HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Incontinence Question

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 7/18/2007 3:59 PM (GMT 0)

I'm 8 weeks post surgery and although on the continence front I'm now without pads and can perform most activity without leakage like cutting the grass, doing yardwork, exercising by doing stairs and walking an hour a day, I still get these "squirts" during the day that occur at times like standing after sitting, making a quick move with my body or when stretching. Most of the time I can catch it by "Kegeling," but other times I'll end up with a spot in my shorts. And sometimes I get the feeling like there is urine in the meatus of the penis but is not leaking. Just wondering if anybody else has experienced anything similar, and how long did it take to cease?

___________________________________________________

Age: 49

Diagnosed: March, 2007

PSA: 3.0

Biopsy: Gleason 6, 5 core samples out of 15 with <5% cancer.

Surgery: May 21, 2007, Florida Hospital Orlando, FL, performed by Dr. Rakesh Patel assisted by Dr. Jeffrey Thill.

Pathology Report: Gleason 7 (3+4), negative margins, no seminal vesicle invasion, 15% of prostate involved, tumors multifocal, lymph nodes left intact.

PSA Post Surgery: 0.01, undetectable

Posted 7/18/2007 6:21 PM (GMT 0)
Same age, situation, and time period here after surgery 9/11/07. Probably took a good three months before I didn't see any yellow spots in the underwear. Almost a year coming up and everything is fine here, although it did take awhile to get a hard-on eyes Still some "muscle pain" or so the doc calls it on orgasm.

Ooops make that 9/11/06

Posted 7/19/2007 4:59 AM (GMT 0)
JCL, I'm almost 6 weeks post RRP and am experienceing everythng you are. Dry most of the time, unless I really overdo on the exercise. Still have the occasional "surprise" drip, and like you can sometimes catch it with a squeeze. Things seem to be getting better all the time, though. Wish the ED issue were improving more quickly, however . . .
Posted 7/19/2007 12:14 PM (GMT 0)
JCL,

What you describe is what I experienced. At about three months I became totally continent You are progressing well.

Tamu
Posted 7/19/2007 2:54 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for responding Tamu, Puget and Kdfisher. Glad to know that this should take care of itself soon.

One other question. I haven't had a cup of coffee or any alcohol since surgery. I've heard horror stories about guys who became pretty continent and then had a relapse after drinking coffee and/or alcohol due to the strong pharmacological nature of the two. I never did drink much alcohol but did enjoy a glass of wine with dinner or a beer after working outside. Same with coffee other than a cup in the morning and a cup at mid day.

So, I guess my question is, have you guys had any coffee or alcohol since catheter removal, and if so, what affect did one or the other have?

Thanks
Posted 7/19/2007 6:01 PM (GMT 0)
JCL,

I started drinking coffee immediately after surgery and found no connections between drinking it and leakage. Once I got down to about a pad a day I would drink a glass of wine or a beer and again found no change in the leakage.

Tamu
Posted 7/19/2007 9:03 PM (GMT 0)
JCL, I am 10 weeks from RRP and down to one pad, mostly due to the "squirts" that you mention.  They just seem to happen on their own.

 

I was  concerned about the caffeine and how it could impact the recovery.  I had always been a 3-4 cup of coffee person and a cola drinker.  I have gone off the coffee/soda for two weeks, but found no difference in my repsonse to incontinence.  Same squirts and dribbles.

 

I've decided to cut down to 2 cups of coffee p[er day and get the caffeine free sodas if I must drink them ( and I have determined I must!)  Alcohol has not had an affect on me either, though I drink sparingly.

 

Good luck in you recovery

Posted 7/20/2007 1:56 AM (GMT 0)
I know what you mean about that feeling like there's urine in your penis. When I actually pee, it's all quite normal but I can't do that last squirt thing like I use to to force any leftover urine in the urethra out. If I don't wait and give it a good shake and a squeeze, it'll run down my leg when I put it away. Also, when trying to get aroused, I get that same feeling like I have to pee and when I try, not much comes out. Kinda ruins the moment. I'm 3 months post op and finally the other day, I was able to do a muscle contraction to clear the urethra after I had finished peeing instead of having to shake the #@&%$ out of it to make sure it's all out. Very frustrating sometimes. BUt I really shouldn't be complaining, I've been very lucky overall. Now if I could just fix the ED problem.

John
Posted 7/20/2007 9:49 AM (GMT 0)

JCL,

The literature I read said to first get continent - and then try a little caffeine.  If that is not a problem, then try a little alcohol (or vice versa).  You can increase as your control warrants.

I'm such a "cheap drunk," I don't think I will ever get to drink alcohol without putting a barrier pad on the sheets before retiring....

I do eat a lot of chocolate now.  I guess my candlelight dinners will include wine for my sweetheart and chocolate milk for the old dog.... yeah

You will feel much better in the next few months!

CCedar
ICTHUS!

Posted 7/20/2007 8:15 PM (GMT 0)
I returned to coffee almost immediately and now also enjoy a glass of wine at night. Haven't noticed any direct consequences, although I do find that once in a while I'll have an accident larger than a little drip for no apparent reason. That reminds me that I have to keep up the Kegels even though I'm dry most of the time.
Posted 7/22/2007 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
Puget is absolutely right IMO. You need to continue to do the kegels even though you are post op. They will help. I didn't do them after my RRP and it took nearly 5 months to be considered totally continent. Now that I've also had 36 treatments of radiation last year, I am starting to have difficulties with the 'drips' again. My rad onc told me there was a 50% chance I could lose my continence altogether. IMO doing the kegels regularly will help with the drips, especially after a prostatectomy where you now only have one sphincter left. Get it as strong as possible but don't over strain.

Good luck with yours!

Russ
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply