prostateC
02-27-2007, 10:04 AM
I would like to talk about preparations I made at my home to be ready for my recovery period after radical prostatectomy and hospital stay. I had some things planned and in place at home, and others cropped up after I got home and I had to deal with them on the fly. So hopefully this will help YOU to be better prepared for the expected AND the unexpected...kind of like a Boy Scout! So...away we go...
HOME PREPARATION: THINGS TO BUY, THINGS TO DO, AND THINGS TO 'ACQUIRE' FROM THE HOSPITAL!
I will now list things that I found vital to being comfortable both physically and mentally, as well as things that helped keep me (so far) free of any infection in my incision or urinary tract. Some things also helped avoid messes around the house. I'll give a brief description of what and why, and I'll probably touch on these things again as their uses came up.
Things to buy:
> Antibacterial soap, like Dial. I used this to shower with a few days before and the day of the surgery. I also am still using it and will continue to do so for a few days after the catheter comes out.
>Antibiotic skin cleanser. My neighbor told me she read about this in an article in the AARP newsletter. I checked it out and went shopping. At a CVS store, in the first aide section, I found this stuff: HIBICLENS (chlorhexidine Gluconate solution 4.0%) I used it as directed on the package for 2 or 3 days prior to the surgery. Just a precaution against infection from bacteria.
>Triple antibiotic ointment. This is used around the catheter where it exits the penis. I put a generous glob of it around the opening of the penis as well as an inch or so down the length of the catheter tube. You'll find out that that tube travels in and out about an inch or so as you walk and move about. The ointment keeps bacteria away, and serves as a lubricant for the catheter tube! I kept a tube in each bathroom that I might be using.
>Hand sanitizer gel. I kept a pump bottle of this stuff near every bathroom sink. But don't use it just before putting ointment on your catheter...it may sting. I washed my hands a lot before messing with the catheter...and used hand sanitizer afterward.
>Antibacterial hand wipes. I kept these in all bathrooms to use in instances like after applying the ointment.
>Disinfectant wipes for surfaces. I used these to clean up spills in the bathroom, on the toilet seat, and to clean the surface of my drainage bags and tube.
>Water proof mattress protector pad. This was not only for protection of the mattress from urine and/or blood stains, but for peace of mind in knowing that if I did have a spill, I wouldn't ruin the mattress.
>Disposable "under pads". I had these distributed in each bathroom. I kept one on the floor to catch any drips from the catheter while using the bathroom, and I also kept a few under me (and on top of the sheets) in bed. I put them on the sheet absorbant side up, and covered it with a towel. Now I had double protection from leaks or spills! I also had some on various chairs around the house just in case.
>Underwear liner pads. These proved of little value in their intended purpose...to adhere to the inside of regular underwear to catch any drips...but with the catheter in place they were uncomfortable. I found they worked well to cover myself to keep leaks from getting messy while I was sitting on the toilet. I'll cover this unexpected stuff later...when I talk about bladder spasms!
>Disposable diapers. Yes....that's right, diapers. In my case (and hopefully NOT in your case) I had to resort to using them. My catheter leaked constantly and this was the best way to stay comfortable physically as well as emotionally. I have a 32 inch waist, but my partner very smartly bought the diapers sized L-XL...thus allowing room for the catheter to not be jammed against me. I used the diapers that are like baby diapers...with sides that wrap around. These turned out to work best as I could fit them to be comfortable, as opposed the the diapers that are "slip on" types...like briefs. Also, the briefs didn't stop the dripping that would run down the tube...and it would then drip on my leg...the floor...etc. I kept a supply of diapers in each bathroom.
>Catheter holder straps. This is the thing that is glued to your leg to keep the end of the catheter firmly in place. You don't want that thing pulling inside your bladder. The hospital used the kind that actually adheres to your skin, like a band-aid. The first time I showered at home one part of it unglued itself, and I had to resort to tape to hold it in place. This did not make me feel comfortable, as I was constantly afraid it would become totally detached from my leg and would pull (and cause me pain) inside my bladder.
