Robotic Prostate Surgery Week 3
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Archives1
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I am in week 3 too. I can urinare at times, but I mostly dribble in my depends. It is frustrating. I keep doing my kegels. I am also told that it may take6 months to a year to see improvement. When doctors say you may experience leakage, they should be more honest their patients. Hang in there
Archives1
Staff member
@KLP I’m assuming you had a catheter in for a week or so. The catheter makes your bladder very angry so to speak. The one sphincter left has to now do the job the other sphincter was doing. Kegel exercises to strengthen that sphincter is key. I had the same experience you are having when my catheter came out. It does get better. I’m not a patient person but you have to try to be. Easy to say I know especially when you’re living it 24/7.
Archives1
Staff member
I was right there with you. I am 12 weeks out from surgery. For the first 8 weeks I saw no progress at all. Could not get a stream only dribbles and went through 10-12 soaked pads a day and 2 diapers per night. I was very frustrated but my Dr told me to be patient. Week 9 everything changed. I started to pee, have less leaks and now I wear 2 pads a day just for precautionary measures. It just takes time. I did not want hear that when I was so depressed by not making any progress at all for 8 weeks but I am now able to see the light at the end of the tunnel of minimal to no incontinence problems. It just takes time (and Kegels). Hoping the best for your total recovery.
Archives1
Staff member
Many in this forum, including myself, have learned that our urologist never shared necessary information about what to anticipate and prepare for, as you will read if you look over years of fellow survivors input. You’re extremely early in the healing process. After 6 years at 76, post RP, I’m still learning. You can set your expectations high, but don’t be surprised that statistics regarding post RP progress are suspect. Your age is critical factor, in my opinion as to reaching dryness, or being dryer, along with ED, which also may never be what you recall. The critical factor is being cancer free with no rise in your PSAs in your future. Best of luck.
Archives1
Staff member
I know that it's tough but this is pretty normal, I recall how maddening it was and prepare yourself it can take a while to bounce back. I am 20 months post surgery and I require a light pad only when doing strenuous work or exercise, a heavier pad is required when I play golf and have a couple of cocktails.
I failed to see any real improvement until week 10 or so and then saw gradual improvement but it took about 6 months until I felt better about myself. I hope that yours is quicker.
You have to be diligent about your Kegels, I still do a battery of Kegel exercises twice daily, they do make a difference. I went as far as to seek Physical Therapy to make certain that I was doing them correctly and it was incredibly helpful. Walking was a huge benefit too, I do 5 miles day and was walking as soon as I could, I leaked a bunch but the benefits were huge! Stay active it's good for your body and your mind.
I know that you are going to feel down, it's completely normal. This minor drawback is going to dominate your focus and your lifestyle and that again is normal. It used to make me crazy how something that I never thought twice about would rule my day to day life, that too is normal.
Keep positive and know that you will get better and keep in mind that everyone heals differently. You have dialed in to great resource here and a support system that will be there for you, you have no idea how lucky you are to have found this forum. Everyone here has been or is still in your position, their understanding, knowledge, encouragement and support is down right amazing!!!
It will be tough but keep your chin up and do the right stuff and you will see gradual and sustained improvement and absolutely celebrate your little victories and improvements.
I failed to see any real improvement until week 10 or so and then saw gradual improvement but it took about 6 months until I felt better about myself. I hope that yours is quicker.
You have to be diligent about your Kegels, I still do a battery of Kegel exercises twice daily, they do make a difference. I went as far as to seek Physical Therapy to make certain that I was doing them correctly and it was incredibly helpful. Walking was a huge benefit too, I do 5 miles day and was walking as soon as I could, I leaked a bunch but the benefits were huge! Stay active it's good for your body and your mind.
I know that you are going to feel down, it's completely normal. This minor drawback is going to dominate your focus and your lifestyle and that again is normal. It used to make me crazy how something that I never thought twice about would rule my day to day life, that too is normal.
Keep positive and know that you will get better and keep in mind that everyone heals differently. You have dialed in to great resource here and a support system that will be there for you, you have no idea how lucky you are to have found this forum. Everyone here has been or is still in your position, their understanding, knowledge, encouragement and support is down right amazing!!!
It will be tough but keep your chin up and do the right stuff and you will see gradual and sustained improvement and absolutely celebrate your little victories and improvements.
Archives1
Staff member
Everyone's comments are so helpful. Fear of the unknown is real. And hearing success stories is so encouraging. And for those still struggling (which I am still not 100% out of the woods yet) it is so nice to share the experience in order to learn and to encourage. Thanks everyone!
Archives1
Staff member
I’m 19 months post surgery and I can still leak under intense physical activity. It simply takes time. You will see improvements month to month but likely not at the speed you would like. I found that even after a year improvements continue to happen. Be diligent with the kegels. I used a physical therapist about 3 months ago for a few sessions and this person helped me with specific exercises and stretching routines that were designed for the physical activities that I participate in and it helped. I still do kegels, stretches, and the exercises daily. Keep the faith, you will get there.
