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Time frames on continence and return of erections

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Posted 3/10/2016 1:19 PM (GMT 0)
I am sitting in my surgeons office for my 1 month post op appt as I post this. I am 45 and have never had any health problems so this whole things has punched me in the face. I assumed I would be that guy that came out of surgery perfect and back to work in a week. My views on health and myself have changed drastically in 1 month. I feel like I have a google Ph.D. on the topic of PC and prostatectomies (actually I found the information very conflicting at times). I thank God that I stumbled on this forum, as I find the input from the real experts (you survivors) so much more helpful than the vanilla information from most medical sites and my Dr.

My question right now is when did YOU start to see any return of erections after surgery? I'd also like to know Time frames on regaining urinary continence.

I know these are basic questions that have been addressed in many different posts but I'm trying to wrap my head around all of this and these 2 things are consuming my thoughts now.

Thank you and God bless all of you for adding to this forum. I've gained so much help and comfort from you already.
Posted 3/10/2016 1:25 PM (GMT 0)
Recovery times vary quite a bit for continence and erections depending on the skill of the surgeon and how much of the nerve bundles they had to remove. I was fully continent when I pulled my catheter but since I had one side of the nerve bundles removed, I was going to have ED for quite a while. I was making progress in the ED department about three months post-surgery but then I had to go on Lupron so little willie is on a long holiday.

Your issues might takes months to resolve.
Posted 3/10/2016 2:40 PM (GMT 0)
Yours is the million dollar question, and its impossible to answer. Everyone has a different recovery based on many variables. Don't expect improvement in these areas on a daily basis, but rather in two week intervals. My recovery slow and gradual.
Posted 3/10/2016 2:44 PM (GMT 0)
I don't think I've told this story in a while.

At my three month meeting I was down to two pads a day. My URO/surgeon told me he wanted me dry by our next meeting in three months.

He said it in a way that gave me the impression I had a choice in the matter. Anyway, a few days later on Saturday morning I didn't use a pad and haven't used one since.

Erections - don't start getting concerned till about the 15 to 18 month mark... Ya gotta heal etc..
Posted 3/10/2016 2:46 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to HW, sorry you need to be here.

Those aren't easy questions to answer as there are so many factors. Recovery of both is somewhere between a few weeks and never. It's very individual. Most seem to recover in the 6 month range.

Give yourself a few months, it's big surgery and can take 3-6 months for deep healing. Most guys are back at work within 2-4 weeks of surgery. My brother was out 4 weeks because he has a very physically demanding job.

You can do a few things to help, eat well, appropriate exercises (walking is really good), kegals, and so on.

Hang in there, it can seem like a long process, but it gets better as the weeks go by.
But normal does change.

Andrew
Posted 3/10/2016 2:49 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome Bokeiffus,

Everyone is different so there is no "normal". In my case the continence issue was really not much of an issue at all. From the day the catheter came out, I knew when I had to go and simply went. Frequency was an issue for about three weeks and like you there were dribbles occasionally, but I would say you're well on the way to full recovery in that area. ED is a whole different animal. My surgeon had to take most of the nerve bundle on one side, so my expectations were rather low initially. For the first three months, even with Cialis, it was like "shooting pool with a rope". At about 4 months the Cialis started to kick in and was able to get an erection good enough for penetration, but it was short lived. It gradually improved over the next few months until at almost exactly a year I was able to achieve an erection with no meds at all and that has been the case ever since. Patience and practice, patience and practice is about the only advice I have.

Keep the faith,
Tom yeah
Posted 3/10/2016 2:58 PM (GMT 0)
And then there is me.
We are all different.
28 months out and I'm still leaking, and under physical stress there is no stopping it.
As for woodies, I've had one about 2 weeks ago while sleeping. Very nice dream, but I woke up to find a 2/3 erect johnson and my left nut hurting.

It really depends on how extensive the surgery and what kind of shape you were and are in.

