What a Week It's Been!

It's been one week since my husband's surgery. I don't think either one of us would say it was one of our better weeks. Hospital. Pain. Catheter bags. Antibiotics. Stool softeners. Ah, good times.

Well, now we've got the week behind us. The surgery is over. The prostate is gone. The cancer is now gone with it. Today was a day of celebration in a sense. The catheter was removed. Yay! The staples were removed. Yay! And much to our shock and surprise, my husband is having few issues with incontinence. Why is that? We're not sure. I choose to believe it was due to the advice of some of you on this forum. I had him doing Kegels weeks before surgery. So when they removed the catheter today, they filled his bladder with a little fluid and then asked if he could hold it. The physician's assistant told him that only 10% of men will be able to do so. (This was his way of making my husband understand that most men will not be able to keep the fluid in their bladders.) Well, he held it. He's only worn one pad today and he's not even sure if there's been any leaking. I think he simply feels it's safer to wear it.

Is this normal? I don't think so. Is it shocking? Quite. However, after the two months we've just had, this was like being handed a gift, a gift of continence. (How one wraps such a gift, I don't know.) We are well aware that he may leak nonetheless. He was told to do Kegels, but not too many.

We also left the office with samples of Cialis and Viagra. The PA believes that there will be success with respect to ED as well. We shall see. We know not to get our hopes up too high. Still, today was a good day and I want to share that with the forum. Thank you all for your support and well wishes.

Hi, Guys

Glad today was a good day and hope there are many more to follow.  The continence issue is particularly encouraging.  I'm 5 weeks from surgery, about the same age, and found it interesting that you attribute his sucess with doing Kegel's.  My daughter said she did them with Caesarean birth and that they seemed to help.  Guess I'll be doing Kegel's.  Thanks for the info and hope things keep going well. Enjoy the holidays and keep us posted.

Bob

This is great news Surfing. My husband was also lucky with regaining continence early after catheter out, so it is an unexpected gift sometimes, and a great one - good luck with the weeks ahead.

Certainly good news across the board.
It's great to see your post and know he is doing well. In fact it sounds like you BOTH are doing well. Still some work to do, but I know it will get done.

Surf's up! Er...now for everything else...lol

Tony

It is really good news.  I was quickly dry also, so understand the relief felt.  Time will tell if it is permanent.  I had a little backslide after a couple weeks, for a day or so, but after that, no problems.   I really didn't do many Kegels before and none after surgery, but did do lots of walking and stair climbing when available. 

I am kind of waiting for the other shoe to drop. I think he and I both know this could all change. We shall see.

Surf's up? That's funny. I am a surfer. There. Now you all know something about me. I don't just surf the internet. I also surf waves.

We've had no . . . um . . . movement in the ED department yet. But it's still early.

Again, I thank all of you on this forum. My husband reads threads I email him. (He won't read them if I drag him over here to the computer.) I give him the space to read them in private. I will keep you apprised of his progress.

That's great news. Keep a positive attitude.