Incontinence only at High Activity Level

One year cancer-free. Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy (open) at Johns Hopkins. For normal run-of-the-mill activities including desk work, I am dry 100% of the time. Have had problems with leakage with lengthy walking. Worked the Amgen Tour of California in May as a course marshal and was on my feet 10-12 hours straight. Not pretty.

I officiate soccer. More often than not, when I am running hard for a 90-minute match I will have enough leakage to cause a noticeable (to me) wet spot on the front of my shorts. Usually that is swallowed up in time by the sweat but pretty embarrassing for the first 10-15 minutes or so.

I'd like to hear from others who have experienced the same activity levels. Is this it - the final answer? Or is there more healing even after 12 months so that I can run hard and not worry?

Keep doing those Kegel exercises and you can keep improving..I'm just 2 months out, but if I anticipate a "problem moment", I just instantly go into the kegel mode and cut it off before it starts..That's 90% effective for me...

I have the same problem during "attempted" sexual activity. Lots of urine. Otherwise, no incontinence at all. Only three months out. I guess I should be thrilled.

At just over a year from DaVinci and 4 months from RT, I am at 2-3 pads per day, sometimes only 1. Was at 1, rarely 2 before I did adjuvant IGRT. Not sure that I expect any improvement from here, but I keep doing the kegels.

The biggest leak-generators for me are a cup of coffee (I've basically given it up completely, unless it is a great espresso, worth the leak), anything carbonated (beer, sparkling wine or water, soda), and orange juice (so much for natural vitamin C).

A lot of extra exercise in one day will set off an evening of leaks. Two mile walk- great, but a four - it pours.

My uro says give it another 6 months, then we will discuss mechanical solutions for that and the ED.

Post Edited (142) : 11/9/2010 6:41:02 PM (GMT-7)

I am 3 1/2 yrs post op and I have the same problem.  I am normally dry when sitting or just walking , but if I start lifting weights and exercising or doing a lot of walking, then I will start to drip occasionally, but nothing I can not live with.  The real frustrating part is during sex. I have no ED issues and can get a rock solid erection without problems, but as soon as I get an erection, I drip uncontrolably, and I mean drip.  It is as if a faucet was turned on..  When the erection goes down, the dripping stops.  When the erection comes back, the dripping starts.  Even worst then that,  I now ejeculate urine when I have an orgasm. What is kind of funny is that I ejeculate urine with more force without my prostate, then I ejeculated seman when I had my prostate.  On a good orgasm, I can hit the ceiling.

At my one year post opt appoitment with my uro, I asked her about these problems and she said you are not going to get any better at this point, so you just need to learn to live with it.   The uro alsso told me that dripping during sex and ejeculation of urine are common side effects that  surgeons don't tell you about, but are quit common with this type of surgery. 

Post Edited (NY-Sooner) : 11/10/2010 5:37:29 AM (GMT-7)

Just want everyone to know that there is a solution. The Advance Sling. For men with low pad usage(or leakage only under certain situation), control of your sphincter--- that is you can stop the urine flow mid stream--- have no scaring on the sphincter, the Sling has a very high success rate when performed by an experienced physician. By high I mean 90% improvement -66% completely dry. It is outpatient surgery under anesthesia, overnight catherer, 6 week total recovery time. Mild to moderate post surgery pain.

It solves the ejaculation urination problem. That is, if you are dry, you are normally dry during all activities. The ejaculation problem occurs because the sphincter naturally contracts during sex to block urine and support semen. The Advance Sling corrects the weakness in the sphincter function that does not block off the urine flow.

OKNow,

I take it that you have had the sling implanted?

I am 99.99% dry. I can do all activities (including treadmill and other gym activities). I do get a drip or two or three or four... maybe once in 5 weeks. Oddly, it happens when I just make a move (not with anything strenuous).

So, in that regard, I'm one of the lucky ones.

Unfortunately, ED is still there totally (almost). As I may have posted elsewhere, if I get stimulated to orgasm, I get a boner AFTER orgasm good for a few minutes but not quite usable for intercourse. I am 10 months post-surgery. I've been told improvement often occurs 1-2 years post-op so I am hopeful.

If NOT, I can easily live with it. That's life. My main focus/fear concerns the PC, which looks to be heading towards a BCR.

Mel

DJ Bear Guy and others:

You brought up the subject about farting, so I would love to have a few more details about this issue. DJ, you implied that passing gas and squirting has been resolved.

I am just shy of 4 months post open RP surgery. I know for many of you 4 months is just a distant memory but, I went from 5 pads a day and am now down to 3 pads a day. I could get away with two pads, but for hygiene sake I change after 10 to 12 hours of wear. I wear a clean one to bed just to be safe. I measure my pad output with a postal scale after coming home from work to check my progress. Surgery was in late July and my September 15th output for 12 hours on the pad was 197 cc. October 15th total was 97 cc. My November 15th total is 38 cc. So I am making progress.

Sitting is good with little to no squirts unless I lean over or do some activity while in a chair. Laying down is usually fine unless I have stupidly drink a glass of water nearly before bed time. Standing is fine unless I am moving around quickly. Walking still brings on a very small but continuing drip and occasional squirt if the terrain I am waking on is uneven. If my bladder is fairly full, I am more continent. An empty bladder brings on more leaking.

Here is my dumb question. Passing gas creates an almost instant and certain gush. Once I reach the point of dryness will I be able to discretely pass gas without squirting. Most of the time it is only air without a smell. The idea that I have to go into a bathroom just to pass gas is really freaking me out. Any thoughts from already continent folks would be most appreciated. Thank you.

I'm dry almost all the time. But there are days, for some unknown reason, when it just seems like the pelvic floor muscles are tired and I'll tend to squirt now and then. Very little, not visible, but I can feel it. The worst times are when I do any kind of jumping (e.g., jumping jacks) or jump kicks at karate. Almost every jump creates a squirt.