Radical cycstectomy coming up

Hi, I had RC 10 years ago, age 57. Once you are recovered, you will find you can get back to doing all those activities - but it is major surgery & takes months to regain full strength & energy. It's a gradual process - most people underestimate just how weak & tired you will be immediately post op. I had the minimum 7 nights in hosp (often less if robotic surgery) & no significant complications. I could do my own personal care after that, but no housework, cooking or laundry. To aid recovery it is important to build up walking (even if only a slow shuffle) a little more each day but without overdoing things. In between, have lots of rest, eat little & often (anything you fancy, but concentrating on protein & carbs) & drink plenty.

I started to do odd things around the house after a few weeks, started to resume leisure activities about 6 weeks post op (never more than one a day, gently) & a phased return to work at 3 months. By 5 months I was doing all usual activities with care, but it was 8 months until I shed end of the day fatigue. A good rule of thumb is to allow one month to recover for every hour in surgery.

Have you decided what urinary diversion you will have? I chose neobladder which had its own issues during recovery, but I am very happy with it now. Hope all goes well for you. Am happy to answer any specific questions as best I can.

Thank you for all that, yes the rule of thumb one month recovery for every hour in surgery seems a good idea. It's not robotic surgery and I'm having a stoma.  Yes I'm building up with high protein as advised and told not to lose any weight - good to know - with Christmas coming up! Yes it is a long recovery isn't it but am quite glad that the days will be getting longer andSpring will be looming, things to look forward to.  Thank you for replying, am finding the run-up quite isolating , nice to talk to someone who's been through it.  Many thanks 

Hi,I had a cystectomy in Sept 2019 and have a stoma.It is a big op and you will need to be as fit as you can be.It’s usual to be taken to intensive care/high dependency directly after the op just due to it being major surgery.I was in ICU for the first 14 hours.Once on the ward I was shown how to manage the stoma by the stoma nurses.I was changing the bag unaided for a few days before I was discharged.I lost a stone in the 10 days I was in hospital.My main complication was when my bowel stopped working which is fairly common after this op.I tried to walk up and down the ward corridor as much as I could.I was weak and wobbly especially in the first fortnight.My sister came to stay and look after me.After 3 months I felt quite a bit better but it was another 5 months before things really improved.I was able to return to caring for my mother full time then.I also started gardening again.I found the recovery very slow but I had been unwell and thin before the surgery.I’m happy to help with any questions.Best wishes Jane