Bladder cancer

Hi and welcome to the group. Any cancer diagnosis comes as a big shock and we all understand how you must be feeling I see you have been reading other posts on the subject. I went a different route, so can't help with your questions, but there is a lot of experience here to help and support you going forward. Please ask anything you like, there should always be someone with an answer. I hope all goes well for you. Best wishes.

Hi Wa123,At night you will have a much larger bag which the plug on your day stoma bag will fit onto.You can get more sleep and empty the night bag the next morning.It all sounds overwhelming at first but you will learn to cope.The stoma nurses will show you everything you need to know about managing the stoma.Love Jane

It came as a shock for me too. Devastating, and post op-recovery was not a holiday in the sun. You will find it helpful to get yourself into good physical condition before surgery, and to continue exercising every day post-op even if you can only shuffle a few yards to begin with. The worst thing you can do is to stay in bed all day! You will gradually get back to a normal life, and get used to bag changing. Loose fitting clothes will probably feel more comfortable, as I expect that in the early stages of recovery your abdomen will be swollen. Bending down to pick things up might also be tricky to begin with. I had my bladder, and other bits, removed last March and I am now living a more or less normal life. I ride my bike, travel, and do Parkruns (5km). At the beginning, post-op, it will be challenging, but like many others you will recover and lead a normal life if your general physical condition is good. Good wishes. 

Hi Wa123

It came as a shock to me too. However I have had Basil (my Stoma) for 19 months now. Basil is great and saved my life.

It will all be strange at first but I have to say Basil is so user friendly and I don't have to keep getting up at night lol.  You will have a night bag with enough capacity for a good night's sleep.

Also if I can fit my bag ok anyone can do this. I say this because I am so cackhanded 

I wish you all the best.

This is a great forum so ask away 

Love Inanna  x 

It is such a shock, my husband had his op on the 4th of this month, he has had a neo bladder, are you eligible for this?  Much love to you & yours as you go through this journey x

Can I ask what qualified him for a Neo Bladder

Hello. Although he is 63, he doesn't have any health issues.  They run several tests on him prior, the anesthetist had him on a bike with an oxygen mask. His heart was obviously fine, he has no diabetes & is on no medication.  Dont get me wrong he only had op on the 4th of this month, a few complications as one of the urethra from kidneys was sticky so he has stomah for the 2 stents, to keep them open & working, 6 weeks from the op they will put them back in his body. But because he is quite strong his body should cope with yet another anesthesia. It has taken a big toll on him, he also had infection in his testes after, which he found awful. The hospital have been brilliant. For my husband although he does not have a beach body to have a urine bag permanently outside his body, would of affected him.