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Posted 3/7/2007 12:08 AM (GMT 0)
This is my first try at this, so please excuse my question if it is located somewhere on the site that I cannot find.  I am 4 weeks today out of the hospital from the da Vinci procedure.  All was very good with my "final pathology" report. (thank god)  I was prepared for all that I read and was told regarding incontinence but my question has to do with simply this;  Does it gradually decrease in flow and frequency or at 4, 5 or 6 months do I wake up one morning and I see a noticiable difference?

Many thanks,

DanMc

Posted 3/7/2007 12:54 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Dan!
We found the decrease in flow to be gradual, but happening in stages.
First the feeling of no control; then control while lying and sitting but not able to get to the bathroom without gushing; then being able to get to the bathroom.

From there the ability to hold developed, but only for short periods of time which in our case at the 5 month point is what we consider normal holding and able to hold all night.

But, everyone is different, although what I've shared here I've also read from others. Bluebird has a recent post that lists this in stages. If I find it I'll bump it to the top and hope you find it.

Good luck and stay with us! Way to go on your pathology report! We walked out of the dr.'s office in tears of relief when our good one came in.

;o) Linda & Bob
Posted 3/7/2007 12:57 AM (GMT 0)
Dan . . . I just found the post you want to read.  It's titled "KW's Journey" and I just bumped it to the top.  An excerpt from it is as follows . . ..from Bluebirds posting under that thread. ** Excerpts taken from a wonderful book called “Dr. Patrick Walsh’s Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer” by: Patrick C. Walsh, M.D. and Janet Farrar Worthington.   Copyright 2001…..   ** Urinary continence: The return of urinary control:     ** Phase One is when you can remain dry when lying down.   ** Phase Two is when you’re dry when you’re walking around.   ** If you can walk to the bathroom and not urinate until you get there, that’s a GREAT SIGN!!!… it means that the sphincter is intact.   ** Phase Three, you are dry when you stand up (using muscles that put pressure on the sphincter) after sitting.   ** Remember, the recovery of urinary control is a slow process.   The most important thing you can do during this time is not to get discouraged.
Posted 3/7/2007 1:11 AM (GMT 0)
Dan,

As was mentioned everyone is different but I know you are seeking any and all information that you can. In my case the improvement from little or no control to some control occurred in a matter of days after the cath removal. From some control to dry at night and sitting down took about two to three weeks. I went from about 4 Serenity Poise pads a day in week 4 to 1 or 2 a day in week 6. At about 8 weeks I was at 1 pad a day and not wearing any pads at night. At 10 weeks 1 pad would last 2 or 3 days but for hygiene reasons I changed it everyday. Shortly thereafter I went padless and would have a few drops a day get on my underwear primarily when I was moving around a lot. I felt good at that point and then here a couple of weeks ago it increased and I am back to one pad a day that would last 2 or 3 days if I did not change it. From what I have gathered the improvement slows down dramatically once you get to the primarily stress incontinence level. Once I had gotten off the pads I stopped doing the kegels as it was just not on my mind. Now I am back to doing them everyday and have noticed improvement. I hope to try to go padless again once I get those muscles toned up better.

Tamu
Posted 3/7/2007 1:14 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Dan I am 7 weeks past DaVinci Surgery and I have had what I am told are good results. I no longer use a pad, but I am almost always aware of my control.  It is not yet second nature.  I still occasionally squirt, but can control that easily. It is a gradual change and you should make sure you are doing your "kegal" exercising everyday. Be sure you are flexing the right muscle. lightly press your finger against the area back of your scrotum and feel it tighten up. Also, When you are standing at the toilet practice stopping and starting your flow. Good Luck with everything Post not edited ~ bottom had white blank area and this was cleared!!!   Post Edited By Moderator (bluebird) : 7/29/2007 7:56:45 PM (GMT-6)
Posted 3/7/2007 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
Many thanks for all the responses.  It has been most helpful and reassuring.  It took me a while to find this site and I only regret not finding it sooner.  Anyone having questions regarding da Vinci please feel free to ask. 
Posted 3/7/2007 3:44 AM (GMT 0)
    DanMc,    Wish you luck with your incontenance recovery.  If for some reason you lag behind the average don't feel like your the only one.  There are more of us out here.

