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Incontinent after surgery

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Posted 10/24/2009 7:30 PM (GMT 0)
On August 17, 2009, I had a radical retropubic prostatectomy.  Ten days later I was taken back to sugery to remove a suture that was accidently looped around the catheter making it impossible to remove the catheter.  After this procedure I could not pass any urine.  Another catheter was inserted for one week.  After removal of that catheter I could not urinate.  Back to surgery for a procedure using a "hot loop" to open the bladder neck that had scar tissue blocking it.  Now I leak urine whenever I stand or walk, but not while sitting or reclining .  I am so tired of the pads.  I went to the Cleveland Clinic on Wednesday and talked with Dr. Montague about his artificial sphincter.  He said to wait 6 months and come back.  Is there any hope of reviving a normal urination method?  I am 71 years old and very healthy otherwise.
Posted 10/24/2009 7:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hi from England. I think that at 2 months out from surgery and having had a problem with blockages it is a little early to start thinking of further treatment for incontinence. My own healing took 3 to 4 months before I had say 90% control over leaking, and apart from an infection I had no other problems after the op. Good luck, and I am sure you will notice some improvement over the next few weeks. By the way I found pads very hot and sticky whilst I was using them, but that was during the summer months.

Posted 10/24/2009 11:52 PM (GMT 0)
The simple answer is "yes", there is hope. From what I've read, it can sometimes take several months to regain continence.
I agree with your doctor in saying you should give it more time before considering an artificial sphincter.

Sorry to hear you're having this problem. I hope it resolves itself within the next few months.

Dave
Posted 10/25/2009 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
It is somewhat re-assuring that there are other men facing problems after prostste surgery.  Your experiences are sure to be helpful to many of us. When I am feeling down about this problem I try to thank God that the procedure was successful in eliminating the cancer in my prostate.  All indications are positive that the cancer is gone.  God bless all of you gentlemen.

Piano Guy

Posted 10/25/2009 1:40 AM (GMT 0)
Piano Man,

I had a few complications after surgery, and had catheters inserted and removed for a month after surgery. After that, I was completely incontinent for almost a month, and then there was gradual, almost unnoticeable improvements. For a while, I carried "doggy doo" bags in my laptop bag to use when disposing of saturated pads at work. Three months after surgery I realized that I didn't need to dispose of pads at work any more. Now, at four months after surgery, I'm finding that the one pad a day I use is almost dry when I throw it away. I expect that soon the pad will be completely dry and I'll have the incontinence problem solved.

In general, from what I have read on this forum and elsewhere, most men find things getting better at about three months after RRP surgery.

For me, it will take a little longer. I find that recovery of control is a very gradual process that requires patience and being aware of small improvements. Your experience may turn out to be similar to mine.
Posted 10/25/2009 1:59 AM (GMT 0)

Welcome to Healingwell, Piano Guy. 

I hope that you continue to recover in the next few months. Do you have a signature to post so that we can follow your progress?

Keep healing,

Dan

 

Posted 10/25/2009 2:35 AM (GMT 0)
Piano guy,

I'm Pad Free as of this week! It's been over 4 months but finally here. The leaks slowly dried up and will do likewise for you.

Robert
Posted 10/25/2009 3:22 AM (GMT 0)
Piano, I would hold out for atleast 6 months. You never know how your body is going to adjust to the changes. If for some reason it does not then you can decide which direction you want to go with treatments.
KW
Posted 10/26/2009 12:11 AM (GMT 0)
The fact that you have some control is a good sign -- things are moving in the right direction. We learned at about age three that peeing in our pants was "bad" and so it is very hard to be back in that situation. But as others have said, you have months to go before even thinking that you will not recover. Take heart, live life!
Posted 10/26/2009 3:11 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Piano Guy,

I had surgery to remove strictures in December 2008. This was a result of a prostatectomy in August 2007. I was almost totally continent after the prostatectomy but almost totally incontinent after the stricture removal.

It was recommended and I concur, that it is probably best to allow about a year before you give up on your natural sphincter and install an artificial. I, like you, don't leak at night while lying down, or when I'm sitting during the day. It has taken some adjustment to be able to maintain a social life but it gets better.

I measure progress by how long I can hold urine after getting up. It seems to get better as time goes by. I have an appointment in November with an incontinence specialist at M D Anderson to discuss options.

Hope you have the patience to wait a while.
Posted 10/26/2009 2:33 PM (GMT 0)
It has been 4 weeks since the catheter was removed and believe it or not thing do improve however VERY slowly. Day one I was a gusher and couldn't control my voiding at all. Now I am still on 6-8 pads a day but I can hold it through the night; I can stop urinating mid stream ( a good exercise) and most of the time when I go from a sitting to a standing position I can hold most of it before I get to the bathroom. Baby steps; I know how you feel, I am very impatient too.
Posted 10/26/2009 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Piano guy,

Believe me, I know EXACTLY how you feel. I had a DaVinci RRP on Oct. 13 st the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, had the catheter for 10 days, it was removed last Fri., and haven't been able to hold a drop of urine since, although like you I'm ok sitting or lying down. I detest the pads, feel filthy, and hate going anywhere. But I have faith and you should too that things will get better. Everything I've read, including posts on this forum, everything the docs and nurses have told me, make me believe this is temporary. I agree with your surgeon that it's way too early to give up on regaining continence and be thinking about the artificial sphincter. Hang in there!

Age: 66
PSA-6.5
GS-7
4/14 cores with adenocarcinoma
DaVinci RRP- 10/13/09
Capsule, margins, seminal vesicles negative
Catheter removed 10/23/09
Posted 10/26/2009 3:28 PM (GMT 0)
It is a bit of a shock when you present yourself for catheter removal and you end up following the doctor around the office like a dog on a leash! My catheter hung up on a stitch too. It did not make for a happy day. This was two weeks post surgery.
However, my doc just said to wait a few days to see what developed. He figured a few days more and the stitches would dissolve a bit more on their own. Two days later I removed the catheter myself at home. It took a bit of a tug to get the stitch to pop but no more than I got in the doctors office. I'd gladly trade a day or four for not getting cut open again.
Continence developed over time after that but it developed. I believe I did pass a 1/4-1/2" piece of suture in the next few days. Either that or someone slipped some fishing line in my shorts.
It just makes me wonder how someone came up with a definition for "normal." I doubt anyone on this board had a completely normal experience.
Posted 10/27/2009 1:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Piano Guy
I hear you. I'm a month ahead of you and I'm already tired of being a leaker. I went from 7 pads per day to 3 pads per day in about a month but I've seen no progress since.
I'll probably go to HealingWell jail for saying this but I did a couple of things that worked for short term when I absolutely had to be "continent" for a day or 2:
I limited fluids until I had a headache and was constipated. (one pint per day total)
I used a Cunningham clamp for a short while. (an hour max)

I don't recommend doing these things. I'm just saying they kept the pee out of my pads and put it in the toilet.
It will get better... It will get better... It will get better...
(Don't you wish you could "fast forward"?)
Jeff
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