Post Post-Op
Title
Post Post-Op
Identifier
SEPTEMBER_14
Creator
Jacob Schlitt
Description
"I had the catheter removed yesterday."
Coverage
2016
Format
2016-09-14
Type
text
Text
POST POST-OP
I had the catheter removed yesterday. It wasn’t too painful and I was delighted to get rid of it. There had been a lot of leakage. But then came the moment of truth: I was given water to drink, and was left alone so that I could pee on my own for the first time in a while. If I were able to pee, it would indicate that the TURP was a success and I could go home, and live happily ever after. Unfortunately, I was only able to bring forth a few pink drops. I was told not to be disappointed. Get lunch. Have some more to drink and come back and try again. I did. I had a large iced coffee, a sandwich, and returned. Turns out while I was away, I wet myself. It used to be called “an accident.” I think it still is. Dr. Steinberg and his wonderful staff had been rooting for me, and I disappointed them. I changed into another pair of underpants. Dr. Steinberg told me not to be upset. He felt confident that the situation will improve, and we will be able to go on the cruise September 21. I wasn’t so sure. Am I incontinent? Let’s wait and see.
When I got home, I checked the internet for incontinence following prostate surgery, and learned it was quite common. One source said “most men regain their bladder control …within six to twelve months.” What! We are going away next week. I read some more, found I had wet myself some more, asked a friend to pick me up a box of adult diapers, and reconciled myself to bringing them along on the trip. I went to bed with my newly acquired addition. Around midnight, I got up, went to the bathroom, dropped my damp diapers, stood in front of the toilet and really peed. I was ecstatic. I did it again a couple hours later. However, when I got up in the morning, the diaper was wet, and try as I might, I could not coax any more urine to flow.
I called Dr. Steinberg. He was busy. He just got back to me. He is cautiously optimistic that the incontinence is temporary. My condition is not unusual. However, he had other news. The report on the scrapings from the TURP came back. They found cancer in 25% of the scrapings. Having a high PSA was a sign. Also, there are three kinds of cancer: not aggressive, intermediate aggressive, and aggressive. I have aggressive. He suggested that when I return from the cruise, I should have a bone scan, and after that, start treatment. He did not say what kind. Not good news. I will see him again on September 16, five days before we leave. Seems all kinds of problems develop when you live this long.
9-14-16
I had the catheter removed yesterday. It wasn’t too painful and I was delighted to get rid of it. There had been a lot of leakage. But then came the moment of truth: I was given water to drink, and was left alone so that I could pee on my own for the first time in a while. If I were able to pee, it would indicate that the TURP was a success and I could go home, and live happily ever after. Unfortunately, I was only able to bring forth a few pink drops. I was told not to be disappointed. Get lunch. Have some more to drink and come back and try again. I did. I had a large iced coffee, a sandwich, and returned. Turns out while I was away, I wet myself. It used to be called “an accident.” I think it still is. Dr. Steinberg and his wonderful staff had been rooting for me, and I disappointed them. I changed into another pair of underpants. Dr. Steinberg told me not to be upset. He felt confident that the situation will improve, and we will be able to go on the cruise September 21. I wasn’t so sure. Am I incontinent? Let’s wait and see.
When I got home, I checked the internet for incontinence following prostate surgery, and learned it was quite common. One source said “most men regain their bladder control …within six to twelve months.” What! We are going away next week. I read some more, found I had wet myself some more, asked a friend to pick me up a box of adult diapers, and reconciled myself to bringing them along on the trip. I went to bed with my newly acquired addition. Around midnight, I got up, went to the bathroom, dropped my damp diapers, stood in front of the toilet and really peed. I was ecstatic. I did it again a couple hours later. However, when I got up in the morning, the diaper was wet, and try as I might, I could not coax any more urine to flow.
I called Dr. Steinberg. He was busy. He just got back to me. He is cautiously optimistic that the incontinence is temporary. My condition is not unusual. However, he had other news. The report on the scrapings from the TURP came back. They found cancer in 25% of the scrapings. Having a high PSA was a sign. Also, there are three kinds of cancer: not aggressive, intermediate aggressive, and aggressive. I have aggressive. He suggested that when I return from the cruise, I should have a bone scan, and after that, start treatment. He did not say what kind. Not good news. I will see him again on September 16, five days before we leave. Seems all kinds of problems develop when you live this long.
9-14-16
Original Format
application/msword
Collection
Citation
Jacob Schlitt, “Post Post-Op,” Autobiographical stories & other writing by Jacob Schlitt, accessed April 23, 2025, https://tsirlson.omeka.net/items/show/415.