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Having Bladder removed
I’m having bladder remover Sept 8th in Phoenix, Az by Dr. Lamm.
I have been having e-coli infections every since I was diagnosed in May 2009.
I have talked to one other man who had his bladder removed back in Nov. 2010 and is having E-coli infections, but is have worse infections because he has no bladder, so the infection is going to the kidney, and causing him to stay in hospital and it’s not getting any better.
Has anyone else had there bladder removed out their and having e-coli infections?
Now I’m not sure if I should be having my bladder removed.
The Chemo is working and I had a choice of keeping my bladder and having radiation, the that would proboaby caues inconsideds.
Now I don’t know what to think.
I had asked the dr. what would he do and he said would have the bladder removed, but that was before I found out about how bad an and how often the e-coli infections could get.
Any news or answers out there would be helpful in my decision.
Thank you, Bill -
7 Replies
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Here’s a paper written on UTI’s particularly in males with a real bladder…..
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/231574-overview#aw2aab6b2b2aa
read through to the end…….
pat -
Bill, my father had his bladder/prostate removed when he was 80 and is now about to turn 85. He has an illeal conduit. Truthfully, I think that was the only diversion his surgeon knew how to do. He had some problems that caused him to have to be in the hospital for about 30 days after the surgery. He had a difficult time adjusting at first, but now it is no big deal to him. It was a tough operation and a tough recovery for him, but everyone is different. He had no other health issues and was on the roof cleaning gutters the day before surgery! He had some infection problems the first few years after surgery, but nothing recently (knock on wood!) I think his ureteral stents (placed to keep ureters open due to scar tissue) are colonized with some pretty powerful bugs, but so far, no active infection. I wish you the best with your upcoming surgery. People your age can do fine with this operation. My Dad is thriving, living proof!
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Thank you Mike, A lot of information there.
All very helpful.
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Thank you Pat/
Bill is having Ileal conduit.we talked a little more to the man that was getting the servere e-coli infections. He has alot of health issues. Diabeteas, high cholestal, heart troubles
I have no other health issues. I am 83 years young. So I’m hoping that having my bladder removed, and keeping things clean, I will be able to aviod anymore e-coli infections.
Thank you for getting back to me.
Dr. Lamm is awesome.
Bill -
Bill,
Has anyone given you any indication of WHY you have been getting e coli infections? As far as I know that has NOTHING to do with bladder cancer. If these e coli infections are in your bladder then somebody ought to be able to give you a reason or at least likely reasons. Do you have well or city water? A contaminated well can spread e coli. I suppose that could get into the bladder if one soaked in the tub or something. Contaminated food is also a source but you wouldn’t expect to find that in the bladder.
I’m not an expert but it sounds odd if this keeps happening for a couple of years. I’d suggest seeing an expert to figure this out.
I had a contaminated well when I lived in the country in Pennsylvania. They told us to not even bathe in the water and certainly not drink it or use it for cooking. We had to get a big chlorination/purification system on the line. The water source was contaminated from bovine feces because of all the cattle farms in the area.
Mike
Age 54
10/31/06 dx CIS (TisG3) non-invasive (at 47)
9/19/08 TURB/TUIP dx Invasive T2G3
10/8/08 RC neobladder(at 49)
2/15/13 T4G3N3M1 distant metastases(at 53)
9/2013 finished chemo -cancer free again
1/2014 ct scan results….distant mets
2/2014 ct result…spread to liver, kidneys, and lymph system
My opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of ABLCS or anyone else. I am not a doctor nor do I play one on TV.
Bill,
E coli is naturally occurring in ALL mammals. It is in the intestines. Unless the man you talked to had this “e coli infection” confirmed by the urologist who did the surgery (assuming that it is a highly experienced surgeon) then I’d be a bit suspect of the diagnosis.
e coli infections are rare and there are some things that could make one higher risk. For example, if you had a neo and had to self cath periodically and you reuse catheters and you aren’t careful to be sure you wash your hands and you wind up coming into to contact with your own feces or any kind of bacteria you could wind up with an infection of some sort. They are not that common though. I am going on three years with a neo and never had an infection (knock wood! Oh damn–now I’ve probably jinxed myself).
One thing that those of us with neobladders, Indiana pouches, or any other continent diversion have to keep in mind is that there is a huge difference between “colonization” and “infection”.
Whenever I get a urine test, it looks like World War 3 in there. All sorts of things are present but they cause no symptoms and there is no sign of infection.
I had a few urine tests done when hospitalized for other things and they all start freaking out and making plans to bring in tanker trucks and SWAT teams armed with every antibiotic known to man. However, I never really had an infection. Once you get continent diversion you have to be sure that anyone who tests your urine knows about it or they all go into cardiac arrest when they look at the test results.
Infections can happen with or without a neobladder but sanitary precautions can greatly reduce the chances of getting one. If you do get an infection it can be treated and eliminated. Not getting your bladder out when you need to greatly increases your chances of being dead, and as far as I know that isn’t so treatable with antibiotics or anything else.
Getting radiation can make getting the bladder out and getting a neobladder or Indiana pouch (IP) in the future a MUCH more difficult surgery for both you and your surgeon. If Dr. Lamm is recommending removal, well it’s your choice.
Along with Pat, I wonder how many neobladders or IPs he does. You want someone who is doing 50 or more a year of the kind of diversion you prefer. He is the world renowned specialist on BCG treatment. I just don’t know how many bladder removal/diversions he does on a regular basis.
Mike
Age 54
10/31/06 dx CIS (TisG3) non-invasive (at 47)
9/19/08 TURB/TUIP dx Invasive T2G3
10/8/08 RC neobladder(at 49)
2/15/13 T4G3N3M1 distant metastases(at 53)
9/2013 finished chemo -cancer free again
1/2014 ct scan results….distant mets
2/2014 ct result…spread to liver, kidneys, and lymph system
My opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of ABLCS or anyone else. I am not a doctor nor do I play one on TV.Really? Dr Lamm is going into surgery? He’s been in oncology for so long and the expert on BCG i had no idea he was back practicing surgery?
What kind of diversion are you looking at? An Ileal conduit, neo bladder, or internal pouch such as the Indiana pouch?
There is always some kind of flora and fauna in a man made pouch but unless you’re symptomatic you do not treat it. If you have a very experienced surgeon you should not get back up to the kidneys and infection. Not emptying completely can cause a problem…or if when you have an Ileal you do not change the bag enough……I don’t know why some people suffer from infections and others do not. I have the Indiana Pouch and in 8 l/2 yrs have never had an infection but with the Indiana there is a valve that keeps the urine from backing up. I think the key to all of this is a top surgeon.
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