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Kegels long after treatment?

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Posted 4/4/2022 4:27 PM (GMT 0)
I had RALP and SRT over three years ago but I occasionally experience leakage — usually after consuming alcohol. Sometimes I leak a bit while I sleep even without consuming alcohol. Would resuming Kegel exercises do anything for me at this point? Do any of you regularly do Kegels to maintain continence?
Posted 4/4/2022 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Paul,
Kegels are your friend. You can never do too many. We often talk about the steady-state anerobic kegel exercises. They're good for building abdominal wall strength. You also need to work on the aerobic kegel. What's that? It's the ability to maintain a slight abdominal wall contraction for long periods of time while walking, standing, sitting, etc.
Posted 4/4/2022 6:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Paul,

When I told my uro/surgeon I was about 99% continent after my RP with just a few drops leakage sometimes after a sneeze or laugh, he suggested PT. I had a session with a PT who had much experience in this and learned how to do proper kegels so that I was using only the urinary sphincter. I got a set of daily exercises and progression schedule for the timings. I was told to make another appointment if I needed to, but I didn't. I followed the progression over the next few weeks, going from lying my side to sitting, and eventually standing, also increasing the hold time of each kegel, plus other variations. I didn't to go back.

Djin
Posted 4/4/2022 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
I just underwent significant abdominal surgery to re-repair a ventral hernia.

I had a catheter for two days.

Somewhere between the catheter, the pain meds and a new body shape i was leaking worse than after my original ralp!! 4 or 5 pads a day sad

Ive been walking and kegeling and have it back to a pad a day, mostly for coughs/sneezes etc…

So yes i believe they continue to be useful.
Posted 4/4/2022 10:45 PM (GMT 0)
My RALP was four years ago. My experienced Uro told me that when he went to Medical School, kegels were only recommended for a finite time after RP. Now, they realize continued kegels are helpful and they recommend we keep doing them. I try to do one good set every day and am doing well.
Posted 4/5/2022 12:00 AM (GMT 0)
I just did 10 while reading this post. RALP on 7/27/17.
Posted 4/5/2022 12:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Paul,
I quit doing them for a number of years but recently went to a new Uro at University of Arizona in Tucson to see what he suggested for my stress incontinence. He said to start kegels again and to keep doing them. He suggested just do 10 at a time, holding for 5 seconds and releasing for 5-10 seconds and breaking them up in sections over the day. So if you are driving somewhere do 10. Before you get out of bed, do 10, etc. He said before you know it you've done 60-70 per day. I'm giving it a try. Hope it helps!
Don
Posted 4/5/2022 7:31 AM (GMT 0)
OH... Just one more-> Kegels are your friend.

My 14th anniversary is just a few months away... Last couple of years I'd leak at some really weird times.... Just a squirt here or there a few times a day.

I did just a few Kegels and BOOM...all gone for the most part.... Now I squirt once or twice a week. (not getting any younger either)
Posted 4/5/2022 2:14 PM (GMT 0)
Kegels have become a way of life. I do them daily without even thinking about it.
Posted 4/5/2022 3:39 PM (GMT 0)

garyi said...
Kegels have become a way of life. I do them daily without even thinking about it.

You mean like kegels and cream cheese???

Djin
Posted 4/5/2022 6:06 PM (GMT 0)

Djin said...
You mean like kegels and cream cheese???
Djin


Maybe he means kegels and lox...
You're getting humorous, Djin. I like seeing this side of you.. Keep 'em coming
Posted 4/5/2022 6:09 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with all the above. I'd even go a bit further: Anything we can do to keep our abdominals in condition can only be good in the long run. For those of us without a prostate, we lost part of the valve arrangement that kept us dry. Keeping the rest of it working is mandatory.
Posted 4/6/2022 2:41 PM (GMT 0)

Your Friend said...

Djin said...
You mean like kegels and cream cheese???
Djin


Maybe he means kegels and lox...
You're getting humorous, Djin. I like seeing this side of you.. Keep 'em coming

No, Djin was being serious, as always ;-)

I try to help, and all I get is kegeled on. It's discouraging, and I'm starting to leak!
Posted 4/6/2022 3:52 PM (GMT 0)
At the time I was diagnosed, in 2008, my urologist handed me a sheet about how to do kegels. He said no matter what treatment path I followed, doing kegels before treatment would improve my out come. I did the kegels for the next 7 months as I investigated my treatment choices. I decided on RP as my treatment. After the surgery, on the day the catheter was removed, I walked out of the urologist’s office dry.

My urologist said that with the “plumbing rearrangement” that maintenance kegels should be part on my “new normal”. So here 13 years later, I still practice a low level of kegels which has continued to work for me.

FG
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