5 Weeks with Mr. Foley--and counting!

Just had my third weekly cystogram, still showing a leak (smaller now) from the bladder at the urethral connection. Seemed like I was on my way to a terrific recovery, catheter out at 7 days, wonderful weekend getting around, then slammed on day 12 with terrible abdominal pain attacks that put me in the ER and back in the hospital 2 days. All the docs have been skeptical that leaking urine would cause such severe pain, but once they put the catheter back in, no more attacks. I've been living like a mushroom for the last three weeks, except a mushroom sleeps better, I'm sure. Afraid to go anywhere or do anything lest I interrupt the healing process. Now I'm in for another week at least, and I'm pissed. Except for member Purgatory, I seem to have won the lottery for a bad recovery, and I'm not there yet! I filed a report with Kaiser member services today about my experience, just wanted to put it on the record so maybe that will help the next guy. I like my surgeon personally, but I don't know what you can say about my surgery other than it was botched and has caused me a lot of unnecessary suffering. Maybe he did a great job, and it was just a matter of stuff happens, but maybe not. If I take my car in for an oil change and when I get it back it's suddenly leaking oil, I'm not blaming the car! Love to hear any thoughts, and I know there's lots of folks plenty worse off than me, but I'm feeling pretty sorry for myself about now.
Henry in Arlington, VA

Thanks, Jonathan, much appreciated!
Henry
(don't know why my profile isn't printing--it's been that kind of day)

No, that hasn't been a problem, just seems to drain without any awareness on my part. The worst part for me is sleep, really hasn't been any to speak of for a month or so. When I get tired of laying there, I'll take a pill, but that's not real sleep, it mostly just passes the night. Also the inactivity, I feel like I've deteriorated so much both physically and mentally. I also wonder about the effect this delay will have on continence and ED. All my Kegel work was for nothing, that's for sure. Very easy for me to wallow in self-pity with all this time on my hands. I try to keep in mind the old adage that nothing good lasts forever, and nothing bad lasts forever. And, as I said before, I know there are many on this forum who are facing much greater challenges than what I'm going through.
Henry

Henry,

I am sorry to hear about your complication. I had a serious complication from my surgery that took months to ultimately fix. I  had a nephrostomy tube and leg bag for about two months. I had to have open surgery a second time. Talking about a bad day .. the day I realized I had to be opened up again. But, it was fixed -- completely. It was the worst time in my life, physically and emotionally. My friends tell me, now that I am doing very well, they were afraid I was not going to make it. I basically had to hunker down and take it a day a time and look forward to resolution. I say all this just so you know I understand your emotions and thoughts. You may very well get through all this and set records for the best continence and erections on HW. Short term complications are not necessarily indicative of long term results just like a "quick" surgery recovery is not necessarily a guarantee of the best long term results. Easier to say than do of course, but try and stay focused on the big prize here .. cancer removal, continence, erections. Hang in there!

Phenom,

I can truly feel your pain and situation. My ordeal is too well known here, having spent a total of 1 1/2 years on 21 different catheters. My original one was for 30 days, then extended to 63 days. The only good thing I can say of it, that the short time I was not on a catheter, incontinence was never really an issue, I do think all the extra healing time aided in avoiding incontinence.

I wish well, and can only hope that your situation doesn't become a chrnoic situation as it was for me.

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a good New Years.

David in SC