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Posted 5/30/2013 8:41 PM (GMT 0)
Looking for ways to deal with 95-100 percent incontinence. I'm just 4 weeks post surgery and looking at returning to work in 3 weeks. My job involves driving 100-300 miles a day with 5-10 in home repairs. Lot's of bending, kneeling, lifting, etc. Bladder only holds when sitting or lying down. Releases immediately when I get up. 12+ pads per day worn inside Depends briefs. Currently 80-90 Kegels per day, walking up to 3 miles with goal of 6. Thank The Lord cancer was contained, just need help with this hurdle.
Posted 5/30/2013 8:44 PM (GMT 0)
wish you the best of luck. Plenty of guys here who went through the process and willa dvise shortly.
Posted 5/30/2013 9:06 PM (GMT 0)
Repair guy, check out the afex incontinence briefs etc. they have two types, one for a lot of sitting and the other for lot of activity. I have a road trip of 6000 miles starting in a week and I am only 2 weeks past surgery and am leaking like just like you. good luck and hope you soon see improvement.
Posted 5/30/2013 9:15 PM (GMT 0)
You seem to be doing your part, unfortunately, it appears you need to give it time. Everyone heals differently. My incontinence only lasted about three weeks, but the first ten days were very wet. Once improvement started, it progressed quickly for me. Keep doing what you are and hopefully muscle memory will kick in soon.

Best wishes,
Tom
Posted 5/30/2013 9:22 PM (GMT 0)
I seem to recall some guy here who was a big time leaker who used condom catheters and a leg bag. When I got my catheter out I didn't miss it at all ... but I did miss the leg bag a little bit. The nice thing about a condom catheter/leg bag rig is that the only 'consumables' are the condom catheters that lose their sticky after a day or so. Aside from that you can just pop into the men's room, drain your contraption, click the clamp back shut on the bottom of the bag and be done. Nothing to throw away. No supplies needed to be carried in.

I wore my leg bag strapped to my thigh and wore hiking pants where the legs zipped off at the knee to make shorts. I could unzip the knee an inch, work the drain hose out and pee standing up in a crowded men's room and not have anyone notice (as long as I could get the leftmost urinal).

I've never tried condom catheters. Some guys find the sticky unreliable but I remember that guy who liked them.

Might be worth looking into for things like work or car trips where you need cruising range but want to travel light.
Posted 5/30/2013 9:33 PM (GMT 0)
repair guy - don't lose hope - things can improve with time - you are only 4 weeks out from a major trauma to your plumbing - it can take 14-16 weeks (I was at week 16 when I finally started to get control again) - check out the condom catheters - they would work well regarding driving.

I was like you - as soon as I got up from the car I would release everything - made for a lot of running and having extra clothing in my carry bag- and running to the washroom at Value Village ( a thrift store in Canada) to change underwear and pants.

- just google the phrase ( no "") - condom catheters male incontinence - and you can get a number of hits for companies.
-when I was doing my research back then - in early 2010 - there was one that was even designed for golfers and those involved in sports.
-in Canada you can find them for a good price at Shoppers Drug Mart Healthcare Centres.

-good to hear you are kegelling - make sure to give the muscles a rest once in a while so you don't overdo it - also - regulate what type of fluids you drink - avoid/reduce coffee, tea, carbonated beverages since they act like diuretics.

- I expect that worried guy will chime in since he is one of the resident experts regarding alternatives to leaking - a sling device may be in your future but it is too early to tell.

-wishing you all the best,
Bronson
...........
Posted 5/30/2013 10:27 PM (GMT 0)
..Repair Guy,
..I am 3 wks post surgery and I know how you feel. A few days ago I posted a very similar question and received many helpful responses. It was on 05/28/13 you can scroll down and have a look. Anyways, I am having the same issues as you and it is frustrating, I know. Let your body heal (the inside) if you must return to work show caution with lifting and such, last thing you need is a set back. So go easy it takes time to heal inside. There are lifting restrictions.

..........Nick............
Posted 5/30/2013 10:45 PM (GMT 0)
Repair Guy,

I was the same. I found that I was doing too many kegels and walking too much at one time. I rebalanced a bit, doing the kegels morning, midday and afternoon, but only 10 per set. Also broke my walking into several shorter walks rather than one long one.

My PT nurse told me that too many kegels were worse than too few, and that late in the day the muscles are getting tired, so don't react as well.

Sounds good that you didn't sign on to the idea that you would be back at work the next day.

I was on a five pound lift limit for over two months.

 

Posted 5/30/2013 11:33 PM (GMT 0)
Did I hear someone say incontinence?! Do my sensors detect a soggy diaper Depends twixt someone's thighs?

Hey Repair man, We've got you covered!

Back when I was a leaker (3.5 years ago) one of my heroes here was Goodlife. Since I was not blessed with enough length to tie myself in knot, he introduced me to the Cunnihgham clamp. Yep, it does just what you think. How does it work? I know this will sound a bit technical but it clamps your winkie tighter than a frogs a**. You can't leave it on for more than 2 hours at a time but it really helps when you need to do some work. Don't worry about exploding. If you are an average size guy and have an average size bladder you will produce about 80 ml of pee per hour. Your bladder will hold about 500 ml. That means you can theoretically hold it for a period of 6 hours safely. I stuck with 2 hours.

The best part of the clamp is that you can walk up to a urinal, hit the release catch and the pee will flow like you were a teenager again. You can dazzle your friends by pushing the piss ice up the side of the urinal and no one will be the wiser. Pee into a public restroom toilet and the forceful sound will do you proud. All the BPH guys will be jealous.

