Post by Rick Redner on Sept 12, 2013 18:38:28 GMT -5
Here's a thread where I need your help. I'd like to compile a list of frequently asked questions (and answers) to make this a very helpful thread. As people post questions (and answers), I'll add them to this front thread.
1. When can I drive again? You can resume driving after your catheter is pulled as long as you are not taking narcotic pain medication.
2. When can I go back to work? That depends upon the type of work you do. If you have a job that involves heavy lifting ask your surgeon when it would be safe for you to lift heavy objects. Men have returned to work as early as a week or two after surgery.
3. How long will I have to live with a catheter? This varies from surgeon to surgeon, but the range seems to be within seven to fourteen days.
4. How frequently should I change my diaper? This depends upon how much urine you are leaking as well as the quality of the diaper or pad you are using. My suggestion is to start with 90 minutes and work your way up or down. Don't be surprised if you have a few accidents where you leak out of your diaper or pad.
5. When can I expect to regain urinary control? This varies. Some men regain control on the day their catheter is pulled. The majority of men will gain control or need 1 pad within the first 4 months post surgery.
6. How long will I be coping with erectile dysfunction? This is the million dollar question and the answer is....it depends. It depends on where you were sexually before surgery. It depends on whether both nerves were spared. It depends on the skill of your surgeon. It depends on how long it will take to heal. Some men have erectile functioning on the day their catheter is pulled. For other men it will be a 18-24 month wait. If you are not responding to ED medication in the first 3 months, more than likely it will be 18-24 months before you'll have an erection and it could require ED medication to make that happen. Check out this link for additional questions and answers about ED:
ED Questions & Answers
7. What's penile rehab and will I need it? Penile Rehab involves getting a blood flow to the penis on a regular basis to prevent permanent damage. If you are unresponsive you ED medication within the first 2 months, you should start a penile rehab program. Rehab may include taking ED medication, using a vacuum pump, or penile injections. The phrase "use it or lose it" is true, without a regular blood flow to the penis you could develop a venous leak which will make it impossible to have an erection. Take penile rehab seriously.
8. Will I experience post-surgical depression? I'm not sure how well this can be predicted in advance. For men who regain urinary control and erectile functioning very quickly the incidence of depression is lower than it is for men who will not regain urinary control for months and/or for those men who will not have an erection for 18 months and longer post-surgery. If frequency of sex plays an important role in your sense of being a man, coping with ED may be very difficult. It's very likely you'd experience post-surgical depression even if surgery cured you of cancer. If you experience post-surgery depression it's important you find support and not attempt to cope with this alone. Coping alone will increase the severity and length of time you will be depressed. One way to elevate ED related depression is to begin penile injections. 85-90% of men who will not experience an erection post surgery will respond to penile injections. It isn't as awful as it sounds, so consider this option if you have no response to ED medication after 3 months post surgery.
9. Ask an expert-Here's a link where your question could be answered by an expert in the field.
Ask a question link
1. When can I drive again? You can resume driving after your catheter is pulled as long as you are not taking narcotic pain medication.
2. When can I go back to work? That depends upon the type of work you do. If you have a job that involves heavy lifting ask your surgeon when it would be safe for you to lift heavy objects. Men have returned to work as early as a week or two after surgery.
3. How long will I have to live with a catheter? This varies from surgeon to surgeon, but the range seems to be within seven to fourteen days.
4. How frequently should I change my diaper? This depends upon how much urine you are leaking as well as the quality of the diaper or pad you are using. My suggestion is to start with 90 minutes and work your way up or down. Don't be surprised if you have a few accidents where you leak out of your diaper or pad.
5. When can I expect to regain urinary control? This varies. Some men regain control on the day their catheter is pulled. The majority of men will gain control or need 1 pad within the first 4 months post surgery.
6. How long will I be coping with erectile dysfunction? This is the million dollar question and the answer is....it depends. It depends on where you were sexually before surgery. It depends on whether both nerves were spared. It depends on the skill of your surgeon. It depends on how long it will take to heal. Some men have erectile functioning on the day their catheter is pulled. For other men it will be a 18-24 month wait. If you are not responding to ED medication in the first 3 months, more than likely it will be 18-24 months before you'll have an erection and it could require ED medication to make that happen. Check out this link for additional questions and answers about ED:
ED Questions & Answers
7. What's penile rehab and will I need it? Penile Rehab involves getting a blood flow to the penis on a regular basis to prevent permanent damage. If you are unresponsive you ED medication within the first 2 months, you should start a penile rehab program. Rehab may include taking ED medication, using a vacuum pump, or penile injections. The phrase "use it or lose it" is true, without a regular blood flow to the penis you could develop a venous leak which will make it impossible to have an erection. Take penile rehab seriously.
8. Will I experience post-surgical depression? I'm not sure how well this can be predicted in advance. For men who regain urinary control and erectile functioning very quickly the incidence of depression is lower than it is for men who will not regain urinary control for months and/or for those men who will not have an erection for 18 months and longer post-surgery. If frequency of sex plays an important role in your sense of being a man, coping with ED may be very difficult. It's very likely you'd experience post-surgical depression even if surgery cured you of cancer. If you experience post-surgery depression it's important you find support and not attempt to cope with this alone. Coping alone will increase the severity and length of time you will be depressed. One way to elevate ED related depression is to begin penile injections. 85-90% of men who will not experience an erection post surgery will respond to penile injections. It isn't as awful as it sounds, so consider this option if you have no response to ED medication after 3 months post surgery.
9. Ask an expert-Here's a link where your question could be answered by an expert in the field.
Ask a question link