The surgery is over…but..

User

Posted 14 Jan 2024 at 16:24

Not wanting to put anyone off RARP surgery….so look away now! To be fair it’s not the prostate removal that caused the problems post surgery…it’s the fact that the bowel got perforated. Although repaired and Steve seemed to be on the mend yesterday, he has gone downhill today. His stomach is badly distended and he can only tolerate sips of liquid. Surgeon came to see him today and has asked for a CT scan asap just to make sure there’s nothing leaking from the bowel repair…. So he’s back on his IV fluids with nil by mouth in case he needs to go back into surgery. He looks and feels awful and there’s nothing I can do for him!

I know he’s in the best place and we have said this will all be worth it if there is no more cancer! He’s being a brave boy!

Debbie

User

Posted 14 Jan 2024 at 16:32

Fingers and toes crossed for a quick recovery.

The situation that he experienced is fortunately extremely rare - I think you said that the nerves around the prostate were stuck to the bowel which caused the tear. I imagine that there may be a leak which is causing him so much discomfort but I am sure they are on top of it.

Our thoughts are with you both - it's hard to be on the outside looking in and not being able to do anything to help.

User

Posted 14 Jan 2024 at 17:17

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Although repaired and Steve seemed to be on the mend yesterday, he has gone downhill today.

I'm so sad to hear that you are temporarily not making progress. I'm sure things will turn around. My thoughts are with you both.

Adrian

User

Posted 14 Jan 2024 at 18:37

Oh Dear Debbie, so sorry to hear he’s not so good, hopefully they’ll get to the bottom(sorry😟) of this and get it sorted ASAP. There’s lots of people on here rooting for both of you, so although it can’t be easy try and stay strong and think positive.💪

Derek

User

Posted 14 Jan 2024 at 18:58

Debbie, sorry to hear about the ongoing issues,have they stopped the leak through the new joint. I am sure we had one member who had issues because of the leaking joint.

Thanks Chris

User

Posted 14 Jan 2024 at 21:46

Sorry to hear Steve’s having problems Debbie. I’m thinking of you both, and hope they get him sorted very quickly.
Ian.

User

Posted 15 Jan 2024 at 00:06

Hope things get better soon. I spent 3 weeks in hospital after my op with "complications" it's not much fun.

User

Posted 15 Jan 2024 at 23:26

IV fluids to come off tonight and Wound drain to come out tomorrow, catheter draining well although some by passing which we are told is normal. Started to mobilize him today to try to get things moving.

Mentally, Steve is at his lowest ebb today, thoroughly hacked off and wants to go home! Surgeon seeing him tomorrow so might entice him with a potential date, hopefully by Friday. I know he will feel better once home…. I think we are nearly there!

User

Posted 15 Jan 2024 at 23:46

Cheers Debbie, thank you for the update.

I'm so pleased progress is being made.

Adrian.

User

Posted 16 Jan 2024 at 09:13

Hopefully making some progress will lift his low mood soon. There's nothing quite like being at home, even though that's days away right now.

Fingers crossed for you both.

Kev.

User

Posted 16 Jan 2024 at 10:00

Excellent news and boy, has he been through the mill.

The next few days will be tough as he starts to move around and also getting the bowel moving - but he is on the final stretch. In a couple of weeks it will all be a distant memory and he can start to get on with the rest of his life - without that cancerous lump inside of him. Mentally that's a nice position to be in.

It's been tough on you too so hopefully you can now start to relax - well until he gets home and starts demanding cups of tea LOL

Take care, both of you.

User

Posted 16 Jan 2024 at 11:11

That’s good Debbie, I think post surgery the first 4 or 5 days for me was very uncomfortable around the stomach & bowel area. That’s without the problems Steve has had with the bowel problem.

The gas they pump in to give better access to the surgery area takes a while to clear & then having to wait for a bowel movement puts more pressure on the already tender surgery wound area.

As said above, I’m sure Steve will start to feel better as the days pass.

Best wishes Jeff.

User

Posted 16 Jan 2024 at 15:34

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

The gas they pump in to give better access to the surgery area takes a while to clear & then having to wait for a bowel movement puts more pressure on the already tender surgery wound area.

After my op, I was so inflated, I felt like a Space Hopper.

Despite taking handfuls of laxatives, I went ten days without a poo! But when she blew, she blew!

Edited by member 16 Jan 2024 at 16:36 | Reason: Typos again!

User

Posted 16 Jan 2024 at 17:35

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Todays update: good news on the CTscan/bowel front…no need for further surgery, repair seems to be holding and Steve started to feel a little better. He can now start a light diet, although he doesn’t feel like it, he knows he needs to in order to get his bowel to some normal working order before he can go home.

