Post Prostatectomy Improvement After a Year

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Everyone knows that improvement in bladder control typically takes months after a RP. I've seen some suggest, though, that progress levels off, and you won’t see much improvement if you’re still having issues after a year. I don’t think that’s necessarily the case. I had a RP 16 months ago. This last month, for me, has been my best. Most days I’m completely dry. On some days, there are just a few drops. I saw steady improvement this whole time but, as I said, the last month has been great.

So, here’s my two cents worth. If you’re recovering from a RP, and starting to feel like you'll never get back to normal, don’t put yourself on some artificial recovery timeline. Keep up with your exercises, and let yourself recover at your own pace. Improvement months and months after RP is possible! Best of luck and God bless.

 

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@Chuck11 Very encouraging, Chuck. Thanks!

 

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Thanks for the encouragement, dude! I’m 3 1/2 months out and sometimes I feel like the old 1 step forward, 2 steps back. I feel like I should be able to control all leaking, but I can’t. Don’t remember what regular underwear feels like being in pull ups all the time. Anyway, your post started my day out on a good note.

 

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Ekimretlaw, hang in there! At 3 1/2 months, you are very early. Everyone is different, of course, but my experience has been: first 6 weeks - very wet. 5-6 large pads a day. Then gradual, slow improvement - somewhat frustrating - until 4 1/2 months at which point, almost overnight, a major improvement to 2 pads/ day. Then at 8 months, again almost overnight, another major improvement to 1 pad/day. Now at 9 months - seeing more, gradual improvement each week. Like many people, at 3 months or so I felt somewhat hopeless, thinking I'd never see the improved control that I had expected -- but the control did come. Patience!

 

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So proud of you guys! I wonder if I, as a lady with neurogenic bladder, will ever recover. The doctors think a Stimwave Peripheral Nerve Stimulator I had placed for pain in August 2020 has migrated again, yes again, and will probably have to be removed. It was placed for chronic back pain and did help but stopped. I am having kidney X-rays, Thoracic MRI, Lumbar MRI , cystoscope again along with anything else they deem necessary in March. I am going to have to have it removed when they find it and I am afraid things could get worse. I am so happy that y’all are persevering and getting results from it. I am rooting from the sidelines for all of you !!!! May I ask if y’all had certain symptoms prior to your prostate surgery only because my husband is 64 , no problems yet, but his family has a history of prostate and kidney cancer. He is the love of my life and has supported me 100% through my problems. I will always be by his side no matter what but I want to care for him too. Thanks

 

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what is RP? i havent been on the site lately., due tonmother problems. Maybe i missed out on something new>

 

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Radical Prostatectomy. Removal of prostate due to cancer or other complications.

 

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Dmorris, I think most guys start down this road by getting an elvated PSA score on a blood test taken for a routine checkup. Make sure your husband is getting his PSA checked at least annually. I wish you the best with your upcoming scans and procedure. God bless!

 

[Archives1]

Everyone knows that improvement in bladder control typically takes months after a RP. I've seen some suggest, though, that progress levels off, and you won’t see much improvement if you’re still having issues after a year. I don’t think that’s necessarily the case. I had a RP 16 months ago. This last month, for me, has been my best. Most days I’m completely dry. On some days, there are just a few drops. I saw steady improvement this whole time but, as I said, the last month has been great.

So, here’s my two cents worth. If you’re recovering from a RP, and starting to feel like you'll never get back to normal, don’t put yourself on some artificial recovery timeline. Keep up with your exercises, and let yourself recover at your own pace. Improvement months and months after RP is possible! Best of luck and God bless.

@Chuck11

 

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Chuck11, it’s posts like yours that help us guys who are 3 months in to our recovery. Your post has made me re-think how I feel in a positive way and my walk tomorrow with friends will end up with me having to dive in to a bush to change my pad, but hope is there that this may stop one day. It’s not going to stop me do what I want to do and thank you for your inspiration.

 

[Archives1]

Everyone knows that improvement in bladder control typically takes months after a RP. I've seen some suggest, though, that progress levels off, and you won’t see much improvement if you’re still having issues after a year. I don’t think that’s necessarily the case. I had a RP 16 months ago. This last month, for me, has been my best. Most days I’m completely dry. On some days, there are just a few drops. I saw steady improvement this whole time but, as I said, the last month has been great.

So, here’s my two cents worth. If you’re recovering from a RP, and starting to feel like you'll never get back to normal, don’t put yourself on some artificial recovery timeline. Keep up with your exercises, and let yourself recover at your own pace. Improvement months and months after RP is possible! Best of luck and God bless.

 

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Thanks for the information Chuck. I am just at the beginning of this recovery and as you know it is hard dealing with bladder control. I can see I need to be more realistic about my recovery timeline and be patient. Frustrating yes, but I see that I need to keep positive and take it one day at a time.

 

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Looking for how many see improvement after a year. I am at that point now, with every day activity maybe 1 guard, with heavy activity 2 to 3. Is there hope?

 

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Parone --I have seen some medical studies which say there can be improvement up to 2 years. My own experience is that I have had slow improvement through 20 months and counting. I use one light shield per day and in fact only have any leakage in the evenings -- never overnight. I am 72 and have periods of moderately-heavy activity-- but I actually have leakage only when standing, never while active. Is there hope? Yes, definitely. Keep working at it.

 

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Thank you

 

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One year since my surgery. I am almost incontinent free (last 5-10%). At 2-3 months after surgery I started physical therapy. Helped immensely and started to see weekly improvement. I now wear my fruit of the loom briefs with a light pad and only wear incontinence briefs at night just in case. My only leakage is when I stand for long periods, sneeze, or push to pass gas (never trust a fart). There is hope!

 

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Started with my third PT since 9/12 prostatectomy. First one just told me to do kegals, that’s it. After two weeks and second visit, she said that’s all you need, just keep doing them. No need to come back. Second PT said no kegals needed, gave a lot of other exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor. After 6 weeks, no change yet. Incontinence leaking night and day still. My doctor’s office asked to see their PT service at UM. It’s a 4 hour drive, but I needed answers.

First thing of note is that she did a physical exam, including a digital exam to test the strength of the muscles, which were weaker than they need to be. So back to kegals to start. The other PTs did not do this exam. Other exercises will be added over the next 6 weeks. May do bio feedback, but I’ll need to make the 4 hour drive for that. If you are going to do PT, go somewhere where they do the physical exam. I’ll report back after future visits.