kegel exercises question

Mel, I don't think anyone would say they are a "waste of time". From studying different people's doctors remark, shows quite a variance of opinon on the subject.

Some men don't need them. Others do them pre-surgery and during recovery. It seems to help some, and others not.

My own medical staff doesnt put much worth on them, more like, if you want to do them, do them. I think some men go a little nuts on doing them and some doctors will plainly say if you do them too much, you are tiring out the area that needs the rest and recovery.

Guess it goes back to some people feel like they have to do something active in the their cancer, and I don't think there is any harm in that, just like switching to a heart healthy diet, quitting smoking, etc.

Until you are actually on the recovery side of your exact surgery, you really won't know how you wll feel in advance. So be prepared to adjust to a new reality when you are safely on the other side.

What any good nurse or doctor will tell you in general: Listen to your body. It will let you know what it needs, i.e. meds, rest, not overdoing it. Some of the best advice I took, was to use stool softeners right from the get go, walk as much as you are comfortable, rest, take pain meds as needed (no prize for being Mr. Macho and avoiding meds). If you need them, take them.

David in SC

Mel, Try the National Assoc. for Continence, www.nafc.org. They have some literature on their site but also sell a pamphlet. I also liked a Mayo clinic instruction on how to do it. You can probably find it by going to their site. I have also used an instruction sheet from my wife's obgyn. I have done kegels for many years and have better control than ever. Good luck to you.

Carlos

ps  You might want to disregard the Mayo clinic part about your uterus and inserting your finger into your vagina.

Cleveland Clinic endorses a technique that involves holding for 10 seconds every 12 minutes, for as long as you are awake. This is probably a good technique while in the early recovery stages. They recommend using a kitchen timer that goes off every 12 minutes.

I did that for a while, until I started back to work, then I followed a routine more like the one you described. I also did 30 quick reps 4 or 5 times a day to help train the muscles that work something like your neck muscles, that keep your head erect. Their are a set of muscles that work to react to stresses like coughing, sneezing , etc.

You can find multiple ways of doing them online.

Carlos - I like it !

Greetings, Mel.  My doc has a variation of the kegel.  He said that if you try and do kegels you may or may not get it right so he recommended a simple alternative.  I met with him on Jan 2 and my surgery was scheduled for Feb 4.  He said that from that point on until he met with me 6 weeks after surgery, he wanted me to stop my flow of urine at least 4 or 5 times every time I urinated.  I started that immediately and as soon as I got my catheter out post surgery, I kept doing it for the next several weeks.  I basically had no incontinence.  I know I was fortunate, lucky and all kinds of other adjectives but it also seems this simple way to control the muscles involed in urination actually worked.  David