Jack,
You will be OK. It's going to be hard. But you have a team behind you. You are going to be in the hospital for the bowel prep. That wasn't the case for most of us. We just had the joy of doing that at home. I think if I was given the choice I would do it your way and get some anti-anxiety medication that night.
I was scared at the same time as excited. I was REALLY looking forward to getting that cancerous bladder the heck out of my body. I had also had significant prostate issues for years so I wasn't too worried about getting that out either. Tried to talk them into tummy tuck while they were at it but they wouldn't go for it.
Best of luck on the surgery. Remember to walk, walk, walk. You will not feel like and you will think we are crazy and that we must not know exactly how crappy and run over you feel when we suggested walking. We do know though. We lived it and we're here to tell you about it. You will be here to tell others about it down the road.
Even though you will feel crappy and run over you still need to get out of bed and put one foot in front of the other. Bring gum to chew after surgery also as that also helps get the intestines going and that is the absolute key to getting better and getting out of the hospital. Don't swallow the gum though.
The sooner that bladder is gone the sooner you can say you have been cancer free for one year, two years, etc.
Mike
Age 54
10/31/06 dx CIS (TisG3) non-invasive (at 47)
9/19/08 TURB/TUIP dx Invasive T2G3
10/8/08 RC neobladder(at 49)
2/15/13 T4G3N3M1 distant metastases(at 53)
9/2013 finished chemo -cancer free again
1/2014 ct scan results....distant mets
2/2014 ct result...spread to liver, kidneys, and lymph...
