One Week Post Op Visit - Cath Out !! (YEA !!)

LBlanks
LBlanks Member Posts: 44
edited March 2014 in Prostate Cancer #1
I had my one week follow-up appointment today to remove the catheter and go over the pathology report.

Removing the cath was not anywhere as difficult as I had feared. Actually, removing the adhesive patch from my leg that the tube clipped to, was the worse part.

Lab results was very good. All clear margins with no apparent cancer cell leakage outside of the prostate. Appears to have been all contained.

PSA followup to happen on Jan 22nd.

We'll see how the bladder control goes, but for now there's a lot of leakage.

Larry

Comments

  • randy_in_indy
    randy_in_indy Member Posts: 496 Member
    Way to Go Larry on the Path Report!
    Now, do your keggles and get back to normal! Wishing you the best recovery!

    Randy in Indy
  • marc1957
    marc1957 Member Posts: 79
    out !
    Way to go, I can now appreciate the life sytle gain by removing that thing.

    When I had lung surgery, it was no big deal, cuz I didnt get to leave the hospital bed for a week. Around home, what a hinderance.

    Glad to hear the great report and best wishes for a ND count in january.

    -marc
  • lewvino
    lewvino Member Posts: 1,010
    Larry,
    I know you feel like

    Larry,
    I know you feel like a new person now with out the Cath in place. At least I did when it came out!Glad you have a good path report.What did you end up with on your gleason score. Mine was slightly downgraded to 3+4 (7) with a positive margin. Glad your margins are clear!

    Good luck on the bladder control. Practice the kegels and walk.

    Larry in Tennessee
  • Andiesdad
    Andiesdad Member Posts: 5
    Hello Larry (and all of my CSN brothers)
    I'm so glad that you had your Cath removed, good luck to you and gods speed in your recovery. I'm still 10 days out from having mine removed and i can't wait. I blogged here back in September, but haven't for a while now. I'm 4 days post op Davinci surgery and things are going alright for now, i think i had more pain associated with the dang abdomen drain and coughing to lower the chance of pneumonia then just about anything else so far. I've been attended by my wife/guardian Angel so things could have been so much worse. i pray that you all have very little problems with your recovery's and of course your surgeries (if that's your path) go off without a single hitch.

    if anyone would like more information about my experience please write and i'll share what i know and have been through. speaking of which i do have a question has anyone used any kind of cream of salve on the tip of your penis it seems to dry up and become uncomfortable and i would like to know what you guys may have used.

    thanks
    Rick
  • JLM
    JLM Member Posts: 15
    Blabber Control
    Larry,

    That's great news and I pray you have a fast recovery, I know I did. You need to check out my website: http://www.jmmotw.com/id26.html

    This site gives you my complete report!
  • 142
    142 Member Posts: 169
    Andiesdad said:

    Hello Larry (and all of my CSN brothers)
    I'm so glad that you had your Cath removed, good luck to you and gods speed in your recovery. I'm still 10 days out from having mine removed and i can't wait. I blogged here back in September, but haven't for a while now. I'm 4 days post op Davinci surgery and things are going alright for now, i think i had more pain associated with the dang abdomen drain and coughing to lower the chance of pneumonia then just about anything else so far. I've been attended by my wife/guardian Angel so things could have been so much worse. i pray that you all have very little problems with your recovery's and of course your surgeries (if that's your path) go off without a single hitch.

    if anyone would like more information about my experience please write and i'll share what i know and have been through. speaking of which i do have a question has anyone used any kind of cream of salve on the tip of your penis it seems to dry up and become uncomfortable and i would like to know what you guys may have used.

    thanks
    Rick

    Cream -
    I'm 7 weeks out from DaVinci. The nurses (they tried to put me out three days in a row, so I got a lot of 'what to do when you get home' lectures) all told me to just wash the area and the tube with soap and water. I asked about antibiotic creams, etc., but they said no, because unless you find something water soluble, more problems could be created by the creams. So I washed a lot and used antibiotic wipes often (I had violent bladder spasms, and wouldn't wish that on anyone). They pulled the cath after a week, and I'm not so sure that it wasn't too early. The cath was a pain, but once I remembered to take the bag with me when I got up, I managed. A suggestion, maybe too late for you, but - I bought some Adidas 100g pants - basketball type that snap every few inches down both sides waist to cuff, so you can put them on and resemble "dressed" even with the big cath bag tube coming out the side.

    When he pulled my drain, I thought that tube must have gone around my waist and down my leg. Good thing I was still on pain meds.

    Pulling the cath was not a big deal for me, no pain meds, no tranquilizer required. Pity the great looking nurse did it. Proved that they really did take the nerves too.
  • LBlanks
    LBlanks Member Posts: 44
    Two Weeks Out....

    Two weeks ago today, I was released from the hospital and one week ago, they removed the cath. So here's where I am today.
    I seem to be sleeping most of the night without wetting my pad, but usually wake up around 5am needing to go to the bathroom.
    I'm mainly leaking in the afternoon and evening after dinner, so at least 2 and sometimes 3 pads are needed every 24 hours.
    Met with a representative for the SomaTHERAPY device to revitalize the tissues, reducing possibility of dealing with penile atrophy (shrinkage). It's basically a vacuum pump that gently draws blood to exercise the uretha in restoring it to the original length.
    (Hope I explained that gently enough).
    Insurance should cover this device, and let's hope so because it has a $500 cost.
    They are suppose to ship it to me after insurance approval, so haven't used it yet.

    No other side effects and no issues other than the leakage at this point.

    Larry
  • lewvino
    lewvino Member Posts: 1,010
    LBlanks said:

    Two Weeks Out....

