A question about urinary frequency after PCa surgery

I'm 14 years younger than you, but I can give you a case history based on my grandfather (who did not have PC, or at least was never diagnosed as having PC) in the later years of the last century.

He used to get up to use the bathroom about twice a night during his '70's; 2-3 times a night in his 80's; and probably 3 times a night in his 90's (he died at age 96).  He began to experience minor-moderate incontinence at night in his very late '80's and in his '90's.  He wouldn't see a doctor, but at my suggestion he started religiously emptying his bladder right before going to bed, reduced his fluid intake for several hours before bed, and slept on a waterproof pad which was machine washable to protect the mattress.

As for getting back to sleep, he would lie quietly for 10 - 15 minutes, but if that didn't work he would read whenever he couldn't sleep.  He told me that he felt like he didn't need as much sleep as he had earlier in his life and that overall he got enough sleep between the several hours of sleep per night plus an hour long nap during the afternoon.  He said the nap really made a difference.

As for what's "normal," I don't really know.  I suspect that like so many things, everyone is different.

Zen9

  

Carlos,


Some questions spring to mind when thinking about not being able to bet back to sleep after peeing at night:



How far is it from your bed to the bathroom? A long walk there and back will wake you up more than a short one and thus make it harder to get back to sleep when you get back into bed.

I have a very short walk. (And after my father had a heart attack he used to have a bed-bottle so that he could pee without having to even get out of bed - as he also had to go upstairs to the bathrrom from his bedroom.)



Do you have to turn the lights on? Light will upset your body's rhythm. I leave a 7watt child's night light on on the landing and this is enough light to light my way from bed to bathroom without needing to turn any bright lights on, and I usually have my eyes half shut too.



Is the trip to and from the bathroom a cold one? Do you have to put on slippers and dressing gown? Doing things will also wake you up more.



Do you have any techniques to help you relax again when you lie back down? In the first weeks after my op I always grabbed my MP3 player and relaxed with a mixture of soothing music even if I did not manage to sleep.



I used to have to get up for a pee about twice a night before surgery and had done since my twenties, and I still have to get up about twice. BUT I made an interesting dicovery when I still had my catheter in. With the bag attached I was able to see how much pee I produced when and was amazed that I produced masses of pee between midnight and three every night, (which obviously explained my long term problem) so I have since tried to modified my intake to try and get the liquid into me earlier and thus out before midnight.

But at least I have not had any night time leaking since the first night after the catheter came out.



You might spot something helpful



Alfred

Carlos,

          When you get back in bed try as hard as you can to stay awake that usually puts my right to sleep.

                                Charlie

I am a lazy sob. I cannot stand to get up in the nigtht. Prior to surgery, i virtually never got up.

Post surgery, I would get up 2 or 3 times because I was afraid of peeing the bed. As time progresses, I will lay in bed for at least an hour if I feel the need to get up. I lay on my side in the fetal position. Many times, I fall back asleep and don't get up at all.

I believe that by not getting up, I am able to train my mind and my bladder to just hold it. Now I rarely get up. As was mentioned, limiting fluids after 9 does help also,

Goodlife, I think you are right about being able to train your mind and bladder. Some of my problem might just be fear of loosing control. I do know that the years of BPH may have caused my bladder walls to thicken and also some bladder muscle problems. But on rare occasion I can make it overnight. I have to laugh a liitle when you young guys say no fluids after 9. At 73, maybe no fluids after 7.

Charlie, I appreciate your thoughts and I agree with you about your sleep method.

Carlos

Goodlife,

You are wise beyond your years.

Carlos

A nurse suggested to me that right after surgery we head for the bathroom at the slightest urge to beat leakage but that this is bad training for the bladder. She suggested that I keep a "pee log" during the day and try get the interval above 3 to 4 hours. The idea is not to hold to the point of discomfort, but to get the bladder used to being full.

Geezer, Thanks. Prior to surgery my whole life was planned around the nearest restroom. I think this probably carried over after surgery. Now I can make it about 4 hrs. unless I've been into the coffee.

Carlos