Leakage issues

I don't think anyone can give you a definite answer. I was going through many more pads a day than you are, if I remember rightly. It is like asking how long is a piece of string? The most important thing is to do your pelvic floor exercises religiously. I have copied below my suggestion to another member with the same issue. Just be patient, 4 pads a day is not bad at all at this stage - just go for a coffee where they have a descent toilet. Carry a bag with spare pads. Most toilets have disposal bins for nappies etc. 

Following my prostatectomy 12 years ago my catheter had to remain in place for over 5 weeks. When it was removed it felt as though a tap was fully turned on!  I had no help from anyone. Things were so bad that I used to just sit on the toilet for long periods to get some relief. Then a couple of days after the removal of the catheter, while sitting on the toilet, I instinctively tried to stop the flow. Guess what I could feel the rate of drips slowed a little. That was a Eureka moment for me and from that point onwards I would sit on the toilet, squeeze to try and stop the flow for the count of ten, then let go to the count of ten, repeating the process ten times, three times, a day. After a week or so I felt I was making real progress and continued for about a month and gradually reduced the number of pads - eventually to a single pad per day and that is where I am even now. I always put a small pad in my underpants for safety.

I see your point but you still have to do the pelvic floor exercises because you may not notice any change initially but from my personal experience for a couple weeks I did not notice any improvement. I persisted, there is no other way unless you accept that you will be incontinent for the rest of you life. Also remember that the sphincter you are left with is the voluntary one (the involuntary one next the bladder is removed with the prostate) which you were naturally controlling to pass the urine before surgery. It is a matter of retraining it. Vast majority of men either regained control immediately after the removal of the catheter and the rest achieve 100% continence after a few weeks. Some like me only achieve 99.9% continence. Of course there are always going to be a few who are not successful in regaining control. 

I am at a similar timescale stage and situation.  A week without catheter and pee when I stand up and walk but not when sitting down.  As people have said it’s a case of doing exercises.  It feels great to stop the pee mid flow !!  But I don’t see a return to a ‘few pints’ with mates just yet !!

Hello I have a few friends older than me who also have struggled with leaking, I think the older you are the harder it is I am 53 and got things under control reasonably quickly but only after I asked my physio about other exercises in conjunction with pelvic floor ones. So I started core exercises every day for 20mins and the results were great I was dry in 4 weeks. My 2 friends who I keep in touch with me were I hospital same time as me they are retired in there 60s and are still leaking a year down the line. How old are you I didn't see your age ? One of my mates is going have I think injections to help his incontinence. I stopped doing the exercises and when I saw my doctor he said I have to keep them up forever as long as I can do them of course, as you get older I will probably start leaking so it's important to keep doing them. I do get the pad situation as the ones on NHS are horrible and bulky I used the Tena men ones alot better but not cheap especially when you use 4 or 5 a day. Stay hopeful and keep your chin up. Greg

Thank you. I'm 75.

7 weeks in now, dry at night and one pad per day. I saw the surgeon this morning, he confirmed the cancer was contained in prostate, however he couldn't save the nerves. 

Well done Dave. That's brilliant news and fantastic progress..

Edited by member 25 Oct 2023 at 17:29  | Reason: Not specified