BRHMichigan

airborne72 said:

Catheter

Beth:

When I had my prostate removed I had so much bleeding in my urinary tract that it stopped up my catheter.  Once it finally cleared the floor of the shower looked like it was covered in night crawlers!  Gross, but after a while we just get adjusted to such occurences.  I got good at irrigating my catheter and even removing it.

I have a history of presenting challenges either during or after surgeries.  That's why this one has me spooked.  Just ready to be on the other side.

Jim

...can possibly understand.  Night crawlers!!!!

Can't wait for you to be post op and on recovery road.

airborne72 said:

Hey Mike...

Beth:

Please pardon me from momentarily diverting this thread from you to me.  Mike asked about me and since the three of us have been running a somewhat parallel course I thought I would respond.

Today I in-processed at the local hospital in preparation for my LAR, which is scheduled for next Tuesday (10 October).  What should have only taken 30 minutes consumed two hours and I attribute that to the administrative burden imposed by the ACA.  Wow, I can only wonder what happens when someone enters the hospital through the ER?  How long does it take before health care is administered?

My daughter went with me.  She is a nurse and will be attending to me after my surgery - how great is that?  After the paper work and physical work-up, she took me to the floor where I will be staying and showed me a room.  Nice.

However, for whatever reason, this surgery has really got me spooked.  I have been through several before but this one just has me unnerved.  Who knows why - it could be the two day liquid diet prior to the surgery or the multiple, potential outcomes from the procedure.  All I know is that I am ready to get on with the rat killing.

Tomorrow will be my last day to eat a regular diet and digest it with the "factory installed innerds" that God gave me.  Thereafter, I will live the new normal for Jim.

I currently weigh 139.  I told my daughter today that I predict my weight will drop to 129 by the end of October.  We'll see.

I fully intend to routinely post to the forum to share my experiences.  In the meantime, I wish everyone good luck and encouragement as they deal with their particular circumstances.  Cancer is a non-discriminator and it sucks.

Jim

 

Jim, best wishes for your surgery tomorrow. Your weight is concerning to me as I'm sure that it is for you and maybe for your doctor as well. Hopefully get get back a hearty appetite after surgery though I think that you're going to be limited in what you can eat for a while. I look forwards to your updatee.

lizard44 said:

Thanks for the info, Beth

It's aways good to get info from someone who has  already gone through it.

I start the liquid diet and  prep tomorrow for APR surgery on Tuesday.  The surgeon told me  that he plans to do laparoscopic surgery but there's always the chance  he'll have to  switch to open surgery, and since my  tumor is so low he won't be able to save the anal sphincter we already know going in that I'll have a permanent  colostomy, so I'm hoping that everything goes as planned and that my surgery and recovery go as well as yours, although I'm hoping  the surgery doesn't take  quite as long and I can go home  a little sooner, which is why I'm keeping my fingers crossed that  we can go the laparoscopic rather than open surgery route.

I already told the surgeon  to make sure he gets a good night's sleep Monday night. I probably won't sleep a wink myself in between the bowel prep tomorrow evening and  needing to be at the hospital at 5 A.M. Tuesday morning.

Thanks again for sharing your experience. I hope you continue to recover well and stay in good spirits.

Cheers,

Grace/lizard44

I'm going in to see the surgeon tomorrow morning and will find out if it's definitely a permanent or maybe a permanent. I'm a really pragmatic guy so the surgeon will do whatever she has to and I'll adjust to it.

The difference in prep times and maybe approaches is interesting. I guess I'll find this stuff out tomorrow as well.

Looking forward to your report, perhaps tomorrow.

Ruthmomto4 said:

Beth

Are you home now? I hope you are doing well!

Thank you so much for asking!  I am home.  Pain is bad.  I need to start walking more today, make appointments, etc.  Back to reality.  I am one of those weird people who feels safe & cared for in a hospital.  My boys and hubby are doing a god job here though.  Got my water, pain meds & remote.  They are making my meals this week too.