Under 50s

Hope things settle down soon for you. Sounds like you’ve been through the mill after catheter removal. Best wishes,

Hi Ido4,

Thanks, hope you're doing well?

Regards Dan 

Its still early days.  Keep doing the exercises and when you can try and get to see a physio to ensure that you are doing the exercises correctly - if you haven't already. 

Sorry to hear you both have Covid.I hope you both get better soon.  How awful to get both at once. 

Take good care of yourselves.

Hey Freefaller,

I saw a physio when I was in christies so I think I'm doing em right and I'm using the squeezey app. 

Thanks for the kind words.

Best regards to you, Dan

Hi HH, 

thank you for sharing your helpful profile.

great relief to see there is an under 50’s threat 

I am devoted wife of 48 year old  just diagnosed. Stage T3a. Gleeson 7 (3+4) boarderline 8 (4+4) high cribriform seen and nerve invasion.  Luckily no metastasis. Such a shock. PSA of 12.5 picked up in routine gp blood test. No family history and first visit to GP in 15 years  

Radical prostatectomy next Thursday. 

Any practical hints or tips for first few weeks post surgery.  Do you need pads during first week or is that after catheter is removed.  I heard you shouldn’t even lift a kettle for first few weeks. How quickly did you feel like going for a walk to get fresh air? We’re you in a lot of pain? Is night shirt best (to avoid things pressing on tummy / wounds) or just pyjamas?

any tips from those who have had radical prostatectomy very welcome  

many thanks  

wigs

Hi Dan

Hope you feel better soon. Sounds rough. 

We are bracing ourselves for op next Thursday (9 Dec)  

Any practical hints or tips for first few weeks post surgery.  Do you need pads during first week or is that after catheter is removed.  I heard you shouldn’t even lift a kettle for first few weeks. How quickly did you feel like going for a walk to get fresh air? We’re you in a lot of pain? Is night shirt best (to avoid things pressing on tummy / wounds) or just pyjamas?

any tips very welcome  

many thanks  

wigs

Hi i just turned 50 when diagnosed, going for blood test i asked for psa as well. Ive gone through surgery, chemo and on hormone therapy for life.  I often think prostrate cancer is thought of as an older man disease, if i was tested earlier then i might have been cured

As for surgery loose clothing, laxido ,if you're taking pain killers they can cause constipation, also you don't want to strain with catheter.

I would try and go out every day, initially just in the garden, never very far, far to uncomfortable.  My wife became an excellent carer and friends visiting, taking me out (kfc) lifted my spirits.

I didn't need pads until catheter was removed, i relied on them and one day i forgot and realised i didn't need them

Take it easy and listen to your body, Hoping that your surgery is a cure. 

Hi Wiggers,

I did some strolling out with my catheter inserted after 2/3 days only short distances 20/30minutes.

After my catheter was removed I felt quite unwell and subsequently have Covid so I haven't been out for a walk since.

I would suggest you get a small cushion for the journey home to place between husband and seat belt. I had an extremely uncomfortable journey home from the hospital and I'd taken morphine 3hrs previously. The small cushion or cough cushion as they referred to it in christies is good to brace against when you need to cough, sneeze or pass wind etc. Very helpful.

I've been wearing lots of "lounge wear" which I don't normally do but I've felt comfortable.

I've just slept in boxer trunks. My 6 holes in the abdomen haven't really bothered me during the day or at night.

Wet wipes are very handy to keep you feeling fresh when you're swapping pads or cleaning up.

Drink plenty of fluids but don't go overboard and maybe a couple of beers or wine, Don't go to heavy on the booze.

When you get fired off from the hospital they will only give you paracetamol and 30mg codeine which for me wasn't enough, you'll need to contact your own Dr to get Zapain (Co codamol) or more serious pain relief. I wasn't capable of doing much the first 2 or 3 days and took co codamol 2×500para+30codeine until my catheter was removed (12 days).

It has been and continues to be difficult but watchful waiting wasn't available to me so of the choices this was the best fit.

I hope all goes well for you and your husband, we are all different and will recover differently.

Best of luck Dan x

Hi Wigs,

I did wear pads with my catheter inserted as there were some urine/blood that leaked from me at the same time. Your husband won't feel up to lifting anything heavier than a kettle of water.

All the best Dan

Hi Wigs.

The most important word of advice I can give you is “patience”. Recovery takes time, and it is a mistake to expect too much, too soon.

I was in a bit of pain for three or four days, but that was only when I tried to get on or off the sofa, or out of bed. I needed help, but once comfortable I remained so. Pads won’t be required until the catheter is removed, in my case two weeks post operation.

It really is important to drink lots of fluid, whilst the catheter is in and post removal, to keep the bladder working and the system flushed out. I was drinking about 3 litres of water a day, and still am, and it helped enormously. I found after about two weeks of being catheter free that I was passing quite a lot of debris - blood clots and small scabs - worrying, but all very normal.

It is important to rest up, and not lift anything heavy. I was told nothing more than a cup of tea was to be picked up for at least two weeks, with a gradual return to a normal lifestyle at around the six week mark.

I do a lot of walking, and whilst I found I was ready to stretch my legs within a week of surgery, I found it very uncomfortable with the catheter in. I could manage a stroll to our village shop, or round our close, but that was it. Once the catheter was out I started to increase the mileage, but the first couple of walks were uncomfortable as I found myself constantly needing to wee. But that passed, and within six weeks I was up to six or seven miles when I went out. I was playing golf again at about seven weeks.

Everyone is different, and I am lucky in that I am now pretty much back to normal. I am virtually dry, ED has been overcome with a prescription of viagra and my prognosis is really encouraging. My first PSA check at seven weeks was 0.04, and pathology has confirmed my cancer was confined to my prostate, so I am now down for regular blood tests with no further treatment unless things change.

So, whilst accepting we are all different, I am an example of the fact there is hope. There are many, many more like me, including a friend who had surgery at the same time as me, aged just 48.

The very best of luck.

HH