Hi, haven’t posted for a while but back asking for advice. My dad has completed his radiotherapy, is on hormone injections every 3 months, oral chemo tablets and is 4 sessions into doxcatel chemo (there’s been a lot of delay due to infections) but hopefully he should be done by next month. He’s had a catheter fitted since a few weeks before his diagnosis and still finds this incredibly uncomfortable and it’s by far his worst side effect. His consultant is pushing for the turp op as soon as chemo is finished. However, my dad has some reservations, mainly about the recovery. He’s worried it’ll affect his sleep and he struggles with this so much already and it will further impact his quality of life. Hes also worried about the incontinence/how he’ll deal with this and how long it will be for. He’s wanting to make the most of the time he has left and is already frustrated with how long the chemo has taken plus multiple infections. I’m not sure if everyone is different but he has spoken about how since having the catheter in he has no sense of when he needs to go to the toilet and there is almost always a constant drip into his catheter bag, rather than the usual stream so is almost worried it’s beyond the point of repair.
Could anyone share their experience of having the Turp op/recovery time. Thank you.
Hello Zoey88
I am pleased to see dad has nearly completed his treatment and can understand his feelings regarding the catheter.
I had issues and had an indwelling catheter for over 10 months. (I was 66/67 at that time) awaiting a TURP operation. I agree with you once a catheter is fitted it's very easy to just constantly drip into the bag although you do still have a "proper wee" at times your bladder does become relaxed.
The operation is simple and pain free - I was in theatre/recovery for a couple of hours (there is quite a lot of blood to sort out and washing through after the surgery) hence the time away from the ward. Mine was a spinal injection so I was awake throughout although I could have elected for a general.
I stayed in hospital overnight (some people on the ward did 2 nights) and once the catheter came out and I could pass 750ml of clear urine I was free to go home.
Recovery was pretty good - to start off I needed a toilet every half hour but with doing my pelvic floe exercises (the squeezy app is great) within 3 months I was back to every 3/4 hours. I did leave the house in the early days to go to football and used a rather large "nappy" but hey - I love my football.
Overall a pain free period - yes I had to work on the pelvic floor exercises (you need to do them right) but it worked very well for me. My advice is don't worry, you will be fine.
Here's a link to the NHS advice for the TURP operation and how it works:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/transurethral-resection-of-the-prostate-turp/
You can read my journey including the TURP by clicking on my name or avatar. If you have any further questions I am more than happy to help. (My TURP was at North Manchester General Hospital).
Best wishes - Brian,
Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm
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