Newly diagnosed Invasive..Need Support

Ahhh..so he doesn't play well with others?
So what is his success rate?
How many cystectomy's does he do a year?
Are you being re-staged? Another TURB? Does he think you were understaged? Otherwise why the chemo if its not outside the bladder?
pat

Sorry I have not been on here for a few days. The Dr's approach is that he does not take another Dr's opinion or decision regarding treatment. He did say the prescribed method of treatment is bladder removal which may very well happen. However he wants to be certain everything else ( heart, kidneys, etc.) are working as they should be. He also wants to go in and look with me under as an outpatient procedure, similar to the 3 I had with the other URO. I am meeting with the oncologist this week in hopes of getting me started on some chemo. The Dr stated there is a better rate of success when chemo is started prior to surgery. He , I am hoping by the end of this month all test results will be in and the course of action will be laid out.

I will keep you all updated
regards
Arthur

Arthur -

What did you find out from your doctor?

Andy

Arthur,

You say "beyond the usual questions", but I'm not sure what you consider to be the "usual questions".

So, here are a couple of things to ask about:

1. How many neobladder surgeries do you do a year?
2. What's been your success rate with nerve sparing on the prostate removal?
3. What can I do prior to surgery to help improve results?
4. What can I expect after the surgery in terms of changes?
5. What are the things that you (the surgeon) do to minimize the risk of ileus?

We can help you with question 3 and 4 but your doc's answers to 1 and 2 are very important.

With question 5, there are changes that have been happening over the last couple of years where more doctors are going with epidural, having patients chew gum starting the day after surgery, not doing bowel prep prior to surgery, etc. All of these things have been shown to decrease risk of ileus (intestines taking a long time to wake back up) and time in hospital.

I mention this because I had an ileus and wound up in the hospital for 12 days. I'm fine now but I can tell you that the ileus was worse for me than the bladder surgery. It's amazing how much intestinal issues can mess you up.

Pre-surgery, you can also start doing kegel exercises. This helps strengthen the pelvic floor muscle, which is key to gaining continence again after the surgery. Since intestine is not muscle, you will 'go' differently and the pelvic floor muslce is what is used to drain your new (neo) bladder.

Best of luck!
Mike

Thank you Jim,

I am a fan of walking so this will be good for me I hope. I am sure at the beginning, it will be a little rough around the edges. But the more you do it the less it will be a pain. I am headed to the Dr shortly to hear the plan of attack and will keep you posted. Any last minute words of advise before seeing him?
rgds
Arthur

Arthur, Like you said, the catheter is no picnic, and four weeks is a long time, but it goes fast.
I lost 23 lbs with the surgery. I have since gained it back plus a few (quit smoking.)The first month or so drag along.
But then things pick up, you feel better, and in no time, it's behind you. I was on sick leave 3 months. Others have gone back sooner, some later. I would say for me, about the six month mark, i really felt good. Not that I felt bad at 3, 4, and five. Now at ten months, it's almost like it never happened. Looking forward to a summer that I missed last year.
I am from Michigan as well. I live in Clarkston.
This may sound like a broken record, but walk, walk, walk.
Now, during, and after.

Jim