Archives1
Staff member
You’re at the worst post op stage. It’s the pits, I know. Keep up your Kegel exercises, 3 or 4 sessions a day and you should have a slow very gradual improvement. Initially I was getting through 6 thick pads a day. Although, I became dry at night quite quickly. I’m now 12 weeks post op and only need 1 lightweight pad a day. I have good days and bad days. If I’m doing heavy exercise I’ll leak a bit. Keep going and you should see some light at the end of the tunnel.
Archives1
Staff member
Monday marked the three week anniversary point of the loss of my catheter. I had the delightful adage for three days less than a month largely because (a) I was scheduled to have it in for two weeks - and it was then removed - but (b) I suffered from an NHS nurse's 'I want to go home' syndrome at that juncture. I had begun to relieve myself into the measuring pot they provided in the bathroom shown but had another nurse then pounding on its door at that point screeching: 'I need this room for a flow test. Get out'. As ever, charming. Thereafter I just couldn't relax. A consultant did tell me I could leave - having had a VERY small amount released - and then come back if I suffered from urinary retention but the nurse wasn't AT ALL happy with this. She flounced down the hall bringing him back. At that point he informed me that I 'HAD' to be re-catharised. Consequently I was. It was clear who wore the trousers in that relationship.
I had no wetness at the final removal of the catheter - and indeed no incontinence for about four days thereafter. I did wear a pad - in expectation. I was walking about at the latter juncture and suddenly spurted for no reason I could fathom at that immediate time. Otherwise mine has been on the standard tension/stress related spectrum - when it comes. I'm certainly dry at night (thank heavens) and it seems always when sitting down working. It's only sometimes when I get up. (I found it strange that it was not always consistent. Maybe at those points when I don't spurt now I actually remember to squeeze. Certainly often now those slips seem to have cleared up. Perhaps squeezing is just becoming a mind set i.e., by course.) I have enjoyed strands of three days in a row when I haven't had to replace a pad - simply because there was nothing there. At three I actually feel guilty and just change it over to a new one as a matter of course. I feel I'm coming around this particular bend. (Oh, I'm 68 by the way - knowing that age and be a significant factor in this regard.)
I do DO the kegels. Not as strenuously as I did them perhaps pre-op. (I started those on 27th October of last year and grew to do a couple hundred per day. My operation was on 27th March of this current annum.) I was at a support group meeting on Saturday and several chaps said that they had cut back on kegels because they actually felt it negatively reflected on their incontinence, i.e., tired the body out. Others seemed to agree. One chap said he had never done them and was fine. It seems a mystery overall. I have decided to do them twice a day to try to keep a happy balance. I do them once when I first get up and then again just before I go to bed when I know my body will have a chance to rest.
As people say, everyone is different. This is what makes these endeavours such an adventure all round. One thing I did was purchase one of those plastic toilet rim risers. This helps reduce the strain against the bladder. I don't always use it now - but I will if I feel the urge is not right at the rim. Somewhere in my brain I feel it has been an assistance. In reality I don't know - but it couldn't hurt. I just throw that out there into this informative mix.
Thanks be to ALL.
I had no wetness at the final removal of the catheter - and indeed no incontinence for about four days thereafter. I did wear a pad - in expectation. I was walking about at the latter juncture and suddenly spurted for no reason I could fathom at that immediate time. Otherwise mine has been on the standard tension/stress related spectrum - when it comes. I'm certainly dry at night (thank heavens) and it seems always when sitting down working. It's only sometimes when I get up. (I found it strange that it was not always consistent. Maybe at those points when I don't spurt now I actually remember to squeeze. Certainly often now those slips seem to have cleared up. Perhaps squeezing is just becoming a mind set i.e., by course.) I have enjoyed strands of three days in a row when I haven't had to replace a pad - simply because there was nothing there. At three I actually feel guilty and just change it over to a new one as a matter of course. I feel I'm coming around this particular bend. (Oh, I'm 68 by the way - knowing that age and be a significant factor in this regard.)
I do DO the kegels. Not as strenuously as I did them perhaps pre-op. (I started those on 27th October of last year and grew to do a couple hundred per day. My operation was on 27th March of this current annum.) I was at a support group meeting on Saturday and several chaps said that they had cut back on kegels because they actually felt it negatively reflected on their incontinence, i.e., tired the body out. Others seemed to agree. One chap said he had never done them and was fine. It seems a mystery overall. I have decided to do them twice a day to try to keep a happy balance. I do them once when I first get up and then again just before I go to bed when I know my body will have a chance to rest.
As people say, everyone is different. This is what makes these endeavours such an adventure all round. One thing I did was purchase one of those plastic toilet rim risers. This helps reduce the strain against the bladder. I don't always use it now - but I will if I feel the urge is not right at the rim. Somewhere in my brain I feel it has been an assistance. In reality I don't know - but it couldn't hurt. I just throw that out there into this informative mix.
Thanks be to ALL.
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