So I sent my partner out to the local SURGICAL SUPPLY STORE to get me another strap. He came back with a very nice one...one that I highly recommend. The brand is DALE and the item number is 316. It is an elastic strap about 2 " wide that fastens to your leg with a velcro fastener. It has a GREEN velcro connector that holds the catheter firmly in place. (There is another holder of this type by a different company with a BLUE fastener, but my sources (nurse sister and brother in law doctor) say is not as good) In any event, I ended up buying a second one so that when I showered and one got all wet, I could change it with the dry one...and then let the first one dry for next shower.
>MOTRIN. I used a generic Ibuprofen. This was used to control bladder spasms, which I'll touch on later. Also Tylenol or it's generic version acetaminophen, worked well too.
>ATHLETIC TYPE WARM UP PANTS. I'm refering to the nylon pants that have snaps all the way down each leg. These were useful to wear around the house. The snap sides allowed me to put them on and have the catheter drain hose to come out. They were very convenient, and since my surgery was in January in New Jersey, they were nice and warm. I have the kind that is flannel lined!
Things to acquire from the hospital:
>TAPE. Nurses are always taping something to something. And they often leave partial rolls of the tape laying around. If they don't come back in a few minutes for it, toss it in your overnight bag and take it home. It has a multitude of uses. I used it when my hospital-applied catheter holder came unglued from my leg, and I used it a lot to help give a comfortable fit to my diapers!
>BEDSIDE DRAINAGE BAG. My nurse gave me several of these...a large 3000 ML one for overnight (I tended to drain A LOT overnight...I drink a lot of water), a couple 2000 ML bags, and a couple small leg bags. I ended up using the largest one for overnight, and the 2000 ML one throughout the day while at home. I used the leg bag a couple of times with limited success. We'll touch on that stuff later.
>CATHETER PLUG. My nurse was a sweet heart, and she had a lot of nursing experience. She got me a couple catheter plugs (she said they can be hard to find...so start bugging your nurse for one right away!) They were very useful for showering. I would disconnect the bag and insert the plug into the catheter end, and take a shower without having to worry about the bag, or having a wet leg bag on me after the shower.
>LEG BAG. As I mentioned before, I had limited success with the leg bag. It just didn't seem to drain properly for me, and whenever I took it off I would find the catheter tube was full (as my bladder probably was) and would drain quite a bit as soon as I attached one of the larger bedside bags. So...good luck with it.
I hope this information is helpful to those of you who are looking at surgery in the near future.
HOME PREPARATION: THINGS TO BUY, THINGS TO DO, AND THINGS TO 'ACQUIRE' FROM THE HOSPITAL!
I will now list things that I found vital to being comfortable both physically and mentally, as well as things that helped keep me (so far) free of any infection in my incision or urinary tract. Some things also helped avoid messes around the house. I'll give a brief description of what and why, and I'll probably touch on these things again as their uses came up.
Things to buy:
> Antibacterial soap, like Dial. I used this to shower with a few days before and the day of the surgery. I also am still using it and will continue to do so for a few days after the catheter comes out.
>Antibiotic skin cleanser. My neighbor told me she read about this in an article in the AARP newsletter. I checked it out and went shopping. At a CVS store, in the first aide section, I found this stuff: HIBICLENS (chlorhexidine Gluconate solution 4.0%) I used it as directed on the package for 2 or 3 days prior to the surgery. Just a precaution against infection from bacteria.
>Triple antibiotic ointment. This is used around the catheter where it exits the penis. I put a generous glob of it around the opening of the penis as well as an inch or so down the length of the catheter tube. You'll find out that that tube travels in and out about an inch or so as you walk and move about. The ointment keeps bacteria away, and serves as a lubricant for the catheter tube! I kept a tube in each bathroom that I might be using.
>Hand sanitizer gel. I kept a pump bottle of this stuff near every bathroom sink. But don't use it just before putting ointment on your catheter...it may sting. I washed my hands a lot before messing with the catheter...and used hand sanitizer afterward.
>Antibacterial hand wipes. I kept these in all bathrooms to use in instances like after applying the ointment.
>Disinfectant wipes for surfaces. I used these to clean up spills in the bathroom, on the toilet seat, and to clean the surface of my drainage bags and tube.
>Water proof mattress protector pad. This was not only for protection of the mattress from urine and/or blood stains, but for peace of mind in knowing that if I did have a spill, I wouldn't ruin the mattress.
