MUST HAVE'S for radical "open procedure" prostatectomy

Hi Everyone!

First time poster here. My Daddy is going to have the open procedure done at the VA hospital in Asheville just after Christmas. What things should we have on hand that would make the whole recovery more comfortable for him. If you can think of anything that helped you or your loved one, please let me know.

Thank you so much for your time. God Bless all of you!

Welcome aboard!

ITS pretty much covered it--though I think I'd stay away from the little bell, LOL!. I stayed/slept in a recliner until my catheter was out. Actually a couple days past, as I was getting pretty comfortable in there. My wife finally made me come back to bed, LOL!

I also had a round wire basket with a handle that I placed on the floor next to the recliner. I placed the cath bag in there so it wasn't just lying/dragging on the floor, and sometimes I carried it in there as I moved about the house. When I showered I just hung the bag by its hook on the shower door handle or set it on the floor. Your dad ALWAYS wants to keep the bag lower than his bladder to reduce chances of a 'backflow' and possible infection. I've read where guys put holes in a bucket, place the bag in the bucket, and take the whole thing in the shower with them. Thought about it, but figured the wire basket would suffice if I needed to do that, but I didn't. When walking around the house, many times I just hooked the bag to the outside pocket of my sweatpants and walked around that way. Sometimes, while going out for a walk, I'd just put the bag in a shopping bag and carry it with me.

A note: If staples are used on your dad to close the incision site, keep an eye on them. When I went to have them removed 9 days post-op, the area was really inflamed and angry looking. I took some antibiotics for a couple of days and went back to get them removed, but I think it was more a skin reaction to the metal staples (I had over 30 of them) than an infection, and the doc said it was certainly possible. Once the staples were removed, the nurse applied steri-strips to the incision, though even she said they probably weren't needed as I was healing well. They started falling off soon afterwards. It's a tough area to keep from having your clothing rub against. The redness subsided after about a week.

I don't know your dad's age nor his physical condition, but I was able to mostly take care of myself, at least as far as the 'anatomical' stuff goes. :)

Good luck to you all!

Screw the pants. Get a robe.

I finally bought a cane.

Someone to wait on him hand and foot.

Be sure to not strain when having bm. Take stool softeners. Straining can result in urune and blood bypassing catheter and squirting out near penis when trying to go so be ready with toilet paper! Don't remove cath until there is no blood in bag for two days. Walking is important so having a treadmill is very helpful rather than dragging the cath around with you.
Bob

You guys are the BEST! Thank you so much for all your advice and especially your humor! It's very comforting to know that through all the procedures and stress that you've all still remained positive and kept your sense of humor.

I've been a little sponge to your suggestions. So if you think of anything else I'll be listening intently.

Thanks again for your time and messages!!!

One figures stuff out as they go.

Today I began strapping a length of velcro around my leg. Now both hands are always free. Every time I stand up I just hook the bag on the strap on my leg.

Although my hubby had a DaVinci prostectomy, I still have a few suggestions. Instead of a bucket, we used a plastic trash can we already had. Hubby wanted to sleep in his bed, and the can was the perfect size to hand the bag from. We also put a disposable bed pad under the bucket and spread so he stood on it when he stood up (he was worried about leaks onto the carpet). His nurse gave us the plastic clamps (look a bit like locking scissors, but don't have cutting edges) that are used to clamp the cath tube when no bag is attached. That allowed me to take off the bag while he showered (without urine and blood running into shower). I cleaned it while he showered. The hospital recommended rinsing with vinegar once a day, so stock up on that too. They also gave me rolls of tape and some gauze pads, but I had to get more. The paper tape or 'sensitive skin' tape is best. Get a couple of sizes of gauze pads, too. Go to the grocery store and stock up on things for him to eat. The first few days he may be a bit nauseous so chicken soup, saltines, bread for toast, eggs for scrambled eggs, grits or cream of wheat, instant mashed potatoes, chicken (baked or boiled is easy to digest) etc. might be needed. Prune juice (especially warmed) is easier on some men than stool softeners, etc. Hubby returned to work while the cath was still in place, so we had cargo pants for him to wear. The wide legs easily concealed the cath and bag and we had gotten a size larger than he usually wore to accommodate belly swelling and so it wouldn't rub any of his incisions. I agree that since he is having an open surgery, the robe might be best for the first few days at least. If he wants a bit more 'cover' he could wear very loose boxers or other shorts under it. Comfortable slip in shoes for walking (with good no-slip soles).

This is an old thread, but I think it has some really good information. Best of luck to your dad.

www.healingwell.com/community/?f=35&m=1717641

Thank you guys all sooo much for all your suggestions! Dad has had the surgery and everything seems to have gone very well. Only problem is his catheter is leaking blood when he does his "ambulating". How did you guys walk around without leaking and without tugging on the tubing?

PC Daughter.....that's our little secret, LOL!

Blood leaking around the penis tip is pretty normal at first. Think about it......what just happened to the poor fella!

If it's tugging too much, you may need a slight 'adjustment' to the taping. TAKE A PIC FIRST, I'M TELLING YOU!

When walking, be sure the taping is supporting the tube well. I walked with baggy pants and left the bag at the bottom of my interior pants cuff.