I am now 3.6 months since the catheter came out. I have been doing Kegels most or at least a lot of nights, plus getting 1 electro-stim/biofeedback per week for about
6 weeks now. I just got back from a trip to Europe, man what a daily struggle that was. Long bus rides followed by long walking tours and always with public bathrooms seeming scarce.
I have felt great the last few days because, after a seeming set back for one or 2 days, I have now had- for the 1st time- some noticeably improved days. Most impressive was when hiking on steep hills with a pack off trail. This has been most miserable previously, much worse than walking in the neighborhood. I was used to being wetter when walking, but something about
hiking in the wood seemed to just make me pour, feeling the need to stop every 10 mins due to urgency to let some small amount out, and still I would end up soaked because so much would get away from me. But I went hiking the other day, I had little or no urgency and would just take a precautionary leak now and then anyway. I think a small squirt got out twice, and one of those was when climbing the final steepest hill, already struggling to hold it in when I tripped over an exposed root on the ground. But still my pad was no where near soaked! A very significant improvement over previous hikes. Whoohooo!
My wife, while sympathizing with how stressful our trip to Europe was for me, commentated that maybe all that time walking and stress trying to hold it in would be good for me, and I suspect she is correct. It was like an all day Kegel, LOL! After getting home, I have been just a little improved, except for those 2 bad days recently. Then , after the bad days, really noticing a lot of improvement the last few days. I finally ordered a Cunningham clamp which arrived yesterday- intending to use mainly when taking the grandkids hiking- but I may not have to use it much after all.
It was such a downer seeing- IMO- almost no improvement over 2+ months. But even if I have many months left in my continence recovery, I think I will do much better having seen finally some noticeable improvement. Finally I feel there is some hope of recovery. It was much harder to believe when week after week stayed about
the same, no matter what people kept telling me. Even though my docs, wife and you folks have been encouraging, I was in a hurry for my AUS or sling. Maybe, just maybe, I won't need it after all? Hang in there my fellow strugglers!
Post Edited (BillyBob@388) : 6/22/2014 3:28:51 PM (GMT-6)