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Swelling after prostatectomy

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Posted 2/10/2014 8:20 PM (GMT 0)
This is my first post but I have been monitoring this board since my initial diagnosis almost two months ago.  I have obtained a lot of valuable information and support from many posters.  I am now five days after robotic removal surgery.  The surgery went well but for the past three days, I have had significant swelling in the groin area, especially my scrotum, causing me much discomfort and pain from any movement of the catheter. I know swelling is expected and has been discussed elsewhere, but I have two quick questions:

1.  Other than elevating the area, is there anything else that can be done to make the swellling go down?

2.  With this kind of swelling, is there a chance the doctor's office may want to delay removal of the catheter (now scheduled for Wednesday)? 

Thanks for any insight/experience. 

 

Posted 2/10/2014 8:50 PM (GMT 0)
RainMan

I'm about 18 weeks post surgery and I too had swelling in the groin and scrotum. I rolled up a small towel and placed it under my scrotum. It did not delay the removal of the catheter which I had 7 days. It all does get better with time. I think the swelling went down after about a week and a half. Good luck in your recovery and welcome to this forum. There is a lot of knowledge to be had.

Rick 

Posted 2/10/2014 9:16 PM (GMT 0)
I had the same swelling in the scrotum, mine was the size of a large grapefruit, in fact doing a google search on it, is how I ended up finding the HealingWell website. Mine lasted about eight days and did not delay removal of the catheter.

After about the fifth day, I wrapped a "small" pack of frozen corn in a thin dish rag and placed in the affected area for app 20 minutes every few hours and it seemed to help. Good luck, it only gets better from here on out!!
Posted 2/10/2014 10:04 PM (GMT 0)
I had that, too. Called my surgeon's office and spoke to his nurse. She told me that it meant I had been on my feet too much and needed to hit the recliner a few more hours each day. I didn't let it keep me from walking or doing things I wanted to do but when I had a spare minute I would recline and catch a few more episodes of the Star Trek series "Enterprise" on NetFlix. Seemed to help. Didn't affect the removal of my catheter.
Posted 2/10/2014 10:08 PM (GMT 0)
I experienced the grapefruit swelling also. I found great relief and agree with the vegetable treatment - use an ice pack or a frozen bag of corn, peas, beans. Freeze them again and reuse.
Posted 2/10/2014 10:29 PM (GMT 0)
hi Rainman,

Welcome to the forum & to the 'other side", walking is still the best exercise for the recovery of swelling.  But do it in moderation.

All the best on the recovery

 

Posted 2/13/2014 12:58 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks to all for the replies and for welcoming me to this forum. I got the catheter out today and feel like a free man. Regarding the post-op swelling, I think I was not really elevating the hips above my head level while lying on the couch. I made a more determined effort in that direction the last two days and it helped. Also the catheter was pretty tight and getting free of that thing is liberating. I know I have a ways to go but I feel like I have finally made it to the other side!
Posted 2/13/2014 1:09 AM (GMT 0)
A bag of green peas in my freezer served as my ice pack. Only good I can think of as a use for green peas. Certainly would never eat those vile things.

Two Texas Star Ruby Reds. My cath tube disappeared into the cluster.

Mine subsided in a day or two. Before the day I parted with Cath.

Called the doc in panic, was told to shut up, sit down, and rest.

That was also how I found HW, although I didn't come back and join until it was time for RT.
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