No control after Prostatectomy
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Archives1
Staff member
Thank you for the responses. I don’t think I realized how frustrating and inconvenient the incontinence was going to be.
And the time to get control is going to seem like forever.
It’s probably not possible but wouldn’t it have been great if the sling was just part of the procedure! Or it’s part of the plan shortly after. Obviously I would prefer the quick fix.
No wonder the surgeon said don’t worry about ED because you are going to be more focused on incontinence.
My next appointment is at the end of December for my first PSA test.
Anyone else worried about that while you waited for that to happen?
It seems like that is the real test on whether they got all of the cancer.
Some of my research said Kegel's “can help” but aren’t necessarily the ultimate solution.
Do you know whether they are really helping or it’s just the time to heal and the body adjusting?
And the time to get control is going to seem like forever.
It’s probably not possible but wouldn’t it have been great if the sling was just part of the procedure! Or it’s part of the plan shortly after. Obviously I would prefer the quick fix.
No wonder the surgeon said don’t worry about ED because you are going to be more focused on incontinence.
My next appointment is at the end of December for my first PSA test.
Anyone else worried about that while you waited for that to happen?
It seems like that is the real test on whether they got all of the cancer.
Some of my research said Kegel's “can help” but aren’t necessarily the ultimate solution.
Do you know whether they are really helping or it’s just the time to heal and the body adjusting?
Archives1
Staff member
Depending on your age and your heart, ask your doctor for once daily cialis generic 5 mg or 10 mg just to get the blood flowing in the area to help recovery.
How many Depend pullups and pads are you using each day? Keep track on a week to week bases - use the weekday of your surgery. Jot the date, number of pullups, and number of pads. For me, Week 1 - catheter, Week 2 - 12 pullups, Week 3 - 9 pullups, Week 4 - 5 pullups, Weeks 5, 6, 7 - 4 pullups, Weeks 8, 9, 10, 11 - 3 pullups and 3 pads.
Kegels help, Ask your urologist. It is a combination of healing, adjusting, and kegel exercises that will determine how fast you recover.
Also ask about the timeframe that he has seen in his/her patients, then ask again concerning you age, weight, and health. See if they have thought of that.
My General Practitioner doctor said (after the surgery) that people with a regular gym routine do better.
Many on the forum suggest walking. At week 2, I was only walking half a mile in about 10 to 15 minutes - go slow you just had MAJOR surgery. I added a quarter mile per week until I was back up to 2 miles. The first 8 weeks you want the movement not the exercise strength. At almost week 11, I am back to doing 2 miles in 35 minutes.
How many Depend pullups and pads are you using each day? Keep track on a week to week bases - use the weekday of your surgery. Jot the date, number of pullups, and number of pads. For me, Week 1 - catheter, Week 2 - 12 pullups, Week 3 - 9 pullups, Week 4 - 5 pullups, Weeks 5, 6, 7 - 4 pullups, Weeks 8, 9, 10, 11 - 3 pullups and 3 pads.
Kegels help, Ask your urologist. It is a combination of healing, adjusting, and kegel exercises that will determine how fast you recover.
Also ask about the timeframe that he has seen in his/her patients, then ask again concerning you age, weight, and health. See if they have thought of that.
My General Practitioner doctor said (after the surgery) that people with a regular gym routine do better.
Many on the forum suggest walking. At week 2, I was only walking half a mile in about 10 to 15 minutes - go slow you just had MAJOR surgery. I added a quarter mile per week until I was back up to 2 miles. The first 8 weeks you want the movement not the exercise strength. At almost week 11, I am back to doing 2 miles in 35 minutes.
Archives1
Staff member
Keeping track is key to being able to see progress
I use a scale and weigh pull-ups subtract the weight of dry pull-up and disposal bag.
The weight in grams is very close to how many milliliters you “leaked”.
I charted 4 times a day to start. You can see the pattern of different times per days.
The total milliliters per day is good to track.
This doesn’t work for everyone, but it works for me.
I use a scale and weigh pull-ups subtract the weight of dry pull-up and disposal bag.
The weight in grams is very close to how many milliliters you “leaked”.
I charted 4 times a day to start. You can see the pattern of different times per days.
The total milliliters per day is good to track.
This doesn’t work for everyone, but it works for me.
Archives1
Staff member
So I have taken your advice and started to do my daily Kegel's more faithfully and walking further. I really hope it helps with the recovery process.
This is week 5 and I’m still feeling some discomfort in my groin.
Anyone else experience that in their 5th week?
I’m still dry at night but I do get up a few times at night to pee.
It seems that my body knows it’s time and my diaper stays dry.
However the days I seem to leak all day even after I have made a point of going to the bathroom regularly.
I haven’t been tracking how many diapers and pads I use daily because that seems to depend more on my liquid intake. But I will once I get a little more control.
Thank you for the input so far. It helps knowing we are having similar experiences.
BTW... I’m pushing 70, weight 165 at 5-9 , relatively healthy until the PSA jump. Gleason score was only 7 which initially was a wait and watch situation. Because I was on the fence about waiting the surgeon at the Mayo ran a Genome test which showed the cancer was on the aggressive spectrum. Between that and the location of the cancerous biopsy I decided to go the more invasive route.
Once I knew the Radiation pros and cons the surgery just made more sense.
This is week 5 and I’m still feeling some discomfort in my groin.
Anyone else experience that in their 5th week?
I’m still dry at night but I do get up a few times at night to pee.
It seems that my body knows it’s time and my diaper stays dry.
However the days I seem to leak all day even after I have made a point of going to the bathroom regularly.
