My Continence Story So Far

After 66 days of being on a catheter, was freed last Monday morning, so  I am coming to the one week mark.

Monday - had to go every 10/15 mins, stream weak, had scary almost blockage for about 1 1/2 hrs that evening, thought I might have to go back to ER, stood up, then all hell broke loose and gushed and filled the pad, but relieved.  No sign of blockage since (great relief).  Slept 2 hours that night, but dry in morn

Tuesday - went every 20/30 minutes, same pad all day, dry all night, slept 4 hrs

Wed - went every 30/45 mins, same pad, all day, dry all night, 4 hrs sleep

Thursday - could wait almost an hour some times, same pad all day, dry at night, 5 hrs sleep

Friday - could approach 1 1/2 hours, same pad, dry at night, but 3 hours sleep

Sat - could approach 2 hours, same pad, dry, an slept..tah dah........7 hours which is normal for me.

I honestly only flooded one pad on the first night after the mini-blockage.  Not bragging, just reporting.  So I am declaring myself 100% night dry, but will still wear something at night for some time just for assurance.  Day, I have to work at and be conscious too much about it to feel I am dry on my own by day.  But I think for 1 week, good progress.

Why am I doing so well, #1 Luck of the draw, #2 (This according to my dr) since my bladder neck and urethra had over 2 months of healing time, and the fact that I heal from wounds, etc amazingly fast normally, there was so much less strain on the system when the last cath was removed.  Most men had the catheter for 7-14 days, and their "parts" are just barely healing, etc.  Also, all those horrible painful spasms I had the whole time, and just about wrecked my mental being at times, served a purpose of the bladder being forced to try to expel the foreign object, in this case, the catheters.  So what was so terrible for two months, may be a blessing in disguise now that I am on this side.  But I also know #1 above has a lot to do with it, from reading all the cases here, too many variables, too many maybees, too many inconsitencies with how people react to draw any real conclusion.

I am hoping to consider myself day dry in another few weeks, but I never know if I might have a set bet, so certainly not getting over confident.

I hope this will be an encouragement to fighting to stay dry.

David in SC

Thanks James, the amount of spasms I had is not common, thank goodness for the mostly relief that the Ditropan gave me. I think you are right about the Kegal analogy.

On the ED side, I haven't talked about that here yet, in fact, my dr. hasn't even had that initial conversation with me yet, should happen on 2/9 when we sit down with my first post PSA.

But, having said that, I have experienced several full errections on my own in the past week. At first I thought it was wishful thinking, but its true. My wife/I going to get "friendly" tonight for t he first time since early November. Last night, just normal petting, no thought of sex in mind, had another erection, and had her verify what was going on, she thought it felt 90% normal, and that without any purposeful stimulation or progress toward sex.

I am more then amazed, and can't wait to report to my dr. My first thought, and I use the word miracle in a clinical sense, how can this be happening. I had a non nerve sparing operation. The dr positively removed the left side, and because of the very difficult narrow and deep prostate bed that caused him surgical complications, they delcared the right side severely damaged, so effectively gone.

How can I even have a natural errection having just said that. If I understand how all the parts work together, it doesnt make sense, but I am thank beyond any belief. Going into my surgery, I fully expected and was totally resigned to perhaps never having a natural errection the rest of my life.

My only uneducation thought, and you would have know me is that I having an amazing immune systems and healing ability. I can get a bad slash or cut on a finger, and in 48 hours, wont even be a trace. In almost 35 years, my wife has never seen a bruise on me. I may just be guessing here.

Even if one nerve bundle was preserved perfectly, I wouldn't think from what I have read here for months, that what I am describing would be possible. Need some feed back on this, was going to wait awhile longer to discuss this, but the cat is out of the bag.

David in SC

I know some here will think I am just b.s., but James, I dont lie or aggerate here. Would defeat the purpose in seeking truth, and getting support, and helping others here in return.

