Supplies?

steckley said:

Maybe this will help
Ed,

The healingwell site has a pretty good run down on what you might want to consider and why:


http://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=1717641

Supplies
Steckley's post, and the healingwell list, are right on. In terms of laying in supplies, I would emphasize just a few points:

You will be on a "clear" diet for several days. Jello, bananas, consomme, cup 'a noodles, stuff like that. Buy lots. Comfort food.

Get some loose, baggy jogging pants or similar. When you're out walking (you should do a LOT of walking) they'll hide the leg bag of your catheter. In my case, I ran the hose of the catheter down the leg of the pants, out the cuff, and up into a shopping bag to the collection bag. Relatively discreet.

When you're not walking (did I say to do LOTs of walking?) you won't feel like much physical activity. Get books, magazines, whatever you do for sedentary enjoyment.

My catheter was secured to my thigh by a butterfly bandage specifically designed to hold a catheter tube. Find out what they'll use. My nurse said that the one bandage would do until the catheter was removed. Not true. Get 3 or 4. You may need to find a medical supply house--they're specialty items.

Buy an bag of Depends, or similar. I was fortunate that I never needed them, but better to have and not need, than vice versa.

Good luck.

BRONX52 said:

EJN
WHILE I WAS IN PHYSICAL THERAPY PRIOR TO SURGERY THE THERAPIST GAVE ME A FEW POINTERS. SHE TOLD ME THAT WALMART HAD A WIDE SELECTION OF MENS PADS AND BRIEFS BUT DON'T GO OUT AND BUY IT BY THE CASE. SHE ADVISED BUYING JUST ONE PACKAGE BECAUSE ITS 50/50 IF YOU'LL NEED THEM ALL. SOME GUYS ARE CONTINENT WHEN THE CATH COMES OUT AND OTHERS ARE INCONTINENT FOR QUITE SOME TIME AFTERWARDS. AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF GUYS FALL SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN. ALSO, AS SOME HAVE MENTIONED, LOOSE GYM SHORTS MAKE IT A LOT EASIER TO MOVE AROUND WITH A CATHETER IN PLACE.BABY WIPES COME IN HANDY TO KEEP THE CATHETER TUBING BY THE PENIS CLEAN AND MOIST. YOU'LL NEED SOME SORT OF LUBRICANT TO PREVENT THE TUBING FROM CAUSING CHAFING AND IRRITATION. STOOL SOFTENER WILL HELP WITH YOUR BOWEL MOVEMENTS AND IS REALLY HELPFUL THE FIRST WEEK AFTER SURGERY. IF I THINK OF ANY OTHER THINGS I'LL LET YOU KNOW---DAN

Bronx makes a good point. I
Bronx makes a good point. I bought two boxes of pads. Out of that over the past 10 months I used 1 pad!

The lube is critical to have in my opinion...USE IT LIBERALY.

Larry

ejn said:

Good Adivse
Thanks to all for the info. I just dont want everything to get out of control and worry about the little things after surgery. I need to concentrate on recovery so the more prepared the better. Usually time goes by very quickly but this wait is dragging by very slowly. I am doing my best to keep myself occupied.

Ed

You might go to the gym
Ed, just saw this abstract posted on urotoday.com about the importance of physical activity and conditioning before surgery and thought of your ongoing checklist for things to do as you prepare for surgery. Since you have some weeks before your procedure, you may wish to up your workout regimen before going to the hospital. Best of luck with your surgery.

Wednesday, 23 June 2010
Department of Surgical Oncology, Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, ON.

There are significant post-surgical reductions in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in prostate cancer (PCa) patients undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP). Physical activity (PA) interventions have improved treatment outcomes for PCa patients undergoing radiation and hormone therapy, but PA effects have not previously been examined in the RP setting. This study examined the relationship between preoperative PA levels and postoperative HRQOL outcomes in PCa patients treated with RP.

Sixty patients were interviewed regarding lifetime PA and completed preoperative (2 weeks prior to surgery) and postoperative (4 weeks after surgery) HRQOL questionnaires. Aerobic fitness testing was conducted on a subsample of 22 patients.

Higher levels of total past-year PA and occupational PA significantly correlated with lesser HRQOL declines from presurgery to 4 weeks post-surgery (Beta = -0.364, p = 0.037 and Beta = -0.243, p = 0.089, respectively) in models adjusted for age, postoperative questionnaire completion date, Gleason score and education. Past-year occupational PA was highly positively correlated with past-year total PA (r = 0.785, p < 0.001). Lifetime total PA was correlated with estimated VO(2) max (r = 0.486, p = 0.026) in the 22 patients who were aerobically tested. Lifetime and past-year PA volumes were not correlated with waist circumference or body mass index.

Declines in HRQOL after RP may be reduced in patients with higher preoperative levels of self-reported PA. These findings require further study with larger samples to confirm results. If confirmed, findings suggest exercise preoperatively may improve HRQOL outcomes after RP.

