How long before you start showing improvement with incontinence

[darbas]

Hi guys I have been following some of these posts and what progress you are making after Prostrate removal and incontinence. I am 68 and now 6 weeks since my surgery and 5 weeks since my catheter was removed. My question is how long before you have any sign of incontinence improvement don't matter how small. Since the catheter was removed, I can sleep all night and stay dry. I can also lay down and sit with minimal leakage. My biggest problem is as soon as I stand that's when it leaks and squirts. Sometimes just want stop until I pee.I have no trouble with peeing normally and able to hold my bladder don't matter how full my bladder is. I can walk up to 6ks without any major leakage but soon as I am standing, I leak. Coughing and sneezing even yarning is like Russian roulette. This is how it has been with no change and at times it feels even worse.I though by now I would show some improvement. I do all my pelvic floor exercises and go to pysio which seem a waste of time and money. My big challenge is my doctor has only given me until April 3 before I go back to work which is not an office job but Maintenace technician on workshop floor and drive to various places around town for repairs and breakdowns. So if I am the way I am at the moment I will need alot of incontinence pads for the day . Not looking Forward for that.

 

[joe64]

Hi guys I have been following some of these posts and what progress you are making after Prostrate removal and incontinence. I am 68 and now 6 weeks since my surgery and 5 weeks since my catheter was removed. My question is how long before you have any sign of incontinence improvement don't matter how small. Since the catheter was removed, I can sleep all night and stay dry. I can also lay down and sit with minimal leakage. My biggest problem is as soon as I stand that's when it leaks and squirts. Sometimes just want stop until I pee.I have no trouble with peeing normally and able to hold my bladder don't matter how full my bladder is. I can walk up to 6ks without any major leakage but soon as I am standing, I leak. Coughing and sneezing even yarning is like Russian roulette. This is how it has been with no change and at times it feels even worse.I though by now I would show some improvement. I do all my pelvic floor exercises and go to pysio which seem a waste of time and money. My big challenge is my doctor has only given me until April 3 before I go back to work which is not an office job but Maintenace technician on workshop floor and drive to various places around town for repairs and breakdowns. So if I am the way I am at the moment I will need alot of incontinence pads for the day . Not looking Forward for that.

Hi darbas,


I'm at 17 weeks post-surgery. The continence continues to improve. I walk with very little leakage; it is standing for all day that takes its toll.



Here are the caveats: in the afternoon and evening, after a workout of bridge, inner thigh, squats and leg presses exercises, I have a bit more leakage. This usually lasts until the next, but I see improvements the days after. It's the old two steps forward, one step back. I do get these odd, little bladder spasms, that happen spontaneously, but only after exercises that target the pelvic floor muscles, And they dissipate after a day or so.



Now I'm using Washable Men’s Incontinence Boxer Briefs. They're very comfortable and are working great. They only hold 2.3 oz. (68 ml), but is more than enough for an active door. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DGTFN78C?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1



I know it is tough, but it does get better. The healing process is slow.

 

[Dewimac]

Hi guys I have been following some of these posts and what progress you are making after Prostrate removal and incontinence. I am 68 and now 6 weeks since my surgery and 5 weeks since my catheter was removed. My question is how long before you have any sign of incontinence improvement don't matter how small. Since the catheter was removed, I can sleep all night and stay dry. I can also lay down and sit with minimal leakage. My biggest problem is as soon as I stand that's when it leaks and squirts. Sometimes just want stop until I pee.I have no trouble with peeing normally and able to hold my bladder don't matter how full my bladder is. I can walk up to 6ks without any major leakage but soon as I am standing, I leak. Coughing and sneezing even yarning is like Russian roulette. This is how it has been with no change and at times it feels even worse.I though by now I would show some improvement. I do all my pelvic floor exercises and go to pysio which seem a waste of time and money. My big challenge is my doctor has only given me until April 3 before I go back to work which is not an office job but Maintenace technician on workshop floor and drive to various places around town for repairs and breakdowns. So if I am the way I am at the moment I will need alot of incontinence pads for the day . Not looking Forward for that.

