Prostate Cancer
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Archives1
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I am almost 2 months post Da Vinci radical prostatectomy and am still experiencing some incontinence. It seems to be getting slightly better, but I am frustrated. I am using pull ups and go through a couple per day. I seem to be better lying down and am able to get up a couple of times a night to void. The incontinence seems to be less in the morning and worse in the late afternoon. I have read a lot of blogs and am somewhat encouraged that many men said that it takes up to six months to become continent. I have also read about an artificial sphincter operation, but that would be a very last resort. The prostate surgery was much more difficult for me than the testimonials suggested on the Da Vinci website. Is six months realistic and what are your suggestions?
Archives1
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Well, nobody responded to my post. My continence is improving and I am just using one pull up per day. I got the results of my post op PSA and it was .008, basically undetectable and am pleased. I guess time will heal the incontinence issue and I will be patient and hope for complete dryness within another few months.
Archives1
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Although I had a prostatectomy several years ago, because my incontinence is caused by a genetic disease, I have had it for most of my life. Prostate surgery had nothing to do with it. If this promises to become long-term, you might consider external catheters and/or diapers. Both require some instruction, and lots of trial and error. Pelvic floor physical therapy may also be useful; your urologist could write you a prescription if this seems appropriate. Good luck.
Archives1
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I must be doing them right because I was dry all day yesterday and did not use a pull-up. It is mainly stress incontinence now and it has not been 3 months yet. My Urologist is encouraged and so am I. I do the Kegel exercises 4-5 times a day and have read several different approaches to doing them. I appreciate you responding to my post, Patrick. Good luck with your issues too.
Archives1
Staff member
I don't quite understand what you mean James, are you saying you mainly have stress incontinence and it hasn't been 3 months and your urologist is encouraged ? How did you keep dry ? With stress incontinence whenever you are sitting and move, get up, or even cough/sneeze you leak/drain. Its been just over 2 months for me and i haven't gone without needing a pull-up so far.
Archives1
Staff member
Don't get too discouraged. I was still using a couple of pull-ups a day at two months post-op. I was doing my Kegel exercises several times a day and my urologist wrote a prescription for Imipramine, which I am still taking every other day. It was very frustrating for me, but it was getting gradually better. At approximately the 90 day mark, I was down to 1 pull-up and not wearing any at night. I am now at month 5 and the only time I wearone, is when I am going to be in public for several hours and it is basically just a precaution. My 2nd post-op PSA was 0.1. The baseline was 0.08.
Archives1
Staff member
She knew that I was very concerned about it and prescribed it for me because I was taking a trip out of the country and it helps extend the interval of peeing. I kept doing the Kegel exercises and think that she said it would become gradually better. I had to take a carry-on full of pull-ups and pads, but it worked out. I have read a lot about it and realized that every case is different and continence might take from a couple of months to a couple of years. Hang I there.
Archives1
Staff member
I will try. U said u have Stress Incontinence, so do I, how long after taking the imipramine did it start getting better, did u also have the problem of leaking a lot when moving or getting up while sitting or even when coughing/sneezing? Did your urologist ever mentioned Ditropan ?
Archives1
Staff member
It is difficult to remember how long it took, but by I was doing better in the 3rd month. It went in stages. At first I basically had no control. Then I was okay when laying down, but leaked when I walked. Over a few weeks, it was getting a little better. I attribute the improvement to the Kegel exercises, the Imipramine and time.By month 3 I was only using one pull-up a day.I think. By month 4 I would only wear a pull-up if I were going out for more than a couple of hours. I do lack a little after I pee sometimes, but I can live with that. Did you have a Di Vinci robotic prostatectomy too and how long ago? My urologist did not recommend Ditropan. I do get up to pee a couple of times throughout the night. I was sleeping on a pad for about 3 months, but not now.
Archives1
Staff member
My catheter was in 10 days. I was in the hospital for 3. I had significant pain for a couple of months and trouble sleeping. She prescribed Ativan, which I take on occasion. I had my surgery on 8-24-15. I imagine you will notice significant improvement in another 3-4 weeks. Please keep me posted.
Archives1
Staff member
3-4 wks,I hope so. Did your urologist mentioned anything about weight? My urologist didn't say anything about my weight being of concern. I weighed around 234 before surgery and went to 200,but my belly didn't go down much. I was just wondering if the size of my middle had much to do with the incontinence.
Archives1
Staff member
It sounds like you have lost a lot of weight. I went back to exercising after a couple of months, but had to wear a pull up. It was pretty depressed about the incontinence issue at about the 2 month post-op point. I was wondering if it would ever subside. I did start noticing an improvement at 3 months. I am also taking daily Cialis for the ED thing. I suppose it will take a while. I am glad that this is helpful for you. I had initially posted my frustration at 2 months post-op and nobody responded for over a month, as you can see by my first 2 posts.
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