← Return to Experiences with neobladder surgery for bladder cancer

Discussion
Comment receiving replies
Profile picture for Sue, Volunteer Mentor @sepdvm

@acandy1 I started this discussion in 2022 after my husband had many issues including ureter blockage after the neobladder surgery. Other than the initial abscess in the abdomen after surgery, infection was not something he dealt with. The ureter blockage was from scarring likely due to circulation issues after the surgery, but no infection was noted. He had a nephrostomy tube for weeks prior to repair of the ureter. Since ureter repair and incisional hernia repair and dilation of the scarred urethral junction, he has been stable for a couple of years. He must catheterize 3-4 times a day but is not incontinent. He has had one infection discovered not from symptoms, but by routine culture of urine prior to his followup yearly appointment at Mayo Rochester. He is 73 now and content with the final result.
It sounds like your husband may need something to help his immune system fight infection. After chemo suppressing the immune system then this major surgery plus complications he is not able to fight infection well. Perhaps asking the medical team about some prophylactic antibiotic to prevent infection for a while? We use a product caller Glucan Elite which is a form of beta glucan ( from mushrooms or yeast) and has some good research behind it for stimulating the immune system. I was started on it 14 years ago while attending an immune augmentation clinic in the Bahamas to help prevent recurrence of my cancer. The original form is no longer available but this one which I buy on Amazon is also high quality and seems to be helpful. You are certainly at a great hospital with an experienced medical team, but unfortunately infections are often started in long hospital stays and can be due to very resistant bacteria. Have you had a consult with infectious disease or is Urology handling the infections? Perhaps that is something you can also discuss with your team.

Jump to this post


Replies to "@acandy1 I started this discussion in 2022 after my husband had many issues including ureter blockage..."

@sepdvm thank you so much for your input.
I’ll definitely look into the additional immune support and to answer your question, urology has been managing the infections but I imagine it’s because they’re not presenting in the blood cultures for anything in the blood stream. It’s a double edge sword because on one hand, he’s thankfully able to bounce back, but on the other it’s limiting on what resources to pull in.
Either way, I’ll bring this up to his doctors at his next appointment and see if he can engage with someone who can better support.
I really do appreciate the input. It helps me have hope that things do get better with time.