KW’s Journey and battle with incontinence!

    Here we go agian,  I went to see the Director of Urology at the Oklahoma Univeristy Medical Center, Dr. Daniel Culkin.  After reviewing my records and talking to me about my incontenance and activity level he gave me his opinion.  He said that at my time frame (7 month post op) and with my ammount of leaking he did not think it would dry up on it's own.  We talked about the bladder sling and the atrificial sphincter.  He also talked about the penile clamp. 

    At 44 years old I don't want to jump into having another surgery.  I asked him about Bio-Feedback.  He really doesn't think it will make a great difference but is willing to let me try it.  He also said to work the kegeal's as much as possible.  Does not feel I can over do it.  Talked about several different ways to do them.  Fast, slow, long, short, just mixing it up all the time.

    As you can imaging I did not leave a happy camper.  Them having given me a video about the artificial shpincter and going to mail me more information on the bladder sling and penile clamp.

    I have made more of an effort to do kegeals all the time.  Everytime my mind is not occupied I am trying to do at least a few contractions. 

    I will start my first Bio-Feedback session on June 1st.

    Will update you all as things go along!

    KW

    First Bio-Feedback Appointment

    June 1st I had my first visit with the Physical Therapist for bio-feedback.  What an eye opener.  The Kegeal exercises I have been doing have been only working the sphincter, abdominals, and hip flexors.  I have not been working the pelvic floor muscles.  Although the sphincter is very important the pelvic floor muscles are just as important.  They are the muscles that support and hold the bladder.  She also said there are stages to building and strengithing the muscles.  Laying / Sitting, Standing, Walking, Lifting.  Of course I am starting at the sitting position.  I also asked how log she had worked with male incontenance and how many therapist in the Oklahoma City area do this kind of treatment.  She has been doing this kind of treatment for almost 15 years.  She said there were only about 5 other therapist in the City that also do this kind of treatment.  I also asked how many men she had treated that had to go on and have a sling or implant to regain contenance.  She said she could only remember on patient that did not regain control and that he simply would not do his exercises!

    To start start with the therapist explained to me how to stick the monitor pad on the inside of my leg up agianst the pelvic floor area in my groin area.  I went in the bathroom and attached the pad ran the cord out of the leg of my shorts and went to her office.  Once she hooked the lead into the machine and got her computer set she had me do a Kegal the old way.  There is a scale used to measure function on her program.  A good kegal is a 15-30 on the scale.  The old way I was only getting a . something....less than 1.  What a shock!  The therapist then had me start to work on feeling the right muscles.  First I was sitting in a office chair, she told me to to put my heels together then slightly pull my knees toward the center and think of lifting under the scrotum area.  A completely different feeling that the "drawing liquid with the penis" feeling.  I was a very subtle feeling.  After a few attempts she got a softball size rubber ball and one of those stretchy bands.  She had me hold the ball between my knees and put the band around my knees.  Then I started to try them agian by slightly pressing out on the band.  Then she had me do some slightly squeezing inward on the ball.  All the time I was doing them i was constantly getting around 6-7 on the scale.  She then had me stand and try some standing.  Right away the muscle would fatigue right after it contracted.  So she said we will stick with the seated position for the first week or so.

  So I left with insrtuctions to get a rubber ball and start with 5 minutes each way of 10 seconds on and 10 seconds rest.  I also had hope that in the end I will regain my control.  I will let you all know how things go. 

  KW

    The first thing is 0.00 for my third post-op PSA.  I guess those are the numbers that should really matter.  Not my Pad Count!

    Went for second Bio-Feedback appointment.  After getting hooked up she had be do a set of contractions.  She was happy to see I hit the correct muscles right away.  She could also tell I had been working all day because the muscles fatigued quickly.  After a series of exercises and talking about how the muscles actually work I was told the next visit will be in two weeks.  I am to keep working the exercises atleast two times a day.  A few more if I can, but I need to completely rest the muscles in between.  She said trying to stay tight all the time will keep the muscles fatigued.  Rest is just as important as working the muscles.  They need time to repair and strengthen between sets just like any muscle you work.

    Eventhough I have not seen any improvement in this first week of working with her she is very confident that with time and work I will be able to regain control.  All I can do is work at it and hope so!

    KW

    Third Bio-Feedback Appiontment

    I went for my third appointment with the therapist on Friday June, 22nd.  After getting hooked up to the machine she had me do a set of Kegeals.  She said I showed some good improvement in the muscle strength.  She added a standing exercise to my routine.  She said it will take more strength before I will see much of any differance with the leaking.  At this point all I want to see is any improvement at all.  As long as something improves it gives me hope.  Will let you all know what happens next time!