Written by:
Mina DS, Matthew AG, Trachtenberg J, Tomlinson G, Guglietti CL, Alibhai SM, Ritvo P. Are you the author?

Reference: Can Urol Assoc J. 2010 Jun;4(3):180-6.

ejn said:

Good Adivse
Thanks to all for the info. I just dont want everything to get out of control and worry about the little things after surgery. I need to concentrate on recovery so the more prepared the better. Usually time goes by very quickly but this wait is dragging by very slowly. I am doing my best to keep myself occupied.

Ed

supplies
I've gone through literally dozens of mega-packs of pants & pads, so don't use me for a recovery model!

Go online to depends.com and Tena.com. Both of them will send some variety of sample pack, and will let you print a coupon for store use. Also, cheap is not where you want to go. Walgreens' Male guards are the best for absorbency, and often on sale. Good buy. I do not like their house brand pant - Depends is much better, at least for me.

Trew said:

Its like getting ready
Its like getting ready for a baby.

I had forgotten a lotof this stuff, like the number of sweat pants Icould use in a day, especially after the cath came out. Nice to have a plastic pad to sit on around the house so leaking doens't ruin a favorite chair.

supplies
here is the list that i got

1. Secura cleaner - best thing i got for catheter care - spray it on wipe off with gauze
2. CVS Bactricin with 4% lidocaine
3. rubbing alchol wipes
Rest the docs list provides.
4. Hand batecterial wipe
5. Large size long cotton short from Old Navy and a large shirt - i am medium size so i bought one size up

As far as pads I am using my wife's pad one a day after the catheter came out 2 days ago

ejn said:

I appreciate the response,
I appreciate the response, but my biggest problem right now since I am still 6 weeks until sugery is the anxiety of waaiting. I know the best thing is just live life as usual and take it as it comes but I am having a big problem with that right now. I am glad it is friday so I can get away from this computer...no offense but I cant get away from the forums. I do not look at computers during the weekend but I do have a desk job so I am pretty much consumed by it. Sorry to sound like I am whinning. I just need to get this journey started so the unknown becomes clearer to me. Thanks for listening.

Ed

Supplies
Ed,
One thing that helped me was Vaseline. You can get the store's generic, they are all petroleum jelly. The tip of my penis got so sore around the catheter and the petroleum jelly helped end the pain. I definitely recommemd the loose jocking/athletic pants one size larger and larger tee shirt. I use the Depends diapers and Poise pads.
A suggestion, keep the receipt on diaper and pads so you can return if you are fortunate enough to not need after cath removal.

Do what you said, take life as usual and take it as it comes. Good luck to you on your journey and feel free to visit these discussion boards. We'll all help if we can or if nothing else you can just "vent" your feelings here.

JR

NM said:

whats needed
Hi my surgery was in sept. of 09. 1 thing i needed (30)mile ride was a pillow for the ride home. I also lifted weights religiously and walked before and especially after surgery.

I had pads and diapers which I luckily didnt need.
I also ate and drank whatever I wanted after going home/
My doc gave me surgical lube for the catheter and I didnt have many issues except discomfort.

Hope this helps and Good luck on your surgery and worrying wont help but we all do it.

Nick

prior to surgery
before your surgery you may have to take some bowel prep to clean you out before the surgery, makes more room in your bellie for the surgeon to do his magic. If you have to take bowel prep drink its normally about 2 litres and tastes fowl add some sort of diet sweatener lemon or such . as this goes through you quickly you would also be wise to use some vasoline on your bottom to alleviate any rash plus baby wipes as its like diahrea . yep the large shorts or track pants . and yes you will need a bunch of pads just in case . also I reckomend a protector sheet under your side of the bed at night just incase of leakage somtimes the catheter dribbles a bit at night.You can get blue pads also to sit on in the car or couch better safe then sorry. some people recomend you start doing the pelvic floor muscle excercises before the op they say this helps early recovery . well thats enough from me best wishes and good luck shane59

lewvino said:

Bronx makes a good point. I
Bronx makes a good point. I bought two boxes of pads. Out of that over the past 10 months I used 1 pad!

The lube is critical to have in my opinion...USE IT LIBERALY.

Larry

bulk
Hi. I second (or third) lewvino and Bronx: Hope for the best and shop small to begin with. I ran through about a dozen pads and never opened the bulky bag of diapers that now clutters the closet. As for finding floppy pants, don't forget Value Village or whatever mega-thrift shop is your local equivalent. Goodwill is everywhere, of course. I got four handy and still useful pants at VV for a total of about $10. They look like they're made from 45rpm records, but they were comfortable, easy to deal with, and remain just the thing for slobbing around the house. (I don't know whether VV is a nationwide thing, or just a Seattle thing.) Persevere! John in Seattle

supplies
gatorade dude and of course family. ha ha griff

A 6 pack and a 6 pack
I remember about 9 months ago, my brother was post Davinci and I called him. He was sitting on the dock with a 6 pack of beer and a 6 pack of pads. My first thought was why not use the lake?
Good luck!

shubbysr