I haven’t been tracking how many diapers and pads I use daily because that seems to depend more on my liquid intake. But I will once I get a little more control.
Thank you for the input so far. It helps knowing we are having similar experiences.
BTW... I’m pushing 70, weight 165 at 5-9 , relatively healthy until the PSA jump. Gleason score was only 7 which initially was a wait and watch situation. Because I was on the fence about waiting the surgeon at the Mayo ran a Genome test which showed the cancer was on the aggressive spectrum. Between that and the location of the cancerous biopsy I decided to go the more invasive route.
Once I knew the Radiation pros and cons the surgery just made more sense.
Archives1
Staff member
@Dwb I think you made the right choice. I’m a female and had cancer in my reproductive organs. I elected for surgery over chemo+radiation. I tried several smaller procedures that didn’t work out before I had to go with a hysterectomy. I’m glad I did; I’m three years cancer-free as of next month. Taking hormone replacement therapy is no picnic, but better than cancer!
Kegels absolutely make a difference. They don’t stop incontinence, but they’ll help you get some control to make it to the bathroom in time. But make sure to do lots of research to make sure you’re doing them correctly, and preferably, work with a physical therapist. That made a big difference for me. Flexing the pelvic floor muscle has many benefits and becomes second nature in the right moments.
As for pain recovery time, after any surgery but particularly one as significant as a prostatectomy, yes, it’s common to still have pain at week five post-op. You’ll probably even still feel something at month five.
Good luck!
Kegels absolutely make a difference. They don’t stop incontinence, but they’ll help you get some control to make it to the bathroom in time. But make sure to do lots of research to make sure you’re doing them correctly, and preferably, work with a physical therapist. That made a big difference for me. Flexing the pelvic floor muscle has many benefits and becomes second nature in the right moments.
As for pain recovery time, after any surgery but particularly one as significant as a prostatectomy, yes, it’s common to still have pain at week five post-op. You’ll probably even still feel something at month five.
Good luck!
Archives1
Staff member
Has anyone tried the Sling Surgical Procedure or the Artifical Urinary Sphincter ?
Apparently these are otpions if we cannot find adequate control via Kegels or medication.
I am curious as to whether anyone has tried one of these methods?
I am meeting with my surgeon at the end of December for my first PSA test and I will be asking about these options.
Because it would only have been 2 months since my RP surgery I am not sure he will even want to give me those options.
Thank you for considering my question.
dave
Apparently these are otpions if we cannot find adequate control via Kegels or medication.
I am curious as to whether anyone has tried one of these methods?
I am meeting with my surgeon at the end of December for my first PSA test and I will be asking about these options.
Because it would only have been 2 months since my RP surgery I am not sure he will even want to give me those options.
Thank you for considering my question.
dave
Archives1
Staff member
Hello All:
My name is Nick, I am 74 years old and 3 weeks ago had my prostate removed at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. I had an aggressive form of prostate cancer. My surgeon believes he got all the cancer but of course a PSA test will hopefully prove him correct when I take the test in several months.
I opted for surgery rather than radiation/hormone shots because I have what is called a J-Pouch. After living in Pakistan for almost a year a parasite gained access to my colon area. After I got back to the States, and 5 different antibiotics, the parasite was gone but the antibiotics/parasites badly damaged my colon, so badly the colon had to be removed. So the colorectal surgeons at Johns Hopkins removed the colon and attached my small intestine to my rectum, forming a J-Pouch.
Because of my J-Pouch my prostate surgeon did not do robotic surgery but cut open my belly below my belly button and removed my prostate. The post operation biopsy indicated that the prostate had an aggressive cancer, however, and happily, the lymph nodes were clear.
My recovery appears to be going well; urine stream is good, and clear. Not that much pain and I have been doing some exercise(swimming/walking)each day.
My major concern is the urinary incontinence. I am fine at night; lying down with very little urinary output. However during the day the leakage is a major concern, especially while I am active. I probably use 3-4 small pads during the day.
I was doing Kegel exercise before the operation, stopped for a few weeks since the operation and have now had my first meeting with a pelvic floor specialist last week. I have now restarted the Kegel exercises (about one week).
I am hopeful however any thoughts from members of the forum would be appreciated.
All the Best to Everyone,
Nick
My name is Nick, I am 74 years old and 3 weeks ago had my prostate removed at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. I had an aggressive form of prostate cancer. My surgeon believes he got all the cancer but of course a PSA test will hopefully prove him correct when I take the test in several months.
I opted for surgery rather than radiation/hormone shots because I have what is called a J-Pouch. After living in Pakistan for almost a year a parasite gained access to my colon area. After I got back to the States, and 5 different antibiotics, the parasite was gone but the antibiotics/parasites badly damaged my colon, so badly the colon had to be removed. So the colorectal surgeons at Johns Hopkins removed the colon and attached my small intestine to my rectum, forming a J-Pouch.
Because of my J-Pouch my prostate surgeon did not do robotic surgery but cut open my belly below my belly button and removed my prostate. The post operation biopsy indicated that the prostate had an aggressive cancer, however, and happily, the lymph nodes were clear.
My recovery appears to be going well; urine stream is good, and clear. Not that much pain and I have been doing some exercise(swimming/walking)each day.
My major concern is the urinary incontinence. I am fine at night; lying down with very little urinary output. However during the day the leakage is a major concern, especially while I am active. I probably use 3-4 small pads during the day.
I was doing Kegel exercise before the operation, stopped for a few weeks since the operation and have now had my first meeting with a pelvic floor specialist last week. I have now restarted the Kegel exercises (about one week).
I am hopeful however any thoughts from members of the forum would be appreciated.
All the Best to Everyone,
Nick
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