Starting to get discouraged

Howdy,

Every patient is different and every case is different. It is not unheard of to still have some leaking issues so relatively soon after surgery. Eventually things should get better & better.

Are you doing your kegal exercises? According to my Mayo Clinic surgical team, they should be done just ONCE a day (a set of 6) and preferably sitting on a toilet just before bedtime. If you do them more than the one time a day, the muscle could get tired because it is not, by nature, a real strong muscle.

The doctors also have told me to continue doing them for the rest of my life even though I am 100% continent.

On the other hand, after 14 months I still cannot produce a very firm erection. It seems to be getting better & better, but I'm still a long way off. As I said, every case and every person is different. Some have good continence very quickly, others take time -- some have erections very quickly, others take time.

So just be patient, hang in there and do those kegals once a day.

Good luck!
Chuck

July 2011 local PSA lab reading 6.41 (from 4.1 in 2009). Mayo Clinic PSA Sept. 2011 was 5.7.
Local urologist DRE revealed significant BPH, but no lumps.
PCa Dx Aug. 2011 at age of 61.
Biopsy revealed adenocarcinoma in 3 of 20 cores (one 5%, two 20%). T2C.
Gleason score 3+3=6.
CT of abdomen, bone scan both negative.
DaVinci prostatectomy 11/1/11 at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN), nerve sparing, age 62.
My surgeon was Dr. Matthew Tollefson, who I highly recommend.
Final pathology shows tumor confined to prostate.
5 lymph nodes, seminal vesicles, extraprostatic soft tissue all negative.
1.0 x 0.6 x 0.6 cm mass involving right posterior inferior,
right posterior apex & left mid posterior prostate. Right
posterior apex margin involved by tumor over a 0.2 cm length, doctor says this is insignificant.
Prostate 98.3 grams, tumor 2 grams. Prostate size 5.0 x 4.7 x 4.5 cm.
Catheter out in 7 days. No incontinence, occasional minor dripping.
First post-op exam 2/13/12, PSA <0.1.
Only semi-erections so far, with continued improvement.

cwren -
- having more surgery is a serious choice
Even with a sling you can have leakage after the fact
- how much do you leak now? - do you have a postal meter or weigh scale that can measure ounces or grams -
I still leak and it is not much of a bother anymore - just a "new normal" routine/
I change my pad once a day at night ( I am usually 100% dry at night but leak due to stress incontinence during the day). My leakage is around 15 - 20g (in weight).
Do keep up with the kegels - and check your diet and type of fluid intake.
Take care.
Bronson

cwren,

Hang in there; this could still get better on its own. You need to give this a year and see where you're at.

Meanwhile, definitely keep up the kegels and for sure lay off the alcohol. For me, alcohol makes it a LOT worse. You might also check to see if your urologist can refer you to some sort of incontinence therapy facility or to someone who specializes in biofeedback for incontinence.You can't get that kind of treatment just anywhere, but I've read that it helps.

If you get to the one year mark and it isn't any better, you can consider a sling. But it sounds like you've got a good shot at beating this on your own.

Hang in there and don't lose your sense of humor. We all know what a huge drag incontinence can be, but one way or another you'll get past this.

Jonathan

Thanks guys. I may try the Sudafed. And I know I need to lay off the wine. The only problem with that is that we like to go out with friends, and of course they are all having a beer or wine. I don't want to be the only one drinking just water, but at the same time, I don't want to be the only one leaking water. :)