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Trying to mentally get ready for what is ahead

Sophiedo
0 Recommendations

Hi all,

Well, I am well into my chemo sessions. The oncolgist had to change my chemo from cisplatin to carboplatin because it was starting to affect my kidneys, I do get gemzar also. Anyway if all goes well with this , I will be have RC surgery in Dec. or Jan. I have found the Uro /surgeon I want to do it, I have decided on a conduit, I want to get in and out of surgery and I have heard this diverson doesn't take as long. OK the questions I have are: about the bag, if you have a tummy do you go with a two piece appliance or a one piece. As far as leaks are concerned do I need to go around with a trash bag placed on all the furniture and around my waist until I get the hang of it all. I am half way kidding about the trash bag, but I don't want to ruin anything.

Question 2: I live alone, I have friends who are willing to help but they have lives and I don't want to eat up too much of their time. I was thinking for the first two weeks about going into respite care at a assisted living facility, where I can have a stoma nurse or home health nurse come in and there are people there to help around the clock. Also my house has many steps and I'm not sure what kind of shape I will be in to get up those stairs. You all that have gone through this I would like your thoughts on these things. I am sure there will be a lot of unknowns on this journey, but I am trying to prepare as best that I can. Thanks so much.
Lynn

Explore topics in this discussion:

Surgery Carboplatin

8 replies

daveyo

hi lynn.
i did the hign dose mvac chemo....per the head of dana farber,,,,i did well...its the bad azzz chemo, but the results make it desirable

don't be worried,, i also am alone. i have a neo bladder, but get a nurse for week 1 after you get home...

after that you can do ok....just take it easy

it will work out
david

Tagmike

I had a visting nurse too, but like dave, I'm a neo. (the 14th sign of the zodiac)

http://kiw.imgag.com/imgag/product/thumbs/3149562a.gifPlay Wink

lsh

I haven't had the surgery or the chemo, so I can't answer from experience. The members who have had the surgery can give you good answers though. I would listen to them about the need for nurses, etc. Good luck with your surgery and recovery. Let us know when it is and how you do so we can support you in any way we can.

Lynda

spartyman71

I'm not sure I could have been alone for the first week home but after that I was good to go.

silgal

Lynn, just want to send a hug and good luck wishes for the rest of chemo.
michelle

CrazyHorse

I also had the MVAC chemo and before Gemzar/Cisplatin became like the new gold star of chemo MVAC was what they use to use. I ended up on MVAC because I was allergic to gemzar that was unreal. Now it all depends on insurance but I had a wound nurse come for about 2 weeks which is all I needed her for. Before I left and I was treated at the Univ of Penn they set up the home nurse thing up. I have about 15 steps to get upstairs and I did fine. But what I would do is grab a small tray and get what I needed like a soda, make a sandwhich, grab a snack etc. So I didn't have to go up and down alot. My wife who is a nurse took the first 2 days off and after that I made out fine. Joe

Sophiedo

Thank you all that responsed to my post, I still do not have a date for my surgery, but I will post it when I know, it is so good that you all are here for support.

Lynn

vtom

Lynn -

You know I only live a little south of you. Let's talk about how I can help you out after your surgery.

One idea if you don't have a bedroom on the main floor is to set up a bed near the kitchen and bathroom before surgery. I am blessed to have my bedroom on the main floor - so I had no stair climbing after surgery. Especially with open incision surgery - moving around will be tough.

Also my leaks weren't that bad. I'd feel a little warmth - see that my clothes were wet - and that was about it. Since I stayed home the first few weeks - I never had a leak in public. My daughter said - well if you do - just open your water bottle and pretend you spilled it on yourself! Ha - not a bad idea!

Call me if you want to talk more - V

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