 

[Dewimac]

It sounds like you are doing really well. Given your current progress I would say that by about week 12 to 16 you should be virtually dry and will probably get by with a single lightweight pad per day. Coughing and sneezing will be a problem for a long time yet, particularly with a full bladder. Keep going with the pelvic floor exercises, how well you work at those will dictate how quickly you improve.
Good luck

 

[darbas]

Thank for your replies. It does play with you mentally especially when you read someone had stated he the same surgery and never lost bladder control, through to a friend who was completely dry after 2 months. Could be worse I only just found out an old work friend just died on Friday 8 years after his prostrate removed and was given all clear for 5 years only to have prostrate cancer reappear in his lungs and take him out. I will continue with my exercise but just dreading going back to work like this. Once again thank you for the replies I guess I am inpatient.

 

[joe64]

You are doing well—better than I was at 6 weeks. I know it's difficult to imagine at this point, but between the 10 and 14th week your pace of recovery will improve. It takes that long for the nerves and muscles to recover.


While I hope, for all of us, that we stay clear of prostate cancer, we must be realistic that we had this poison, this disease, living within us. Even if everything suggests it's gone, we must keep testing and watching for its minions. If it does come back, hopefully we have all bought time while better and more effective treatments are developed and arrive.

 

[darbas]

Well it is now 5 months since the prostrate removed and what a roller coaster it has been with the ups and downs. Up until the 2 month mark when I returned to work I thought my incontinence was never going to improve. Then suddenly like a switch was turned on I could suddenly get up off a chair and climb out of the car without the water works happening. which improved immensely over the next week. The constant leaking while standing when at work was a lot worse though for the first week back at work but then started to ease up. Then once again another switch was turned on and no more leaking on the weekend but did still at work but only mildly for a couple more weeks then it stopped as well. Its now at a point where I haven't worn pads for a number of weeks and no accidents. This a day I thought was never going to come. I have now had 2 PSA TESTS one 3 months ago and one last week and both came back as undetectable now it just needs to stay that way. As for erections well that hasn't change it just sits there in a shrunken state and doesn't want to do anything. My urologist informs me that could take up to 2 years before it changes but at my age and single it doesn't bother me, So for those who just had the surgery and getting depressed like I did there is light at the end of the tunnel. A friend of mine just been diagnosed with prostrate cancer as well and is about to climb onto the roller coaster ride of his own.It does get bumpy but will smoothen out just needs time.I would like to thank Joe64 for his help through this even though he was on the same ride just a few months further a head on me

 

[joe64]

Well it is now 5 months since the prostrate removed and what a roller coaster it has been with the ups and downs. Up until the 2 month mark when I returned to work I thought my incontinence was never going to improve. Then suddenly like a switch was turned on I could suddenly get up off a chair and climb out of the car without the water works happening. which improved immensely over the next week. The constant leaking while standing when at work was a lot worse though for the first week back at work but then started to ease up. Then once again another switch was turned on and no more leaking on the weekend but did still at work but only mildly for a couple more weeks then it stopped as well. Its now at a point where I haven't worn pads for a number of weeks and no accidents. This a day I thought was never going to come. I have now had 2 PSA TESTS one 3 months ago and one last week and both came back as undetectable now it just needs to stay that way. As for erections well that hasn't change it just sits there in a shrunken state and doesn't want to do anything. My urologist informs me that could take up to 2 years before it changes but at my age and single it doesn't bother me, So for those who just had the surgery and getting depressed like I did there is light at the end of the tunnel. A friend of mine just been diagnosed with prostrate cancer as well and is about to climb onto the roller coaster ride of his own.It does get bumpy but will smoothen out just needs time.I would like to thank Joe64 for his help through this even though he was on the same ride just a few months further a head on me

Yahoo! I'm thrilled that you've turned the corner on the IC. Those first three months are really challenging. I'm about 2 weeks from my 8-month mark. My PSA tests have also been undetectable, and tomorrow I take PSA test #4. (Fingers crossed)

I've moved back to wearing regular underwear with only occasional and very slight leakage. I know I'm healing because there are days I don't even think about it. Since I'm in the TMI mode (lol)... As far as ED goes, it's really weird. Most nights, before I go to bed, I sit on the toilet for about ten minutes reading, and for no reason my penis starts to get a soft erection. This also seems to happen in the middle of the night, but it's only hard enough to make peeing a little difficult. If I try to have an erection, I get nothing. My urologist told me this is normal, and like your urologist said, it may take 12 to 24 months. Honestly, like you, it doesn't matter much to me at this point in my life. Intimacy takes on many forms.

