes, seminal vesicles, extraprostatic soft tissue all negative.
1.0 x 0.6 x 0.6 cm mass involving right posterior inferior,
right posterior apex & left mid posterior prostate.
Right posterior apex margin involved by tumor over a 0.2 cm length, doctor says this is insignificant.
Prostate 98.3 grams, tumor 2 grams. Prostate size 5.0 x 4.7 x 4.5 cm.
Abdominal drain removed the morning after surgery.
Catheter out in 7 days. No incontinence, occasional minor dripping.
Post-op exams 2/13/12, 9/10/12, PSA <0.1. PSA tests now annual.
Semi-firm erections now happening 14 months post-op & VERY slowly getting a bit stronger.
Posted 6/1/2013 3:13 PM (GMT 0)
The only thing I can add that I did not read was good old fashioned prunes (along with a prescribed laxatives, LOTS of water and patience)


Gleason 3+3=6
Grade T2c
Prostate volume 34.5g
Highest psa 4.2
PSA records: so far so good. PSA levels undetectable after March 2013 surgery
Posted 6/1/2013 3:28 PM (GMT 0)
..eat smart, meaning hot cereal with prunes plus a 8oz glass of prune juice every morning. Protein drink in blender with fresh or frozen fruit pineapple, strawberry, apple, banana ect. Soups with beans, lentils, zucchini, tomato. Chicken, fish, vegetables. No pasta, no rice, no bread, limit the crackers with your soups. At night another 8oz glass of prune juice again.. That worked for me, days later I worked in all the normal stuff..
...........Nick.........
Posted 6/1/2013 6:07 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the input about my output.

I have been taking a stool softner, softgels containing docusate sodium 100 mg.  Instructions say up to 3 in the evening before bedtime.  Doc suggested one in the morning and one at night.  I've increased to 2 at night and one in the morning and still feeling a little tentative.

Putting some prune juice in the fridge to try the 2 glass a day routine.  Also adding good 'ole All Bran - Bran Buds.  Higher fiber and much tastier than regular good ole All Bran.

Drinking enough water to keep the cath bag looking like white grape juice.  Been eating multigrain bread with higher fiber, may cut that back?

And, I think I'll head out for a walk. 

Thanks again, all!

Posted 6/1/2013 7:47 PM (GMT 0)
Fiber. I use psyllium fiber (metamucil) generic brand. Been using it for many years for cholesterol control and it helped immensely during IMRT to keep the stool more or less solid. Works very gently. I take a couple of teaspoons a day with water.

Don

Posted 6/1/2013 11:02 PM (GMT 0)
Fiber, lots of fiber, plenty of water - plain water - and walking. Walk as much as your able.

Are you still on pain meds? I find things don't get back to normal until after I am off the pain meds.

Andrew
Posted 6/1/2013 11:08 PM (GMT 0)
If nothing works, consider volunteering as a moderator here. We're looking for that third guy...
Posted 6/2/2013 12:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Steve,
hubby uses Metamucil and its working well. i cook healthy food...organic when i can....and we take it a day at a time. Some days he is fine.....some days are diahrrea....some days constipation. Therefore......we have Metamucil, stool softeners, Gasex, and steroid suppositories...oh and the Dr. recommended keeping a bottle of liquid Immodium on hand for the bad days. Emphasized liquid because you want to take as little as possible. So far....he has been able to keep bowel movements pretty normal with the Metamucil and eating sensibly. what you eat makes a big difference and everyone is different. when hes having a diahrrea day.....we stay away from fresh fruits and veggies with skins and anything hard to digest. as soon as possible.....hes eating fiber again though.
bottom line....you have to do what is good for your body.....we can only tell you what works for us!! I will say he exercises daily....even on the bad days....and i think it really hellps. If nothing else....it gets him out of the house and visiting with people and thinking about something besides his problems. the biggest problem hes having right now is being able to urinate without a lot of straining which kicks up his hemmoroids. he sees his uro dr tomorrow. hopefully they have something that will help. Hes two months out from LBT....very good prognosis.....contained to prostate....low grade T1. wondering if treatment is going to be worse than just the watchful waiting........
dont get discouraged.....
Diane
Posted 6/2/2013 2:55 AM (GMT 0)
thanks for the input! I tend more towards the constipation end of the spectrum. I've been eating lots of fiber (multi grain bread, oatmeal, cereal) and drinking lots of water and taking stool softener, but it hasn't done the trick the last few days. Tomorrow I'll be eating mostly fruits and vegetables to avoid another hard stool like I had today.
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