IV fluids to come off tonight and Wound drain to come out tomorrow, catheter draining well although some by passing which we are told is normal. Started to mobilize him today to try to get things moving.

Mentally, Steve is at his lowest ebb today, thoroughly hacked off and wants to go home! Surgeon seeing him tomorrow so might entice him with a potential date, hopefully by Friday. I know he will feel better once home…. I think we are nearly there!

Excellent news Debbie. I can imagine his anxiety, my stay as well was extended due to my stupidity. I am on medication for BP, naturally I went into the hospital with my meds, no one asked to see them, so a day after my surgery, too my meds in the morning as normal. The next thing, I collapsed (whilst the Nurse was taking my stats), I woke up with so many doctors looking down on me, my BP had crashed! I was then told I should not have taken my BP meds! I was kept for 2extra nights for observation.

User

Posted 21 Jan 2024 at 07:46

My poor Husband….its not over yet! Our son and I were literally en route to the hospital to take him home yesterday morning only to find him back in his bed poorly!

He started with acute chest pains an hour before we arrived and they initially suspected heart…all the tests were done and ruled out heart which is good. Difficulty in breathing but we think due to pain (which is just below his sternum, diaphragm area) they brought up portable X-ray machine, that didn’t throw anything up. Several doctors saw him during the course of the day and ECG’s done and bloods taken, nothing come back to explain. Last doctor thinks his abdomen is more distended, he thinks his bowel gone to sleep again…I’m not sure that’s right as he was eating for two days and opening bowels pretty much normally, which is why they agreed he could go home.

I’ve never seen him in so much pain…I left him about 8.30pm, he was on two hourly morphine and an IV paracetamol drip.

They started him on an antibiotic the night before and he had a second dose in the morning because he has to have catheter in longer so they wanted to prevent UTI….i have suggested could it be an adverse reaction to those? My other thoughts are ?ulcer….although it seems a bit coincidental and more likely a post op complication…I am really hoping his consultant is on duty today, so impressed with him, I feel he will get to the bottom of it…the doctor last night said I won’t be taking him home yet.

I just hope when I go in this morning the pain has stopped! I will update when I can.

Debbie

User

Posted 21 Jan 2024 at 09:03

Really sorry to read this Debbie. I was only wondering yesterday how he was getting on. Let’s hope they get this setback sorted pretty quickly. He’s in the right place to get any issues sorted though, as they’re pretty good there 👍

User

Posted 21 Jan 2024 at 09:25

Hello Debbie,

My heart goes out to you and Steve. I know how relieved you both were when he finally got a date for the op and I've been thinking about you everyday since the 10th.

It just seems to be one thing after another causing problems for you.

I can fully empathise with how you are both feeling. I actually had a heart condition, two blocked arteries, which cast doubt on my suitability to have RARP. Eventually they decided I was fit enough for the op, which went relatively well. I was only in for a night and allowed to go home next day.

Sods Law, two months later, I had a minor heart attack and ended up in hospital for two weeks. There I was with all the side effects of prostate surgery whilst having to deal with the heart treatment. That was the lowest point of my journey. I did begin to think what on earth have I done to deserve this?

I know mine and Steve's circumstances are totally different but I just wanted you to know why I can relate to what you're both going through. Steve will get better and will soon be home again, but I can share the anguish you're currently going through.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that you get to see your consultant today but feel obliged to warn you, that when I was in, the hospital almost seemed to close down at weekends. You had more chance of seeing Lord Lucan riding Shergar than seeing a consultant. Let's hope that's not the case with yours.

Please give your man a hug from me.

Adrian

Edited by member 22 Jan 2024 at 06:43 | Reason: Typo

User

Posted 21 Jan 2024 at 09:29

A few days after my surgery, I had a couple of excruciatingly painful attacks in my abdomen, they felt like a strong chronic ache tightening below my chest, luckily they only lasted a few minutes at a time otherwise I would have called an ambulance. I never did find out what caused it but I recall one or two other members on here who did go to A&E with something similar.

I hope Steve gets back to normal soon.

Kev.

User

Posted 21 Jan 2024 at 09:59

Oh Debbie, my heart goes out to you and Steve. It must be so hard for you both, thinking he’s at last on the road to recovery only to have this setback. I can’t offer you any insight as to what the problem might be, I can only offer you my love and support and hope that he gets over this latest issue quickly and you get Steve home where he belongs soon.

all the best and will be thinking of you both,

Derek

User

Posted 21 Jan 2024 at 11:03

Thank you so much for your insights and kind words…and sharing your experiences! This is really the best place to be for people who understand and that really is a comfort!

I’m just about to go in to see him…. He is going for stomach scan now….hopefully the next update will be better…I might not tempt fate and possibly won’t post until I get him home!

Our mantra….‘it’s all worth it if the cancer is cured!’

Debbie

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