All of this discussion about bladder control reminds me of a stupid joke: Doctor to patient: I'm sorry to tell you, but you're incotinent. Patient: I'm in a continent? Really, which one? Doctor: The...
Good luck, Dave. Although I don't post regularly, I do a lot of lurking, and know you are one of the stalwarts around here. Your perseverance through tough times is remarkably courageous. Hope to...
Hello TrekRef, Welcome to the board. I have the same problem. I'm about a year and a half out of DaVinci surgery, and can't walk far, exercise, bring the groceries in, or rake leaves without minor...
Hello Jack, I had the fistula last year. Mine was a bit more severe - I was actually getting some feces through the penis right after my RRP. The doc kept me catheterized for two months, but after...
Hi all, I know it's way too early, but after about a day on imipramine, I do notice an improvement. Not total dryness, mind you, but an improvement for sure. I'll keep everyone posted. Hey, Worried...
Thanks for the kind replies, guys. I'll give the imipramine a try, although I have my doubts about its effectiveness. I know that there are a lot of potential remedies out there, and I know that...
Hello friends, I haven't been logged in for a while, as I've been just chugging along, trying to deal with things like incontinence and ED on my own, with little success. I have been reading posts...
Ralph, I am also so sorry for your loss. Odd thing happened today. I was just listening to a very sad song, "Beloved Wife" by Natalie Merchant, then read your post. If you find music at all...
Thanks for this link, Bill. If not totally encouraging, at least it provides us leakers with good empirical data and a reasonable expectation of what's down the road, and allows us to make plans for...
Len, I agree with most of what everyone's said so far - it really is mind over bladder. I'm about five months post-op, and am finally seeing signs of progress. Part of my slow pace is attributed to...
Thanks, Jersey. I'd thought of your suggestion, but I guess I may have been looking for excuses or feeling sorry for myself. I'll give it a try. -Charlie...
Jersey, I don't know how long it takes to dryness, because I'm not there yet - 4 1/2 months and still lots of leakage. But you bring up a good question that I've been meaning to ask, namely, about...
Thanks everyone! I might try a modified Dixie Cup method, that is, commando but with my bathrobe on, strictly for a little modesty. Either way, my wife will certainly get a laugh, and she could use...
Thanks, MrGimpy. I'm getting mixed messages from my uro and his associates. When I asked the doc about Kegels, he said for me the things was to focus on the healing right now and not to get too...
Thank you all for your replies. As I said, I've always been a walker, and will continue to do so. I just wanted to know what some of the theory was behind the idea of walking helping the continence...
Hello all, I've recently read quite a few posts on this forum that talk about walking being helpful in regaining continence. I've been an avid walker for a long time, and now that I have had my...
Hello Len, I think you're doing well after only 3 weeks. Personally, I'm at about the same point you are, and it's going on 4 months for me. My surgery, however, resulted in a non-cancer complication...
Doc, 11 days is not that long of a time. I'm 3 and 1/2 months (and 2 catheters) post op, and still have continence problems. I do know that I'm making progress, measured in the slowly decreasing...
That makes at least 3 generals diagnosed in recent years: Petraeus, Colin Powelll and Norman Schwarzkopf. -Charlie...
Ouch, David, what you have been through is rotten and shouldn't happen to anyone. Torture is definitely what it is. Maybe they have a waterboarding alternative, 'cause that sounds better than this....
I think it is the BBC, brainsurgeon, but my bottom did not feel so bony prior to surgery. Anyway, standing at regular intervals is good for you. -Charlie...
It's now been three months and a day since Leonardo visited. Anyway, I wonder if others have had the same problem: I can't sit in one position for long stretches like I used to. After about an hour,...
Here's wishing you a speedy recovery, Sonny. Sometimes it's better to get rid of one bad nut to save the other two! Not to mention the rest of you. -Charlie...
David, my thoughts are with you as well. I finally realized the significance of your forum handle. Purgatory-on-earth is exactly what this experience must be like for you. I know that's what it feels...
Hi everyone, thanks to all for the encouragement. I'll keep you posted. Diane, thanks for the info on Pete. It's good to know that I'm not alone. The doc first suspected fistula after the second...
Hello everyone, It looks like I'm going to have to live with the catheter again. The doc says that the best way to treat this fistula is to allow it to heal on its own, with the cather in place, and...
Well, the catheter's back in. After discussing it with the PA yesterday, we agreed to do this. Because of my PF (penis farts), they suspected that the fistula may have returned, and they wanted to...
David, Yes, a penis fart is exactly what it was. Didn't hurt, but just felt really strange. -Charlie...
Steve, About a week after I had the DaVinci surgery (June 16), I was experiencing some stool in the catheter. (This was BTW terribly painful and distressing.) The cystogram indicated a fistula, which...
Yesterday afternoon, I stood up, and passed gas, but from the front, not the back. I called the doc, and the nurse I spoke with said that this may be the fistula acting up again. They are concerned...
David, 100 days of catheters must qualify you for sainthood, the Nobel prize, or other such award! Good luck! -Charlie...
Good luck David. As they say in football, "Kick that block!" (or something like that). -Charlie...
David, If I might add one to OhioState's list: "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag." Now that I'm off the catheter and reliant on pads and Depends, whenever I need a new one I tell my wife it's time for the...
Thanks everyone for the enthusiastic welcome and encouraging words. I think I'd like to stick around here and learn. -Charlie...
I should add that I seem to be a little dryer at night than during the day. At least when I wake up at 2 am, I can sense that my bladder's full and if I run the the bathroom, I am able to use the...
Hello all PC survivors and loved ones, my name is Charlie and I'm new to this forum. I heard about it from another forum that I had been visiting that seemed not very active. Let me tell you a little...