Arthur,
Did you ever get the results back from the re-TURBT that your new doctor did? You mentioned a few weeks back or so that you were waiting and that you were starting the chemo.
Had it spread to urethra? Is it confirmed T2? Since they wanted to do chemo it must have been T2 for a while.
A while back I gave you some things to ask and things to do in preparation for the surgery. I can certainly understand with everything going on if you haven't had the chance to do the kegel exercises. If not, you may want to start now. It's what will strengthen your pelvic floor muscles and that is what is needed to get continence more quickly after the surgery.
Since your other update was kind of in the middle of someone else's thread, I came back here to your thread. Feel free to open a new one as well whenever you move into a new chapter of this book called Life with Bladder Cancer. Of course after the surgery, it will be a whole new book called Life after Bladder Cancer!
One of the keys to getting out of the hospital sooner (and being ready to get out) is that your intestines have to wake back up. I mentioned this previously but now that you are getting close to the surgery date, you may want to follow up with your surgeon.
Here are some questions:
1. Do I have to do bowel prep prior to the surgery?
If no, then good. If he says yes, then ask why since studies have shown reduced post op ileus complications when not doing bowel prep. The prep involves mag nitrate and pooping your insides out prior to the surgery. Try to get out of this!
2. Can this be done with an epidural to reduce post op ileus chances? Depending on your situation, he may have good reason not to. People who have epidural seem to have quicker recovery so it is worth checking into.
3. Are you going to put in a suprapubic tube?
Not all do. Mine didn't but it sure sounds like it was a good thing for people who did get it. He can explain what it is if you don't know or you can google it.
After the surgery, as soon as possible, walk. You want to walk starting the next day at the latest. Morning, noon, and evening. You will not want to. Get someone to make you. If you wait until you feel like walking you will be inviting problems and it will interfere with your recovery. Even if you start off just walking in place or in the room. Have someone with you in case you aren't steady on your feet but they can get a nurse to walk with you if someone is not around at all the times you need to walk.
If all goes just wonderfully, you can expect to get out of the hospital anywhere from 5-8 days. If you get a post-op ileus that lasts a long time, it can take longer. I was in for 12 days. I can tell you the ileus issues can be really bad so that's why I give so much info about trying to avoid them.
Also, same day as surgery, chew gum. You will have a nasal gastric (NG) tube in. The chewing helps trigger responses in the body that have been shown to help wake the intestines.
Regarding the NG tube, even though it's a nuisance, DO NOT get it removed until you are ready. You DO NOT want them putting that sucker back in while you are awake!!! Just trust me on that one. You are ready when your intestines are working and you are able to take liquids without throwing up. They usually wait until you have bowel sounds before letting you have liquid.
I hope all goes well with your surgery and you are out of the hospital and on the road to recovery in a very short amount of time.
Mike
And heaven forbid the other half Irish 
