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Posted 4/10/2012 2:39 PM (GMT 0)
OK, I'm almost 4 weeks out from surgery and 3 weeks cathether free but this incontinence is annoying. I went back to work a week ago and I'm doing the Kegel thing but what I want to know is when should I expect some improvement. My doctor prescribed a drug to help that I take at bedtime, but I never have the problem when I'm sleeping, it's when I get up to walk.
Posted 4/10/2012 2:56 PM (GMT 0)
It's still quite early to expect total control.I was the same way and a friend who had the surgery told me -oh it's too soon just be patient.I know that it is hard as it is a pain in the ass.Do keep doing the exercises because in the long run it does help.Improvement is different with everyone but it will come.Also cutting back on your liquid intake helps.Hang in there.
Posted 4/10/2012 3:05 PM (GMT 0)
My first recognizable "plateau" of improvement was about three months out from surgery. Until that point I was just open waterworks - one or more Depends pants and up to eight heavy pads a day.

During all of that time I was basically dry at night.

It requires more than patience.

Posted 4/10/2012 3:31 PM (GMT 0)
svelte1.........

I am only 7 weeks post catheter (catheter in for 16 days) and like you and most guys I found this new incontinence thing a real pain. Help at forum told me to have patience was a must, attitude is everthing, do you kegels and let walking be your best friend. Don't look for daily improvements but rather weekly to monthly. It will happen.

So for me I have realized significant weekly improvements especially these last 2-3 weeks (week 4-7 post catheter) where I am using only one pad per day and it collects the odd dribble and stress dribble. I have been dry at night since my catheter was removed.

My first 2-3 days I had no control from a sitting or lying position. What worked for me from then on everytime I stood up from a sitting or lying position I was able to clamp down on my pelvic floor muscles firm enough and long enough to get the bathroom to pee. In the beginning it was not so easy but the more I worked on this the easier it got. Walking sure helped me as well to gain more control.

Also sometimes I over kegelled and tired the muscles and leaked more, so what I did was to rest the muscles from doing kegels for a day or two at a time to allow them to recover and start up the kegels again. I liken this to working out at the gym which I do and have now started back this past week (8 weeks post Sx). You don't work biceps every day at the gym, it is a must to give them time off to repair and reheal. Same with your pelvic floor muscles. I sure other guys will chime in to offer you their advice.

Good luck with getting your continence back, hopefully sooner versus later, but even later is better than never.

We didn't see your signature, so hopefully you had a successful Sx and PR outcome.
Posted 4/10/2012 3:34 PM (GMT 0)
Took me over 4 months to start turning the corner. Weighed pads every day and looked for improvement. It was a roller coaster with one week leaking like a faucet, less leaking for another week, then regress back to the faucet again. I'll admit that I screamed and threw my soaked undies and bed clothes across the garage more than once. It was initially so bad that the dog wouldn't even sleep with me. Once things started turning around I was so relieved. My biggest milestone was when I had the courage to go out for an evening without a pad. That was a terrific experience. At that moment I knew that sex was a future possibility...... Oh boy!!!

I'm going into my 7th month post op and I still have an occasional leak. I'm hoping it will completely go away. But I'm an old guy and maybe I would have eventually leaked a little anyway even without the surgery. My swollen prostate had made me dribble at times anyway. I believe after a year or so you've got what you got. I was impatient. I wanted it fixed NOW...but my Urologist told me he wouldn't consider another procedure to fix it until at least 18 mo post op. Even then, it would have to be a major quality of life issue rather than occasional annoyance.

Don't be discouraged, improvement will happen, just kegle and wait for things to get better. In my case it did. I wish the same for you. best regards, hj
Posted 4/10/2012 3:35 PM (GMT 0)
svelte1: it takes time and force teaches how to be patient. I'm 3 months cath free and I still leak when walking. I'm now able to hold approx 50% of the urine while on my morning walk but it is getting better. Improvement comes erratically. You may be stuck on a plateau for a month or two and then improve a whole bunch over a two week period and back to a better plateau that may acceptable place to be.

Good Luck
Posted 4/10/2012 3:48 PM (GMT 0)
Herman J,

No way, you are not an old guy.
Posted 4/10/2012 4:06 PM (GMT 0)
Energized, thnx.  You're right.  I'm really not an old guy....Don't know what to call it but I'm actually 50 years younger than my body.  Wish there was a transplant for the condition..... tongue tongue tongue tongue
Posted 4/10/2012 6:26 PM (GMT 0)

I completely agree with what’s been said; doing Kegels and having patience being key points.  I’d like to add:

 

   - a higher % of water, but a lower total fluid intake

   - avoid caffeine, alcohol and other bladder irritants

   - be sure to Kegel when changing positions standing, sitting, lying down

   - don’t be discouraged by set backs

Posted 4/10/2012 7:58 PM (GMT 0)
One more no no is muscle relaxers. Don't ask me how I know that one.
Posted 4/10/2012 8:55 PM (GMT 0)
Bladder irritants for me include orange juice, grapefruit juice (which is also verboten with Cialis/Levitra/Viagra), anything carbonated (beer, coke, sparkling water, champagne), artificial sweetners in general (try the stevia-based stuff if you can't use sugar - works for me).