    Two weeks ago today, I was released from the hospital and one week ago, they removed the cath. So here's where I am today.
    I seem to be sleeping most of the night without wetting my pad, but usually wake up around 5am needing to go to the bathroom.
    I'm mainly leaking in the afternoon and evening after dinner, so at least 2 and sometimes 3 pads are needed every 24 hours.
    Met with a representative for the SomaTHERAPY device to revitalize the tissues, reducing possibility of dealing with penile atrophy (shrinkage). It's basically a vacuum pump that gently draws blood to exercise the uretha in restoring it to the original length.
    (Hope I explained that gently enough).
    Insurance should cover this device, and let's hope so because it has a $500 cost.
    They are suppose to ship it to me after insurance approval, so haven't used it yet.

    No other side effects and no issues other than the leakage at this point.

    Larry

    Larry, Sounds like you are
    Larry, Sounds like you are doing well. I've not used any of the pumps since I've had pretty good success with Levitra. Last night I was working on building some shelves in the garage. First time I've had any 'drips' in awhile. All kinds of weird positions I was having to put my body in for this area where the shelves are going.

    Continue on your journey to getting well.

    Larry in TN
  • LBlanks
    LBlanks Member Posts: 44
    LBlanks said:

    Two Weeks Out....

    Two weeks ago today, I was released from the hospital and one week ago, they removed the cath. So here's where I am today.
    I seem to be sleeping most of the night without wetting my pad, but usually wake up around 5am needing to go to the bathroom.
    I'm mainly leaking in the afternoon and evening after dinner, so at least 2 and sometimes 3 pads are needed every 24 hours.
    Met with a representative for the SomaTHERAPY device to revitalize the tissues, reducing possibility of dealing with penile atrophy (shrinkage). It's basically a vacuum pump that gently draws blood to exercise the uretha in restoring it to the original length.
    (Hope I explained that gently enough).
    Insurance should cover this device, and let's hope so because it has a $500 cost.
    They are suppose to ship it to me after insurance approval, so haven't used it yet.

    No other side effects and no issues other than the leakage at this point.

    Larry

    SomaTHERAPY Device
    I had mentioned the SomaTherapy device before, which is roughly a $500 unit. Well, both my insurance and Medicare turned it down but it turns out, the same company (Augusta Medical) also manufacturers a unit they retail for $199 that appears to be close to the exact same device.

    It's called the Vitality OTC and if you do a little research on the internet, you can find it for less than $90.

    Now that's a far cry fom $500, so if your Doc wants you to use one for rehab, do your research before committing.
  • DianneMich
    DianneMich Member Posts: 1
    LBlanks said:

    SomaTHERAPY Device
    I had mentioned the SomaTherapy device before, which is roughly a $500 unit. Well, both my insurance and Medicare turned it down but it turns out, the same company (Augusta Medical) also manufacturers a unit they retail for $199 that appears to be close to the exact same device.

    It's called the Vitality OTC and if you do a little research on the internet, you can find it for less than $90.

    Now that's a far cry fom $500, so if your Doc wants you to use one for rehab, do your research before committing.

    SomaTHERAPY Device
    I am much interested with that device. I was looking through many research papers and term papers about the device but can seem to find answers to my queries. I would like to us, what does it do sir? Is it just for people who have cancer?
  • randy_in_indy
    randy_in_indy Member Posts: 496 Member

    SomaTHERAPY Device
    I am much interested with that device. I was looking through many research papers and term papers about the device but can seem to find answers to my queries. I would like to us, what does it do sir? Is it just for people who have cancer?

    DianneMich
    Its a pump for the penis to get blood to it while you give time to the nerves that cause erections to wake back up. It works on creating a vacum principle around the penis in a tube and forces the blood to be sucked into the penis. Here's a link to the one I bought....Reach Premium Package....not sure I needed as Viagra is working but using to get blood to the organ so the tissue will not attrophy. Heck I try to get some kind of recreation daily...like pre- my prostectomy. Sex, food and beer...what on earth would the world be without it...certainly not worth living in...according to me anyway.

    http://www.erecaidpumps.com/


    Randy in Indy
  • BRONX52
    BRONX52 Member Posts: 156
    Andiesdad said:

    Hello Larry (and all of my CSN brothers)
    I'm so glad that you had your Cath removed, good luck to you and gods speed in your recovery. I'm still 10 days out from having mine removed and i can't wait. I blogged here back in September, but haven't for a while now. I'm 4 days post op Davinci surgery and things are going alright for now, i think i had more pain associated with the dang abdomen drain and coughing to lower the chance of pneumonia then just about anything else so far. I've been attended by my wife/guardian Angel so things could have been so much worse. i pray that you all have very little problems with your recovery's and of course your surgeries (if that's your path) go off without a single hitch.

    if anyone would like more information about my experience please write and i'll share what i know and have been through. speaking of which i do have a question has anyone used any kind of cream of salve on the tip of your penis it seems to dry up and become uncomfortable and i would like to know what you guys may have used.

    thanks
    Rick

    ANDIESDAD
    CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME, BUT WHEN I WAS RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL WITH MY CATHETER IN TOW, THEY PROVIDED ME WITH A LUBRICANT/JELL WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO USE A LIBERAL AMOUNT AROUND THE TIP OF THE PENIS TO PREVENT CHAFING FROM THE CATHETER. THEY SAID IF I NEEDED MORE THAT IT WAS AVAILABLE IN MOST PHARMACIES. I'M SURE A CALL TO THE DOCTORS OFFICE CAN GET YOU THE NAME OF AVAILABLE PRODUCTS----MY CATHETER WAS ONLY IN FOR 6 DAYS BUT I USED THE LUBRICANT EVERY DAY AND IT SURE HELPED OUT !! GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR RECOVERY---DAN