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Posted 7/25/2013 1:01 PM (GMT 0)

I'm beginning to wonder. Faithfully perform 4 sets of 10 Kegels/day (15-second duration) since May 29, after consulting physical therapist. It's now 16 weeks since catheter removed and I'm still leaking what seems like full flow if I'm up on my feet and walking around. Have to change pad every 1.5 hours. Dry at night, light leakage sitting. Has anyone with this experience ever become dry without more surgery?

Dx at age 65

PSA: 11/07 2.4, 12/08 3.96, 6/09 3.1, 11/09 3.25, 2/12 3.84, 11/12 6.53, 11/12 5.8

Bx: 2/13 right side adenocarc, 2/6 25% and 5%; left side high grade PIN, Gleason 7 (3+4)

Surgery: 3/13 DaVinci RP, cath out after 7 days

Path report: capsule confined, less CA than expected

Post-op PSA: 7/13 0.0!

Posted 7/25/2013 2:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Canuck66,

Welcome to the forum! Sorry you find yourself here looking for help but glad you found us.

The usual rule of thumb for incontinence after RP is that two thirds of men will be dry at three months (about where you are) and of the remaining third two thirds of them will be dry at one year. The remaining on man in nine will be a long-term leaker and may wind up needing further treatment.

I am 13 months out and still leak but am much better than I was at three months. (Your leaks sound about like mine at that point.) One thing that is different with me is that due to positive margins and a much more aggressive disease (my post-op pathology surprise) I have also had adjuvant radiation since my surgery which interferes with recovery of continence sometimes. So your recovery may go faster (and farther) than mine but there are no guarantees. Anyway, things do continue to improve up to a year so keep keegeling and hope for the best.

BTW: what did your post-op say about the size of your prostate? Guys with big ones (prostates) recover continence more slowly.
Posted 7/25/2013 2:20 PM (GMT 0)
Canuck-

Welcome to the forum.

Some folks have gotten good results from having biofeedback sessions to help them with continence. At the biofeedback sessions, a nurse sticks a small probe in your backside, which measures your kegels. The nurse will help you to learn to maximize/focus your kegels. And, the probe gives electric stimulation to the muscles to further strengthen them. Speak to your urologist about a biofeedback appointment.

-Gedman
Posted 7/25/2013 3:48 PM (GMT 0)
Gedman,

Actually, my biofeedback did not involve any alien-abduction probing. My tech stuck six pads (like EKG contacts) on me -- three on my lower abdomen and three in the general plumber's crack area -- and was able to read the activation of the various muscles that way. There was no electro stimulation in my case it was all me, but it was helpful to learn which muscles to tense to contract things and which muscles were no longer there.
Posted 7/25/2013 4:52 PM (GMT 0)
OMG, electrical probes stuck up where??????????

If you can stop urinating mid stream, pay attention to the contractions that you are using to stop the flow.  These are the same muscles you should be exercising while you are doing Kegels.............

Posted 7/25/2013 8:37 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, Peter, Gedman and Putt. I've been reading this forum for about a month and find it encouraging. I did see a PT, had a biofeedback "test" and passed. She was much more helpful with information, etc. than the surgeon or his staff, who did a lot of pre-op consulting, education but zero post-op other than "bring a pad the day the cath comes out in case you leak." I had seen so much conflicting info about Kegels that I was relieved when she came up wit the 4x10 daily regimen, which I've stuck with since May 29. See her again early August and hoping for progress. Want to be able to go to a business meeting without bulging pockets full of "sani's"!
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