What was your kegal routine post-surgery?

Hey Tanya,

I did 5 sec on, 5 sec off, for 5 reps, 10 times a day.

I updated my post with a section on continence if you are interested:

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=759965

Jim

I doubled the Kegel routine one day because I thought if 10 is good then 20 has to be better. I got wet that night. I believe that you can overdo it. The sphincter is a small muscle and quite sensitive to exercise. Bluebird also has excellent info on Kegels.

Good luck...

Jim

I found that doing them while urinating post-surgery was fine.

I would treat the kegels like any other exercise. If you bench press 200 pounds normally, don't jump to 300 tomorrow... work your way up to it, and see what you can handle. I think your body will respond in a way that you know what is too much.

I did/do them when I think about it, so it varies. I more actively did it immediately after surgery, of course. Now I have some stress incontinence, so once in awhile if I think about it, I do some. The nice thing about doing it when urinating is that you can tell if you are doing it right, and I'm sure your subconcious brain records that info on some level.

Good luck!

Kegel Help? KW Kegels - to pee or not to pee? pianoman Hey Tanya & Ken, I've placed the links above for you....  and will add this link to Helpful Hints... Our little sphincter muscle was in shape before surgery... No doubt this helped in our recovery....   Our routine:  After surgery:   We were to still do the kegels when urinating .   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.    We hope you're "BOTH" doing well on this new stone you're on.   Keeing you close in thoughts and prayers as you continuing to take One~Day~At~A~Time....  Y'all have done so well!!!!!  Hugs from...Lee & Buddy

For the first 6 weeks or so, I did the usual 5 sec hold, 5 sec rest for 10 reps, 3 sets/day. Then I added 5 quick squeezes, holding on the last squeeze for 5 sec, then rest 5 sec. I found the addition of the 5 quick squeezes really started to help improve my incontinence. I try to do 3 sets of 15 per day now. Still at 2 pads/day, but that's down from 5/day right after surgery.

Hi ~ Tanya & Ken,   Just a little back information to help understand what we are dealing with. Getting the little guy (sphincter muscle) ready before surgery day… !!  This is why the exercises (kegels, walking, stairs) are soooooooo important to strengthen this little muscle before surgery.   So ~ when it’s time for him to kick in and start working…. He will be ready! The main thing our urologist told us is to “not overwork him”!!!   Take time to heal/recover….   Listen to your body.. it will tell you what it needs and what it doesn’t need.   Don’t push too fast because you really are going to feel good…. But take it slow!!!   An **excerpt from Dr. Walsh’s Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer   **Men are equipped with three separate anatomical structures that control urine – a sphincter at the bladder neck, the prostate itself, and the external sphincter.   Radical Prostatectomy knocks out two of these—the sphincter at the bladder neck and, of course, the prostate—leaving only the external sphincter to do the work of three.   **Because of the powerful structures upstream, this (external sphincter) is never tested or even used much in most men….   Right after Mr. Hang said goodbye!!!   A small amount of leakage.   When we got home (after holding it for approximately 1 hour ~ Buddy was thrilled to be peeing like a teenager again!!!   START the urine flow and once it was in full flow STOP   Hold for 10 seconds   ~   He felt the sphincter muscle tighten up START regular flow STOP   Hold for 10 seconds START regular flow STOP   Hold for 10 seconds START regular flow STOP   Hold for 10 seconds (depending on the amount of urine…you may do 5 reps)   (this is music to my ears...)   Tanya ~ after talking through this last night… Buddy recalls adding a few (in-between) kegels during the day when he was up and about in the house.   He also pushed the sphincter during his walks to hold the urine and again could feel the muscle strengthening over time.   He could also feel the muscle during the stop/start while urinating.   Definitely the time spent getting this little guy ready prior to surgery ….was a huge reason for his continence so early on.   He stopped doing the in-between kegels early on in his recover… because of this.   No doubt he would have continued doing more kegels if he felt it was needed.   That’s where listening to your body comes into play.   This is so important….   Before surgery ~ Buddy started a wellness program when he retired 4 years ago.   2.5 hours (Mon-Fri)   His routine included walking, leg lifts, stairmaster, weigh machines, hand weights, and swimming) established before being diagnosed and continued right up until surgery time…. Adding kegels to this routine!     After surgery ~ Buddy held off his regular workout routine for 8 weeks…   He walked 3 hours daily….1 hour each… a.m. /noon /pm during this time period…..   Week 1 through Week 3 ~ He walked the driveway which has a nice incline… gradually going further and further up the lane.   Week 4 through Week 8 ~ He began slowly heading toward the water wheel approx 1 mile from home…which has quite a bit of incline… since we are in the mountains.   Week 6 ~ I bought him 3 lb. hand weights to carry.   His upper body was screaming for some kind of workout J   Week 8 through Current Date …..Back to the YMCA…   (Tuesdays & Thursdays only) Time:   Listen to your body… Don’t over do it and gradually increase your time. His workouts have a few modifications.   No sit down exercises (bicycling, machines with hard surfaces).   We are really going to take care of the little sphincter muscle that’s doing all the work in keeping his urinary control in control.   Concentrating on walking indoor track, upper body stretching, abdominal area strengthening, and the stair master machine to help strengthen the sphincter muscle.   He finishes up his workout with a gentle swim and a nice hot shower!!   At 11 months and currently… You must listen to your body.   Buddy’s 5’9” and weighs 162 and is in good health!!! J Reminder:   We are in our 11 th month of healing/recovery at the time this schedule was listed. He started out with less time…. And built up to the current time… 2.5 hour workout at the Y! 2 days / week *Tuesdays & Thursdays   20 minutes walking the track 20 minutes upper body stretching and arm weights 12 minutes stair machine.   He does the full step (not the little short ones) 20 minutes walking the track 20 minutes upper body stretching and arm weights 12 minutes stair machine. (full step) 06 minutes walking the track 15 minutes swimming 15 minute “nice hot shower”…. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh   I hope this helps and will add this to “Our Journey”.     Yes ~ even the doctors have different opinions and I think it’s truly up to the individual to get in tune with his “body” and the little guy (his sphincter muscle!) This is such a small muscle and needs to be protected at all cost!!!   This works for us and are truly happy to share! Happy “kegeling”… on our paths to HealingWell. In friendship ~ Lee & Buddy

Hi ~ Tanya & Ken,   48 stairs… whew! A nice daily workout for sure.   You will truly see the difference with having the stairs to help strengthen the sphincter muscle.     Good grief as I’m reading your note I’m actually visualizing you scrambling to get under the garage door and I’m yelling to Ken… Let go!!! Let go!!! Whew… we made it!!!   Seriously ~ I could feel every moment…   UGH… Time to get one of those rocks to hide a key in!!!   Hope things have settled down with the weather out your way.   Those snowblowers are worth their weight in gold…   Our family flew out of Denver yesterday a.m. and they said the takeoff was something they hope to never experience again!   Please let us know how Ken’s feeling today….   Hopefully you guys are just kicking back during the storm.     Refresh my memory…. Are you taking time off during this time?    Thinking of you…..   In Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy

Hey Ken and Tanya,

Sounds like you need to shoot that d____ garage door before it hurts somebody.

Nice to hear you two are getting your life somewhat back to normal. Hang in there, spring is on the way...

Jim