RC - Post Discharge Questions/Thoughts - Crossman's journal

This is now my second full day home post-op. Things are going well and I am still amazed at how well I feel compared to what I expected.

Here are some random thoughts and questions...

1. My suprapubic tube is leaking at the insertion site. Lots more than at the hospital to the point I keep a towel there to absorb the liquid. I spoke with the surgeon on Tuesday morning and she said that I could come in for a tegaderm type of cover to help with that. She said that is normal to have some leakage, as long as it is not urine. (urine = has an odor, irritates the skin to equal a baby rash). Since I have none of these, it is abdominal fluid.

After some experimentation I have found that it is due to my positioning. Since I am sitting forward more due to my couch and chairs vs. the hospital. At night I am dry from the same spot. Any other home remedies you guys/gals have used?

2. The suggestion to use a cloth shopping bag to carry both bags (foley and sp) in was a great one. I suggest it to anyone needing to carry their bags around.

3. They put me on too many laxatives. I am going to stop them today but keep going with the stool softener. I was having abdominal cramping today after my 3rd bowel movement in 2 hours.

4. I bought some oversized mens pajama bottoms at Old Navy and have cut the legs down to size for me for comfort. They work really well and have not irritated the incision site. I think my wife bought me two sizes bigger than my usual size.

5. Getting up off my couch has created some abdominal muscle soreness. Nothing I can't live with, but it is a lot squishier than the chair at the hospital.

6. I can't get comfortable at night. I have been laying on my back and propped up by pillows but I keep sliding down or put too much pressure on my butt and it gets sore during the night. Would it hurt anything if I slept on my side (opposite of the suprapubic tube)?

Thanks as always for the great responses!

By jj803
Posted July 1, 2009 at 5:41 pm
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Hi Ron,

I did not have a supra-pubic drain, but I thought those were a secondary drain of the neobladder to prevent too much pressure on the neobladder during the healing process. The urologist I used did not use one in my case. I believe I did sleep at least in a 3/4 side position if not fully on my side (could put a pillow behind your back to keep yourself tilted). If you are having regular bowel movements, I would agree with discontinuing laxatives (I only had one dosage in the hospital), but do continue the stool softener so that you don't have to push too hard to evacuate. The pressure can be enough to cause the incision to loosen and either come apart or allow a later incisional hernia. I'm sure you're right about the positioning as that may alter the way gravity affects the tubes position or neobladder position or intra-abdominal pressure. Best wishes and glad you feel so good.

JJ

By Keith1
Posted July 1, 2009 at 6:30 pm
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Hi Ron,
It looks like you are still doing quite well, that's great!!! It also seems like you have a handle with most of this. These are my thoughts and what have or would have worked for me are not in any way, shape or form instructions or the way it has to be done. What works for me may not work for anyone else. In other words this is a disclaimer.
1. Good
2. Good, but I didn't like lugging around the overnight bags in the daytime. I used 2 leg-bags, the 32 oz size, sometimes 19 oz.
3. I think you are doing the right thing here.
4.Whatever works for comfort.
5. I always tried to turn a little to the side and push off with one arm as it was less stress on the incision.
6.On the side or part way was not a problem for me. My back and my tailbone was in causing more pain than the surgery.
Basically what ever works and you are not pulling on the tubes.
Live Strong!!
Keith

By Annasvenska
Posted July 1, 2009 at 9:09 pm
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Hi

I had the supra pubic catheter for three weeks and I slept on my sides with it. I just used a pillow between my legs.
Our bodies are not made for being in one position for too long.

Anna

By RLayne
Posted July 2, 2009 at 7:58 am
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All things I experienced, except for the leaking. I did not take any laxatives either, only the stool sftner. I typically sat in a recliner with my feet up most of the time. Ab soreness is expected as you get them healing and back in shape. Glad to hear you are doing so well. Keep it up! Randy

By RLayne
Posted July 2, 2009 at 8:02 am
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I also used the leg bags as soon as I got up each morning. I agree with the soreness from sleeping on your back, but that's what I did until the caths came out. Not easy, but I was usually tired enough that it didn't matter. Keep gong strong! Randy

By grampadonut
Posted July 2, 2009 at 4:09 pm
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for the 1st month i lived in a "recliner" with assited standing feature..worked wonderers..did alittle walking (to john) lost 25lbs
go slow all will come back..BUT slowly
peter

By SailorMan
Posted July 3, 2009 at 7:31 pm
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Since I ended up with a scarred urethra and then had some kidney issues, my urethra is still blocked and I have relied on a suprapubic cath since my foley came out last Aug. I continue to get some discharge around the cath and use a "drain sponge" with a single piece of tape to hold it in place. A drain sponge is a pad that is precut to go around a drain or tube.
After having a regular old foley in the suprapubic positition, my uro found something called a "Valved Catheter" which I now use by itself (no bag) and use it to urinate through when I need to void.

As for the sleeping - I was able to go onto my side and did so. I also used my upper body strength and arms to push myself up using the sofa arm as a pushing spot when i needed to get up.

I also used the leg bags - 19 oz, one on each leg when I had two caths and then later when I had a nephrostomy tube from my kidney.

Welcome to Inspire!

RC - Post Discharge Questions/Thoughts

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