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Posted 5/22/2012 4:20 PM (GMT 0)
All - so I'm not quite 2 weeks out from open RRP and just had the Cath removed yesterday. I think I'm doing ok, but the incontinence for some reason is really a punch in the gut to me. I'm sure it will get better and like I said, it's only been a day, but it's just hard to wrap my head around.

So my question - I'm doing kegels and trying to control things and I'm great when I'm sitting, no real problem until I stand and walk around. I can sort of "hold" it while I walk but I have to really concentrate and make an effort. Will that ever get back to normal? Do you always have to concentrate on "holding" it or does it become second nature?

I actually made it through the first night with a dry bed - not sure if that's a good sign or just normal? I didn't drink anything after dinner last night, so I'm sure that helped, but I was relieved when I got up dry - I was expecting the worst.

Thanks!
Posted 5/22/2012 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, it should get better and become second nature.
Posted 5/22/2012 5:09 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks I am in the same place, I had the catheter out yesterday. Today is a little better then yesterday. Hope it keeps getting better.
Posted 5/22/2012 5:33 PM (GMT 0)
I am 6 months out, and YES it does get better, for some quickly, and others slowly.  Keep up on your kegels, Walk as muck as you can, and (contrary to what you may think) Drink lots of water. you are still healing down there.

Good luck.

Posted 5/22/2012 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
Wow 2ndtime - nice to hear from someone on my same "schedule". So did you have open? Age? How long was the cath in? Mine was in for about 12 days - certainly nice to have it out but now dealing with this is a whole new issue.
Posted 5/22/2012 5:52 PM (GMT 0)
My doc told me to decrease overall fluid intake once the catheter came out – but to drink a higher percentage of water. And cut way back on bladder irritants, such as coffee, other caffeinated drinks, alcohol, and some fruit juices. It takes patience and everyone does recover at different rates. Don’t be discouraged by setbacks either as many of us saw improvements followed by regression, then more improvement. It will get better!
Posted 5/22/2012 6:31 PM (GMT 0)
I was just like you as I was dry totally at night after my catheter was removed and my problems were while walking sitting and getting up during the day. I had surgery on June 8th and on July 3rd we were invited to a friends lake house so I decided to go with out any pads and I was dry all day, well I did wet myself when I got in the lake but not from pee.. I have been 100% dry ever since. I think I just decided that I would be dry that day and I was. I knew that if I was staying dry at night there was no reason why I couldn't during the day. In addition to Kegels you have to rethink what happens when you stand up and concentrate on keeping the one splinckter you have closed. You also have to get use to the new feeling of having a full bladder as it will not ever feel the same again. and for the first few months frequent trips to the toilet are the norm to staying dry.

Good luck and just give it time while your new plumbing heals along with your body.

Terry The Water Guy.

Posted 5/22/2012 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
I had RALP on Jan 3rd 4.5 months ago. I was about ready to buy stock in Depends during the months of Jan and Feb. I was dry at night. I was dry if I was just sitting, but getting up, walking around, passing gas, or laughing too hard caused me to squirt a little. I was using 3-4 Depends per day on average for these two months. Starting the month of March, I was able to wear pads during the day except when I took our brisk 3 mile walk in the morning. That walk is something the wife and I do 99% of the time every morning before work. Our dog has us well trained. I had to wear a Depend on that walk all during March and could get by with just pads during the day. Sometime in early April I was able to wear just a pad during our walk, and I went thru 2-3 pads per day. At the start of this month I've been able to get by with one thin pad per day. I put it on after I take my afternoon shower and wear it until the next day when I shower. Lately I haven't been putting on a pad after my shower if I'm just hanging around the house. I'm dry enough to get by without it if I'm not doing anything that requires lots of physical activity. However, I put on a thin pad in the morning and wear it during the day when I'm working. Since getting out of the hospital I have a couple of martinis or glasses of wine two or three times per week and drink coffee everyday. I figured my system was going to have to get used to what I eat and drink. Most guys are down to 2-3 pads per day at 3 months and I was still using 1 depend for my walk plus another 2-4 pads for the rest of the day. I probably would have done better if I had given alcohol and coffee up but I just didn't bother. At first improvement came slowly with lots of dips in the gradual improvement process. One HW member stated incontinence is like the stock market with lots of ups and downs. You just have to hope the direction is generally up.

To answer you question, it has become pretty much second nature to me. In the last two months I don't think about trying to hold it and I'm still improving. The only thing I really have to be careful about is passing gas. That is probably the most difficult thing to do without giving off a squirt. To successfully pass gas I have to NOT use pressure from my abs muscles to push the gas out. I have to let it build until it exits with just the bare minimum of effort on my part.1

Incontinence was a real shocker to me too. I didn't realize it was going to be that bad. It is worse than ED. Who wants to have sex with a dripper. In the shower or bath tub maybe but that is it. Luckily my incontinence improved enough I can have fairly normal sex with injection therapy.

Hope this helps and
Good luck to you two
Posted 5/23/2012 12:21 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Gadget,

Again, I had the open with Catalona in July of '11. My best advice would be to very patiently and carefully follow his instructions. There are many views as to how best to do kegels (how many times per day, how many each time, etc.). If you stick to Catalona's prescribed routine, you'll be fine.

I was somewhat disappointed with the speed at which I returned to full continence, but if you follow the protocol it will get better and better. Two months after surgery, I was still using pads when walking long distances (and drinking beer!). By four months, I was completely dry. The transition is subtle but before you know it, you'll be pad free. By the way, the standing vs. sitting, sleeping vs awake differences are 100% normal.

Best of luck in your recovery.

Wheeler
Posted 5/23/2012 3:19 AM (GMT 0)
Yup, as all have said, you will get better. I used 1 pad all day the day after cataheter removal. Nothing at night. Then each day that pad had a little less in it. By day 5 after catheter removal I was pad free with just the occasional drip when passing gas, laughing, etc.. But I would not have bet on that on the first day.

Give it time, you have a lot of healing to go inside your body. You are already doing great, it just takes time. Keep doing your Kegels, walking lots, drinking plenty to keep the bladder content well diluted, and you'll likely keep progressing. Have faith, you'll get there.
Posted 5/23/2012 12:00 PM (GMT 0)
Gadget,
I am 59 soon to be 60. I had open surgery May 10. I had open because I had radiation for testicular cancer 30 years ago and that complicated the surgery so open was highly recommended. The catheter came out May 21. I have the same problems you articulated. Yesterday was better. I used three Depends. I get up multiple times at night but stay fairly dry. The hard part is getting up from sitting, walking, etc. Thanks to all who wrote with advice and encouragement. This is harder then I thought it would be and it is nice to have support from those that have gone through it and understand. Thanks to all
Posted 5/23/2012 11:59 PM (GMT 0)
2ndtimearound, hang in there, it should get better for you as well. Everyone is different and the time varies, but only a small percentage of men are unfortunate enough to remain fully incontinent. Get those Kegels going.

The progression is often:

1) Dryness overnight
2) Dryness when transitioning from sitting to standing
3) Dryness when standing
4) Dryness when walking and moving all those muscles about
5) Dryness during muscular stress situations

Sounds like you are already achieving the first step. Rejoice in that progress early on. May the progress continue.
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