'Strange' question

This question may be a bit strange.  My husband will have his Davinci surgery Tuesday, Oct. 9th.  One tip that was shared (don't recall if on this board or another) was to shave his leg in the area where they will tape the catheter (so it won't hurt when the tape is pulled off).  He doesn't have an extrememly large amount of body hair, but his upper thighs do have a bit.  He asked me today where the catehter will be 'attached'.  I'm not certain.  If he does want to be sure that the tape won't hurt when it is removed, where should he shave?  Whole upper thigh?  a 1 or 2 inch 'band'?  If so how far down his thigh?  Also- which leg?  Both, just in case? 

I did not have tape. Had elastic bands instead. I only used them with the small catheter bag. Did not use anything with large catheter bag, if I remember. (I had a freezing procedure though.) Good luck.

The catheter will stay in longer than the tape will stay sticky. I don't think removing the catheter tape will be the problem. I used that self-adhesive tape that sticks to itself but not to skin to hold up my catheter to my thigh after the hospital's sticky thing had fallen off.

On the other hand, if he has a fuzzy navel you might want to give that area a trim. (We're talking the body part here, not the peach-schnapps and OJ drink.) They shave around the incision but the very-sticky 3x4 inch dressing is usually bigger than the area they shave.

You probably should ask or delay until admission as others have stated. However we asked about this in advance and were advised to shave the outer thigh above the knee. We did so, but a male orderly checked, and if we had not done it would have done it then. I think it depends on the surgeon's pre-op instructions so best to check... if there was shaving to be done it would be more rather than less (if at all). Grows back without a problem so it is probably not something to be too concerned about. I am not sure in retrospect why my hubby and I insisted on finding out, and then doing it ourselves at the time, but I think the advice of others above is wise.. to ask or wait until they tell you before doing anything. Good luck

My doctor gave me a pre-op instruction sheet. I was told to shave the night before the surgery to prevent infection. I shaved from my knees to a few inches above the belly button. The camera went in just above the belly button and the prostate came out of the same incision. I had a drain tube in one of the incisions around the belt which did have tape to hold it in place over night and it was removed before checking out of the hospital the next day.

As a lot of men suggested, I just used the large catheter bag all 6 days so I didn't need to tape a bag to my legs or empty the catheter as often.

Good luck Tuesday. Keep us informed.
My surgery was on a Tuesday also. Cath came out Monday morning.

Bill

I have an unusually furry stomach and the waterproof dressing over my navel tended to stick to a tuft of fur at the top and not to the skin. I was told to shower but to make sure the dressing stayed dry. It filled up with water every time.

So, the consensus is: no do-it-yourself shaving unless instructed. But, if he is a hairy guy, you might get out your hair clippers, put on the smallest plastic comb attachment, and give his belly a buzz.

Hopkins told me absolutely not to. Shaving creates micro abrasions on the skin, notwithstanding an actual cut. They said that there was not much to worry about it in a sterile surgical environment, but that the time before and after the surgery could be worrisome. They don't shave anymore. I awoke after surgery with what looked like Mercurochrome around the surgical area and on my leg where they fastened the cath with tape. I had no cath complications, kept it clean, showered, and the tape held until the cath was removed. The nurse removed the tape with some warm water.