RP December 16th 2019

User

Posted 27 Dec 2019 at 17:43

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Good to hear your update Dave. My TWOC is Monday, so your experience is really helpful! Thanks.

Keep us posted as it will be interesting to see how you get on too. Good to be able to compare notes haha

User

Posted 27 Dec 2019 at 17:47

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Dave

You can get an online next day delivery from Boots or The Incontenence shop which might save you some money.

Thanks for that. Will try this out compare the prices.

User

Posted 27 Dec 2019 at 18:12

Would recommend just water for a few days. Caffeine and alcohol played havoc with me so totally backed off it :-/

I picked up tena 3 for about a £12 for three packs from amazon. Also picked up tena 2 which have switched too now. What I do also I use a highly absorbing kitchen paper towel on inside like a sacrificial absorber plus I find easier to monitor without having to weigh the pads etc

User

Posted 27 Dec 2019 at 18:23

Techguy

Try wrapping the kitchen roll in a nappy liner, it will keep you dry and the tissue will not stick to you if wet. Sainsbury's sell nappy liners. If you have a small leak you dispose of the tissue and nappy liner.

Thanks Chris

User

Posted 27 Dec 2019 at 18:23

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Would recommend just water for a few days. Caffeine and alcohol played havoc with me so totally backed off it :-/

Sounds like another way to save money

Cheers.

User

Posted 27 Dec 2019 at 18:29

Cheers for heads up Chris. Should be ok now as only 2-4 drips per day now. Very much 3 steps forward and 2 back but gradually getting there.

User

Posted 27 Dec 2019 at 18:48

Agree with Techguy and Pete. Hubby uses Tena 3 boots own brand.

Edited by member 27 Dec 2019 at 19:32 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 27 Dec 2019 at 19:16

Thanks for the advice. Just ordered the Tena 3 from Amazon - be here tommorow. My OH said they wouldn't give me something at the TWOC - but I suspect that these will be limited in number and somewhat inferior to Tena? Have been on light squashes and a morning tea since the OP. Had to do a caffeine detox as well!

User

Posted 27 Dec 2019 at 19:21

It's a tough call between drinking enough to keep your stools soft and not drinking so much you're leaking all the time.

I stopped all alcohol for 6 months from Oct 16 to April 17 as well. It wasn't as bad as I imagined.

Also I stopped drinking around 7pm every day although I never leaked at night.

At least I don't think I leaked at night but I wore Boots fairly thick pads for 5 months day and night. In winter they're quite warm as well.

Here's a standard piece I found on a website:

'at first you're dry in bed and deteriorate through the day. Over time the deterioration slows so you might be dry in the morning but wet in the afternoon and then dry all day, or at least relatively dry. Most say 3 - 6 months for dry, but not everyone.'

Here's a personal quote, 2017, from my own website which is linked on my profile:

'With my level of stress incontinence I find the best incontinence pads 
are Boots medium super (marked with 5 drops out of 8). 
They cost less than other makes that have less capacity so you might as well use them. 
They are a bit bigger but aren't noticeable and they don't let you down. In winter they're warm as well. 
I've used Medium 4 drops and found I had to change it earlier whereas the 5 drop one's last all day. 
The very small ones are only good for in the house or overnight when I'm dry anyway.

Another trick is to make sure you pull the pad up after going to the loo. I once didn't and got a damp spot down my leg.

Pad fullness is detected by weight. It can seem dry but if it's heavy it's near full. You need to wear briefs and not boxers with a pad.

Also don't buy too many at one time. My continence suddenly seemed a lot better but I've got 30 big pads left and could manage with a very small pad now, early May 2017. Shame that once every few days there is an unexpected stress leak.'

Edited by member 27 Dec 2019 at 19:22 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 27 Dec 2019 at 19:28

They will be light pad so take your own supplies + towel for the car ride home.

User

Posted 27 Dec 2019 at 19:29

I re-read my surgeons tech notes over the days/weeks following surgery. The Prof says evening can be leaky as your body and muscles get tired and tend to relax. He also said to reduce liquids after 7pm. Plus leaking common until the stitches start to break down (week 6) around the anastomosis/rebuilt bladder connection.

ive found kegel pelvic floor exercises help particularly with stress incontinence. I’ve learnt to hold when I cough/sneeze/pass_wind.

definitely improvement over time.

Incidentally...I found kegels a lot easier to do for a few days learning while laying flat in bed.

Edited by member 27 Dec 2019 at 19:36 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 27 Dec 2019 at 19:33

Oddly now I get the sensation of leaking but no leakage. I guess it’s part of the journey as the brain relearns the new set up downstairs and reconfigures the neural pathways as everything heals etc Dry is dry...I’ll take that :-)

User

Posted 27 Dec 2019 at 20:32

Our urologist described it as like a sieve - until the new join in the urethra heals, fluid is going to drip through the holes. He said no amount of kegels will stop a sieve from leaking - once the join is healed, it is all about the brain learning the new signals. Stress incontinence can be improved by pelvic floor exercises, but not mechanical damage / confused nerve signals.

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 27 Dec 2019 at 22:01

Your joint should have been tested and proven to be watertight. Leakage of urine into the pelvic cavity should be avoided and can be fatal. Your urethra may leak like a sieve but from one end to the other but not from the joint.

Thanks Chris

User

Posted 27 Dec 2019 at 22:06

Pretty sure it’s one end to the other. No alarm bells thus far in terms of the anastomosis plus they were cautious leaving the catheter in for 15 days. Ultrasound scan was done during the few hours of TWOC.

User

Posted 27 Dec 2019 at 23:42

I don’t think Mr P was being literal when he told us that; he was just explaining why PFEs are irrelevant in the first few weeks. The bladder will leak like a sieve to begin with - it is a simile.

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 28 Dec 2019 at 07:01

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

I asked for some pads at the TWOC and they gave me a box of Tena 3.So Don, t forget to ask. You might be in luck.

User

Posted 28 Dec 2019 at 07:16

First night after TWOC

Stopped drinking anything at 7pm. Used incontinence knickers with two night pads. At first I thought this might be overkill but the amount of water leaking after the TWOC I thought better to be safe than sorry.

Only got up once during the night but was very tired going to bed as it was a long day yesterday.

This morning only one of the night pads were about 50% shot so have removed the dry night pad to use again.

Just found out of my beloved I have been drinking decaffeinated tea for years. Haha. I might try a cup this morning. Fingers crossed. Feeling a bit tender in the pelvic area, possibly due to the pelvic floor exercises. All in all feeling pretty pleased and looking forward to what the day brings although nothing major planned.

Edited by member 28 Dec 2019 at 07:18 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 28 Dec 2019 at 07:33

Sounds like great progress. Just had my first 24hrs dry. Had my catheter removed on the 12th December so pretty happy this far. Gone down to a tena two with no kitchen towel stuffed inside :-)

Water works feel a lot less inflamed. Still some discomfort when bladder full and in pelvic area but I expect that for some time to come given what took place. Things can only get better :-)

enjoy your Saturday!

User

Posted 28 Dec 2019 at 07:48

Tech guy. Sounds like you have done fantastically well considering a lot of people can take 6 months to get to that stage. Unfortunately I take pain killers for chronic back pain and do reduce sensetivety, I do wonder what effect this may have on my recovery.

Notification

Join the online community now.