Well everyone, my dad is now three weeks post-op with his neobladder. He was released (for the second time) from hospital last Wednesday and is doing pretty well. He is still very tired and his tesicular swelling has started going down (according to him
).
He had a post op checkup yesterday, the Dr. seems pretty pleased with his progress. they are going to leave his urethral catheter in for another two weeks, till November 12, and then do a contrast radiograph to make sure there are no leaks before pulling it.
Here is a question for the forum: He is having a lot of pain (the kind where he is really catching his breath all of a sudden) from the insertion point of the urethral catheter. I'm guessing it is because it is a big catheter, and its been irritating him (although I also notice it is latex and wonder about a latex allergy), but he seems surprisingly uncomfortable with it. Mind you, he has had catheters preop, for as long as two weeks following his TURBTs, and he was very uncomfortable then as well, but just curious if this is "normal" for those that have had it. He has lidocaine jelly to apply at the insertion site, but it doesn't help much. Any other suggestions? I tell you, this is giving me a whole new appreciation for how uncomfortable urinary catheters are...we use them all the time in veterinary medicine, and I've never treated for pain due to the catheter...will have to look into that!!
Anyway, that seems to be the biggest hurdle at the moment, as well as constipation. As many of you have mentioned, he is definitely having issues with that. Mom's pumping him full of flax seed in smoothies and trying to get as much fiber into him as possible. He has been given lactulose for the constipation, so hopefully that will help. He seems to be eating very well, but is also so skinny right now, he needs to gain!!
Other than all that, he is getting around pretty well, he is doing all his own catheter flushes and bag emptying etc. I think he will be happier when he starts getting some strength back.
My parents have joined the forum, under the name bobmac2, so I hope they will start asking some questions as well. I really think they are going to really benefit from all of your expertise!!
Thank you again! andrea
