my dad just had the RRP surgery on Monday. he's home and doing good, there were no complications with the surgery. he's an otherwise healthy 59 year old. i'm the one who's taking care of him and staying at his place while he recovers. right now he's got the catheter in and he'll be going to get the staples removed tomorrow.
right now he's sleeping on the couch because he's afraid if he sleeps in his bed somehow the catheter will fall out - if he rolls over and it gets pulled out. this isn't really possible is it? he's also really afraid of causing damage with the catheter moving around. what kind of damage can be caused? i've done a lot of research on this whole process and i haven't heard of either of these things happening.
i know everyone's experience is different but i'm wondering how you guys did with the catheter in? was it really uncomfortable? my dad is using tighter underwear to keep things in place but he's still uncomfortable. he's also very aware of the leg bag when he's wearing it and he doesn't bend his leg fully when walking or sitting.
i guess i'm just wondering how your recovery experiences were? my dad is very, very, very cautious and i'm afraid he's going to make his recovery process so much more difficult then it could be - due to worrying and obsessing over things. please help! i just want to know what to expect. i've read some of the stories on this board and they've been really helpful. i've shared a lot of the info with my dad and it's helped.
Hi, The cath has an air filled bulb on the end so it will not come out.My husband found that boxers were better than briefs but he came home with the drainage tube also. He also found the leg bag didn't work that well for him either. So he used the large over night bag all the time we put it in a smaller bag with handles when ever we went somewhere. The more you move the better I had my husband walking around the block two days after he got home ( carrying his bag with handles ). My husband is 52 and had his surgery in March. H ran three miles today and he bikes also . I hope this helps ask your dad if he would like to take a walk it helps build up his strengh too. Take care and stay safe geifer
I'm 48 - just got my catheter out Tuesday 8/16 after 3 weeks and a day. It's not horrible....you get used to it....just a nuisance. I had tape around my penis and the catheter tube which was removed the same day they took the staples out - 8 days after the RRP. THen I wore jockey briefs to hold the tube better so it didn't move around. I had some bloody discharge out the tip of the penis (around the tube) - loan him some panty liners to put it his briefs to protect them - I used 2-3 at a time to cover everything since the penis moved around. Mine was very small (retracted) while it was in so it moved around a lot.
I think the 'bulb' in the bladder has sterile water in it, not air.
I slept on my back every night and managed never to turn over - I was very afraid of tangling and pulling on the tube but it never happened.
One more thing - tell him not to fear the catheter removal. I was led to believe it would be very uncomfortable but it was that way for just 5 seconds then a great relief after it was out.
I'm TOO continent since it came out - having trouble urinating. It hurts when I can go, but mostly feels like it just won't release. I have a urinary tract infection that's being treated and am self-catheterizing as needed (again a nuisance but not horrible) and hopefully things will improve this coming week - 5 weeks after RRP.
God bless him and your family - good luck.
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I'm not a doctor, just a guy who used to have a cancerous prostate....but I got over it...
lizzy76,
You are so correct to get him moving. He will not rip anything out or damage anything if he does. The sooner the action, thr better the healing. He needs to keep the end of his penis lubricated where the catheter is.
james,
I'm not your doctor, but I would be on the lookout for scar tissue formation where the urethra was "put back together". Mine formed a few months after surgery, but was easily taken care of.
thanks for your replies. my dad had an appointment yesterday with his surgeon to have the staples removed. he was able to ask some questions about the catheter and other things and was told that he is healing really well and has nothing to worry about. that made him feel a lot better since most of his worry/fear was caused by dwelling on things or overthinking things too much.
he gets the catheter removed next wednesday. i've read a lot on this board about experiences after the catheter is out and i've shared this with my dad. i've also had my own experience with having a catheter in (only overnight though) but i still experienced the irritation when urinating, etc. i'm giving him a list of things to ask his doctor at his next appointment so he doesn't worry too much when these things start happening.
again, thanks for your help. it's been so great to come on here and get such helpful info.
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