The last night erections as my wife and I were in bed cuddling and talking, a nightly tradition, maintained the entire time, and with any notion of conversations turning sexual, would make woody return on its own, just like before surgery. I am not complaining, just in my mindset to understand why things are the way they are, and too me, I still say, how is this even possible. Is there something else that helps the penis get errections beside the two main nerve bundles? I dont know anatomy enough to know.

Dave, I am pleased beyond words at your report but I gotta say something just the way I see it.

There are no such things as miricles in anatomy. I am not a Dr. but I can assure you that will not find any medical text to support the possibility of an unassited erection in a man whose neurovascular bundles have been severed or removed. If this was me while being thankful for the experience and hoping that recovery of normal erectioins would continue I would also be asking the surgeon for an explanation supported by recognized experts.

Glad you are making so much progress on the incontinence front. I see no mention of you using any meds. I have been taking Oxybutinin since the operation, it calms my bladder and gives me better control. It can be had in a straight oral formula, a time release oral and a continual release patch. I am trying the patch right now and I like the outcome but I don't know if I will be able to deal with the presence of the patch.

Best wishes. Scott

thats great purg ,i think your right , another couple of weeks or so,if those pads are as uncomfortable as i remember , i believe your at the point you can put in the womens panti liners , with out any pad ,you wont  even know they are in ,just a thought and congrats finally some good news brother...................dirt 

As any 16 year old guy looking at a Playboy can tell you, erections start between your ears and apparently you have a good memory. As for the urinary problems I am not doing that well. Surgery was 10/4/2007 and I am still wearing adult undergarments. I had dbs surgery (brain surgery for Parkinsons) last Wednesday at U of Fl and slept in the back seat all the way home. Had a soaked undergarment by the time we were half way home and I woke up this morning to a wet sheet on the bed. The doctor who did the prostate surgery blames it on the Parkinsons and the Neurologist says maybe. It looks like I may have this problem for the duration. No ED problem so I'm not complaining.

Thats really good news David. Congradulations. Just keep getting better.

David, great news. Sounds like you're on your way now.

David, You are definitely strong on.....It seems to me that you have had a very unusual (yet sometimes it happens)...not all of the nerves have been severed ....SO....Congratulations....You go guy!! And also thank you for your very kind and wonderful comments to me and Pete. Life goes on whereever and whatever.... My best to you and your dear wife.......Diane

Thanks Allan. I was hesitant to post anything about either subject with me, because I dont want to discourage anyone, but, we all have our share of sucesses and failures, good times and setbacks with our fight with PC. It wasnt many weeks ago I was feeling hopeless in general, tired of my recovery and the never ending catheter battle. But all things are possible, and we all need to stick together in our battle, so my stories here are never meant to be boasts, I am thankful for every little good thing that happens to me. Best to you brother

Diane, my whole life has been as the odd duck odd, so with me, you never know what's going to happen next, lol. My wife had a good weekend together, lots of shopping Saturday, good extended family time this afternoon, etc. Getting a little braver on the being dryer part then I was even a couple of days ago.

Give my best to that husband of yours, if he ever would like to talk by phone, if you think it would help or be an encouragement, just zip me an email.

David in SC

A week ago today, had the 5th catheter out, my ability to stay dry is still improving day by day. Been dry every morning. Still on one pad by day, but I think its more for my head then for my bladder. We all got to do what we got to do. Just a little gun shy.

David in SC

Trust me, its not like it was pre-surgery, not by far. After some "experiments" this weekend with the other half, probably more like in the 60-75% range, perhaps a bit more, but that is w/o any medications, pumps, etc. Just what the lil fellow can do on its own. The desire part in my brain has now fully activated on its own, something I chose not too do all that time I was on the cath. So I am encouraged at this point, but have very realistic expectations. Not going to obsessed or go nuts on the sexual part. Perhaps its just how I read things here, but there's loads of ways for a man to please his woman, full intercourse ending in ejaculation isnt going to happen any more for use that went through surgery, but some might have to learn to be creative in the sack, if they weren't doing it before. My wife is most happy this morning.