surgery plus two weeks

Two weeks ago yesterday they removed my bladder and made me a new one (Neo-bladder).

Tubes and "Baggage":
I've been home for a week and the only problem I am having is dealing with the two tubes that are still coming out of my body. This adds a bit of housekeeping but it's not bad because I know they will BOTH go away over the next couple weeks.

This morning I woke up and the sticky disk that holds the ostomy bag to my belly had pulled off 1/2 way. Of course this meant a leak and there was a wet spot on my cloths (pee). Not too wet but not a pleasant feeling just the same.  I had just replaced this "appliance" yesterday and I must have done something wrong in the process. Anyway, I proceeded to clean myself up and attach a new one - properly this time, I hope. I've only done this a few times so I'm still learning. This is a link to the product that I am using. There are two parts: the skin barrier and the pouch - that snap together.

This hole in my belly - and the ostomy - is only temporary and is used to bring a secondary catheter out from my neo-bladder. (This was also the collection bag for the stints that led directly from my kidney ducts (ureters) after surgery.) These stints were removed last Monday (along with the staples) and now the new bladder is collecting the urine. Most of which is still passing out through this secondary catheter.

This coming Monday the Foley catheter will be removed and this secondary catheter will be plugged - during the day - so I can begin learning how to pee normally ("neo-normally"). And so I can get used to how it feels to HAVE to pee. At night the plug will be removed from this secondary catheter (and bag connected) so I don't have to get up every couple hours.
 
Up and around: 
I am not having any problems getting around - only a little pain if I move wrong. I am prohibited from heavy lifting but that's about it. I have been walking around the block (4-block square) every day and that seems to loosen everything up. Yesterday I substituted cleaning up the driveway and deck in prep for the snowstorm we had last night. Jordan (son) has taken over hauling firewood from the back yard to the back door.

Eating and such: 
My bowels have not recovered yet so it's pretty much diarrhea and gas - with the cramping that goes with it (but that's my only pain anymore). This is getting a little old but it's better than the first four days when nothing was working. I'm eating normally now but just not so much. 

We got a new layer of snow last night; the first of the season.  Jordan cleared off the driveway, sidewalks, and deck. That's nice.