Someone on the board a year or so ago was almost dry, then suddenly had a massive setback. We finally sorted out that it was a fresh vegetable he liked that had come into season, and he was eating it in large quantity.

Posted 4/10/2012 9:48 PM (GMT 0)

Herman J said...
Energized, thnx. You're right. I'm really not an old guy....Don't know what to call it but I'm actually 50 years younger than my body. Wish there was a transplant for the condition..... [img]/community/emoticons/tongue.gif[/img] [img]/community/emoticons/tongue.gif[/img] [img]/community/emoticons/tongue.gif[/img] [img]/community/emoticons/tongue.gif[/img]

Herman J, I'll be 65 in a couple months and if I could transplant my mind into an 18 year old body...... smilewinkgrin nono yeah smhair devil
Posted 4/11/2012 3:41 AM (GMT 0)
Inspector 13, you're right...... we need do-overs.   Knowing that isn't possible, I'm hoping to go out from an overdose of Trimix, marooned on a desert island with 50 sex starved grandmas.  

Ain't ready for a nursing home with soup dribbling down my chin... confused

Posted 4/11/2012 5:40 AM (GMT 0)
You may be closer than you realize. Every man is different, but hubby saw significant progress right around 4 weeks, and stopped using pads by 6 weeks. I empathize with how you feel because hubby felt just like you. He couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel. I learned about "baby steps" on this site, and saw that some men made significant progress starting around week 4. I shared what I learned with him, and he was able to relax about it just a bit. Sure enough with each passing day, he started leaking less and less. Hang in there, you're doing fine!
Posted 4/11/2012 12:46 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you everyone, I can relax a bit now since I know things will improve in time, its just so hard for me to not be in control of anything related to my body. My wife keeps telling me everything that you all have but its great to be able hear it from people who have dealt with the same problem.
Posted 4/11/2012 1:59 PM (GMT 0)
I will look into it, thanks golfnooch
Posted 4/11/2012 2:01 PM (GMT 0)
5+months and finally seeing some light at the end of the tunnel; still wearing pads but have had a real slowdown (not that I was ever all that bad - pad a day or less most of the time, occasionally 2 on a bad day - still annoying...and got worse rather than better at some points in time.)

While there are a few lucky ducks that dry up much quicker, the consensus at my physical meeting is 6 months for most.

I'll add that I have not given up my coffee. Tried that recently enough that I gave my urologist a dirty look and told him that wasn't happening. Nor have I cut my liquid intake - much worse things than incontinence come from not drinking enough, and I have no desire to make another trip to the emergency room - once was enough to make me pay more attention to hydration. I'm also on hydrochlorothiazide, which is, as they say, a diuretic - ie, it makes you pee more. Only week in years I've spent all night in bed was the week the catheter was in. I continue also with sporadic alcohol intake, as I did before, but had already cut down to 1 or 2 at most when drinking for other reasons (not as young as I used to be.)
Posted 4/11/2012 3:05 PM (GMT 0)
I had my RALP on June 8th last year and my rubber snake was removed on June 15th. I leaked at first like a hose. I did my Kegels and nothing seemed to work until I finally realized that I had been re plumbed and everything down there felt different than before and that I had to rethink how to control the bladder and the one sphincter I had.  After a week I was able to stay dry at night and walking and sitting I had to think all the time about clinching to keep the sphincter closed. The worse part was going from sitting to standing and having to think clench or I leaked.

On July 3rd we were invited to go to the lake with some close friends and I didn't want to wear diapers or pads to the lake and just told my self I would stay dry. I was dry all day (except when I was in the lake) and have been ever since. I did have some road bumps like when I fart even now I have to watch myself or a few drops do come out. Also when I am outside the house when I have to go I have to go and have to find a public restroom fast. When we travel I find that part of my travel plans now include rest stops and places with public restrooms.I do not like some find any particular beverages that make things worse or better so that is one thing I do not have to worry about.

All I can add is that for many in here it takes time to get back 100% continence and for some sadly it never happens. Good luck and keep working at it.

Terry TWG

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