    Good Luck,  KW

 

Posted 3/7/2007 5:12 AM (GMT 0)
Hi ~ DanMc   & Loved Ones,   Caring Enough to Share…..                         A    “Special”   Warm Welcome   to   You!         This is truly a great forum!!! ~ You have joined! You are now part our forum family ~ a group of wonderful individuals who are so willing to share their journey .   Thank you for joining all of us in the continued road to HealingWell…..   KNOWLEDGE IS POWER... and POWER conquers fear   Your thread: Decreasing incontinence ...  is a wonderful gift you've given to all of us.   It is so important for Newbies down the road to know that they are not alone and any information we can provide them is so important.     There are many Threads on this forum and we’ve listed a few on the Helpful Hints Page. Continue to read as much as you can…. It will truly ease your mind. Our thoughts and prayers will be with you as you continue to move forward in Your Journey.   In Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy   “God Bless You”   It's a little prayer   ~   "God Bless You" ...but it means so much each day, It means may angels guard you and guide you on your  way     (Direct Link ~ just click on the title below and a new window will open!   Reminder … click on the REFRESH icon once you get there) Helpful Hints for New Members... Hope this helps you! :)
Posted 5/27/2007 2:09 PM (GMT 0)
5-24-2007 Partial Quote from DanMc J First, the great news....."0" PSA at three month check following DaVinci on Feb. 5 !  Emotionally drained waiting for path report.    5-24-2007 Signature Line DanMc:  55 yrs. old....6.1 PSA with 3 + 3 = 6 Gleason and T1c. Diagnosed from elevated PSA.  DaVinci was best option given my research.  Very good final pathology.     7-29-2007   Partial Quote from Dan on different thread! second PSA last week following DaVinci 5 months ago:  0.0% !!!!!!!!!   Hi ~ DanMc,   Great News….    With PSA and Path Report!!! Couldn’t pass this up ~ so posted it here too! We will see you on your new thread (listed below) with your          1st Woo~Hoo  sent 5-24-07   2nd Woo~Hoo  sent 7-29-07   In Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy     (Direct Link ~ just click on the title below and a new window will open!   Reminder … click on the REFRESH icon once you get there)   Bladder Infection following Prostatectomy Post Edited (bluebird) : 7/29/2007 7:55:00 PM (GMT-6)
Posted 5/27/2007 5:46 PM (GMT 0)

   Not sure I'm the one you wwant to hear from since I'm one of the "leakers" here.  Work your kegeals like the Dr. says to at first.  Do not try to over do them. After you get healed up for a couple of months you might be able to add more reps.  At over 7 months post op I am working the Kegeals as often as I think of it.  Seems to have made a differance in the last week or so.  I have cut out almost all caffeene also.

   Hope you dry up quic, but your not alone if you dont.

  Keep working at it

  KW

Posted 6/4/2007 2:26 PM (GMT 0)
 I have found, after doing Kegels for a couple of weeks, that it helps to try the following without wearing a pad.

When in the bathroom with no pants or pads try sitting, coughing and generally stressing the sphincter.  You can train yourself much better if you can actually see the leakage.

I seem to remember that people train babies by allowing them to walk around in the garden with no nappy and I think the same thing helps us.

Also, once you have some degree of control try not urinate for at least two hours. Then do the above tests.

It seems to be helping me but I have not seen these techniques written about elsewhere.

Does anyone have better information on these methods, is it written up somewhere?

Bird6

Posted 6/4/2007 7:49 PM (GMT 0)

Here's what my surgeon told me today--very similar to everything else posted here but with a few specific differences.  BTW, I had my cath removed today at 4 days.  His guidelines:

1. No lifting anything over 3 pounds for the first week. Nothing over 10 lbs for the first month.

2. No kegels for the first two days after cath removal. Just let it flow and rest.

3. after two days with no kegels, do 100 kegels spread over a day. Try that for a couple days, then add 10 more each day until I work myself up to 300/day.  If, at any point, it gets to be too much and cause more leaking because of the  exhaustion of the sphincter, then plateau it at that level for a couple of days.

4. Continence will return as follows: first, dry all night. Second dry during the mornings but leaking in the afternoon and evenings as the sphincter and all get tired.  This is a good time to take afternoon naps. third, dry in the afternoons, finally dry around the clock with occasional drips.  Then the rest of the way dry.  This ought to take 6-8 weeks.

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