EJ73 Member Posts: 8 Member
October 21 in Prostate Cancer #1
Hi, I will be having the robotic prostatectomy just before Thanksgiving. I understand that I’ll have a Foley catheter in place until the one-week post-op appointment, but will I have zero bladder control immediately following catheter removal and need to be prepared to walk out of the urologist’s office in a diaper? Will I need diapers for a few or several days or just pads? Diapers for nighttime?
Should I plan to sleep in a separate bedroom from my wife because it sounds like I’ll be getting up several times a night? Will I be essentially home bound because I’ll be running to the bathroom all of the time? Diaper and pad? Protective liner for the bed?
What are the first few days really like? Obviously, I am most worried (at this point) about the incontinence. Thanks!
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Clevelandguy Member Posts: 1,181 Member
October 21 #2
Hi,
Yes you will need diapers after your cath comes out. No prediction on how long or how may diapers or pads you will need. It all depends(no joke intended) on your surgery. I would think a Max Depends type diaper should keep you dry at night initially, for a few days I did use a baby leak proof pad under me when I slept. I slept on a sofa with my cath in, it was more comfortable being closer to the ground with my bag in a small bucket. Slept in the bed after cath removal, did not get up at night to pee. Too many variables to give an accurate prediction, I would start doing your Kegal exercises now as long as your doctor approves. Good luck……….
Dave 3+4
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Marlon Member Posts: 112 Member
October 21 edited October 21 #3
EJ73, good that you asked here. I know my doc gave very little guidance on this and what I learned came mostly from others. Yes it depends on how your surgery went and how strong your muscles are. The docs dont know how things look until they get in there. Some guys are lucky to have little to no issue from the start. I was expected to bring a couple off diapers to the catheter-removal ceremony. Nothing was provided.
The surgery and the catheter will have irritated your whole urinary tract, so for me, that meant frequent trips to the bathroom and lots of leakage and dribbling at first. I used diapers day and night for the first few weeks. But it's not a gushing thing - more like small but frequent leakage, with more after drinking or being active. I slept with a moisture barrier underpad for the first few weeks, but didn't have a leakage problem at night. Gravity works in your favor while lying down, so it helps stay dry. But I did have to get up several times at night, and was wearing a diaper and a pad at first, and they were often soaked from leakage when I was unable to hold it.
Daytime, I went from wearing 3-4 diapers a day - more if very active - to one and then just pads in regular underwear. After 4 months I am mostly dry, but still wear a pad, or sometimes just a shield, for the occasional dribble. BTW, I think Depends is the gold-standard brand, but many less expensive brands work too.
As I understand it, you can have incontinence as a side effect of radiation too, so don't second guess your decision on that basis.
The one thing that I wish they had told me more about was managing bowel movements. It's the same sphincter muscle controlling both bladder and rectum, so you dont want to strain. Even sitting on the toilet without putting pressure on your wounded bladder area was difficult. Pay attention to the stool softener information.
Good luck
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EJ73 Member Posts: 8 Member
October 21 #4
Thanks! This is very helpful. I heard elsewhere that the North shore MegaMax are the most reliable leakproof adult diapers for urinary incontinence. Did you feel like you needed to stay pretty close to home or did you resume social activities while wearing a diaper?
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Marlon Member Posts: 112 Member
October 21 #5
https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1718513#Comment_1718513
I didnt avoid going out, but I did have my bag of supplies with me at all times or in the car, just in case. My main concern in public was how visible the bulge (in back) was through my clothes. I still had pain from the incisions for the first few weeks, so I wasn't that physically active because of that. Most guys don't seem to have that problem.
See AlsoA Beginner's Guide to Urethral SoundingWhat is a Catheter? The Different Types, Uses, & Top BrandsFirst-line Catheter Ablation Works for Post-MI VT Suppression: VANISH2Urethral sounding: why some people find it pleasurable to insert objects into their urinary tubeI didn't find leakage was a problem with any of the 7-8 brands I tried. I changed them as soon as they got uncomfortable. I think you have to consider that the main customer those diapers are designed for are people who have no control over bladder or bowel. For us, the main benefit is keeping our clothes clean.
But the other thing the docs dont tell you about, is skin care. Having a damp diaper or pad in constant contact with your tenderest of skin areas tends to cause irritation and rashes that need care. Showers twice a day or more for a while, and protective ointments like A+D (baby diaper stuff) vaseline or something similar was helpful. Worth doing some research on that,
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EJ73 Member Posts: 8 Member
October 21 #6
Really helpful. I so appreciate it. I am retired, but am a very active guy (and thankfully otherwise healthy). I am most worried about this peeing and “wetting” part of it. Guess I’ll prepare for the worst and hope for the best, as they say!
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Old Salt Member Posts: 1,505 Member
October 21 #7
There’s a lot of info on this topic in several recent threads.
Best wishes!
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Clevelandguy Member Posts: 1,181 Member
October 21 #8
https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1718513#Comment_1718513
Hi,
As long as your up to it resume your normal activities when your doctor recommends. Let the pads protect you, your recovery/confidence will tell you what absorbency you should use after cath remove and in the future. I did not let my leakage stop me from what I wanted to do.
Dave 3+4
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HerndonBoy Member Posts: 5 Member
October 21 #9
NorthShore MegaMax is my adult diaper of choice for overnight use. They hold the overnight leakage and my pajamas and bed sheets are dry in the morning. Just to be safe, I use a NorthShore pad, too. Incontinence briefs seem to work similarly - Depends, Prevail, Tena, etc. In my case they’re good for a few hours. But we are all different. Good luck with the procedure.
