RC/IC scheduled for 12-7-2015

I also watched several you tube videos of people showing how they empty their bags and change their bags. Its very informative to watch and I did learn alot!

Dear wifeofmike,

I hope all goes well for both of you on Monday. This is information my family may well need in the near future. I haven't viewed any but there are videos on Youtube that might be helpful to you. I watched several Youtube videos before removing my husband's Foley catheter at home (home removal was actually suggested by our doctor rather than driving two hours to his office). Best wishes.

My husband is scheduled for RC/IC at Fox Chase Cancer Center this coming Monday, 12-7-2015. He is 74 years young. He's had CT scans of abdomen and pelvis, CT scan of chest and bone scan and by those results--all clear. At first, his surgeon suggested a round of chemo treatments. We met with the chemo doctor, and because of Mike's renal disease, the doctor felt that the chemo would do more harm than good, so surgery was scheduled. The surgeon feels that a ileal conduit is the beat urinary diversion for Mike, because of scar tissue from radiation for prostate cancer in 2009. My husband is happy with this decision.
At this point, he just wants the surgery over and done with. I want to be able to help him with his urinary diversion. I want to be able to learn everything I can about it. I read all I can at different web sites, but it is confusing. I read about different "stoma creams and powders" and how you have to be careful of the skin around the stoma. I wish there was a book like "Urostomy for Dummies"!
His surgeon and his nurse explained the robotic surgery to us and told us that he would be visited by a stoma nurse many times in the hospital and that the nurse would teach both of us.
I just want to be prepared. I want to be able to help him with the appliance. I guess I'm expecting too much of myself and I'll learn as I go along with my husband.