3 Days post RALP

Had my RALP Tuesday morning. Glad to be on the other side. The anxious waiting and the countdown was tough. Didn't really have much pain until the middle of the night in the hospital.They said it was a bladder spasm but later I think it was trapped gas. Got home Wednesday afternoon and my guts were swollen and rumbling. Not enough pain that Tylenol wouldn't calm down though. The only thing that hurts is my stomach muscles (like I did way too many sit-ups). Getting in and out out the recliner is tricky. Thanks to the forum for all the tips and especially the five gallon bucket tip for the large catheter bag. That high handle on the bucket sure is easier to grab and you don't have to bend over as much. My pathology results are sometime today and the catheter comes out next Friday.
HF5280

Welcome to the other side. Follow the advice to walk, walk, walk. If all you need is Tylenol then you are doing great! Next Friday when the catheter comes out is a very great day!

You must be doing ok now if you are back on the web. I did not sleep well the first night in the hospital either, it was bladder and bowel spasms that would come in waves. Could have been gas pains also as they suggested but the inflation gas used manifested itself as acute pain in the upper back/shoulder area the next two days which I found out was common but no one mentioned to me.

I got calls the next day from relatives at home and I could hardly put up with them. I was on your schedule also, Tuesday surgery and communicating much better on Friday. I cannot tell you how long it is until next Friday but you will think it is a lifetime around Monday.

Good luck on the pathology.

Your experience sounds about like mine. Took the Tylenol and that dealt with the pain. Took some laxative thing they gave me to help get that system functioning again. Took something they gave me for the bladder spasms that seemed to help. I went out-of-state and stayed in a hotel so all I had was the bed. I got good at getting in and out without much discomfort by using the pregnant lady legs over the side maneuver. The abs were sore for a few weeks but it kept getting better. Once the cath was out I increased my walking quite a bit. I was back to running at 3 months and logging 8 mile runs again at 6 months.

welcome to the other side. It gets better from here.

Rest, heal, and walk as you can. You'll be fine.

Andrew

HF5280 said...
I think my one year old brittany spaniel was considering playing a game of "tug of war" with the cath tube!......yikes!
HF5280

Oh, that hurt me and just ran right through me. Heebee jeebees I think we used to call it.

HF5280, yes, when I had the cath out I was relieved but found that experience the worse part of the whole thing, including the biospy. The doctor grabbed on to it and pulled like he was starting a lawn mower. Over with quick but YIKES!!!

First night post cath was interesting. Got up three times when I woke up with slight bladder fullness. A fast sprint to the toilet resulted in a rather inacurate but eventually steady stream till empty. Pad was dry. Seems gravity will be a problem for a while.

Post Edited (HF5280) : 1/26/2019 8:12:14 AM (GMT-7)

I was so scared of something bad happening the first night that I woke up every 1-2 hours at the slightest feeling of time-to-go so no surprise there. I had dialed back the drinking after dinner and pee’d as much as possible before sleep but was always up 2 hours after bedtime the first week no matter what I did. However, I was continent and never had any leakage at night but may have if I was not so scared about it at first. I found the days to be easier for me since there was no sleep to be worried about and could go when needed until the body became one with the new plumbing.