Incontinence after surgery

Yes, that is one kind of test.

Hi Ray,

Welcome to the club none of us wanted to join. You will get a lot of useful info from the folks on this forum. Congratulations on the clear pathology report.

I consider myself mostly continent at this point because I don’t have to wear any type of incontinence pads to remain dry throughout the day or night. That being said, I still have a small amount of leakage occasionally (just a few drops) if my bladder is full and I move a certain way which puts pressure on my bladder (such as standing up from a soft chair). I also leak occasionally when trying to squeeze out a particularly stubborn fart lol.

Jeff

After my surgery I knew I was incontinent because I'd fill up a large capacity pad in no time at all. It slowly improved, and now I hardly use pads at all. A useful definition of continence is not needing pads. So, yes, in time you will begin feeling full in the bladder just like you did before surgery.

A few thoughts about incontinence after RALP--

Keep walking and working to strengthen your pelvic muscles. Hopefully your doctor told you how to do kegals.

It takes time, let it.

You'll probably be dry at night before you're dry during the day.

A classic moment for a dribble is when you're standing up from a chair.

Some of us (me included) find that we actually leak less when we make sure we're well hydrated

Some also find that the time lag between "soon" and "right freaking NOW" is a lot shorter than it used to be

Under certain circumstances, I'll still wear a thin pad (depends shield)--for example when I'm getting ready to get on an airplane and know I've got an inside seat.

In my view, the definition looks something like this:

Before surgery, I had some moderate BPH, and I had the classic drip-drip after I urinated. Today, I drip a little at more random times...but the frequency and quantity isn't all that different today. Continent before....continent now.

4 Months out. I feel full when I have to pee. Some times I leak even though I don't feel like I need to go if I strain. I go hunting with my boys and when climbing steep hills I leak from the strain. Used one pad while hunting for 4 hrs. Still can out hike my 55 yr old. I flow right through with no feeling at all (except for the warmth) if I am drinking bourbon excessively. You will find when you get up from bed or sitting, you will go straight to the bathroom. Soon you will find yourself forgetting to do that. Then you know you are on the mend. Wish you well on your journey.

Thankyou to all .......I guess I need to sit it out and play the waiting game ....I can’t wait to feel when I need to wee and then am able to use the bathroom. Even to feel a fullish bladder would be great!

I am only 15 days post op so I need to practice more patience. I am thankful for a clean bill of health, which is all that matters really hey. 😉

I've struggled with incontinence ever since my surgery in 2010. I tried a sling, which helped for a while. Recently I went to the sling doc and asked him if anything else could be done. He started talking about an AUS and I asked if there was anything short of surgery that could be done. He looked stumped.

I finally asked about physical therapy and biofeedback for Kegels and he referred me to physical therapy. I can't recommend it highly enough. Anyone whose incontinence doesn't get better within a couple months of surgery should try this. My physical therapist said they get their best results when patients don't wait too long. She also said that urologists rarely send their patients to PT after surgery. What a shame. Another thing doctors should be better educated about.

Didn't mention it before but I was sent to Physical therapy 1 week after RP. The pt program was penile rehab and incontinence rehab. She started me on a tens unit( mild shock) with an appliance that inserts in the rectum. It stimulates the Kegel muscles then lets them relax. Use it 30 minutes every day. Also do regular Kegel exercise at the same time. I swear by the program. She also started me on a VED right away. As I had no nerves she contacted my URO and got a prescription for trimix started so I would have it at my 3 week uro appointment. She stressed keeping blood flow in my penis. The sooner the better. vac .Pump daily and inject every 4 days. At least enough trimix to get plump and good blood flow. We also worked on core and pelvic floor exercises. Went 8 times to pt once a week. I think it was very beneficial.

Hi Ray, welcome, I am slightly ahead of your time line at 5 weeks post op and 4 weeks post catheter. The forum and guys are a real blessing to new members like us. The sensation to pee for the first two weeks was questionable, my physical therapist called to see how I was doing and I mentioned the lack of feeling of the need to go. She said first, plan to go to the bathroom atleast every 2-3 hours, the sensation will come back in time. That really helped with the leaking. Today, I pretty much know when, but the feeling is different, more like pressure, but I only feel it from a standing position, if I'm sitting nothing, thus I have to remember it's 3 hours and go. It's odd but I can go the night with having to go 6 or 7 hours, but never that long during the day. Good luck in the recovery- GLC

Hi everyone....I’m now 5 and half weeks post op and dry at night. However during the day when I walk it’s drip drip. I have tried getting into the habit of visiting the loo every hour or so and it’s pretty good. Even so, the drips start even after I’ve had a wee! If I sit down I feel normal but again upon getting up the drips come. Going out for a couple of hours walking I have no control in the dripping tap.


I read from one of the members that he felt better being well hydrated. My booklet from the doc stated that I should drink a couple of litres of water per day......I am thinking that perhaps he is in with the manufacturers of Tena hahaha...... Can anyone explain why drinking more would help with incontinence .....I’m not sure what I am suppose to do in this regard.

Many thanks

Praise said...
Hi everyone....I’m now 5 and half weeks post op and dry at night. However during the day when I walk it’s drip drip. I have tried getting into the habit of visiting the loo every hour or so and it’s pretty good. Even so, the drips start even after I’ve had a wee! If I sit down I feel normal but again upon getting up the drips come. Going out for a couple of hours walking I have no control in the dripping tap.


I read from one of the members that he felt better being well hydrated. My booklet from the doc stated that I should drink a couple of litres of water per day......I am thinking that perhaps he is in with the manufacturers of Tena hahaha...... Can anyone explain why drinking more would help with incontinence .....I’m not sure what I am suppose to do in this regard.

Many thanks

My theory (based only on opinion, no data to support it), is that the sphincter and the pelvic muscles have to have something to work against. So, having a bladder that fills at a normal rate give the muscles something to do, as opposed to a constantly nearly empty bladder which doesn't have anything there for them to work on.

As I mentioned before, one of the other things that's real is that it seems as if the time lag between "gotta go soon" and "gotta go right NOW" is a lot shorter than it used to be. Which leads to challenges when on a long car drive in cold weather, for example.