Had my radical cystectomy 23 months ago. Got a neobladder.
Where is your surgery being done?
1. Learn as much from the nurses in hospital as you can. They are an excellent source of information about your ileal conduit.
2. Walk as soon as you can after surgery and as often as you are able. It helps how you feel, your bowels awaken, your overall condition improve.
3. Know that you will likely lose a good bit of weight over the weeks following surgery and that is common.
4. Expect an infection at some point and learn what the symptoms are and get it looked after as soon as you recognize it. It might not happen, but it is not uncommon.
5. When you start to eat about four or five days after surgery, start slowly, slowly, slowly. Clear fluids, followed by creamy fluids followed by small amounts of food. Do not gorge yourself because you are hungry — bad mistake.
6. Wash your hands a lot.
7. Know that recovery can be slow, tedious, somewhat difficult at times and do not despair. It takes weeks if not months to get back to what will be a new normal. Let it happen and don’t push too hard.
8. Get in and stay in contact with someone whom you can call who has had an RC with an ileal conduit when you want to chat or don’t understand something or something happens that concerns you. That person will be an invaluable source of information, support and encouragement. Bladder Cancer Canada can help with a name and contact info. This site is also a great source of information and help.
9. While you might feel that you are alone, that what you experience has not happened to anyone else, it has, you are not alone and we want to help if you feel you need it. Most of us needed it and got it.
10. When you have recovered, help someone else. They’ll benefit, you’ll benefit and awareness will grow.
All the best. When’s your date?
Greg
