UOAA Discussion Board

I'm new to this forum but need some advice. I have been diagonsed with bladder cancer and have been reading up on the options available to me. The neo bladder will not be possible due to the location of the cancer so have the ileal or indie to choose from. I am favoring the latter to be able to maintain a level of intimacy with my wife, we love to cuddle, but for some reasons the doctors are against it citing problems of mucus and empting. From what I have read in these forums it seems as if with proper managed care these are acceptable risks and can be controlled. I guess I just would like to hear from indie users as to their control of mucus build up, infection control and leakage issue. I realize that we are all different and this procedure will affect each of us differently but the comments i have read from long time users have given me alot of hope for the future. My wife and I love to travel, take long rides to unique restuerants and generally have a active life style. The indi pouch seems to be a viable solution to my cancer and a way of maintaing this life style. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks for you time.
Andy

With any type of urostomy you will always have mucus, in the beginning it is more of a problem but with time the amount of mucus you have will be less. The more fluids you drink the thinner the mucus will be thus enabling it to pass with ease through the catheter. I love my pouch, I have had it since 1992. I tihink that some doctors encourage their patients to opt for the ileal conduit because it is an easier surgery for them to perform and there tend to be less complications afterwards, BUT if you use a surgeon who does them all the time then it should not be a problem.