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Six days post surgery - questions

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Posted 3/8/2015 11:32 PM (GMT 0)
Last Sunday night I was hungry and not looking forward to what was going to happen on Monday rolleyes . It's wonderful to be a week post-surgery.

Maybe some of you who have gone before can help with a couple of questions. My wife pointed out a day of two ago that my scrotum was swollen, is this common? When the catheter comes out I assume I need to keep pushing fluids?

Thanks all.
Posted 3/8/2015 11:42 PM (GMT 0)
John,
That is very normal. My scrotum was swollen for about 10 days but everyone heals differently. Sounds like you are doing just fine. Good luck in your recovery.
Rick
Posted 3/8/2015 11:43 PM (GMT 0)
John ,
Although I did not experience swelling in thescrotum, at least not that I noticed, my understanding is that it's fairlly common. As is some black and blue coloring in the scrotum as well.
And from what I've read here, the best way to deal with it is to keep the scrotum raised, with a towel. And it will eventually go back to normal.
Now that I think about it, while I didn't notice swelling, I did notice increased sensitivity in my testicles. Which lasted about 5-6weeks

When the cath was removed, the nurse told me that while up to that point I was told to drink plenty of fluids, now that YHE catheter is out, I should cut back on fluids for a while. Which I did.
Posted 3/8/2015 11:51 PM (GMT 0)
John, some swelling is normal, as is bruising in the scrotum. It will go down in a few weeks. Once the catheter is out, start doing kegals, 10 reps, 3-4 times a day. You'll learn how to control your drips in a short time. I cut back fluids to some extent, but not a lot. Walk, Walk, and Walk more.

You'll get there, it's all good from here on.
Posted 3/8/2015 11:52 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Rick and Prato! (And halbert!)
Posted 3/9/2015 12:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hooray - finally had a normal BM yeah . Now the ball of my left foot is hurting which might interfere with walking, my feet have been too swollen for shoes.
Posted 3/11/2015 11:08 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Halbert,
I had robotic surgery on 2/23/15 and catheter removed one week ago today. My leaking is very consistent and today I bought the first pack of depends. I work as a building inspector and am on my feet a lot. I am feeling a little depressed because after reading some of the posts today, some of these guys continue to leak after several months. The surgery was rough, the catheter was pretty bad as well, but as you know, nothing compares to the leaking. I am home now in my recliner again and can't wait t get into every day. This is my second day back to work but like I said, this is getting very depressing. What more should I do? Thanks for letting me vent a little.








halbert said...
John, some swelling is normal, as is bruising in the scrotum. It will go down in a few weeks. Once the catheter is out, start doing kegals, 10 reps, 3-4 times a day. You'll learn how to control your drips in a short time. I cut back fluids to some extent, but not a lot. Walk, Walk, and Walk more.

You'll get there, it's all good from here on.

Posted 3/12/2015 4:10 AM (GMT 0)
Hey there,
Yup to the swelling, I've seen several people talk about this. When my cath was removed I kept on drinking water to keep flushing out the clots. Walk, water and kegals. Soon you will have more control as you regain continence. You will get frustrated and angry about the slow progress, just be patient, it will get better

And.. getting the catheter removed is no big deal at all, you really wont feel anything except relief

Keep us posted

Pat
Posted 3/12/2015 7:07 PM (GMT 0)
Jimi my doctor wants me to have surgury im 57 and due to my age he wants to remove my prostate, would like as much information out there to prepair me for this. My PSA 5.2 gLEASON 3+3. 1 pos 11 neg on my biopsys. Going to have this done at GW in Washington DC. Thank God for coors lite and xanax.
Posted 3/12/2015 10:05 PM (GMT 0)
Joey,
Thanks for asking and although I am a newbie here as well I did have my surgery on 2/23/15. My last PSA after being on AS for a year and a half was 7.2 and my biopsy was a Gleason score of 7- 4+3 with four positive out of 12.
The extent of my cancer, once looked at during surgery, surprised my surgeon and she told me that if I had waited 6 more months, there would have been nothing else they could have done for me. I am 56 and like I said, the surgery was done almost three weeks ago. The radiation and watchful waiting are no good if someone our age has PS. I am in North Carolina and received my care at a great hospital. My surgery was 4 1/2 hours long and spent two days in the hospital.

After going home, my recliner became my "best friend". Keep your pain pills nearby and drink plenty of water and ginger ale. So Joey, make sure you have someone with you for at least that first week. I was lucky, my wife is an RN and was able to take some time off. Also, get your DVD player ready and some of your best movies. You will agonize over that catheter and get real tired of laying flat on your back but, after 10 days it will be gone. I never did transfer the bags, large to small. I stayed in the house for the first week and just used the large catheter bag and only used the small one when going back and forth to the hospital And I'll be honest with you Joey, the leaking is really the worst part for me but I'm sure it is different for everyone.

I am a building inspector and most of my job is walking. If I had more time saved up I would have taken this week off as well. The pads weren't protecting me a lot, so I had to humble myself and get the depends, which I have had on all week. I guess the leakage is slowing down but I think the more walking I do, the better, it's just real aggravating to say the least. But hey, the cancer is gone. You are making the right move my friend. Let me know if I can help more and I would be glad to speak to you over the phone if you'd like. Hope I helped a little.








Joeyc0726 said...
Jimi my doctor wants me to have surgury im 57 and due to my age he wants to remove my prostate, would like as much information out there to prepair me for this. My PSA 5.2 gLEASON 3+3. 1 pos 11 neg on my biopsys. Going to have this done at GW in Washington DC. Thank God for coors lite and xanax.

Posted 3/13/2015 1:06 AM (GMT 0)

Joeyc0726 said...
Jimi my doctor wants me to have surgury im 57 and due to my age he wants to remove my prostate, would like as much information out there to prepair me for this. My PSA 5.2 gLEASON 3+3. 1 pos 11 neg on my biopsys. Going to have this done at GW in Washington DC. Thank God for coors lite and xanax.


If you are having da Vinci surgery, you'll spend one, maybe two nights in a hospital room. Another vote for a recliner chair - I slept in one for over a week before I was strong enough to get in and out of a bed. We just came home today and my surgery was March 2. We spent the post-op time in the hotel which is part of the MD Anderson campus because of the 4.5 hour ride home, I was feeling good enough when we left to where the ride home wasn't a big deal.

Pratoman has a good post about stuff you might want to buy beforehand and fortunately we didn't need most of the supplies. Your Doc will do a pre-op workup and give you directions about when to go on clear liquids and cleaning out your bowels.
Posted 3/13/2015 1:59 AM (GMT 0)

Joeyc0726 said...
Jimi my doctor wants me to have surgury im 57 and due to my age he wants to remove my prostate, would like as much information out there to prepair me for this. My PSA 5.2 gLEASON 3+3. 1 pos 11 neg on my biopsys. Going to have this done at GW in Washington DC. Thank God for coors lite and xanax.

Joey,

Frankly I don't understand why your doctor would recommend surgery "due to my age", as you say. Actually, I think I understand it - he's a surgeon and that's what they do and believe in.

You seem to me to be a perfect candidate for brachytherapy. Have you considered or consulted on other treatments?

Good luck.
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