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Day 45: Emergency Room - Catheter #3 Just Put In

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Posted 12/30/2008 10:25 PM (GMT 0)
thanks bob, and dj, i have spent the day at home, with the large bag still on from last night, didnt even want to open the leg bag yet. did some minor work around the house, put away some christmas stuff, mostly rested. they used a different kind of foley catheter last night in the ER, so it feels different inside me, don't really hurt, just weird feeling, coude or something like that. haven't had any classic spasms, but had some strange feelings that could have led to spasms so chose to make this a healing day instead. who knows, perhaps i was pushing myself to much the 2 or 3 days before christmas, and then all the christmas stuff, that was when i have the bulk of the spasms. at least now, i can safely use the ditropan if needed, if i get any bad spasms, that's kind of my back up plan. one day, this part of my "recovery" has to end one way or the other, that's what i keep telling myself.

and dj, i am assuming you are still flowing fine on your own?

david in sc
Posted 12/30/2008 10:34 PM (GMT 0)
Update on my mother. After 4 days in the local hospital for her stroke, she was transfered to the same facility where my wife has been a nurse for years in the next town over, about 6 miles from here. My mother will be in the re-hab unit until they can evaluate all her recovery needs. Most of her stroke involved speech and communications, and even in just 4 days, it's probably back to about 80% of pre-stroke. I was actually able to talk by phone to her today and understand the bulk of the conversation, and as mothers tend to be, she was more concerned about my ER visist then her time in the same hospital.

David in SC
Posted 12/30/2008 11:24 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds like good news with your mother. That's very encouraging.

My flow is doing well. Still some occasional blood. The one week on prescription strength ibuprofen ends today, so we'll see how that goes. No burning, just continuing to feel weird inside. There is a gradual buildup of discomfort as the peeing session ends. Seems to be concentrated at the last inch or so of the urethra. Not bad, I could live with it if necessary, but hopefully it will fade with time.

Had a bizarre conversation with the pharmacist about Cialis. For some reason they only offered us the options of (i) the 6 pills covered by insurance, or (ii)all 84 pills covered by all the renewals in the prescription. A strange woman. I said, look, we'll take the 15 pills in the first prescription, we don't need all 84 at once, and we'll pay cash for the 9 not covered by insurance. Had to tell her that at least 3 times. My dosage seems lower than a lot of folks here--only half a 5 mg tablet per day.
Posted 12/31/2008 1:54 AM (GMT 0)
Hi David, I think you may be on to something there with all the activity before Chrismas. I had gut surgery back in 1998 for a botched colonsocopy(and if I ever see that SOB on the street...He's mine). My wife recalls that I did way to much physical activity after the surgery and that 's what may have led to a longer recovery than necessary. Either way, Yoou just had major sugery within the last 2 months and from what I've read and heard it can take better than 6 months to get back to normal(such as it is). Sometimes ever longer. Go easy, my friend.
As for your Mom, glad to hear they're on top of the situation as far as the recuperative evaluation. Four days isn't bad at this time of year. I lost my mother in Sept. and it was quite a different Christmas for the 30 of my family that gathered at my Dad's house on the 23rd.
He really enjoyed it and said it brought back a lot of beautiful memories.
I hope you and your mother have many more years together.

Bob
Posted 12/31/2008 2:36 AM (GMT 0)

Hello David:

I've been travelling for the past two days and looked forward to hearing your good news when I came back online tonight.  I was happy when reading your first post and so disappointed for you after reading the second.  I'm very sorry for all of your continuing problems and pray for the best for you.

I know from your previous posts that you have a lot of confidence in your doc....but...after the experience of the past month and a half, do you think it might be worth getting an opinion from another doc in another practice about "what's wrong"?

Tudpock

Posted 12/31/2008 12:47 PM (GMT 0)
Dear David, Reading what DJ and Rich said about the flap, I remember the urologist mentioning a flap, and with the cystoscope ,he actually went in and cut it in the outpatient clinic. There were no further blockages. That was after the several ER trips... That was over a year ago, and I remember what Pete said at that time....As bad as the catheter was, the pain of the blockage was horrible... Good luck to you and I hope you are feeling better this morning.... Diane
Posted 12/31/2008 1:57 PM (GMT 0)
The flap theory makes sense from all of you, and I will mention it first thing next monday when I see my doctor. But if it were that simple, why isn't he saying or suggesting it? After all, it was his surgery. And to answer someone else, I am not opposed to getting another opinion there, but he is the senior partner and the most experienced of the dr/surgeons, and they have the largest practice in my area. I feel a little better today, I used yesterday as a recoup and rest up day. Hoping to put the new leg bag on today, and get a few local errands taken care of before the holiday tommorow.

David in SC
Posted 12/31/2008 10:12 PM (GMT 0)
Purgatory

New member here, but I've been able to lurk and learn for a while. My own experience with a catheter will begin in about 10 days. I have kept up with your journey and I want you to know you have been in my thoughts. Keep hanging in there and good luck.
Posted 12/31/2008 10:18 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome Sandstorm, this is a great place to be, hard requirement to get in, but once here, plenty of good help and good friends. Please don't let my catheter story freak you, from what I gather, mine is an unusal case. Many men have their's out in one to two weeks and that's the end of it. My surgeon had a difficult time where the urethra and bladder are re-joined after the prostate is removed, and knew there was a lot of scarring there, that is probably causing the on-going blockages, I am sure he will figure it out soon. Most of the men here that have the da vincci like you are planning, do quite well, and I hope you do. Ask away in here, vent if you feel like it, we can take it. We are here for you and for each other, again welcome to the clu.

David in SC
Posted 1/4/2009 5:51 PM (GMT 0)
David,

I just wanted to say I hope things go well tomorrow. I didn't mean to focus on the flap idea too much; I think in my case it was the tissue swelling, and that was addressed by taking Motrin. But it does sound like you should be scoped at this point.

I'm returning to work tomorrow, so I won't be able to check in so often, but I will be looking to see how you're doing.
Posted 1/4/2009 9:42 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks DJ, appreciate your care and concern, and glad you are making it back to work, good luck there. Yes, I will post a new thread when I get home from the doctor tommorow morning. Hope you continue to do well.

David in SC
Posted 1/4/2009 11:14 PM (GMT 0)
One more thing I forgot, though maybe you didn't--that is the cystogram that several others brought up. Maybe worth repeating for others reading here anyway--it's an X-ray with contrast agent injected into the bladder through the catheter. The radiologist can then see if there are any leaks. I got to watch mine. It was strange to watch the dye flowing and feeling it at the same time.
Posted 1/5/2009 1:45 AM (GMT 0)
David,
Lets hope the third time was the charm and you get to keep that thing out of you from now on. I'll be thinking of you tomorrow. Let us know how it goes. All the best.
Bob
Posted 1/5/2009 1:45 AM (GMT 0)
David,
Lets hope the third time was the charm and you get to keep that thing out of you from now on. I'll be thinking of you tomorrow. Let us know how it goes. All the best.
Bob
Posted 1/5/2009 2:21 AM (GMT 0)
Good luck David....We will be thinking of you and wishing the best....Di
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