Incontinence after cath removal

What is everyone's experience with incontinence for the first few weeks after your catheter was removed? Are some days worse than others? I'm having bad day today!

Hi Researcher,

It has been seven weeks since my catheter came out. From the very first day, I have had little or no leakage when lying down or sitting. However, when standing or walking, I have pretty much constant leakage. I use Depends Male Guards. I change them about every hour when I am up and around (at work for instance.)

It has gotten slightly better lately but I would still say that I am still pretty much incontinent when I am on my feet. I have heard several people say that it typically takes about three months to get dry. Some do better. Hopefully you will be one.

Don't expect miracles. I did and was disappointed and frustrated. If you are having "good and bad days" then you must have some control. Just hang in there. It will get better.

Ben

Thanks guys. Intellectually, I know it will get better... it's just hard to believe it when you leak like a sieve sometimes!

I think today is worse becuse I had more coffee then I have had in recent days, so Brent1, thanks for validating my suspicion.

Researcher:  Regaining continence is different with everyone.  As my urolgist says, you just have to be patient.  However, continence will return!

During the period immediatley after catheter removal, I discovered more dripping/leakage toward the end of the day.  I was told this is typical b/c your muscles are tired after working so hard during the earlier part of the day.  In time, however, this aspect improved.  I am totally continent and you will be too in due course.

Hi, Researcher. Hope today is going better for you! My husb. was almost completely dry, except for a few squirts, for the first two weeks following cath removal. Then the gushing began with activity. We had such a good start and then it went totally downhill. So, we understand how you feel.

We're almost six months post and still incontinent with standing or any activity. That obviously puts us in the long-range planning group! However, we did change up our kegel routine and took Biker90's 10x/day rather than our surgeon recommended 2x/day. I do believe we're seeing some improvement (Thanks, Biker!). Hope it holds up, because it is so tough to go through every day leaking like a sieve. The emotional and "studly" side really takes a beating. Even when you know to expect it pre-surgery, going through it is a completely different deal.

Two-of-us - I just noticed you had yours in Austin. That's where we went for our da Vinci. What a lively city - when you're up to partying, that is!

Hi Researcher….   Kegels!!!   What does your doctor tell you to do?   Obviously there are different opinions…   After understanding that we had to help the new muscle that was going to be in charge of our urinary continence…. We read up on him (the sphincter muscle) and found that we could work together!!! The sphincter muscle is so important to retaining urinary continence. Before surgery get this guy in shape…. Like any type of exercise… you can over do it.   But since he’s never had to work before you better get him learning the ropes J   Before surgery: Our urologist said to work the muscle when urinating… the start, stop, hold, start several times during urination .   This strengthens the muscle.   Also, walking stairs is a really good exercise.     After surgery:   We were to still do the kegels when urinating and stairs during his regular workout.   This is the only time Buddy does them.   He allows his first urination in the morning to have a nice steady flow!!  Then the rest of the day he does his start / stop / start /stop.   No doubt in our mind that the kegels, walking, and stairs have been instrumental in our continued recovery of urinary continence.  I will tell you this... the sound of the early morning stream is music to my ears.... and the start / stop / start / stop continues to bring a smile to my face.  I put together a little bit of information…. I hope it helps you! I also popped Kegel Help! Thread back to the top of the forum…1-28.   Partial Quote from Jim *Our Biker90 Post-op day 9, past-cath day 3. Still no floods, no leaks and no drips. I threw out the remaining pads and diapers this morning as a gesture of dedication to continence. Doing Kegels as prescribed by the doc. (5 reps of 5 secs on and 5 secs off, 10 times a day, on the hour from 6 am to 4pm) The time of day is mine not his. Did my daily stretching excercises (for arthritis) and my daily walk. It sure feels good to get back to a routine again. I drink lots of water because peeing feels so good. This is a side benefit of getting rid of my oversized, lumpy prostrate. I keep discovering small pleasures that I had taken for granted or overlooked entirely. EXCERPT:…..On page 247 of Dr. Walsh’s book he states: Exercises you can do:   Every time you urinate, do it standing up.   You can’t practice the following exercises, which strengthen the external sphincter and speed up your recovery of urinary control, while you’re sitting down.   Start your stream, and once it’s in full force, stop the stream by contracting the muscles in your buttocks --- not your abdominal muscles, not the muscle “up in front” around the penis.   Tighten your buttocks: imagine you’re trying to hold a quarter between your cheeks.   Hold the urine back for 5 or 10 seconds, and repeat as many times as you can.   Note: Only perform these exercises when you’re urinating; if you keep contracting these muscles throughout the day, you’ll overdo it—the sphincter tires easily—and you’ll end up wetter than you would otherwise.   Previous paragraphs address… things to speed up your urinary control.   One is not using any artificial devices…… and certain high blood pressure medication relaxes this muscle so you may need to check with your doctor.     After the catheter is removed…. Excerpt from Dr. Patrick C. Walsh’s “Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer      > Until your urinary control has returned to an acceptable level, don’t force fluids.     >Once the catheter is out, you’ve got to slow the pace considerably.   Avoid drinking excessive amounts of fluids, and stay away from caffeine in all forms---coffee, tea, even soft drinks.   Caffeine, especially, is a powerful pharmacological agent that increases the frequency and urgency with which you need to urinate.   Also ~ make sure you’re doing your kegels and walking stairs when possible.   Buddy had a great recovery with urinary continence and we attribute it to no caffeine intake.     Obviously ~ everybody's body is different....... so figuring out what's best ~ is trial and error for sure.  Glad we can pull from all the postings and see what fits in our path.     Direct Links to….. Kegel information…   http://www.ucihs.uci.edu/urology/prostate/patient_inst/curpatient.html (UC  Irvine Da Vinci surgery) Dr. Thomas Ahlering   Excerpt from Dr. T. Ahlering website Initiate a regular routine of male kegel exercises .  Kegel exercise strengthens the pelvic floor muscle group which are involved in stemming the flow of urine.  By building them up now, you will speed up your return to continence after surgery.  Also, strengthing the pelvic floor muscles improves orgasmic function, and thus will help you preserve and regain potency.  In the interest of continence and potency, it is essential you begin a consistent regiment as soon as possible and continue to maintain it faithfully after surgery.   http://www.ucihs.uci.edu/urology/prostate/patient_inst/kegel.html   (Male Kegels)   Good Luck!!   Kay   Miyoko / Member     Kegel Help?   Thread by KW / Member (direct link ~ just click on the title!   Reminder to click on the REFRESH icon once there)    