>Disposable "under pads". I had these distributed in each bathroom. I kept one on the floor to catch any drips from the catheter while using the bathroom, and I also kept a few under me (and on top of the sheets) in bed. I put them on the sheet absorbant side up, and covered it with a towel. Now I had double protection from leaks or spills! I also had some on various chairs around the house just in case.
>Underwear liner pads. These proved of little value in their intended purpose...to adhere to the inside of regular underwear to catch any drips...but with the catheter in place they were uncomfortable. I found they worked well to cover myself to keep leaks from getting messy while I was sitting on the toilet. I'll cover this unexpected stuff later...when I talk about bladder spasms!
>Disposable diapers. Yes....that's right, diapers. In my case (and hopefully NOT in your case) I had to resort to using them. My catheter leaked constantly and this was the best way to stay comfortable physically as well as emotionally. I have a 32 inch waist, but my partner very smartly bought the diapers sized L-XL...thus allowing room for the catheter to not be jammed against me. I used the diapers that are like baby diapers...with sides that wrap around. These turned out to work best as I could fit them to be comfortable, as opposed the the diapers that are "slip on" types...like briefs. Also, the briefs didn't stop the dripping that would run down the tube...and it would then drip on my leg...the floor...etc. I kept a supply of diapers in each bathroom.
>Catheter holder straps. This is the thing that is glued to your leg to keep the end of the catheter firmly in place. You don't want that thing pulling inside your bladder. The hospital used the kind that actually adheres to your skin, like a band-aid. The first time I showered at home one part of it unglued itself, and I had to resort to tape to hold it in place. This did not make me feel comfortable, as I was constantly afraid it would become totally detached from my leg and would pull (and cause me pain) inside my bladder.
So I sent my partner out to the local SURGICAL SUPPLY STORE to get me another strap. He came back with a very nice one...one that I highly recommend. The brand is DALE and the item number is 316. It is an elastic strap about 2 " wide that fastens to your leg with a velcro fastener. It has a GREEN velcro connector that holds the catheter firmly in place. (There is another holder of this type by a different company with a BLUE fastener, but my sources (nurse sister and brother in law doctor) say is not as good) In any event, I ended up buying a second one so that when I showered and one got all wet, I could change it with the dry one...and then let the first one dry for next shower.
>MOTRIN. I used a generic Ibuprofen. This was used to control bladder spasms, which I'll touch on later. Also Tylenol or it's generic version acetaminophen, worked well too.
>ATHLETIC TYPE WARM UP PANTS. I'm refering to the nylon pants that have snaps all the way down each leg. These were useful to wear around the house. The snap sides allowed me to put them on and have the catheter drain hose to come out. They were very convenient, and since my surgery was in January in New Jersey, they were nice and warm. I have the kind that is flannel lined!
Things to acquire from the hospital:
>TAPE. Nurses are always taping something to something. And they often leave partial rolls of the tape laying around. If they don't come back in a few minutes for it, toss it in your overnight bag and take it home. It has a multitude of uses. I used it when my hospital-applied catheter holder came unglued from my leg, and I used it a lot to help give a comfortable fit to my diapers!
>BEDSIDE DRAINAGE BAG. My nurse gave me several of these...a large 3000 ML one for overnight (I tended to drain A LOT overnight...I drink a lot of water), a couple 2000 ML bags, and a couple small leg bags. I ended up using the largest one for overnight, and the 2000 ML one throughout the day while at home. I used the leg bag a couple of times with limited success. We'll touch on that stuff later.
>CATHETER PLUG. My nurse was a sweet heart, and she had a lot of nursing experience. She got me a couple catheter plugs (she said they can be hard to find...so start bugging your nurse for one right away!) They were very useful for showering. I would disconnect the bag and insert the plug into the catheter end, and take a shower without having to worry about the bag, or having a wet leg bag on me after the shower.
>LEG BAG. As I mentioned before, I had limited success with the leg bag. It just didn't seem to drain properly for me, and whenever I took it off I would find the catheter tube was full (as my bladder probably was) and would drain quite a bit as soon as I attached one of the larger bedside bags. So...good luck with it.
I hope this information is helpful to those of you who are looking at surgery in the near future.