Again, it's great to hear you are doing well.

 

[sandiego]

It's been 4.5 months since i was made urinary incontinent by my surgeon. The only success over the incontinence i've had is being able to sleep at night with little leakage. All other leakage is constant. Physical therapy may help but that remains to be seen. It has been suggested that low doses of viagra, taken continually, may help. I haven't tried that yet. As far as it playing with my brain, i definitely does. Forget sex. It's not happening. Getting a UTI (which i have never had in my life) was a warning to wash more often and change pads and diapers more frequently. Progress is non-existent. Some days are better, some are worse.

 

[sandiego]

It's been 4.5 months since i was made urinary incontinent by my surgeon. The only success over the incontinence i've had is being able to sleep at night with little leakage. All other leakage is constant. Physical therapy may help but that remains to be seen. It has been suggested that low doses of viagra, taken continually, may help. I haven't tried that yet. As far as it playing with my brain, i definitely does. Forget sex. It's not happening. Getting a UTI (which i have never had in my life) was a warning to wash more often and change pads and diapers more frequently. Progress is non-existent. Some days are better, some are worse.

 

[joe64]

It's been 4.5 months since i was made urinary incontinent by my surgeon. The only success over the incontinence i've had is being able to sleep at night with little leakage. All other leakage is constant. Physical therapy may help but that remains to be seen. It has been suggested that low doses of viagra, taken continually, may help. I haven't tried that yet. As far as it playing with my brain, i definitely does. Forget sex. It's not happening. Getting a UTI (which i have never had in my life) was a warning to wash more often and change pads and diapers more frequently. Progress is non-existent. Some days are better, some are worse.

I'm sorry to hear of your struggles. There are so many factors that impact recovery time. I tried Viagra for about 6 weeks; it was not given to produce an erection but to improve blood flow, circulation, and healing. I could only take it every other day before bedtime because it made me dizzy and gave my vision a blue cast. After six weeks, it started giving me stomach issues, so I stopped.

Likewise, I had PT for three weeks, three times a week. My insurance would cover more. After that, I took copies of all the PT documents and did the PT exercises every day at home, along with doing Kegels, 3 sets of 25 every day. I did have to watch numerous YouTube videos to learn how to do the male Kegels correctly. I also paired the Kegels exercise with a smartphone app to help me remember and track my activity.

What has your urologist said about your status?

 

[sandiego]

I'm sorry to hear of your struggles. There are so many factors that impact recovery time. I tried Viagra for about 6 weeks; it was not given to produce an erection but to improve blood flow, circulation, and healing. I could only take it every other day before bedtime because it made me dizzy and gave my vision a blue cast. After six weeks, it started giving me stomach issues, so I stopped.

Likewise, I had PT for three weeks, three times a week. My insurance would cover more. After that, I took copies of all the PT documents and did the PT exercises every day at home, along with doing Kegels, 3 sets of 25 every day. I did have to watch numerous YouTube videos to learn how to do the male Kegels correctly. I also paired the Kegels exercise with a smartphone app to help me remember and track my activity.

What has your urologist said about your status?

I switched insurance due to honesty and competency issues with my urologist/surgeon. I won't meet my new urologist until the first of next month. Thanks for the heads up about the side effects of viagra.

 

[darbas]

It's been 4.5 months since i was made urinary incontinent by my surgeon. The only success over the incontinence i've had is being able to sleep at night with little leakage. All other leakage is constant. Physical therapy may help but that remains to be seen. It has been suggested that low doses of viagra, taken continually, may help. I haven't tried that yet. As far as it playing with my brain, i definitely does. Forget sex. It's not happening. Getting a UTI (which i have never had in my life) was a warning to wash more often and change pads and diapers more frequently. Progress is non-existent. Some days are better, some are worse.

When I was still having incontinent issues my urologist did tell me it can take up to 12 months to start to come good. I feel I am one of the lucky one to come good so quick although I wasn't feeling that way at the time. Keep doing your pelvic floor exercises. I found walking helped me alot. I used to do 2-5 kilometers a day sometimes more. Time is a good healer I was always being told