Good luck brother.
Posted 3/10/2016 3:06 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome Bok. Don't give up and become too frustrated. You're only a month out from major damage to your plumbing. It takes some time to heal. At 7 months out, I'm at about 75% on the firm-o-meter. Viagra helps. My continence is similar to yours. I wear a shield, which I probably don't need (but I'm stubborn, lol!), and really only have a 'squirt' when rising or doing something involving stress and I don't prepare for it.
Posted 3/10/2016 4:09 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much for the responses. I guess for me just seeing the different responses, time wise, calms my mind. The posts I find most encouraging are from those who are seeing progress well down the road with or w/out further medical intervention. I'm learning that must have patience.

Both nerves were spared per the surgeon and I've never had any sort of ED prior. I was expecting to be one of the few who came out with full control and potency. I am humbled by my existence now.

Today's dr visit revealed an infection ( via urine sample) and I was put on daily 7mg dose of cialis, 20 mg dose of cialis before attempting an erection (as needed were the exact words) and an antibiotic.

I hope to update soon with good progress and contribute to others struggling, in the future.
Posted 3/10/2016 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to our corner of the world.

I'm one of the "worst case" guys. Incontinence comes and goes. Right now I'm back to several pads a day, up from a couple of years of just one a day, and little leakage. At 6 years out, I don't like seeing this new trend.

ED is permanent, it seems. Trimix is my friend.
Posted 3/10/2016 7:35 PM (GMT 0)
At 6 years, if you don't mind talking about it, why not try one of the incontinence procedures available and/or an implant. I ask because I've run your scenario through my mind many times since I've had the surgery. Again , all of this information/support is so appreciated.
Posted 3/10/2016 10:56 PM (GMT 0)
I had my first partial erection about 2-1/2 weeks after surgery, when I woke up in the middle of the night in pain because willie was being held down by the thick pad I was wearing.

I went back to work after 3 weeks (a bit early) wearing shields full time, and stopped the shields at about week 6 or 7. I drip (not squirt) occaasionally at unpredictable times. I was fully capable sexually by 6 weeks.

Them putting you on cialis daily is pretty typical. Don't be afraid to try things. You can't break it.
Posted 3/10/2016 11:30 PM (GMT 0)
Bokeiffus,

I guess I am one of the lucky guys. Post daVinci surgery I never was incontinent and only suffer from very minor stress incontinence. Even during the 10 days I had the catheter in after surgery I was getting nighttime erections. I had both nerves spared when I had surgery a little over 2 years ago, but I had positive margins which required me to get salvage IGRT treatments several months ago.

Hang in there! Prostate surgery even robotic surgery is very complicated and traumatizes the entire pelvic area. Usually it takes 6 months or longer before any sensation down there starts to wake up.
Posted 3/11/2016 1:54 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the group. As many have said everyone is different.

I was lucky to never have any incontinence and only wore pads for a couple of days after the catheter was removed.

The erections was very different. I tried Viagra after 4 months but it did not help at all, my URO put me on Trimix injections and I continued on that for 9 months. I was getting a few erections from time to time, but not firm enough for sex. I started a low dose of Cialis 10 months following surgery and that really started getting the erections back. Now 18 months post surgery, I have full erections like before surgery.

As others have said, the erections came back gradually over time (which is what my URO told me should happen) but I was frustrated because I thought they should come back quicker. It is different for each person, but I feel very lucky that everything is at a new normal.

Best of luck to you as you continue to improve. It just takes time.
Posted 3/11/2016 5:36 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Bok. You and I are about on the same path. I am 40 and had my robotic surgery on 1/29. I am 5 weeks out now without the cath and I am getting better. Mostly now is dribble mostly towards the end of the day. I work in a warehouse and can tell later in the day when I am getting a little fatigued because I leak a little more. I only squirt when I sneeze or cough. As for ED my guy hasn't had the comeback I had hoped. I have had some life down there but nothing I can use. I am on a 60mg diet of viagra. My doc says to try 100mg before I want to do the deed to see if that works. My thought is I am not so worried about the erections yet because I would rather get the urine under control first. Quite honestly I am tired of smelling piss.
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