Scoped out. Comments and Questions

It has been almost 11 months and I am still leaking about 140-150 ml/ day, (5 oz /day, 2 pads /day depending upon your measurement system).
This morning, I went to a urologist with a specialty in incontinence and got scoped out. He went in with a scope that could also fill the bladder to near bursting. I watched on the screen as he looked all around, took pictures and pointed out: "Here is the passage to your left kidney." "Here is to your right kidney." "Here is a congenital diverticulum." "OK, let's take a good look at the sphincter."
There was no scar tissue visible. The remains of my poor sphincter is only about 1 cm long which he called "short". He had me "kegel' and watched it close correctly. Also he had me cough several times and watched it involuntarily close, also correctly.
I showed him my daily measurement chart and both he and I agreed that as long as I was still improving, albeit slowly, we will wait 6 additional months before considering doing anything. He installs AdVance slings and (no surprise) feels I would be a good candidate.

Comments:
1) Now I know what you guys mean when you mention farts from your penis. Amazing! the sounds were so ridiculous I started laughing while peeing in the restroom at Starbucks.
2) I was totally continent today until about 6 hours after the scoping - probably due to swelling. Even though it was only temporary, it sure was nice.

Question:
1) How long is the sphincter supposed to be? Supposedly, mine is 1 cm and was shortened during the surgery. If you recall, I needed to have a a lot of material removed, unfortunately.
2) Has anyone here been told you have a short sphincter? Did you ever regain continence?
Thanks.

Dripping with anticipation,
Jeff (the leaking one)

jeff,

i was just thrilled that the doctor scoped you, and you didn't really try to scope yourself, lol. sounds like idea of a little more time before doing anything more drastic rings well with me. also sounds like you and your doc were working together on your problem, thats a good thing.

david in sc

Jeff, So happy that you got scoped. Was thinking about that this very day. Started to make a call but said to Pat. Think I will wait a bit to see if he post something.

I do agree that waiting sounds like a good plan for now.

Take care buddy.

Cajun Jeff

or this one........was way over my head, but might be right up your alley:

http://www.wormatlas.org/male/musclemale/mainframe.htm

Jeff,

I have been told I was short also, but don't think they were talking about my sphincter.

I actually thought they said they removed all of the sphincter, so I am surprised that any of it is there. I guess that is good news.

Glad they didn't find any scar tissue, and everything looks good.

Time is a good thing in these situations sometimes. I hear mixed reports on slings and those kind of things, so I think you were given logical advice. Did he examine your polynomial formula to insure that it was done correctly ?

Keep on squeezing my friend.

Maybe we can have a pad burning ceremony at the GFMPH weekend !

Oh, did you see Tony's post about meeting up with Todd. He said Niagara is on his list of places to see.

Told him we would meet him there.

Hello Worried Guy,

I used 1-2 pads per day for ten years. I was implanted with an AdVance sling by American Medical systems six months ago. I have not required a single pad since the day following my surgery. The results have been fantastic!

Best regards,

John

Hello Jeff,

You may have read where I went to The Cleveland Clinic last December to have the Virtue sling removed and the AdVance sling implanted, all in one extended surgery.

As most people know, The Cleveland Clinic is among best rated urology centers in the USA. The senior urologist, that did this second surgery, told me that they only implant AdVance slings at The Cleveland Clinic.

I only wish I had started there instead of going there in total desperation.

Best wishes,

John

My incontinence issues may be similiar to where you where 5 months ago, I guess. I am 6mo. post da Vinci. I don't measure my output as I see no point in that, yet, as 100% leaks out when I am on my feet and active. Nite time and sitting while reading, I am 80-90% continent and can collect what looks like 200-300ml. My surgery was at Tulane NOLA and I think my surgeon was great for the op but not much help after. Seems most of his patients do a lot better than me and don't have much issues. Good thing for him. Anyway, he did put me on Imipram at 3mo. It didn't help at all. Recently I have returned to my local uro who diagnosted me last fall and he sent me off to PT. Three weeks now on bio,stim and kegels in ten different positions. PT says I am making good progress but that is just on their computer not my incontinence. I also had huge gland estimated at 60gr pre-op so that commonality had me not expecting to make the ususal progress. But now I am begining to get concerned. My PT has asked if I have been scoped and I guess that will be next after I finish the closely followed part of the PT. By the way you could have not mentioned 6-7mm. I had assumed it would be smaller.
It gave me some hope to hear that you are still making progress even if it is small. I basically have not improved at all since the few weeks after cath removal. The cath removal was something to remember, I had so much "leakage" all I could do was laugh.

Hey knotreel,

Welcome to Healing well. Too bad you are here checking incontinence postings.

I did not bother to take detailed data for the first month thinking I was going to be dry by then. When the second month rolled around I decided I'd better start documenting. I moved the lab scale into the kitchen and the rest is history. Weight is a much more accurate measure than simply counting pads.

I did PT for a few months, bio feedback, etc., and the therapist basically told me I had good muscle tone, I was doing everything right and that after 9 months, improvements will be unlikely. It was time to see an incontinence specialist. He told me the same thing. I still do the kegels and after seeing the action on the video screen I know I am doing them correctly.
The only way I know I am improving is by looking at my data plots. I have three curves: raw data, 2 day average, and three day average. Then I add a linear curve fit and a 2nd order polynomial curve fit. I use the computed curves to predict when I will be dry. As long as the curves keep indicating an ever closer dry date, I will figure I am improving and will not ask for surgery.
I'm an engineer and data helps put things in perspective for me.

Jeff (the leaking one)

What does "sisyphean" mean?

Hey Knotheel,
Our prostates are nothing compared to James C's, (the moderator). His was 106 I believe. I heard that one is displayed in the Smithsonian someplace. Yikes!

My surgeon was basically through with me the instant my prostate plopped into the bucket. After that, I met with his PA. Sure, he said he'd respect me in the morning, but you know how men are.
You have to figure, if you are #1327 on his score card, you'll be as memorable as the last glass of water you drank. (unless your check bounced)

Did you try the pad in pad technique? Stuff a smaller pad onto the larger pad. That way you can change more often.

Jeff

Post Edited (Worried Guy) : 6/17/2010 2:32:25 PM (GMT-6)

Jeff, ahem, (blushing slightly) 110 gms, actually, if we wish to be accurate.... but really who's counting...