Neobladder

Hello Potter100,

Welcome to the grandes cajones club. My scrotum was the size of a football within a day of having RC. It was the gas used to inflate the abdominal area so the surgeon could work with greater ease inside while using the robotic arm.

The swelling went down after a couple of weeks but not before it went black and then peeled off. I did show it to my huge male nurse who just smiled and said he'd seen bigger in the shower that morning. I was confined to bed so never developed my John Wayne walk.

This will pass, your recovery has only just begun.

CB

Cheers crustybladder. Humour helps! I agree totally with the recovery has only just begun. I feel my brain is still observing the new architecture with a critical eye. Two weeks will seem an eternity for me but hey I’m going nowhere for a while. I am hoping that the withdrawal of the Foley catheter will help. Did you take any medication for the grosse Eier?

Hi Potter100, and welcome.

I learned something reading crustybladder’s reply to you. My genitalia was also humongous after my RC and I had no idea why; but sounds like it was probably gas, even though I didn’t have robotic surgery.  I have a Neobladder and don’t think they do them with robotics.

As for diarrhoea, I also had that. But remember they do mess around with your bowel to construct the Neo so only to be expected I suppose.
And sounds like our recovery is going in a similar direction because I also had a setback, with my urine forcing a Neobladder stitch loose and all output bypassing my catheter and going into my “wound” bag.
Which meant a longer spell in hospital for treatment (7 days) than for the RC (5 days).

That was just under a year ago and am pleased to report everything is just great now, so just let things take their own good time.

cheers,
Chasam

Morning and thank you for the reply Chasam.

                                                                        so pleased to hear that everything is going great for you now. Gas, fluid or even trauma could be any of those or a combination I guess. Guess being the operative word. I’m reassured to hear that this swelling does resolve itself over time. I took some paracetamol last night as there is some mighty painful gravitational pulling going on down there. I’m increasing the showering too as this gives relief. The hospital suggested an athletic jock strap but this unfortunately only serves to constrict and adds to the discomfort. 

Hi Potter100,I hope you feel more comfortable soon.It sounds very painful.I’m female but had a lot of swelling and discomfort in the abdomen and groin after my cystectomy.My bowel packed up completely resulting in persistent vomiting.It wasn’t a nice experience but I was discharged on day 10 a stone lighter.That was in September 2019.Love and best wishes for a smooth recovery.Jane x

Hi Jane,

              your experience with the bowel and vomiting puts my discomfort much lower down the scale. It’s good that you offer that perspective to me. x

Hi Potter100,It’s good that we have this forum to share our experiences.I think swollen male parts and diarrhoea sound just as bad.I found the swelling gradually went down over a few days.I’ve never got my flat pre op stomach back though.It’s still early in your recovery but hopefully you will get stronger with time.Best wishes Jane x

Agree totally Jane. You gave me a way of reevaluating my circumstances and I’ve had a much better day. Thank you!

I’m glad you have had a better day.I don’t know if there is much variation between recovery with neo bladder or Ileal conduit.I had the latter but have coped well with a stoma.Love and best wishes Jane x