Preemptive Voiding

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Prior to radiation therapy I generally did not think of going to bathroom before leaving home unless I knew I was going on a long drive.

In particular now that I am drinking more water per urologist recommendation to reduce urgency and improve control I have realized I need to make sure I void before I leave from home or leave a restaurant. If I neglect to do that, I am not in the car too long before I wet.

My wife pointed out that she always voids before she goes anywhere whether she needs to or not. She says that is perhaps more typical of women. Our nurse friend said last night that the problem with that is the bladder tends to get smaller if it is never filled to capacity. I guess it could become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

 

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I've wondered about that bladder shrinking due to not filling up. It has always been a thing for women to use the toilet before leaving the house as a sort of ritual but those same women que up at toilets in store restaurants and theatre

 

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If drinking more water, as recommended by your urologist, improves control, then waiting to go seems like it might also be part of the process. I'm beginning to think I need to practice holding it longer when at home, in order to be better prepared when going out. I'm also wondering if kegels might be worked into the training regime. Does it make more sense to do intermittent kegels as part of the holding process, or after voiding? Both? Neither?

 

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Yes this is true. Never void "just in case". Apparently we should let the bladder get bigger by training ourselves to void - according to my physiotherapist- every 2 hours. Easier said than done. I am not an expert on the subject but I am a serial urinator so 2 hrs seems unachievable to me . At least for now.

 

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My brother had radiation and was 15 years younger than me, or 9 years ago. Same urologist but I got newer radiation equipment. He worked on his bladder by drinking a lot of water while cutting the grass or other physical activities and drinking water and then he would run to the bathroom at the last possible moment. He had had other medical issues but his prostate CA treatment and bladder control is now fine.

 

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I had some 4 1/2 months of physical therapy that recommended that approach, but about half the time that just led to a "bladder splatter"!

 

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Training the bladder to expend by postponing voiding isn't for everyone since not everyone can successfully do it. When my physiotherapist suggested it to me I laughed so hard I peed myself, on the her hand I would have peed myself without laughing. At times I feel like my bladder was removed instead of my prostate, seems like everything goes straight from kidneys into the diper. Perhaps one day I will be able to hold it back until my teeth start swimming. Until then I will hold my breath instead.

 

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@Josh