Recovery Period from TURBT?

• By VAsusieQ18
• Reply 2073310
• March 28, 2011 at 5:53 pm
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Nancy, I had my first TURBT on 3/7, three weeks ago from today. I came home with a catheter for 4 days. I had very little pain, just discomfort from the catheter. My second week was also uneventful. But the third week (last week), I had some discomfort in the pelvic and lower back region. I also seem to be urinating almost every hour, with just a little bit of discomfort when urinating. Per my research and what my urologist said, this is normal. But he also said that everyone is different. Some bounce back really quickly, while others need the entire 4-6 weeks to fully recover. My energy level seems to be about the same as before, though I did tire easy the first week. Perhaps some others here can offer you their thoughts. I'm 46, a bit younger than you, so perhaps that makes a difference. I'm not sure. But I would recommend you reach out to your doctor if you are that concerned or the problems don't go away.

Best of luck!

Hugs,

Susan

• By HighlandGuy
• Reply 2073415
• March 28, 2011 at 6:49 pm
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Nancy

The TURBY is normally a very minor surgery. I had mine at age 76, was in the hospital less than four hours. My cancer was invasive, extensive and the most aggressive grade. I was only lightly under general anesthetic, went home several hours later, and resumed all my normal activities the following day. AAfter the first evening, I experience no pain, no bleeding, no after-effects of any kind. I had no difficulty urinating or doing any of my normal activities.

While we are all different, I cannot recall anyone having symptoms lasting more than a week.

Your comment that you quit your exercise class does disturb me. Nothing is more important that exercise in aiding our recovery from surgery. I always increased exercising following surgery. It is so important to recovery from surgery.

There is also always the chance that you may have an infection or other medical condition unrelated to your TURBT!

I would recommend that you embark on an exercise progrram and if dthat doesn't help, seeing a doctor. You should not be having a reaction to TURBT this long a period.

HighlandGuy

• By k4hand1957
• Reply 2073552
• March 28, 2011 at 7:44 pm
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Nancy, I am sorry to hear of all your problems post TURBT but am not sure your symptoms now are related. However if your physician says that it's normal. he certainly should know.

I have had a TURBT and came home with catheter and also a restaging TURBT that didn't require a catheter afterwards. After the first week i never experienced any problems at all. As HighlandGuy states, we are all different and experience different reactions but your experience does seem rather extreme. Wishing you the best in returning to normal again.

Kathleen

• By happytobehere1
• Reply 2073619
• March 28, 2011 at 8:12 pm
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had Turb 2/25, started bleeding heavily, ran to dr and put back the catheter
bleeding was from his cutting the prostrate neck to get into the bladder
after one week fine, back to work, some discomfort urinating, eventually goes away
cipro for 10 days
good luck

• By DrSocks
• Reply 2073721 · In reply to 2073415 by HighlandGuy
• March 28, 2011 at 8:56 pm
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I didn't mean to imply that I am not doing any exercise. After 2 or so weeks post-op when I had the energy, I started taking 45-50 minute good-paced walks in the neighborhood. Today I did my hour-long aerobics class but didn't do high impact moves. I may call my urologist to see if he thinks I have a low-grade infection maybe.

• By HighlandGuy
• Reply 2075190
• March 29, 2011 at 1:00 pm
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Nancy,

I am pleased to hear that you have been exercising. It is so imporftant to a good recovery.

I would suggest that you compare your post operation exercising with what you were having prior to the surgery. As a general rule of thumb, if exercising after surgery was equal to or greater than what you were having prior to surgery, I would certainly see your physician to have tests if there is an infection of other disease. Your recovery is taking too long in my judgement.

I should point out that following surgery we may require different excercising such as walking instead of lifting heavy weights that may place an undue pressure on organs not already healed.

a

• By HighlandGuy
• Reply 2075242
• March 29, 2011 at 1:12 pm
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My replay was posted prematurely. One of the handicaps we who are blind have to put up with occassionally.

I wanted to point out that not only are all people different, but the differences in doctors is perhaps even more extreme. Doctors are trained by different docors at different schools, using different techniques and procedures. There is incredible differences between how different surgeons perform differnt procedures. Not only are they trained ifferenctly, they are materially effected by their experiences persorming the same or similar operations. Where the tumor is located in the bladder also makes a major difference. Many doctors prefer to have the patient wear a catheter for several days, while oheers, like mine evidently never considered that was necesssary.

I certainly wish that you will recover shortly and regain your normal activities without any further problems. You have already had too many.

Sincerely

HighlandGuy

• By midwestone
• Reply 2077953
• March 30, 2011 at 2:06 pm
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77 years old, 24 hour recovery to normal activity level. I was one of the fortunate ones.

• By sidra
• Reply 2078780
• March 30, 2011 at 8:53 pm
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well, to be honest, i had many turbts over a 3 yr period. each after a 6 week course of BCG. perhaps that wore on my body over time. i recovered much more slowly than some folks have mentioned. for me the most important thing was to listen to my body. if i am overdoing, my body tells me so.
not everyone can jump right back in, we are all different. listen to your body, pay attention, and respect the fact that your body has
to recover at it's own pace. sorry if i disagree with some of the posts here, but that's my experience. take care of yourself,
Sidra

• By DrSocks
• Reply 2079720 · In reply to 2078780 by sidra
• March 31, 2011 at 9:37 am
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Thank you to those of you who have replied to my question about the recovery period from the TURBT surgery. I am in awe of those of you who bounce back so quickly and have endured much. much more serious, invasive surgeries countless times. I am regaining my energy and guess I am one of those who require the full 4 to 6 weeks to feel completely normal again, which for me is high energy and very busy. I have done 2 aerobics classes this week (one of my favorite activities) just with less intensity. I think perhaps my urethra got traumatized from the procedure so that may be why I still have some discomfort. I will be patient and persistent and positive, as I realize the future will likely hold other BC curveballs and complications. Amongst you all in this BCAN e-community I can truly say I am one of the fortunate ones with only Ta, Grade 1 & 2 cells. The diagnosis remains a stunner however. I am starting a journal, did return to the community theatre play I was acting in, am singing two concerts this weekend in a 105-person chorale performance, and have very supportive family & friends. For these aspects of my life I am truly blessed!
Nancy aka DrSocks