Hello all

Hello DTC and welcome to the prostate cancer family. We have had a very helpful thread by JohnyBoy following his journey from the day of surgery. I don't know if this is the one you are referring to.

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/prostate-cancer-forum/f/diagnosis-and-treatment/279754/post-surgery?pifragment-13906=1

I am sure others will be along with a shopping list but loose trousers come to mind, a bucket for the night bag, incontinence pads and pants (my husband uses Tena but others are available). PCUK also offer a free starter pack.

https://shop.prostatecanceruk.org/surgery-support-pack

In order to help with your recovery it is suggested that you started pelvic floor exercises and you can download the Squeezy app to make sure that you are doing them correctly. It is also important to think about your penile health by ensuring that you maintain the blood flow so have a word with the doctor who should be able to prescribe tablets to help with this.

Please feel free to ask any questions or join in with any of the conversations. All the best for your upcoming surgery.

Hi Alwayshope, that's very helpful. Thanks to the previous thread, I have downloaded and completed my first Squeezy exercises already! Many thanks again!

Hi DTC

welcome to you, not a club that anyone wishes to be in but welcome non the less.

I had my prostate removed on July 5th and the catheter out on the 16th. Not knowing how any incontinence was going to play out I started my pelvic floor exercises around a month before the op. (Don’t exercise whilst the catheter is in). Once the catheter was out I restarted them 2 days after the op and went in hard at one hour when I woke, one hour as I went to bed with an odd hour thrown in in mid pm here and there. Basically pelvic floor exercises are the most important anti-incontinence aid available to you. After a fortnight of going hard I then slowed it back to 1/2 hour on waking & 1/2 hour on going to bed.

The first week post catheter will likely be all about regaining some kind of control whilst you get off your chair / bed to head to the toilet when you feel the need, go when you first feel it, don’t hang about or try to hold on for longer, I used the thickest & best man pads for those first two weeks, but realistically I could have used the thinnest ones. Week two was when it started to come together with more control, any accidents were limited to a few splashes per day (probably less than half a teaspoon each time) and I only ever properly wet myself the once in all this time & that was my own fault by leaning over a wall and putting all my weight on my stomach (lesson learned). I’m 3.5 months in now and I’m pad free.

As for shopping list, other than the norm of what you like, I had a glass of fresh orange juice twice per day every day and a satsuma to keep me regular as my surgeon made a point of saying that there should be no straining when on the toilet to keep things in place.

Good luck best wishes and if you ever have any questions about anything please feel free to ask.

Best regards

John

Hi John, many thanks. Your experience and advice are very helpful. It will be easier to get through this knowing what to expect. It goes a long way to reducing the anxiety of the impending surgery. Best wishes

Hi AH, I know your not on the new to the community forum, but there's someone on there who would really benefit from joining the prostate forum, their post is called Diagnosis and username isD3bz,

Thanks Eddie. I have replied to them and, like you, have advised them to come over here.