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Steve1961 Member Posts: 618 Member
October 22 #10
take it for me. The catheter was not that big a deal you get used to it after the first night and get adjusted. I went out. I did a lot of walking as for the diaper lol this is what I do. I have real bad and incontinents because I had salvage surgery done so I wear it depends diaper, and I put a pad inside of it and then I throw my underwear over it, I feel this works very well. You have double protection. It has not stop me a bit. I am very active. I’m still working. My job is very physical. I’m a contractor. Hopefully the incontinence will get better but if not, it’s better than having cancer so depends diaper as well as a pad inside of it and underwear and you’ll be fine .
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On_A_Journey Member Posts: 132 Member
October 22 edited October 22 #11
@EJ73 , you will have lots of leakage after the catheter comes out, and then it will gradually improve. Typically, leakage is less through the night, and it won't be too long until you chance it.
I never wore diapers after my surgery. Men's pads did the job and it wasn't too long until I was using smaller and smaller ones.
Stress less! 😃
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MJH320 Member Posts: 8 Member
October 27 #12
Glad you’re checking in with people who have had RARP surgery to get a sense of what to expect. I had my surgery Aug 27 and had catheter in for 10 days. Was a relief having it removed and I immediately had a significant measure of incontinence control; I’m very grateful for that. I’d only done a limited amount of kegel exercises prior to surgery and I continue to do so now. I wore Depends diapers initially for 2 weeks or so, then switched to Depends shields in tidy-whiteys while wearing diaper at night. I change my shield once a day (i.e., wear 2 total a day) for comfort and keep spare shields in my car. I got out of the house occasionally while having the catheter and then frequently got out after. No hesitation. Shortly after catheter removal I was only having drips and drabs (and still do), which the shields handle well. I shower every-other day, but use moist towelettes to wipe everything clean between shield changes and everything feels fine. Meant to say that while wearing the Depends diapers, I always felt very comfortable and there was no outward indication I was wearing one. They’re great.
We each have our own experience. Before surgery I was very concerned about incontinence. My experience has allayed those concerns and if I must wear shields the rest of my life (I’ll be 71 on Nov 5th), that wouldn’t bother me at all. Best wishes to you!
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Rob.Ski Member Posts: 172 Member
October 27 #13
Be prepared for incontinence but, it's not a given. I was for the most part able to control my bladder after catheter came out. If I sneezed while walking or drank too much, I'd leak a little. I'm 2.5 years post RALP and 100% continent and sexually active.
Best of luck.
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ThomASH_082562 Member Posts: 6 Member
November 3 #14
Gentlemen, I want to say thank you for taking the time and write your experiences down for people to read. I am going to have robotic prostatectomy…62yrs old, 3+4=7 stage 2 . I needed to learn from people who already gone through the surgery what to expect.
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LuckyKYGuy Member Posts: 9 Member
November 4 #15
It will be two weeks tomorrow since I underwent my RARP on 10/22/24. My catheter was removed on 10/30/24 and over the last 6 days I have been through a couple of packs of Depends. My first two or three days with the catheter out I had absolutely ZERO control but by day 4, even though still incontinent, I was able to create a stream every time I'd stand in front of the toilet. I have noticed more of an improvement over the last two days and today seems less uncontrolled leakage, although it's still there. I have been very fortunate at night that I have been completely dry but I have also made a conscious effort to not drink anything two hours before bed. I have woken several times with the urge to urinate and have made it to the bathroom each night.
So, yes, you'll likely need the Depends or whatever brand you choose for a little bit but I have worn them out of the house under jeans/khakis and no one knows I have them on.
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EJ73 Member Posts: 8 Member
November 5 #16
https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1718757#Comment_1718757
Thanks. Very helpful, and reassuring!
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EJ73 Member Posts: 8 Member
November 5 #17
Thx! Hope I have a similar experience!
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EJ73 Member Posts: 8 Member
November 5 #18
Thanks. These comments are helping me face my “diaper anxiety.”
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lesjanes Member Posts: 67 Member
November 7 #19
https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/328602/will-i-need-diapers-post-prostatectomy
https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/328602/will-i-need-diapers-post-prostatectomy
Your milage may vary…. everyone is different. I am 68, had surgery July 11,2024. I never needed a "diaper". I did use shields for about 4 weeks and then moved to pads for another 6 weeks, Now 3 months out I don't wear anything. Night time was a good time for me. I didn't leak much and didn't need to get up much. Definitely start doing Kegel execises now and after the catheter is removed.
The catheter was more a nuiscance after a while , but not an impediment to getting out. It just got old sleeping on my back all the time.
One thing that no one told me about was the ponetial side affects of the gas they use to puff up your abdomen during surgery. Apperently the gas has to work its way out of your system. For most people there are no issues. But for me I had terrible cramping between my shoulder blade and spine. It was very uncomforable and the only reason I needed pain meds. But that went away after 3-4 days.
How is your general health (age, weight, underlying conditions) this will may an effect on recovery. I was in good health and weight before my surgery. Only my age was a factor in recovery. (recovery can be quicker if your are younger)
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LuckyKYGuy Member Posts: 9 Member
November 7 #20
One more thing I'll echo from others I've seen post different places…..it's very important to keep yourself as dry as you can when you change depends. I use the full size cleaning wipes ordered from Amazon and "wash" everything down and then dry with a towel before I put a new Depends on. I also try to change no more than four hours apart during the day unless it's very dry. I've read where the constant moisture can cause some skin irritation and I'm doing all I can to avoid that.
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Marlon Member Posts: 112 Member
November 7 #21
https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1718795#Comment_1718795
You are right. The constant moisture especially on the penis, caused a lot of irritation. I took to putting some A+D ointment there. Also used a hairdryer after showers.
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