KW’s Journey and battle with incontinence!

    I started leaking agian about noon the first day back at work after my second collagen injecton.  Needless to say I was not pleased!  The next day I actually had to leave and change pants because I had a soak through!  I called the Dr. that evening on the way home from work.

   When the nurse called me back she said the Dr. did not thing any more collagen was going to be an option since I was not getting more than a day or two relief.

   Now what?  The Dr. said it was up to me if I wanted to wait it out a while longer to see if it comes around or if I am completely sick of it we could talk about "surgical options".  Of course, I'm sick of it but I'm not going to leap into surgery.  I have seen alot of information saying that those of us that do have leaking trouble can have a turn for the better in the 9-12 month post op time frame.

   I'm going to try to wait it out until I get near my 1 year date.  As much as I hate it I don't want to compound my problems if another surgery still did not fix the problem.  I am looking for another urologist to get a second opinion on my situation while I wait.  Right now I'm leaning toward calling the urology department at the Oklahoma University Medical Center.

    If anyone has any other recomendations anywhere in the area please let me know.

    Thanks,

    KW

I'm in week 10 and still leaking.  After a week of the least number of pads a day since surgery, I had my first drink of alcohol last Saturday night at a perfunctory job-related charity wine tasting.  I drank about 7 ounces of (very expensive) wine.  When I got home, I fell asleep in a chair and woke up two hours later soaking wet.  I've never had problems dozing in a chair before.  For the last three days, my control was terrible.  Today control seems to have returned.  Needless to say, I won't be drinking alcohol again anytime soon.

I want to discuss this idea of incontinence related to activity level.  I notice that it is very difficult to coordinate continence with the Kegel Sphincter while walking (Or running, Berber!) as the Kegel Sphincter must defer to the coordination of not falling down!

I have noticed a few things that seem to have helped me reduce the number of pads during my very active days (14 hours of walking and lifting):

 Doing "Elevator kegels"  and doing kegels while walking up and down stairs (stairmaster, rowing machine, etc.) simulates the coordination required for holding back urine while walking/running/lifting.

The exercises we do while sitting are required to isolate and strengthen the muscles.  However, the sitting Kegel exercises do not give "standing coordination.  When walking, running, etc, - the sphincter is not on "full power" with isolated constriction. 

"Elevator Kegels" involve doing the Kegels (sitting, walking, running, etc.) but going to half power for say 5 seconds, then full power for 5 seconds, then half power for 5 seconds.  It is this "going down to half power" that is most difficult and simulates the coordination required for running, walking, lifting.

The "2 seconds on and 2 seconds off" quick-flex Kegel routine also seem to address this trasient state of contriction required.

I have Stan's cup-method physician.  As you regain some control, an old towel can replace the cup as it won't spill and your drips are easier to catch.  The main idea is that if you are nude and not in a pad, you will work harder at it (and stay dry).  Lock yourself in your study and use incontinence bed pads to sit on while you "babysit Junior."

Stay positive.  Talk up your continence.  Ignore the challenge to acknowledge that you have "leaky gasket" (Kegel Sphincter).  Put on the "clothing" of perfect health.

Pack up such problems and put them out with last week's laundry!

May God's Love be with you, always - in the Son!

C^C