As the title of this blog entry suggests, I had some good news for a change.
My surgeon called me today with news that biopsies taken on Monday were all good. The ureters are good. The prostate is good. No bad surprises.
Which means I am suitable for the Neobladder construction. I had prepared myself to hear it would not be possible, and a stoma and bag would be the way forward. If that had been the case, all well and good. Crack on.
I was asked to make a decision; one that I had already made. I say I made it but wife and I made it. Where would I be without her? (xx)
Told surgeon I would go with Neobladder.
Don’t go thinking “sorted… back to normal then” because a Neo is not like a normal bladder, I won’t have the urge to go, nor the same muscles to void.
They take a piece of my bowel and construct a loop and join to ureters. It will hold very little to begin and needs time to stretch, but will never hold what my actual bladder can.
Mind you, if drinking lots of Budweiser will stretch it and put Neo through its paces then I am well placed to give it my best shot.
It won’t be easy. Once all tubes are removed (I think 2 weeks after op) I will have a tiring week of having to void every hour for 24 hours, then every 2 hours for a few days, 3 hours etc,etc.
Self catheterisation is inevitable. To drain any left over urine and to clean. Think about that? Not great eh? Mind you, anything is doable. I looked horrified when Surgeon and nurse told me about this aspect, but I did tell them I remember it taking about 2 hours to put contact lenses in the first time and now I can do it in about 2 seconds.
Surgeon’s reply : “self catheterisation is much easier than touching your eye”(which I found very funny for reasons not suitable for a family show like this).
I have tried self catheterisation at home with kit they gave me and it really isn’t that bad. Honest.
I mentioned at the beginning of this post that my prostate is good. Glad there is no cancer, but it gets removed during the op anyway. And of course bowel will be different. So although happy with news today it is certainly not all plain sailing.
But… to hear surgeon start today’s call with “It’s good news” was a really nice change. Maybe a corner has been turned.
