Anne,
I am not surprised I have never talked to a Urological surgeon who didn’t prefer one diversion over the other. One told me he preferred the conduit due to the fact that the surgery does not take as long as other diversions. One liked it because he felt they had fewer post op complications and fewer UTI’‘s. One told me he did not do The Indiana Pouch because he worried how someone would deal with it as one aged. Stroke, arthritis or anything that effected dexterity could be complicated and a long term indwelling catheter is an infection incubator.
Your post brought up these questions for me.
Will one diversion or the other lengthen time in surgery?And if so since they are also removing an abdominal mass is the time difference significant? (My RC took 8 hrs.).
Do one or the other diversions have a higher rate of complication post surgery?
You mentioned your mothers kidney panel wasn’t the best. So I wonder if he feels one or the other diversions is easier on the kidneys?
I have a navel stoma with an Indiana Pouch and it works well for me. For four or five weeks after surgery I had a tube and catheter bag set up. Once you heal enough they remove the indwelling catheter and I started “training” my pouch. I set an alarm for every two hours for the first week and added a half hour a week and as time went by my pouch now will go from three to five hours between caths depending on how much I drink. When I first started I was given red rubber catheters and I had to clean and dry them after use, I had several UTI’s and was given a prescription for disposable catheter my insurance pays for a portion of the cost. I some times get what is called pouchitis that is the term for when my pouch is not feeling well. At those times it might leak and I will have excessive mucus in my urine. But I have learned to deal with its picadillos and we get along fine. This was my experience but again ask your medical team what to expect.
I do not have a conduit but doing what I do I know a lot of people with them. The biggest issue’s seem to be stoma placement and finding the right appliance. Unless you favor very close fitting clothing that would not be an issue.
There are pros and cons you just have to concentrate on your mothers unique needs as she makes her choice. The good news is that people adapt and do well with all the diversions.
Good luck.
Cynthia Kinsella
T2 g3 CIS 8/04
Clinical Trial
Chemotherapy & Radiation 10/04-12/04
Chemotherapy 3/05-5/05
BCG 9/05-1-06
RC w/umbilical Indiana pouch 5/06
Left Nephrectomy 1/09
President American Bladder Cancer Society