RALP in two days.

RALP Thursday. Any last minute advice? I read Patrolman's experience, that helps. For some reason I just feel passed and not comfortable. I don't care about the food restrictions that start tomorrow: Magnesium Citrate at 10am (not sure what to expect) then chicken broth and Jell-O the rest of the day. But NOT red Jell-O, what the heck is that about?

Ugh, just feeling down. I guess that's normal considering what's coming up. Then comes the waiting for the catheter to come out, then the pathology report. I guess this is an exercise in patience because I'll be getting PSA blood tests the rest of my life now. It's like shifting into a gear that I never thought I'd have to do. Do you know that two months ago I didn't even know the purpose of the prostate gland?

Hi Motor,

Your email is unlisted, so I will post this here and hope that I do not break any list rules. I sent this to another list member, so please excuse my re-use.

My advise is to, as much as you can, take it one day at a time. There are a dozen uncertainties, some will take months or years to know. But the ones you can influence are the ones happening today.


Scientificlifestyle here, real name is Pat.

I am a few days ahead of you. I had RALP on 18 December at Kaiser Hospital in San Francisco.


I do have a list of recommended items to have on hand:

Sitting doughnut: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000G015X0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
***** using this on the ride home is a very good thing and will make the ride more comfortable. I also used this in my recliner during the day.

I found that sleeping in my regular bed with the water proof pad listed below was most comfortable for me.

Baby Wipers: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A7NUARS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Water tight and absorbing re-usable pads that work for car seats and recliner: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FED594/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Larger water tight and re-usable absorbant pad for bed: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FOA7C2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Depends guards, heavier: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004OQP3O4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Depends guards lighter: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BCY06D4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thermometer for forehead: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005UMZS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Antibiotic gel to lube between catheter and the end of willy - Neosporin, this also helps prevent urinary tract infections

Adhesive Anchors for catheter, like a bandaid with a fold-over velcro to hang onto the catheter - "Cath-Secure" got mine at a pharmacy, they should send you home with the hospital with a few. These are very important for not stressing the catheter. The catheter has a bulb filled with saline to keep it in place inside the bladder. The area where the bulb rests is the important re-connection of the urine path. This is the area that needs to heal very well. Some bleeding and pink urine in the bag is normal. It is handy to have a bucket to keep the urine bag in at night and while in the shower. Be careful with the catheter, don't step on it in the shower or catch the hose on anything. I had to tell myself about a thousand times a day to slow down, move deliberately etc to keep catheter safe.

one size larger than normal boxer-briefs (spandex like) are great . They do a great job of holding the Guards in place and they are super thin and you won't get pressure points like tighty-whities

one size larger than normal lounging pants that are stretchy. These will not put too much pressure on your belly which will be sore and bloated, they also let you drop the catheter leg bag down through the leg without having to break the catheter line.

Oversized t-shirt and sweat-shirt for lounging cloths

I used an re-usable 99 cent grocery bag to hold the large catheter leg bag. very un-noticeable.

After surgery, they will get you up and walking, this helps clear the gas used in the surgery. With the prostste removed, there is a spot on the bowel that is thinner and a bit weaker. Use the stool softners and I also used prune juice and psilium fiber mixed in. Due to the weaker spot, you do not want hard, dry stools or much straining or pushing during a BM.

Best Regards, Welcome to the other side, scientificlifestyle

Good luck with the surgery, I had it a little over a year ago, Pratomans long post is a very good description what to expect, you will have to gut it out for a few days but after that its really ok.

As for a seat I tried 3 different seats, Foam, Doughnut and the G Seat. The G Seat was far and away the best for me. Bottom line, get something to take the pressure off where your prostate was.

http://www.amazon.com/Gseat-Orthopedic-Chair-Comfort-Cushion/dp/B001NVXRAU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421247029&sr=8-1&keywords=gseat

Surgery done, in room for the night. Using my tablet. Crap, this hurts, stomach specifically. Feels like I have to pee.

10pm, going to try and sleep. Been in room since 7pm

The feeling of needing to pee is bladder spasms. Bob had them the whole 14 days cath was in. Ask for the spasm meds. Glad you are doing o.k. and hope you are getting rest and the pain is getting better.

This is rough! I've been walking for a half hour, several times a day. Getting up and sitting down is the worst. I hate this catheter, never had one before. I do notice every day is much better than the day before.

Doc told my wife that both nerves were spared and he thinks nothing escaped the prostate. So, we'll just wait for that pathology report.

Yeah, getting up and down are really tough to do for the first week...

- braced and ready to stand - check
- help getting up - check
- Catheter NOT caught in anything - CHECK!

By now I bet things are getting a bit better. Make sure you keep the tube clean and lubed. Slide willy back a little and clean the tube with a warm wash cloth and then lube t bit. It will make the catheter a bit easier to deal with.

Ok, here is where you timed this just perfect. You don't have to miss any of the game to day to go up and take a piss, you win!

Every day gets better and in a week this will be a blur

Pat

Hi Motor, Hi ScientificLifestyle (Pat),

Motor, you would have had your RALP by now, I think. Hope that that went great!

I was reading this thread a moment ago and came across Pat's comments about recommending Neosporin to lube the tip of Willy where the catheter enters/exits Willy. I got the following response from PeterDisAbelard on the new thread I started only yesterday, Saturday, or perhaps Friday, "Catheter Maintenance question -- taking good care of Willy" -- where I was asking the group my own question about the wisdom of using Neosporin. To quote what Peter said in response to my query,

"I was sent home with a tube of petrolium jelly (same thing as petrolatum). I applied it with clean fingers to the catheter tube in the vicinity of the urinary meatus. I would suggest caution with medicated (antibiotic/anesthetic) creams unless cleared by your surgeon since some of them can cause irritation.

Chances are that as well as introducing the possibility of a reaction the anesthetic creams are probably not that useful since most of the discomfort at the meatus (the end of Mr Johnson) is probably referred pain from the anastomosis (the stitches in the urethra) well up inside."

Motor, I figured this might provide another point of view, another opinion, as you decide on the practical details of caring for Willy with his unexpected "guest" the next 9 days . . . the catheter. On reading Peter, my own decision was to drop the neosporin -- for the reasons Peter mentions -- and go back to just the white petrolatum every pharmacy everywhere sells.

Best to you!
Bill Positive