How significant were your urinary issues after surgery?

How significant were your urinary issues after surgery?

Did they become better over time, if so how long?

Anyone left permanently unable to urinate on their own?


Weighing pro's and con's of surgery for/with my dad and this is an area of concern.

Steve it really is so rare?? Well that is good news! I hear all sorts of things, honestly...

After 4 - 6 month were you able to eliminate the pads completely?

Steve n Dallas said...
EVERYONE is different. If 20 guys reply you'll get 20 different results.

Anyone left permanently unable to urinate on their own? -> That shouldn't even be on your list it's so rare.

I agree, it is very rare. Unfortunately, I am one who has experienced that and now have a permanent supra pubic catheter (SPC). Haven't come across anyone else on this forum with the same problem, and only know of one other person in my support group.

To put it in perspective, I think I prefer my situation to those who suffer permanent incontinence, but I guess that is up to each individual. Living with an SPC is a nuisance but really not much more than that.

Chas

Hi Chask,

Did the incontinence start after surgery? I don't see in your "signature" when you had your surgery?

Also you stated, living with SPC is better then incontinence, do you mean in the sense you don't have to go to the bathroom 200 times a day or don't leak? I am trying to follow, thanks!

I had significant leakage in the months after surgery, but that improved as the months wore on. I was nearly dry a year after surgery but then had to have radiation. And radiation changed everything. Now I leak constantly.

TinkerbellRM22 said...
Hi Chask,

Did the incontinence start after surgery? I don't see in your "signature" when you had your surgery?

Also you stated, living with SPC is better then incontinence, do you mean in the sense you don't have to go to the bathroom 200 times a day or don't leak? I am trying to follow, thanks!

I had Laparascopic Surgery (non robotic) in August 2013. I was virtually dry by the time RT started in January 2014. Then suddenly in May 2014 incontinence returned and gradually got worse to the point I was using 6 or 7 pads per day. This made going out anywhere very difficult. At the same time I had a very weak stream when I did urinate intentionally. It was following a few cystoscopies to find the cause of the weak stream that I gradually switched from being incontinent to retentive.

The Uro's have blamed the issue on RT and suggested that my urinary sphincter was damaged. I have resisted further treatment to clear any possible strictures, because I am concerned I would return to incontinence and I found the leaking unbearable.

But don't be put off by my experience. It is pretty extreme and very unusual.

Chas