Your experience with bladder control

GaryG · New User Joined: 19 Dec 2007 Posts: 4

In his book, "Dr. Patrick Walsh's Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer," 2nd Edition, June 2007, he recommends doing kegels when urinating by trying to stop the flow.

This was new to me. It might be worth a try as an alternative to traditional kegels.

I'm not a doctor, and you may want to check with your uro on this approach, but maybe its worth considering.
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PSA 8/2007 3.5
PSA 9/2007 4.6
Biospy 10/2007 - 1/8 5% Cancer Gleason 6
RP 11/28/2007 Mt. Sinai Hospital, NY, NY
Gleason 6, Negative Margins
PSA 1/2008 < 0.05

kzimm · Regular Joined: 16 May 2007 Posts: 14

I must say that, after reading these posts, I have to consider myself blessed.

My urologist performed my radical prostatectomy "the old-fashioned way" in early June - open abdominal - but sent me home the third day after surgery without a catheter. He did say I had a good "stump" on the bladder with which to reattach the urethra, so that may have had something to do with it as well.

I used pads or depends regularly for the first few weeks, then gradually reduced & stopped over the next few months. By August, I was not using anything.

I do kegels for 5 minutes a day (50 quick repetitions, 4 minutes sustained repetitions and another quick 50) on the way to work, no more than that.

I find that, if I enjoy more than a few beers or other alcoholic drinks, incontinence becomes an unwanted side-effect (especially if I doze off on the couch). I also perform in a band, and if I imbibe during a job, I can experience stress incontinence while lifting the heavy gear...even the lightweight stuff at the end of the night.

My biggest inconvenience is the fact that, although I can empty my bladder in 10 seconds flat, on average, it sometimes takes another 10 seconds to fully clear the works. I find that if I AVOID using the kegels while I finish emptying the bladder, THEN use a few contractions, the emptying is more complete.

Does anyone else get the impression that robotic surgery seems to result in more cases of incontinence than abdominal or retropubic?
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Kzimm

Boothby171

I had the robotic surgery with Dr. Tewari on January 14th. I had the catheter out on January 22nd.

Can I see a show of hands...is that not the most disgusting sound anyone has ever heard?

I've been fairly continent in the 4 days since the removal of the catheter. I used the full-up undergarments for the first 3 days, and they stayed pretty dry. I used 1 per day, though if I had wanted to (I didn't) I could have let them carry across because they were pretty dry.

Today, I tried a simple pad. I think I rushed it a bit; I felt like I had little leaks at various "stress" times throughout the day. But, to be honest, I did have about 3 cups of coffee when I went out for breakfast with my wife. The other days, no more than one cup of coffee for the day. I don't plan on doing a scientific study, so it's only "anecdotal.'

I really have to say that Dr. Tewari is worth having to deal with the "Big City." I was up and walking the night of the surgery (Monda), more the next day (Tuesday, plus I was released Tuesday), and ever since, I've been walking between 5-9 miles a day.

Plus I had the best room at NY Presbyterian hospital! It had the most gorgeous views of NYC! And, all the rooms are private!

philip · Regular Joined: 27 Dec 2006 Posts: 11

I am 58. I had my prostate removed the old fashioned way in September.
After the catheter was removed, I was able to immediatly control my urination from that point on. I sleep through the night without having to get up. I can lift heavy things, cough, and laugh out loud with out leaking.

I dont know if this outcome is rare or fairly common, but for me that is how it worked out.

The return of other more important functions has been much more difficult, but I am making slow but positive progress in that area.

Matt Kennedy

I too feel really lucky. I had a radical prostatectomy via davinci robot 3 weeks ago on 1/23/08. I have had complete control of my bladder since the day the catheter came out.

The only time I notice a very very slight problem is if my bladder is full (in other words I've waited too long to go) and I try and pass gas a few drops can slip past so I've just learned to be careful of this. Other than that no problems whatsoever. Again, I too feel very very lucky.

p.s. I should also mention that after only 3 weeks post surgery I don't have any ED problem at all either. I realize how very lucky I am to dodge both of these major side effects. I have attributed this to the very experienced and skilled surgeon that did the procedure as well as the relatively early stage of the disease in my case.

-Matt
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Matt Kennedy
Salem, NH

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