Husbands Bladder Removal

Hi Lab lovers wifey, as my husband has still got his bladder atm [waiting for results of last week's TURBT ] I can't offer comment. But just want to send you both more of a hug than just a button press, as this sounds pretty miserable. My only observation is that reading on here, people who get more warning of their op are given 'prehab' exercises etc and maybe your husband didn't benefit from this, I don't know.

In any case I hope you soon get reassurance from those who have had the surgery, and that things soon improve for Mark.

Denby

Hi Lab lovers wifey,I’m glad Mark is through the surgery but sorry to hear he is sick.There is a common post op problem called Ileus and I wonder if this is what is wrong.The bowels do not like being handled during surgery and as my surgeon said like to go on strike and stop working post op.This causes nausea and vomiting and discomfort.It’s not very pleasant.I had to have a nasal gastric tube put down and was nil by mouth for most of the hospital stay.It did get better and by the last day I was eating again.If it is Ileus it can take a while for the bowels to get back to a normal routine.I can’t remember what drains I had.Whatever is wrong I hope Mark feels better soon.These early days post op are not easy but we are all here to support you both.Love Jane x

All sounds in the range of post op normality. I'm surprised they tried to get him to eat so soon, but each hosp has its own protocol. They may try him on special fortified drinks instead.

I was lucky as far as eating goes, although I felt nauseous & dizzy for about a week so moved very carefully. No bowel movement for a week & when it came, it was very difficult. Later on, became erratic, sometimes loose & urgent. Bowels can be quite erratic post op, may be some permanent changes in habit.

If Mark is able to walk a bit, that will help wake up digestive system. I am told that chewing gum also helps. The drain will be removed in due course. Recovery from this op is slow. You should see a little progress day by day, although there can be ups & downs along the way. Best wishes to you both.

I started off on the chewing gum but that had to be stopped when I got Ileus.I think it would have worked if I had been able to carry on with it.I didn’t care about being nil by mouth but was weak when walking.I walked/shuffled most days as was desperate to get the bowels moving.

Sounds like Illius - his stroppy tummy has gone on strike. It can and often does take some time to recover. I think I started to get some tummy action after 3 to 4 days. 

Hi Lab Lover's Wifey,

Yes I had it too, just as Winkers says. It's common after the op. Because I had months pre my op to read up on it all it wasn't a surprise to me though my family were terribly upset at my vomiting lots of green stuff. I had the nasal tube too.

It also took me ages to restart my normal bowel habits even once the tube was out and I restarted  trying to eat normally. And once I did manage to go, so much came out that it blocked the ward toilet. Embarrassing but a big relief. And once I had done that they let me go home soon afterwards. 

They'll be making him drink a lot of water which is important and to eat little and often - hospital food is quite bland and not very fibrous which doesn't help. My family made vats of broccoli soup once I was home (and for weeks after), to combat constipation and that plus lots of fruit - plums, oranges etc  got me back to normal. I chewed gum too. Though it all takes time.

The physios got me exercising quickly and I kept those movements going for a while. And walks helped a lot - getting strong enough to do my normal daily walks felt wonderful. I built up gradually, always with one of the family and using a walking stick for balance at first. And I still drink 2 litres of water daily. I carry my gym water bottle around the house and when I go out so I keep it up. 

I'm female so didn't have a prostate to remove but even so this was a big operation and it took a while to recover. But it was important to me to push to get back to normal. Luckily, I had no time to stay an invalid as my husband was ill at the same time and so I needed to exert myself a bit to help him recover too.

When I couldn't get out for a walk - nobody to come with me or wintry weather (my op was exactly 2 years ago on January 18th), I managed to keep moving around the house so got my strength back fairly quickly.

Good luck. It seems hard at this stage but it will settle down quickly if he keeps trying. I had no complications besides the ileus (I was 70) and am keeping fit and well. No reason why he can't be exactly the same.

Latestart

Having Ileus was a low point.It was a relief to have the nasal gastric tube.I stayed nil by mouth until the day of discharge.I felt really sick in the departure lounge but after some Apple juice which could have stripped paint things settled.The hospital gave me a low fibre diet to follow.It was hard to eat at the start and little but often helped.I introduced more fibrous food gradually.It took time to regain weight.The first few weeks are hard going but you have to tell yourself it will get better.

Thank you all for your replies, experiences and advise. Mark's bowels opened urgently and loose yesterday evening. They flushed his kidneys out yesterday, he doesn't want to repeat that anytime soon. Can I just ask if anyone remembers how long the stents stay in the ureters? Are they removed before you are discharged?

Thank you everyone, hugs to anyone that needs one and positive vibes to the rest.

I’m glad Mark’s bowels have started to work though they may be erratic to begin with.I had the stents removed after 14 days.It was done after discharge by the stoma nurse and it didn’t hurt.Love to you both.Jane x

Hello there my husband had bladder removal with a neo bladder, long operation, October 21.The bowels will take a while as obviously , everything has been moved about & as previous comments this is completely normal,  the process for recovery was quite a long one but when you think what their body has been through. My husband recovery took a good 9 months as he had to have post op chemotherapy but I'm here to say he has done so well & he now is as normal as before op back to playing golf etc. Although it was a good 18 months after.  It's a long process but without it, where would they be. Wishing you both well, I'd like to say speedy recovery. But. Take each day as it comes. Because things really do, only get better.

Sending love ️