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This is new, incontinence

User
Posted 26 Jan 2024 at 00:56

So, I do my squeezys three times a day without fail, and am still very incontinent 11 weeks post RARP.  But now, I can be sitting at my desk working, and apparently, I am slowly leaking while sitting there and have no knowledge of it.  Then, I get up for some reason or another, and my absorbent underwear is soaked as are my jeans or shorts between my legs.  It happens most often when sitting, but I leak more when standing or walking, often emptying my bladder between my chair and the loo.  The emptying while walking is not new, but the leaking while sitting is very new and quite embarrassing.  I have my three month appointment in two weeks so I guess it is one more thing to bring up.


Richard

User
Posted 26 Jan 2024 at 00:56

So, I do my squeezys three times a day without fail, and am still very incontinent 11 weeks post RARP.  But now, I can be sitting at my desk working, and apparently, I am slowly leaking while sitting there and have no knowledge of it.  Then, I get up for some reason or another, and my absorbent underwear is soaked as are my jeans or shorts between my legs.  It happens most often when sitting, but I leak more when standing or walking, often emptying my bladder between my chair and the loo.  The emptying while walking is not new, but the leaking while sitting is very new and quite embarrassing.  I have my three month appointment in two weeks so I guess it is one more thing to bring up.


Richard

User
Posted 26 Jan 2024 at 08:33

Hello again mate,


Sorry to hear that you've got difficulties.


Funnily enough I thought I'd cracked the incontinence problem, but in the last week or two I've been dribbling a bit, my bladder seems weaker than it was???


Sometimes, it feels like one step forward, two steps back.


 

User
Posted 26 Jan 2024 at 10:41

Hi Basketcase, it's still early days for you. I am 2 years post op and except for the occasional drip pretty much continent. I only wear a thin pad when I go out for confidence. But at your stage I was the same as you and wondering if I would ever be continent. For me, the worst thing was not so much the loss of control but the lack of awareness. I would look down at my trousers and think 'did I do that?'. Or I would suddenly feel the weight of my pad when I thought I had been doing well. I did not find Squeezy helpful because for me it was just an elaborate alarm clock and metronome. The most important thing is to be sure that you are doing your PF exercises properly and for that I went to a physio specialising in male continence. She also confirmed the strength of my PF muscle. Two things to remember. It takes time for the PF muscle to strengthen and you need to take care you don't overdo it as that will set you back. Also, the PF muscle does not control your continence. It only supports the sphincter that does and that sphincter, now working without the help of one that you have had removed during the op, has been severely disturbed and has much to 'relearn'. Apologies if you already know all this. It's distressing as you are, but you will get there in time. 


Peter

User
Posted 26 Jan 2024 at 11:14

The cold weather could also be a factor affecting bladder activity. 

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User
Posted 26 Jan 2024 at 08:33

Hello again mate,


Sorry to hear that you've got difficulties.


Funnily enough I thought I'd cracked the incontinence problem, but in the last week or two I've been dribbling a bit, my bladder seems weaker than it was???


Sometimes, it feels like one step forward, two steps back.


 

User
Posted 26 Jan 2024 at 09:48
Adrian, yes, take a few steps forward then take a few back. Going to go get my first post op PSA test on Saturday, must say I am a little worried, especially with the positive margins. There are times when ignorance is bliss, but this is not one of them. I still have the little voice in the back of my head telling me something isnt right. We will see soon enough.
User
Posted 26 Jan 2024 at 10:30

Hi Basketcase!


Eleven weeks is still early for some men to gain total continence. I am much older than you and I still leak now and then and also when sexually excited (not convenient!), 12 years after my prostatectomy. It seems to me that older one is the longer it takes to recover. I hope your situation over the next few weeks continues to improve.

 'Physics is like sex: sure, it may give some practical results, but that’s not why we do it.'                    Richard Feynman (1918-1988) Nobel Prize laureate


 


 

User
Posted 26 Jan 2024 at 10:41

Hi Basketcase, it's still early days for you. I am 2 years post op and except for the occasional drip pretty much continent. I only wear a thin pad when I go out for confidence. But at your stage I was the same as you and wondering if I would ever be continent. For me, the worst thing was not so much the loss of control but the lack of awareness. I would look down at my trousers and think 'did I do that?'. Or I would suddenly feel the weight of my pad when I thought I had been doing well. I did not find Squeezy helpful because for me it was just an elaborate alarm clock and metronome. The most important thing is to be sure that you are doing your PF exercises properly and for that I went to a physio specialising in male continence. She also confirmed the strength of my PF muscle. Two things to remember. It takes time for the PF muscle to strengthen and you need to take care you don't overdo it as that will set you back. Also, the PF muscle does not control your continence. It only supports the sphincter that does and that sphincter, now working without the help of one that you have had removed during the op, has been severely disturbed and has much to 'relearn'. Apologies if you already know all this. It's distressing as you are, but you will get there in time. 


Peter

User
Posted 26 Jan 2024 at 11:01

Hi Basketcase!


Eleven weeks is still early for some men to gain total continence. I am much older than you and I still leak now and then, 12 years after my prostatectomy. It seems to me that older one is the longer it takes to recover. I hope your situation over the next few weeks continues to improve.


Pratap

 'Physics is like sex: sure, it may give some practical results, but that’s not why we do it.'                    Richard Feynman (1918-1988) Nobel Prize laureate


 


 

User
Posted 26 Jan 2024 at 11:14

The cold weather could also be a factor affecting bladder activity. 

User
Posted 26 Jan 2024 at 19:54

Hi Basketcase,


Experience of incontinence after prostatectomy is highly variable.  Some people regain continence quite quickly, but others don't.


My own experience was that I was using about 8 pads per day for the first 6 months - including in many of the situations that you describe (e.g. just sitting, getting up from a chair, walking, lifting an object from the ground, climbing stairs - basically any movement which required effort, or even relaxing after exertion).  On the positive side, it does get better, but I'm still not fully continent.


Best wishes,


JedSee.

User
Posted 26 Jan 2024 at 20:25

If you don't find it improving, have a chat with your consultant about Perineal Physiotherapy - it's helping me a lot! I wrote a bit about it
Perineal Physiotherapy for incontinence

 
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