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Bladder cancer surgery: What is recovery like? How can I prepare?

Posted by meandmybadbladder24 @meandmybadbladder24, Oct 18 2:13am

Hi,
I’m so new to this group.
Routine labs and discovered I have bladder cancer. Urology Dr said it appears all 8 mutant tumors have not metastasized but we will know for certain after Nov 1 surgery. I’d like to know what level or to what degree will I be feeling sick after this surgery? I will receive one chemo treatment for now while in surgery. Please share Best foods to stock up on while recovering ? Thank you so much!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Bladder Cancer Support Group.

Sue | @swh | Oct 26 9:59pm
In reply to @meandmybadbladder24 "@colleenyoung thank you for welcoming me. I am having Transurethral Resection of Bladder surgery. Yes, my..." + (show)
@meandmybadbladder24

@colleenyoung thank you for welcoming me. I am having Transurethral Resection of Bladder surgery. Yes, my husband will be home with me as I recover. I do have a few questions - 1. I am wondering if this type of surgery ‘qualifies’ for a visiting nurse?
Will I even need someone to follow up w me at home? Maybe using the ‘qualify’ is not appropriate. I’m unsure!
2. The first few days after surgery, will I need help walking to use the bathroom?
3. What are the best foods to eat for healing the body from within ?
4. What type of pain can I expect- (lev 10 being lots of pain) ? And
5. What am I able to take to relieve the pain? Thank you for your help answering my questions.

Jump to this post

At 63 my TURBT recovery was not bad. The alternative with incisions would require a much longer recovery. My 1st TURBT removed a 4 cm tumor. I had a catheter & bag for a week. I took 4 days off of work. The 2nd TURBT was to scrape the bladder lining to make sure the tumor hadn't gone into the muscle. This was an easier recovery with a catheter for 5 days. Back to work after the weekend. Both times I was able to walk after the anesthetic wore off. I was prescribed oxbutynin for bladder spasms due to the catheter discomfort and did take tylenol. I was able to care for myself at home but it is nice to have someone for support. Living (and working) with a catheter took some getting used to. I did find it was easier to empty my leg bag into a urinal rather than the toilet (lol). After 6 BCG treatments, that went well, I go back for cystoscopy this week. The unknown & waiting are the hard part. Get lots of rest & drink LOTS of water. New treatments are being FDA approved so our prognosis is looking good.

REPLY
1 reply
seizureman | @seizureman | Oct 26 11:25pm
In reply to @swh "At 63 my TURBT recovery was not bad. The alternative with incisions would require a much..." + (show)
@swh

At 63 my TURBT recovery was not bad. The alternative with incisions would require a much longer recovery. My 1st TURBT removed a 4 cm tumor. I had a catheter & bag for a week. I took 4 days off of work. The 2nd TURBT was to scrape the bladder lining to make sure the tumor hadn't gone into the muscle. This was an easier recovery with a catheter for 5 days. Back to work after the weekend. Both times I was able to walk after the anesthetic wore off. I was prescribed oxbutynin for bladder spasms due to the catheter discomfort and did take tylenol. I was able to care for myself at home but it is nice to have someone for support. Living (and working) with a catheter took some getting used to. I did find it was easier to empty my leg bag into a urinal rather than the toilet (lol). After 6 BCG treatments, that went well, I go back for cystoscopy this week. The unknown & waiting are the hard part. Get lots of rest & drink LOTS of water. New treatments are being FDA approved so our prognosis is looking good.

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Hi, it is possible I will soon be going down that same road.

Thanks for your preview of what
I will be dealing with.

Good health to you.

Don

REPLY
1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Nov 3 3:46pm
In reply to @deb2024 "Dear Colleen, I have bladder cancer & had this surgery. It can be very exhausting so..." + (show)
@deb2024

Dear Colleen, I have bladder cancer & had this surgery. It can be very exhausting so rest a lot. Just dealing with it emotionally along with the physical side can be hard. Some adjust quickly to this and some it takes longer. Small bland meals helped me better and also lots of water. I will be thinking & praying for you on Nov 1 and as you recover. I’ve been on chemo treatment for a year and continue to do life but at a slower pace.

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@deb2024, I think @meandmybadbladder24 will appreciate reading your post.

@meandmybadbladder24, your surgery was only 2 days ago. When you're feeling up to it, I look forward to hearing how you are doing and how recovery is going.

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1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Nov 3 3:49pm
In reply to @seizureman "Hi, it is possible I will soon be going down that same road. Thanks for your..." + (show)
@seizureman

Hi, it is possible I will soon be going down that same road.

Thanks for your preview of what
I will be dealing with.

Good health to you.

Don

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Welcome, @seizureman. Have you been diagnosed with bladder cancer? What treatment is being recommended or have you had done?

REPLY
meandmybadbladder24 | @meandmybadbladder24 | Nov 5 7:17pm
In reply to @colleenyoung "@deb2024, I think @meandmybadbladder24 will appreciate reading your post. @meandmybadbladder24, your surgery was only 2 days..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

@deb2024, I think @meandmybadbladder24 will appreciate reading your post.

@meandmybadbladder24, your surgery was only 2 days ago. When you're feeling up to it, I look forward to hearing how you are doing and how recovery is going.

Jump to this post

Yes, thank you for the nudge! Today is Nov 5th. The procedure I had performed was “Cystoscopy, TURBT with Intravesical Administration Gemcitabine” and was Friday Nov 1st. When first discussed with urologist, I understood eight tumors were seen during initial consult. That changed The surgical technique and pictures Dr provided post surgery disclosed I had multiple papillary tumors on three sides of my bladder wall. Surgery went well- all tumors were removed successfully.
Post surgery was a bit difficult for me. I counted the minutes (in my mind) until the gemcitabine (chemo) and the catheter would be removed. Had no idea the level of discomfort would be what it was. Once both were removed, I still struggled with pain. The nurse offered a pain med and I accepted. I’m not one to take pain meds. Here is what I found that helped to alleviate my pain the best:
Once home from hospital, (outpatient) later that evening, I took one Tylenol rapid release with one prescription pyridium. (UTI Med) I took these 3 x’s a day for two days.
I am now taking the Tylenol one capsule per day. Also on day two, I took two Colace tablets 4-6 hrs apart to ensure I would have a bowel movement. It was gentle and worked.
It is challenging for me to lay low. I like to work in my home!
Very blessed to have a wonderful hubby who cooks healthy meals daily for me. I am working on drinking 8-10 glasses of water every day.
Awaiting my pathology report, hopefully will receive on Wednesday, Nov 6.
Each day is better than the one before !

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