leakage question

Hi

Need a question answered by RALP veterans who are a little farther along than I am. I have been without Mr. Foley side last Tuesday. (4 days). Overall I am I'm improving daily with the most leakage on the 2nd day. I notice that whenever I bear down even to pass gas (which is a lot since the surgery), I will leak a small stream. Does this get better with everything else or does it linger more.

Also I noticed that when I go to urinate like I used to, nothing happens. It's like my brain is trying to signal the old primary sphincter that isn't there anymore. Only after I change the signal does the stream start. Has anyone else experienced this?

Hey Scooter
I am 2 weeks ahead of you, I went through the same thing at the same time, give it another week or so and the firehose will be on

Leaking... It gets better, I leak the same way you described, but a little less often now. Down to 2 pads per day and for the last two nights no waking up in the middle of the night for a pee run

Scooter:
Let us know how your pathology came out. In terms of leakage everyone is different, but it sounds like you're doing ok. Controlling it when passing gas is tricky because two out of three defenses against leakage are remove at RP. You have to think about holding it back when letting the gas go.
Good luck.
Bob
__________________________________________________
DOB January 1944
1981: prostatitis
2000-2013 BPH, low T treated with avodart, tamsulosin, androgel
PSA History:
Pre 2000 0.4
01-08 0.6
3/09: 0.6
11/2011 2.2
8/2012 2.7
2/2103 5.5
4/2013 6.1
5/2013 6.6
11/1 2013 0.1

6/2013 Bx:PCa Gleason 4+4=8 (Bostwick), 4+5= 9(Johns Hopkins), 2/6 cores, 10%, 40%, DRE neg. (Stage T1c)
7/2013: bone scan and pelvic MRI negative for mets.
9/7/13 open nerves sparing RRP, Johns Hopkins, Ted Schaeffer MD PhD.
9/9/2013 Pathology: SVI, EPE and pos. margin at base (Gl7),N0M0, (Stage T3b)
9/20 2013 Foley and staples removed;

currently: one pad per day for security, ED (pre-op and post op)
Watchful waiting until next PSA in 2 months

I've learned in the past couple of weeks since being de-cathed that I will not consciously attempt to pass gas as I will lose at least a little. I do not let it get that far. I am aware that even though I am dry, one of those thin shields in my underwear is probably going to be with me forever. I have absolutely no probelm with that as I know that some of you guys would be very happy to be in that situation. Our plumbing is different now and there are fewer "safeguards". I cannot imagine that things could completely get back to where they were before surgery. But I have nothing to complain about. I am dry, with a thin layer of "protection".

I'm six months post RALP now and I can pass gas, laugh, sneeze and everything else without any leakage, just have to give it time.