Hi Bill!
Back when Bob had his surgery I had a question almost similar to yours regarding frequency and small amounts of urine. He was going sometimes every few minutes -- up to 5 or 6 times per hour. I was wondering on his behalf if this was the norm. . .again finding out each case is different.

The control seemed to come back in spurts (no pun intended . ha ha). His greatest control was at night it seemed and gradually he leaked less and went less often during the day. Days would go by without any sign of progress and then "poof" the next day a big step would be taken. All the while he kept up his kegals. . . . .again, remember NOT to overdo them either. Groups of 10 or 12 up to 3 times per day seems to be sufficient.. . . .so as to not overwork the muscle!

Now at 4 months post surgery, Bob continues to use one light pad daily, most days with no or very minimal leakage.

Take care and please keep us posted!

;o) Linda & Bob

Bill,

I had a similar experience when standing up or moving around. Sleeping at night I was able to go all night without getting up to go but that first step out of bed in the morning would cause leakage. In looking back I now believe that the amount that your bladder will hold is totally dependent upon the development of the new sphincter for the uretha. After the first two weeks I began to be able to hold more urine and go longer. Today, I can generally go 3 to 4 hours without having to urinate. One of my problems was that I just did not have that sense or feeling of when I needed to go for about six weeks after the surgery. My surgeon said that was common and that it would come back. He was right. about a week after I saw him all of a sudden that feeling came back.

Tamu

Hi~ KW,   As time permits…. Maybe you could start your own Thread… “Your Journey” and give us an overview (for all of us and Newbies)… as to the path you’ve walked.   Your signature page has a lot of information and with the Feb. 20 th appointment… for Cystoscope with possible Cottigen injection into bladder neck to help control leaking…   Your stepping-stones need to be documented .....(just my personal opinion)      Let us know how things are going with you….Okay!!!   Our thoughts and prayers are with you ~ each and every day! In Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy

Hi! ~ KW, I’m going to start a New Topic / Thread   so we can talk…Okay!! Look for a new Thread called    For KW…Getting Started with a New Topic / Thread See you there!!!!      Lee

Pianoman,

Who was your surgeon, and where?

Thanks,

Markus

PianoMan said...
Hi Researcher: Looks like you and I may have had surgery the same day. I hope all on this board are recovering well.

Regarding incontinence-- good days/bad days, I was asking myself that same question when I found this forum today. It seems that's what's happened to me. Things were heading in the right direction, but since yesterday, I've been dripping like a faucet. Like member, "two-of-us," my problem is when I'm vertical. I'm dry through the night or when in the recliner, but once I'm up and around, I start leaking. I've talked to two guys who pretty-much overcame the incontinence right away, only having to buy one package of pads. Not so here, I'm also changing them quite a bit.

I'm wondering if my increased incontinence over the past two days is coincidental to my beginning to mentally and physically stimulate myself to get blood flowing into the penis? Unbelievably, I got about a 90-percent erection yesterday, without Viagra or anything. It was a welcome shocker, but I've got to wonder if it caused the increased leaking.

Anyway, I'm thrilled to have found this site and look forward to learning and sharing with my fellow PC survivors.

Thanks PianoMan. Yes, we did indeed have surgery on the same day, although I opted for an open RP. I too have been having erections... actually had a partial one when my cath was still in! I think this is due to surgeon skill (Cleveland Clinic).

Still got the drip, drip, drip when I'm up and about. Takes time, I guess.

Best of luck in your recovery.

Hang in there Jerrio.  Same thing happened to me.  Catheter came out in California and that night I went out to dinner with no problems. The next day, the 4-hour drive to Vegas was non-eventful -- two stops to pee and that was it.  Then a couple of nights later, I swallowed a little water down the wrong pipe; coughed, and the floodgates opened right in my kitchen.  I ran into the bathroom and couldn't believe what was happening -- I was trying to get my pants off and peed in my shoes and everything.  Now they're telling me that incontinence can get temporarily worse as you heal, when the internal swelling goes away.  Go figure.  In my case, I find the dribbling is worse late in the day and in the evenings and I'm told it's because the pelivc muscles are tired at that time of day. I'm 3-1/2 weeks out now and having better continence in the mornings and early afternoons.  Everybody says it just gets better, so try to be patient my friend.  We're all tryin' with ya.