Homepage – Forum › Forums › Newly Diagnosed With Bladder Cancer › Post TURBT Recovery
- This topic has 6 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 1 year, 8 months ago by
marysue.
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June 12, 2023 at 1:21 pm #44747
Scott D
ParticipantOne week away from TURBT and trying to get my stuff in order.
After the surgery, is it advisable to have someone around for a few days to help out? I live on my own but have options. Just wondering if I should be on my own or have family help? Could go to my daughters place and have the grandkids wait on me hand and foot!
June 12, 2023 at 3:33 pm #44748raincity
ParticipantHi Scott, first of all, wish you a smooth TURBT and a clean pathology report. I think the recovery from a TURBT is depends on the case, if the surgeon didn’t have to scrape deep/wide then the recovery would be fast, but if the surgeon sees the needs to take more out then the patient likely will have a catheter for days. Both scenarios you will need someone to help you on the TURBT day for sure.
I had a catheter for 5-7 days( can’t remember) after my TURBT, I was discharged a few hours later barely conscious and couldn’t walk. The next day I was almost back to normal, the urologist took a big chunk out and inserted a stent, but no medicine given. I didn’t recall pain or anything, I had family’s help.Hope this helps
June 12, 2023 at 10:12 pm #44749Scott D
ParticipantThanks for the info raincity.
June 12, 2023 at 11:49 pm #44750marysue
ParticipantHi Scott D:
I would say have your family around for the first 24-48 hours at least once you are home just to make sure that you are getting back on your feet. You will most likely need someone to bring you home from the hospital. Most hospitals will not release you on your own especially if you have had an anesthetic a day or so before. The biggest concern that I mentioned in your other post was not to do too much too soon. The other factor is that you will probably not be able to drive for a few days so you should have people around just in case you need extra help and also in the instance that you run into trouble peeing post op and need to get back to the ED.
I had family help me for all 3 TURBTs and was glad of it. This last TURBT was a more extensive surgery and I came home with a catheter in which made being mobile more of a challenge. I was fortunate that my hubby was able to step up to the plate in a big way. Due to complications this time around I needed help for several weeks not just a few days like before.
I would say have your family prepared to help and if you find that you can manage on your own then you can let them know. I’ve had many surgeries and my prep always involved filling the cupboards and freezer with extra food items and including some premade foods so it would just be a matter of thawing something out and sticking it in the oven. Family and friends also brought me soup etc. which was great for that first week when I didn’t feel like eating much. I would also make sure that the house had had a good cleaning, laundry was done and bills were paid etc. so that stuff was off my mind for a while. If need be that is where family and friends can step up and help.
Don’t be too anxious to jump into regular routine right away. Use this time post op as a bit of me time and let others do some of the work for a bit. Your body and bladder will thank you. You will heal faster too. As before, best wishes for the surgery. (((HUGS)))
June 13, 2023 at 7:13 am #44751Cher-L
ParticipantScott
I am just behind you in surgery will be watching your recovery and wishing to a speedy one !
Cheryl
June 13, 2023 at 6:45 pm #44756Scott D
ParticipantAnother question…What is the timeframe for your first follow-up visit with the surgeon? 1 day? 3 days? I’m thinking if you leave the hospital with a catheter it would be fairly quick.
June 14, 2023 at 10:50 am #44769marysue
ParticipantHi Scott D:
That would be a question to ask your doctor. The follow up really varies depending on your doctor and what happened for you during surgery and also where you live. It would be prudent to ask what type of contact is best with him.
The first two times I did not have any follow up visit, only a conversation over the phone relaying the pathology results and what the next steps were. I did not have any post op issues those two times and healed well. The third time when I went home with the catheter, prior to leaving the hospital, the nurses showed me what to do to remove it myself and said that if I did not want to do that I could make an appointment with my family doctor to have it removed. I was able to remove it myself. I did not hear from my urologist until the pathology results were in and we discussed that and the issues I was having post op re my return to the ED after the catheter was removed. I did not see my urologist again until my cysto check 6 months later. With my doctor, I have found sending him info via a fax letter works really well and if needed I follow up with a phone call to the office.
I can’t speak for the rest of the country but what has changed in Alberta in the last couple of decades with regards to post op follow up care is that there only seems to be follow up visits when a physical procedure is involved. Years ago a 1 week and 6 week post op office visit checks were the norm. Now it seems that you are more or less on your own. The main reason seems to be lack of time for office visits and of course the pandemic upended that even more. That being said, do not under any circumstances be afraid to reach out to your doctor if you have any concerns. No question is a dumb question. It is better to be safe than sorry to check things out. I hope this helps. (((HUGS)))
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