I am trying to remember that far back, Doug
I remember that when you are sent home, I believe there are some tubes left, to help with drainage and such, but once that's all done, you forget about them.
Unfortunately, my husband was one of the unlucky bladder cancer patients, and had a metastasis, and died last November. I would like to address some of your questions, however, as I feel an educated patient is a prepared one.
He started out cathing every four hours, or less, but ended up being able to go double that, if he slept really well. His complication was that a ureter was stretched too much during surgery, and closed up, so he had to have it resectioned. This happened while he was on chemo, and so they had to put off the surgery for several months.
All that aside, he was happy with the choice he made, and it was possible to even forget the surgery once in a while (well, I lied.....he did leak, but only if he forgot he was getting full!)
At the end of his life, I would have traded the Indiana pouch for an illieal conduit, but only because he was having other health problems and it would have made it easier in the hospital and home hospice settings to have a bag to change instead of cathing.
Anything else I can answer, just let me know.
Stephany in Iowa