1 week after Catheter removal

It's really early days yet.

With reference to leaking when you get up, do a single pelvic floor contraction to cover this, and any other times you know you leak. It will in time become automatic/subconscious.

Photonow, was that one sudden release or had you already been leaking into the same pad, if you can slow the flow it may give the pad time to soak up the full amount of urine. Lots of little leaks eventually equals one big leak.

I got kitted up with my pad etc then when I got the urge to go I stood in the shower to see what I could control.

I used tena3 although I think the older ones were better than the newer ones. When I say older I am going back 6 years ago,perhaps even longer.

Thanks Chris

It could be, because those sphincters tire along with you.

My experience is that my bladder holds pretty well in the morning, but leaks more easily as I go through the day. Various things exacerbate leaks, which may have been part of your lunch, like coffee or alcoholic drinks. And frustratingly walking, where pressure on the bladder is slight but rhythmic, seems more of a risk than other exercise where core muscles are used more constantly (like cycling or skiing).

Things will improve given how early you are in recovery, but there will be accidents because human nature is to try to push faster than the body actually responds.

(Tena3 is fine, I find it as bulky as I can stand for a pad once it starts to fill. My norm is Tena2, Tena3 is nowadays reserved for occasions when I know leakage is very possible and access to a toilet may be limited. Like a party I will be walking home from).

I’m now 6 weeks post op and still leaking/dribbling when out for a walk, I’m using Tena 2 and they seem to be holding ok. Before I go anywhere now I go to the loo 1-2 times to try and minimise the leaking. It’s definitely getting better, I was about the same as you at week 3, changing pads 2-3 times in the day and I was using some level 3, now I’m down to 1 per day. I have also used Abena 2 & 3 which were ok, not sure if they would hold out on a bigger flow. We’re still in the early period and with continuing the exercises we will hopefully regain full control at some point down the line 🙏🏻 

Hi Photonow

I had prostatectomy 14 years ago so I know how you feel. You seem to be doing very well. I get the impression that you are in too much of a hurry to get back to normal. Your body has a natural ability to heal. Give it time let your body decide how it wants to heal - help it rather than force it.

Im 11 weeks post RARP.

As I understand it the stitches in your bladder neck take about 8 weeks to fully dissolve, and are still pretty rigid for 3-4 weeks post surgery. They start to lose tensile strength after about 4 weeks, and my surgeon said once they fully dissolve people often see an improvement in bladder control as the neck can start to open and close properly again without the restriction and irritation of the stitches.

As others have said its still early days.

Good luck with your recovery.

All the best

Gus