Hi Cynthia,
My URO did prescribe the protocol but at the beginning I was in the bathroom every hour or sooner. It was awful not sleeping and spending all my time doing laundry, cleaning up my messes, and desperately trying to make it work. The problem for me was that after being removed from most of the tubes post surgery, I still couldn't use a catheter because it just wouldn't go in. After being told by a PA that I should try for 5 minutes each time, I lost my lid! The surgeon promptly fixed the problem by inserting a cath for 2 weeks to create the scar tissue for future catheterizing.
At my 3 month follow-up, I ranted at the URO and let him know that the teaching hospital needed to help patients that couldn't help themselves( arming them with lots of information and support). At my 6 month, the URO told me he had taken those words to heart and at my last appt. on Monday he let me know there is now a bladder support group at this hospital. I plan on attending the next session to see if it is all hype or something BC patients and survivors will really benefit from. If not my mouth starts opening again lol.
Imerman's Angels and Friends for Life Cancer Support set me up with individual mentors that had very similar surgeries. Those phone calls saved me from going to an awfully dark place. I will forever being in their debt.
AMG