There is one catch with C Clamp. In my state, I was not permitted to buy it without a doctor's prescription. I can go into a sporting goods store and legally buy a Semi-auto Glock 22 with integral laser sights and 100 rounds of Black Talon ammunition but I can not buy a weenie clamp. Go figure.
Some nice GFMPH guy helped me out of this conundrum. Maybe your state will be more lenient.

Know this... It will get better. Honest, It will get better.
Jeff
Posted 5/30/2013 11:45 PM (GMT 0)
Repair guy,

I'm 8 weeks out and I return to work on Monday, I'm a electrician, and I feel ready. I tell you, driving was horrible at first. I drove to see my daughter last Monday, 300+ miles round trip. I did ok. I was as bad as you 4 weeks out, I was leaking like a garden hose without a gasket. Now I'm mowing the yard, working on my old cars/motorcycles, doing repairs around the house, and I have ok control most of the time, standing seems to be the worst. I have a way to go, but I think I'll be ready to work come Monday, I hope you'll be ready too in 3 weeks.
Posted 5/31/2013 4:27 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome Repairguy ! You will get better the next few weeks. I was using that many guards as well, now Im down to 2 -3 per day. Keep doing kegels, but take a break too, dont over do it. I am at 7 weeks and going back to work tomorrow. My work also is physical with lifting and bending and on my feet for long hours. I am still leaking a bit when I do anything physical so I hope its not to bad. Good luck to you.

Don
Posted 5/31/2013 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hey, Repairguy. Welcome to the "peeing in my pants all day club." Actually, I'm truly sorry your joining the soggy ones here, which definitely includes myself.

One of the moderators, I think Peter, cited the statistic: 2/3 of guys OK after 3 months. 2/3 of the remaining 1/3 OK after 12 months. I'm definitely not in the first group, as I'm a week from my 3 month post-surgery anniversary. I'm about a 10 pad a day guy. I bring a whole kit to my school bathroom with a change of underwear, pads, a diaper, plastic bags. It's humiliating, annoying, and depressing. The first couple of months you just can't get passed being pissed off (pun intended).

So, to try to defuse this with humor, I think we need a name for guys like Appleseed, you, me, and the others.
Yellow Dogs?
Dribbling Dudes?
The "I can't wait until 12 months, so I can get a sling Club"

I'm open to suggestions.
Posted 5/31/2013 10:51 PM (GMT 0)
Repair Guy,
Hang in there! It will get better.. I believe that Appleseed (Nick) was about as frustrated as you are now but 3-4 weeks made a big difference..All great advice here! All the best to you.
Bill
Posted 6/1/2013 3:21 AM (GMT 0)
Hello "Repair Guy"…and Welcome to the Prostate forum! You are in good hands here with these folks!

Of course,... I hang out over in the Chronic Pain forum, and won't be of much help to you here, but since you are my brother In-Law, I wanted to make sure you got another Welcome here on the forum.

Take care, and ask these men anything!…they will help all they can.

SE
Posted 6/1/2013 1:16 PM (GMT 0)
Donft:

The Knights Damplar

Oh we are the Knights Damplar
Weak in sphincter, strong in resolve.
The men of the fragrant clothes hamper
Determined our problem to solve.

To be dry is a quest that ignites us.
The dripping has made us all mad.
And that common problem unites us:
All alike as two pees in a pad.
Posted 6/1/2013 1:30 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to HW PC, repair guy

I was asked to be on the look out for you by Screaming Eagle at HW CP.

Glad you found us, sorry you had a need to be here.

You have already been given such tremendous advice on your incontinence issue, I can't find a thing to add, other than never give up hope, improvements may start to happen slowly but surely.

Please keep us posted, and good luck in the rest of your recovery.

david in sc
Posted 6/1/2013 3:35 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry for being late on the replay. Things a little crazy around here. It sure is helpful to know others share my frustrations and concerns. Great advice is appreciated. Strange but true the best advice I gathered is we MUST have a good sense of humor about such a serious issue. Most of you already understand that. Add to that a wife that understands what you are going through and is there to help in any way is truly a priceless blessing.
BREAKING NEWS--------
I just got up from my recliner, walked up the stairs, into the bathroom and was able to make a 90% deposit. There is hope!!
I'm sure there will be ups and downs to come. There us a light at the end of the tunnel.
HPWT
(Have pads, will travel)
Warren in Kansas
Posted 8/11/2013 5:50 PM (GMT 0)
I just signed up today. I had radical prostate surgery in Jan. 2013. I was part of a double blind study for incontinence. I did very well. At the end of the trial, I started to have issues. I obviously was on the medication and not the sugar pill. My doctor gave me a script for Vesicare 5 MG Tablet to be taken once a day. I'm happy to report that I again have no leakage problems. Ask your doctor about this med. I am so glad that I have this!
Posted 8/12/2013 2:30 AM (GMT 0)
Repair guy,
I deal in high voltage and just didn't feel good about moisture in my pants.

As Worried Guy Jeff mentioned, I had to resort to a clamp to stop things. I actually could wear it for 6 hours without hurting Willie. He also didn't mentioned tat one the early activities at GFMPH was constructing a clamp out of electrical wire.

It took me 8 months to achieve continence, but I made it. After radiation, I started dripping a little, so I wear a pad most of the time.

Good luck to you. Patience and kegels will generally be successful.

Goodlife
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