Day 10 Post-Op/Day 8 Home

Monday, August 31, 2020 – POSTED: Wednesday, September 2, 2020

I woke up at 12:45 am and about every hour since now, at 4:50, I’m not just falling back asleep. I got up to empty my catheter bag. It was at capacity. Over 2,000 ml & drain tube full. That relieved my bladder. I didn’t really feel a need to go, just uncomfortable. I brushed my teeth as they felt gross, even though I brush them before bed.

I washed the crud out of my eyes & used eye drops. Less than 5 hours til I get this catheter out. I can get 2 more hours of sleep, but my mind won’t shut off.

I better sleep well after this thing comes out, or I’m going to get really cranky. I don’t want to be cranky.

I’m just uncomfortable enough that I’m not falling asleep. So I’m getting up, getting breakfast, and getting ready….

Today is the day!

I finally get the catheter out and enter the next stage of the healing process, regaining bladder control. I also get to sleep in my own bed again!

I might find out the pathology results, but I may still have to wait.

I plan to take pictures of the removed tubing to show how far it goes.

I also have several questions for my urologist that I plan to post on the blog as a resource for other men.

As I get further along my journey of healing, I’ll learn more. I’ll know what else to ask, and continue my own research.

If I can get just one man to catch prostate cancer early, the effort of this blog will be worth it.

Getting Ready For the Day

I put the kettle on to make oatmeal with raisins. I updated this post, while I waited for the boiling hot water to cook the oatmeal. I use old fashioned oatmeal, I like the texture much better than that over-processed quick oatmeal.

I’ll take a shower and switch to the leg bag. Two hours before my appointment, I will take a single antibiotic capsule. The urologist says that those who take this before getting their catheter out don’t get bladder infections. I’ve never had one, and I definitely do not want to get one now.

Popped a Stitch?

My stitches are internal. While in the bathroom getting situated to take a shower, I was holding something that was heavier than it looked and I moved a certain way. I felt a sharp pain in my right abdomen. It was not pleasent. It still tweaks when I move a certain way. I didn’t mess around. I quickly went and took one of the non-narcotic pain pills.

I’ll find out from the doctor if that’s what I did, and what it means. Great…

LESSON: Be very careful and avoid this. Improperly healed incisions can develop into hernias. When they say don’t life anything heavier than a jug of milk they mean it! This includes NOT holding it at arms length. Be careful and give your body time to heal.

How’d it Go?

My son drove me to the appointment, as I’m not supposed to drive with a catheter. I fully support this. Certain movements tug at the catheter and it is uncomfortable.

I expected to feel bad/sore/uncomfortable after getting the catheter out, so I planned for my son to drive me home while I recover from that ordeal.

In reality, I felt OK. I got into the truck without the step ladded, and I got out without it, but it was more uncomfortable getting out.

Great news! I got my catheter out. Yikes that thing is longer than I thought. I have to drink plenty of water as that will help clear my bladder and help it wake up and start working normally.

My urologist said that the pathology report looks good. I just need to have quarterly PSA (blood) tests starting in December, and ending next August/September. If my PSA is 0 of flat-lined, then I’m cured!

I feel a lot better about this decision! I think surgery was the best option for me, and so far, it seems to be bearing that out.

I didn’t think to ask the urologist, but from what I am reading my cancer was Stage I, meaning surgery should have cured me. If my PSA indicates otherwise, then is it Stage II. [Cancer Stages.] Since I didn’t think to ask the doctor, this is not official

My Granddaughter Is Happy

I asked my urologist if my granddaughter could sit in my lap now that the catheter is out. He said, “Yes, but you can’t do any lifting.” This means that she has to climb in my lap by herself. She’s 5-1/2 so she did this easily. She leaned back once she was in my lap, and I felt no discomfort. We snuggled for a moment and she said, “I’m so happy we can do this again!”

Waiting For Bladder Control

The urologist said some men have full control once the catheter is removed, others take a few weeks to eighteen months.

The nurse told me if I can’t urinate in four to six hours to call the doctor. I had no issue, I was leaking like a sieve.

Now it’s time to work on the pelvic floor exercises, AKA Kegels, to strengthen my muscles as pat of the muscle used to maintain bladder control is next to the prostate and is removed. I have two different sets of muscled to work. One with quick pulses, and the other sequences of holing for 5 seconds. Over time, this will help re-train my bladder to automatically maintain continence. I started working on these exercises, once I was given them about 2 weeks prior to surgery.

About five hours after the catheter was removed, I felt the need to pee. I was able to pee standing up without making a mess. I’ve been able to exercise my pelvic floor muscles most of my life, so I think that helped, plus I was doing those exercises up until surgery.

I am sure my age, general level of fitness, and pre-surgery ability to exercise those muscles all helped. Not everyone will have the same results.

Exercise

My granddaughter wanted to go for a walk. After the first lap around out block, I knew I could do one more, but definitely not two more. It warmed up and was just too hot. I can’t take the heat very well anymore, and I’m even more sensitive to it after surgery. Perhaps we can do more tomorrow.

I had a much more normal gait without the catheter. This will help bowel movements and strengthen the core, which should also help.

If I can work up to three laps a day, about a mile, that will go a long ways towards improving my overall fitness and help me lose weight. If I can lose about fifty pounds, I should be able to get off blood pressure medications and pee even less.

Tweaked Abdomen

The doctor didn’t think I popped a stitch, but the right side should be the most sore, and it has been. Whatever I did, that sharp pain is still there. I took another high potency non-narcotic pain pill before our walk. It took the edge off. I want to avoid the narcotic pain medication if I can, but if it keeps doing this, I may take one before bed so I can sleep.

Driving

I drove to the local sub shop, which is less than a mile from my house. I got in and out of the truck, which is a big step since there’s no running boards, all without too much pain or discomfort.

I then went to the local store and got some snacks and then to the local taco place to pick up some supper.

I think I can manage a quick shopping trip tomorrow.

Improving Bladder Control

My bladder control is sort of there. My issue is that the flow starts before i can aim. I swear my penis is shorter than it was, but I bet it’s due to the trauma of the catheter. I’ll have to remember to ask my urologist about that.

I do seem to have improvement there, and am doing pelvic floor exercises. I can’t hold my pee if I sit for a bowel movement, so I have to urinate before I sit down to avoid making a mess.

My Own Bed

I lay down in my own bed for the first time since I got home last Monday. My bed is a Japanese style foam mat. I can get down to it and back up without issue. I know I couldn’t have done it with a catheter.

It was so relieving to my back and I’m really hoping for a good night’s sleep tonight, as I’m going to be cranky if I don’t start getting a greater amount of restful sleep. My lower right abdomen is still “biting” me if I move a certain way. I’m going to take a chance on a narcotic pain pill to see if that can relax me enough to sleep.

Future Updates

I will maintain the daily updates since things are still progressing daily. Once daily progress slows, I will transition to weekly or as-needed updates. I want to maintain a record for both my future reference and have a helpful record for others.