Hi Dan,
Here's my 2 cents. Like you and most everyone else, I struggled with the same issue. The chance of complications and the possiblility of catheterization scared me.
I'm 59 with no other health issues, and had an RC on 11/5/07 at Hopkins, and did finally decide on a neobladder. 10 weeks later, life is getting back to normal. There was a month or so learning period to use the neobladder and to get used to the night issues, which seemed like a very long time before surgery and now seems like a very short time. I'm continent during the day, and wake up every 2-3 hours every night with very occasional minor leakage. I was getting up that often before the surgery. Like Tim, I can't believe that life has returned to being so normal. I can't really feel when I have to pee, but it's easy to keep track. The only weird thing is that you feel when the little bit of mucous comes out. I'm used to it by now but it still fascinates me. I'm glad it comes because I always worried about it clogging up the works. I drink a lot and have no problems (knock on wood)
.
If you're interested, here's a very graphic picture of a neobladder (if you don't mind a raw, gory picture):
www.emedicine.com/med/images/435575-448623-2386.jpg
I finally decided that complications can occur with any option, and the neobladder was the best choice for
ME and had the best chance of a return to "normalicy". I certainly could have coped with any option.
Good luck with your decision and surgery.
Mike