Incontinence very bad at 3 weeks post catheter removal

Mokele,

You are not having any unusual incontinance for so soon after catheter removal!!!  I know it is frustration, but if you review many of the threads around here, the "usual" improvments may easily take 6-9 weeks.   Since you can hold urine when sleeping means the basic plumbing is OK! 

I could always hold pee while sleeping, but getting up from sitting or walking, leaked like a sieve. I was totally frustrated for 8 weeks...  overnite the 9th week, I went from 5-6 soaked pads a day to 1 small pad a day... 

Hang in there, keep doing the kegals faithfully!

God Bless,

pasayten

The information I garnered from this thread was invaluable in helping me to regain continence. I took heart in what has been mentioned here several times, i.e., "if you’re dry at night while sleeping and can make it to the bathroom, then that’s a sign the sphincter is working and eventually you’ll be fine." Whenever I was depressed with all the post cath removal leaking I always came to this tread for comfort and to regain confidence. In fact, I still do when I have those stress incontinence episodes.

I’m about three months post op and did away with the pads after five weeks. However, I still don’t consider myself totally continent, which brings to mind the definition of "continent." It’s highly subjective. In Walsh’s book, he states that at Johns Hopkins they consider one continent once one is "pad free." I’m pad free but still have stress incontinence at times associated with standing after sitting or straining, and I still can’t go on a run without leaking. And I have to "Kegel" when I feel a sneeze coming or a cough. However, I do not leak while cutting crass, working in the yard, going on four mile walks, doing a half hour on the stair master, or any light activity that doesn’t put an undue amount of stress on the bladder.

So, am I continent? If you consider that I can usually catch any stress incontinence before leaking with pinching the ole butt cheeks together, why yes. But if you consider that I have to remember to "Kegel" before sneezing, coughing, blowing my nose or standing after sitting, well, no.

Anyway, thanks to all those here who helped me to gain control and confidence, especially Cedar Chopper , with his invaluable Kegel instructions.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Age: 49

Diagnosed: March, 2007

PSA: 3.0

Biopsy: Gleason 6, five of 12 core samples with <5% of tissue involved

DaVinci Surgery: May 21, 2007

Path Report: Gleason 7 (3+4), 15% of prostate involved, tumor multifocal, margins negative, negative seminal vesicle involvement, lymph nodes left intact, cancer confined to prostate.

Family history: Father diagnosed in 1997 at age 67. Surgery to remove prostate. Ten years later, fully continent and PSA undetectable.

Wallypm, here's a link to a thread and Cedar Chopper's excellent description of elevator kegels:

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=797653

lizrd, thank's for joining us and sharing your concerns. 

I think you are making a good decision to seek another doctor, preferably a urologist.  Almost all the guys here have catheter removed in 10 to 14 days, and we have been sliced and diced with the bladder and urinary system.  I understand your Dad had the catheter in when getting cardiac surgery, and it hasn't been able to be removed yet?  I might understand if he had had the above mentioned slicing and dicing of a prostatectomy, but can't imagine why he would have trouble from cardiac surgery.  Something isn't working, sounds like, and it may be the urinary system, or it may be the removal technique of the medical staff.  It just makes no sense that a man would need a catheter for this long and that the doc hasn't done any investigative work to see why it is still required.  That other doctor is a good idea, and the logical next step, in my opinion. 

If he still has the catheter in, then no kegels.  That's for later.  Blood in the urine sounds like some urinary tract or bladder problem, strong possibility fo the catheter causing it.  If the catheter is removed in the office, and he can't urinate naturally, then is he being given ample time to do so? or being hooked back up in a couple minutes?  With a catheter in for almost 2 months, I'd imagine it would take a while for the bladder and valves to adjust to not having a cahteter in and to begin working naturally. Also, the catheter doesn't need to be clsoed off to fill the baldder, especially if he is having blood in the urine.  Doing so may accelerate that or bring on a infection, possibily.   
How long do they keep it (catheter) out after filling him with water, and what methods do they use to help him pass that water while it is out? 

Anyone else here who can weigh in on this problem for her?

Sitting and sleeping is fine and even walking and running is pretty good, but there is still those bad days. Still probably at 7-8 pads a day, totally sucks and I'm very frustrated.

When I look back to last month I've seen improvement, so that's probably a good thing. Maybe I expect overnight results.

Doctor says on average any where from 6-12 months to be "back to normal", so my three months is probably on target.

I've also found that Beer or coffee didn't make a big difference versus water, soda ,etc...If I drink three waters or three beers it was about the same "amount of leakage".