Can you tell me about Bladder replacement options

Hope the infection is getting better alanjay. How are you doing with the chemo? I know sitting on the pot I would doze of from the fatigue one we got into the last cycle. In fact, I wouldn't drive until the peak had past... two days. I never knew what tired meant. I looked to be sure, I used 6 puke pills total and that was taking before going in the car. I have always had problems with car sickness. I never did get sick, I just ate and slept and got fat!

Jimswife, glad to hear your Jim is doing great and you guys are done with the chemo!

alanjay and Jimswife, I had always kept my hair long until the chemo, the long clumps played hell on the drain! So alanjay, keep your hair super short and you might not even notice the loss.

Bill

Absolutely the Eakins are a great addition to the wafers, but, in Jims case he has a decided innie not a true stoma with the rosebud so he has to change his appliance twice per week or else it springs a leak. But, not a problem. The wafer does hold it's the inner portion that doesn't. Like motomike it took a bit of trial and error to figure that one out. When Jim left the hospital we were told ohhh, you can keep the wafer/bag on for up to two weeks. Good luck with that one...I mean it just didn't happen. Leaks all the time. Once we found the right fit, alan jay, that's the most important thing to do find the right fit for a stoma. It takes time and patience but if you are getting a neo bladder not an issue.

Hi, Alan Jay, sorry you have to be here with us but it is an amazing group that really know their stuff. My husband Jim had an RC back in mid Aug 2010. He did great with his surgery and he had an ileal conduit which is different from the Neo bladder. Jim just wasn't a candidate for that surgery and he has done well with his IC. As far as chemo goes he has been on Gemzar and Cisplatin for the past 6 months and he has his last treatment this Thursday. Woooo HOoooo for Jim! Anyway, like someone else wrote his biggest issue has been the fatigue. He needs a nap most afternoons or at least to rest some. His oncologist made sure he was not bothered much with the nausea and vomiting. He has meds during treatment to handle that and then if it breaks through he has pills to take as well. He filled the Rx back in Sept for 30 and he hasn't used all 30 pills if that puts your mind at ease. I think the days or horror shows with chemo hopefully are past. Good oncologist try to help the patient NOT be ill as it's already a hard regime. Jim still has some hair, though it's not as thick as it once was...he tells me he can start selling hair for toupees from hair in his shower drain. Hope this has helped you some. Again this is a great and informed group of people come back often and learn as you read. Best wishes to you!

Shhhhh about the home depot infection. If our California bureaucrats hear about that they will close the stores down as health hazards! I’m glad you are back on your keymo schedule. Keep us posted.

First Chemo went well until day 6, I cut myself on a piece of wood at home depot, I woke up with 102 fever, in hospital for 2 days. Home now and chemo today. 3 days late. no other symptoms at all

Motomike,

I got your humor completely. My mind operates the same way. I would have said the exact same thing if I was in your place. It ws just that I do not know you that well yet that I took the response as literal. You have been most enlightening and helpful in adequately and appropriately describing the ileal conduit in a positive light. Your other responses were appreciated. I cannot get away with overalls or coveralls where I work. I am 56 and expect to work until I am 66 so I can get both social security and a full company pension. While the dress code has relaxed at my job, we cannot wear shorts, overalls or coveralls at work. I work for a fortune 500 company in the financial industry and we get occasional visitors from various state and federal regulators as well as resentatives from corporate headquarters.
As for the weather, I live in soth Florida, in the Ft. Lauderdale area. The weather is a lot like San Diego, HOT, HOT, HOT and rain. Christmas was a chilly time, I think the temp went down to 60 degrees. It is 12:30 am and the temp is 73.

But in any case, I wanted to thank you for the invaluable information and now that I know your humor. KEEP IT COMING.