Radical cystectomy and creating a urinary diversion is major abdominal surgery. As with all major surgeries, some issues are bound to arise. Some of them gradually disappear and others you adapt to over time.
- Temporary loss of appetite
- Reduced energy
- Fatigue
- Loss of weight
- Infections
- Erectile dysfunction in men (you need to discuss potential treatments for this with your surgeon)
- Painful intimacy in women
- Body image issues
- Anxiety
- Feeling “different”
- Mucus in urine (which is continually produced by the intestinal section used to make the diversion) is unsightly and can potentially cause blockage and the need for catheterization
Click here to continue reading about chemotherapy .