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| POST-OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS |
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| MEDICATIONS: |
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You may resume
your daily medications as soon as you are discharged
from the hospital. The only exception to this is
Coumadin which is generally resumed after the foley
catheter is removed. |
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An antibiotic will be prescribed
to you, to be taken by mouth. Start this the day before your X-ray and continue taking this
medication until 3 days after the catheter is removed. |
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An anti-inflammatory pain medication
will be prescribed for you, to be taken by mouth
daily and an additional stronger pain medication
will be prescribed to use if needed. You will receive
these prescriptions the day of your discharge. |
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A medication to reduce the
frequency and severity of bladder spasms will also
be prescribed and should be taken every morning
until the catheter is removed |
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A stool softener should be
taken by mouth two times daily. Senakot-S or Colace
are good choices. You can buy this medication over
the counter and do not need a prescription. All
narcotic pain medications are constipating and a
stool softener will help to prevent this. |
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| RECOVERY TIME: |
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Dr Fagin usually
performs the surgery in less than 1½ hours
and the hospitalization usually lasts less than
23 hours. All patients go home with a catheter in
place continually draining the urine into a drainage
bag. |
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You will be seen about 8 days
after surgery at The Urology Team Office to determine
if the catheter will be removed at this visit. An
x-ray that will be done the morning of your appointment,
at a separate location, will help in making that
determination. |
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You can return to light activity
within 23 hours and will be cleared by our team
to return to unlimited activity generally 3 weeks
after the surgery. |
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Most men have difficulty with
urinary control at the beginning and will require
some form of protection, such as a pad that fits
inside your underwear. That is why it is important
at the first visit to bring Depend Guards for Men
pads and a couple of pairs of Jockey underwear.
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Within one to three months,
you should be seeing improvement in your urinary
control. Sometimes, the recovery of continence is
slower, so be patient and continue your physical
therapy and exercises. |
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Kegel exercises should be started/resumed
after the Foley catheter is removed. These exercises
help to regain your continence. At first it may
be hard to find these muscles, but can be done by
starting and stopping your urine stream. Once you
find the correct muscles, repeat the flexing and
relaxing of these muscles without urinating. Begin
by squeezing the muscles for a count of 3, then
relax for a count of 3. Work up to repeating these
exercises for 2-3 minutes two to three times a day.
These will help to strengthen your muscles around
the bladder that help hold the urine. For more detailed
information on how to perform Kegels, please see
instruction sheet enclosed in this packet. |
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The recovery of potency after
a prostatectomy can be slow and time-dependent.
Even though the nerves to the penis can be spared,
there is still some injury from trauma or stretching
from the operation. These damaged nerves need time
to heal. At each follow-up visit, issues regarding
sexual function will be discussed with you by your
health care provider. |
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| THINGS YOU
MAY ENCOUNTER AFTER SURGERY: |
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Bruising
around the incision sites: Not uncommon
and should not alarm you. This can look scary but
is quite normal and will resolve over time. |
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Abdominal
Distention, Constipation or Bloating: Make
sure you are taking your stool softener as directed.
If you don’t have a bowel movement 48 hours
after surgery, try taking Milk of Magnesia as directed
on the bottle. If after two doses of Milk of Magnesia,
you still have not had a bowel movement, it is safe
to use a Dulcolax suppository. |
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Weight
Gain: Do not be alarmed. This is temporary
due to the gas and fluid shifts. Your weight will
be back to your pre-operative weight in generally
5—7 days. |
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Scrotal/Penile
Swelling and Bruising: This is not abnormal
and should not alarm you. It may appear immediately
after surgery or may start 4—5 days after
surgery. It should resolve in about 7—14 days.
You may also try elevating your scrotum on a small
towel or washcloth that you have rolled up when
you are sitting or lying down to decrease the swelling.
It is also recommended to wear Jockey or snug-fitting
underwear for support, even with the catheter in
place. |
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Bloody
drainage around the Foley catheter or in the urine:
Especially after increasing activity or following
a bowel movement, this is not uncommon. While this
is often alarming, it is not uncommon and usually
resting for a short period of time improves the
situation. Call if you see clots in your urine or
if you have no urine output for one to two hours. |
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Bladder
Spasms: It is not uncommon with the catheter
in and even after the catheter comes out to have
bladder spasms. You may feel mild to severe bladder
pain or cramping, the sudden, urgent need to urinate,
or a burning sensation when you urinate. You will
be prescribed a medication called Detrol LA to take
once a day to help reduce this discomfort |
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Perineal
Pain (pain between your rectum and scrotum):
Perineal discomfort may last for several weeks after
surgery, but it will resolve. Call us if the pain
medication does not alleviate this. You can also
try elevating your feet on a small stool when you
have a bowel movement, using Anusol ointment, and
increasing the fiber and water intake in your diet.
You may also benefit from using a donut shaped pillow
to sit on. |
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Lower
leg/ankle swelling: This is not abnormal
and should not alarm you. It should resolve in about
7—14 days. Elevating your legs while sitting
will help. |
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