Day 7 update

Sick of catheter and the changing of the bags. Once you're set up with either bag life's not to bad. But, switching from the leg bag from the bedside bag is not a thing of beauty. My wife and I look like a team of surgeons trying to save a dying patient. (She has not asked for a divorce yet but I'm sure it's crossed her mind).

One more day and I have the bladder x-ray and will see the Dr. later that afternoon. If all goes well, the dreaded catheter is gone from my life and I start the next challenge. I'm ready. I also will get my biopsy report at the same time.

My soreness has lessened each day and I was able to put on my own socks and shoes before taking a short walk. I overdid it and walked too far on 2 different occasions and saw blood in my urine upon returning from the extended walks. It cleared relatively quickly once I sat down and rested. I have reduced the number of laps so as not to damage anything. I feel okay, but I am using pain pills and ambien to get a good nights sleep because I am forced to lay in one position (on my back) which is not my normal sleeping habit.

I will post as soon as I get results tommorrow.

Thanks for all the support and please keep me in your prayers.

Laswell

Hey Laswell & mama Laswell, You've done well ~ keep up the good recovery. And the healing takes time so make sure you give yourself the right amount of time!! We changed the bag twice to the leg bag.. and if we knew what we know now.... we wouldn't have changed it. A nice carry bag would have worked fine for us!! Thanks for being good to Mr. Hang. He's had a very important job to do... I think he's probably ready to be gone too!!! We agree with the meds for getting a good night sleep. It's important! You've listened to your body... continue to do so!!!! Our thoughts will be with you tomorrow and we will look for your update... In Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy

Hey Laswell,

Good for you. Just remember to take it easy and let your body heal well...

Jim

I am 3 weeks post surgery, which started out to be robotic but became open surgery.  I never used the leg bag at all as the bag seemed to fill so fast that the few times I left home I just put the large bag in a shopping bag and carried it in front of me.  Few people pay much attention to you and I don't think that anyone even noticed the tube coming out of the bottom of my baggy shorts.  Fortunately it was still warm here at the time.  I'm not sure what you could wear in cooler temperatures.  One suggestion-when the tube was removed I had no leakage at all for a couple of hours and thought that I was fine.  I even stopped by my office for a brief visit, which is just across the street from the hospital.  Man, was I lucky that I didn't leave a puddle in the middle of my office because I discovered after reaching home that I was totally incontinent.  When you go to have the tube removed take at least a large pad with you.  My doctor placed a tiny pad over me which would not have absorbed anything.  I just made it home with no problem by luck.  Hopefully you will be one of the folks that have few problems with incontinence, but you will want to be prepared until you know for sure.