Recovery of the use of full bladder volume following prostate removal

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Dear Folks,

I am seeking insight into the process of the recovery of full bladder function following RP.

I had a robotic laparoscopic radical prostatectomy on 6/24/22. I’m 68. 6'4", excellent health, fish/vegan diet. European ethnicity. Was Gleason 7(3+4) and PSA 14 before surgery. Negative PSMA scan, and my prostate margins were negative. I'm scheduled for an ultra-sensitive PSA test next week – hoping for Zero.

I began retaining urine in my bladder during sleep (or sitting) after the catheter came out (7 days after surgery). Can now also retain urine while standing while engaged in moderate activity. However, I continue to have stress incontinence (e.g., piloting an oar frame raft on rapids in the Colorado River). I can live with this if I have to...

I’m seeing a physical therapist, and she tells me I am doing Kegel exercises correctly - and I do do them (sporadically).

I don't have urge incontinence, but I have strong urges to urinate long before my bladder is full (e.g., at 200 ml volume). I expect my decade of living with benign prostatic hyperplasia prior to RP has a lot to do with this. Wondering what I can do now to recover the nerve function to actually know how full my bladder is, and suppress premature urges to urinate.

Thanks in advance for any insight you share.

John

 

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Time is probably the answer. You are only a couple of months since RP.
Let us know how it goes in a couple more months.
Good luck.

 

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Time….. I’m 48 and 6 months post PR. It gets better but we are all impatient. At 4 months, you’ll likely only leak during brisk walks and exercise but no 2 cases are the same. All I can say is alcohol is not your friend here. I still leak if I go past 4 beers or long walks (4 miles). Good luck on your road to recovery. Last check I was 0.12 PSA. We were shooting for less than 0.08 but he left a little as part of nerve sparing surgery. ED is my new challenge!

 

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I'm 1yr post. Still have some stress incontinence. I still feel like I need to go more then necessary. But has improved over the year.

 

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JRImattock much older at 74 but just as active and 4+ years after RBP still leaking 1 pad/day unless walking 4-5 miles in desert heat every other day, weights, power yoga, and/or xeriscaping—then 2 pads. So usually 2. Kegels sporadically, but always while trekking—good for pelvic floor. Urologists give positive projections of continence. All recover differently. You’re very early in the process, so keep on keeping on.

 

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BTW, very bad OMICRON experience from May through June set back my continence progress tremendously—so beware of COVID variants.

 

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JRImattock much older at 74 but just as active and 4+ years after RBP still leaking 1 pad/day unless walking 4-5 miles in desert heat every other day, weights, power yoga, and/or xeriscaping—then 2 pads. So usually 2. Kegels sporadically, but always while trekking—good for pelvic floor. Urologists give positive projections of continence. All recover differently. You’re very early in the process, so keep on keeping on.

Hello @stryder;

Hope you have been well - haven't seen you post in a while. You are right about urologists give positive and reassuring advice regarding this condition.

I try to stay active and hydrated as best I can - recently been getting over a covid-cold (as the media calls it) - but was massively dehydrated and even with all of the fluids I have drank - I have barely voided.

I assume when I get past the symptoms and my body returns to normal - my body will adjust back to typical symptoms - but even with the less frequent voiding; the volume is still the same - very little to none.

Trying to keep active as you - only a daily walker - but I should do more. It's just hard for me to get out of my shell and meet people.

Blessings In Christ,
Honeeecombs

 

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It's very early days for your John. Presumably you wear pads/pants to capture leakage ........ so I find weighing them for 24 hours every 2 03 3 weeks is useful in showing how things are improving.

Also if you have pads/pants on and you feel your bladder is full I can often hang on for another 30 - 60 mins. The pads/pants give the security if I do leak. I started off leaving it 10 mins then 20 etc. Worth a try.

Also - I advise doing Kegels (or pelvic floor exercises regularly rather than sporadically. minimum 3 times a day

I wasn't a very patient patient but things are improving at last ;-).