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Posted 5/28/2016 5:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hello all,

So I elected to have an open RP on Tuesday May 24th, got home from hospital Thursday afternoon. Had to keep drain in and home care has been coming to visit. It was plugged so we think we have it working again. We got the catheter figured out, I use the night bag all the time, the leg bags are a pain. Uro spared right side and tethered left. He did not see anything that was a concern. He said small prostate and small pelvis so no challenges to get it out. I do not have swelling, bleeding or bruising like I have heard on some posts. See him June 6 to have stitches and catheter removed and path report if it is back. Hospital care was great Tuesday and Wednesday but the Wednesday night shift was not on the ball.

Kegels: I have been told a kegel is like holding back an uncontrollable bowel movement and also that it is like cutting off urination mid stream. Which is it? Also, Uro was not concerned about doing kegels while catheter is in. Home care nurse suggested to do them with the catheter as often as possible (it feels uncomfortable when I do them). Not exactly pain but uncomfortable.

Post Op - Bowel movement - argh, still waiting, all i can get is gas and it feels like the push muscle is quitting on me......i have taken some stool softeners, hope that will help....any thoughts??

Anyway..............I am 100% focused on recovery for the time being.
Posted 5/28/2016 6:02 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the other side. Sounds like your surgery and recovery are going as well as can be expected.

I did many kegals before and after surgery but none with a cath in. As you noted it's not very comfortable and I'm not sure it would make much of a difference in the big picture. I think you could describe the Kegal either way and be correct. It's the pelvic floor muscle and I think doing either engages the muscle.

I would stick with the stool softeners and maybe some prunes/juice to get things going. I was told to not push at all and just let things fall out on their own. With enough stool softeners in my system I needed to sit every time for several weeks because I never knew what was coming. If you don't need the pain meds don't take them, they can really back you up.


Keep hydrated and walk a bit if you able. Helps speed the recovery process.
Posted 5/28/2016 7:50 PM (GMT 0)
My surgeon told me no Kegels till the catheter came out.
To me it's holding in a piss, not a fart.

Best way to know that you are doing it right is when you go to pee, stop and start the stream a few times (when your cath is out, obviously, duh...) that will let you know which muscles to use.
Posted 5/28/2016 8:24 PM (GMT 0)
My surgeon also told me no kegals while the catheter was in. I tried once, and it hurt like h***, that was enough for me.

Keep up with the stool softners, I took two doses of metamucil a day as well, and ate things like oatmeal with raisins and other high-fiber things. Also, drink lots of water. That helps keep your doody from drying up into little rocks.

You'll do fine. Get out of the chair at least hourly and walk around the house. Keep us posted.
Posted 5/28/2016 10:34 PM (GMT 0)
welcome to the other side.

It gets better from here.

Take care of yourself.
Andrew
Posted 5/29/2016 1:48 AM (GMT 0)
I had open as well. Biggest issue was waiting for that first BM. Stool softeners worked. What a relief!! Coughing due to anesthesia really hurt in stitches area plus sore throat from intubation. I was ok after a few days and off pain killers. My drain was removed two days after surgery while in hospital. I never got a leg bag and didn't need one. Flew back home with wife about 54 hours after surgery. No complications. Bag and staples out 13 days post op. Played golf three weeks post open RP.
Bob
Posted 5/29/2016 3:37 AM (GMT 0)
Congratulation Newtopc. I had to use a suppository by the 4th or 5th day to get things going, the stool softners and the miralax weren't enough to get that first bowel movement for me but they helped much more after the first one.

A physical therapist that works with men for incontinence said you should actually feel it in both areas with a kegal. She said your pelvic floor muscles will engage also. While starting and stopping your stream is an excellent way to feel the sensation of a kegal if you can engage those other muscles at the same time your results may be better. But some guys do better then others sometimes regardless with the incontinence. Who really knows why that is...

Man, what a relief that first bowel movement is. Good luck....Jim
Posted 5/29/2016 12:02 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome home Newtopc. I hope your recovery is speedy and complication free!!
Posted 5/29/2016 12:24 PM (GMT 0)
Newtopc-

Welcome to the other side!

Drink plenty of water to flush out everything. It's easy to empty the bag.

When the catheter is out and you do Kegals neither your abdomen nor leg muscles should move.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Bobby Mac
Posted 5/29/2016 6:01 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for all the feedback and well wishes. I stopped trying to do kegels, it is very uncomfortable. Good news....Elvis left the building this morning......I am going to keep on the stool softeners so the rest of the band does not stay around to long....yay.....Greg
Posted 5/30/2016 10:21 AM (GMT 0)
Glad you are recovering well. Listen to your body, do only the things you feel like doing. Glad you stopped the Kegel, I didn't do any with the catheter in. Continue to heal!
Posted 5/30/2016 11:56 AM (GMT 0)
My pelvic floor exercises, at the moment, are based on contracting only two muscles simultaneously. They were initially monitored with an ultrasound machine to ensure being correctly engaged. One is pulling up from the Middle (testicles) while also pulling in from the Front (penis).
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Age 65 BPH PSA 7.1
Grid Biopsy Feb 2017
RALP 11 April 2016
G7 Stage T2c

Post Edited (shudderingThud) : 5/30/2016 6:03:31 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/30/2016 12:19 PM (GMT 0)
new....you're right on schedule. Next step is getting your sutures and catheter out. Keep walking.
Posted 5/30/2016 3:07 PM (GMT 0)
Thud, that is a pretty good description of how the kegal should feel. Very helpful.

New, to this day my core muscles that I use to push for a bowel movement are still noticeably weak. They are slowly improving but sometimes I don't have that extra ummphh needed at times. And I am a quality pooper from way back so I notice these minor details at times. But I am not worried as it is getting closer and closer to normal....Jim
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