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Posted 3/30/2010 10:26 PM (GMT 0)

This has been a very strange journey. Things have worsened.

Basically, I urinate "normal," but then I continue to have urgency. I keep going back and urinate a little bit more each time. I mean, it happens within a minute or two and seems to continue for most of the day. I had reported earlier that I seem to have an infection. Yet the last urine sample was completely normal. I definitely find that drinking juices (pomegranite, cranberry, whatever) seems to aggravate matters. When I drink mostly water, the burning and irritation is just about gone, but this urgency continues. Basically, it feels like there is always liquid in my urethra.

This is very different than what I had after surgery. At that time, it was textbook stress incontinence. I’d get up from the chair or sneeze or cough and squirt squirt squirt. Then this stuff started. Amazingly, it went away for a week (2 days after trying cipro) and I was totally continent.

I guess I’m wondering if these type of symptoms are in the range of incontinence symptoms that you folks might have experienced. Lately, as things have worsened, I feel like I have less control. That liquid builds up faster and my muscles may be a tad weaker. I don’t wear a pad because I can get to a bathroom. But the fact that I don’t wear a pad doe NOT mean that I am continent in any way.

I am 2 months post-surgery. I have read of incontinence suddenly getting better so I hope that happens. I saw a P/T today that specializes in these things and we will be trying some things to strength the pelvic floor (although the tests seem to show okay strength). She says it sounds like a strength issue although it might well also be a retention issue. I have an appointment with a new urologist in 4 weeks, so maybe we shall see how the exercises work.

I've been busy at work and trying to get on with things, but this is frustrating.

Mel

Posted 3/30/2010 10:52 PM (GMT 0)
Mel, I'm sorry you continue to have these issues. I hope your new PT or maybe another trip to the Urologist, maybe for some kind of unknown test, can/could fix things for you.
Posted 3/31/2010 1:51 AM (GMT 0)
Mel, what you described doesn't sound very different from what I felt. After squirt-squirt-squirt ended, what I remember for several months was pretty much a constant feeling of having to go, but only a little would come out if I did go as frequently as it felt like I needed to. I had to train myself to resist the feeling when I knew I had just gone. Took quite a number of months, but slowly went away.

best wishes...
Posted 3/31/2010 1:55 AM (GMT 0)
Mel, I agree with what Casey just said, when I was going dry originally, that part use to drive me nuts, kept feeling like I had to go, and if I did, perhaps a drop or two, took me a good while to understand and feel the difference between really needing to go, or just a false feeling. I sincerely hope this improves for you soon. I know its got to be frustrating to you and keeps you on edge all the time. Good luck.

David in SC
Posted 3/31/2010 2:59 AM (GMT 0)
 Mel, I`m 6 weeks post surgery and am still very incontinent, using about 8 pads per day at least (but am recently noticing that I am finally able to retain some urine in the bladder at times, so I think that things are starting to improve somewhat.) I just saw my Urologist today and was started on Vesicare with the thought that due to my longstanding BPH prior to surgery that a component of my incontinence is due to urge incontinence from excessive bladder contractions. I have not been on it long enough to note any change yet but you might ask your Dr. if this might be helpful for you. I hope we both dry up soon.
Posted 3/31/2010 2:59 AM (GMT 0)
Mel,
What you are experiencing is similar to what I had for 4 months. I remember having the urge to urinate every 5 minutes and sometimes less. I didn't find a tree they I didn't like to urinate behind while playing golf. Hang in there, it will get better.
Posted 3/31/2010 3:55 AM (GMT 0)

Well, thanks for the responses. It is somewhat encouraging to know these symptoms sound familiar.

I was wondering if this could be a stricture, but I would assume I would have even more difficulty urinating.

Mel

Posted 3/31/2010 4:21 AM (GMT 0)
Other than the occasianal squirts, if you are holding it in and not wearing pads, you are in fact 99% continent. the symptoms you describe are not incontinence. I am 5 1/2 post op, was continent from the jump never wearing pads, but initially did have the occasional squirt. the hardest one to control, was passong gas, thats a trick, but did master it. I definetly had what you are talking about, Sensory lack of voidance, frequent urination, and the biggie, the driibble. It would take many shakes, many shakes, many shakes, be fore I could secure, the urinator. Thats gone now. I do leak abit on a run, but I am soaked in sweat after that, live in Hi, and no big thing. My wife says I had more wet spots on underware before cancer than now. By the way how is all the other stuff, malaise, feeling sick with no infection, etc. I may have missed that
Posted 3/31/2010 4:29 AM (GMT 0)

Logo:

The other stuff (feeling like I have an infection) has been better. I think juices irritate things, so I am trying to drink more water.

Mel

Posted 3/31/2010 10:03 AM (GMT 0)
Mel,

The change in the way things are going sounds very like what I've been noticing recently. So while annoying it is kind of reassuring to know I'm, not the only one. I'm still not wearing pads, but it feels like I need to go nearly all the time. I'm going to the bathroom much more frequently and then less is coming out, and it's taking longer to stop.

I described it to my wife yesterday as stress incontinence in the sense that may be it's happening becasue I'm feeling stressed about the idea of RT etc.
I have also been trying to take more exercise and do more energetic things as well and I'm wondering if that has had an influence. For instance last Thursday I cut down several bushes with an axe without any bother, but then on Friday I had loads of the almost-leaking problems you describe. Another day I emptied my bedroom and scrubbed the floor then put all the furniture back; I had no problems doing the lifting, but dribbled more the next day. And yesterday I went for a long cycle ride and was then up a ladder washing windows and now today I've got that feeling you described of there being a bit of liquid in my urethra. And it's impossible to tell when I'm about to pee if it's going to be a little or a lot.

Black underwear still disguises the dribbles though.

I'm hoping it's just a temporary thing especially as I want to have things in the best possible shape before commencing RT. (I am not looking forward to the idea of drinking loads of water an hour beforehand so they can do the RT when my bladder is as full as possible - I feel like I am bound to pee on the machinerty)

Alfred
Posted 3/31/2010 3:40 PM (GMT 0)
You have described it perfectly Alf.

I find I have no problems while on a treadmill and it is usually better after that for a few hours.

But then it quickly gets bad thereafter.

I'll be seeing a urologist in 4 weeks.

Mel

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