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When should incontinence issues start improving after RALP?

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User
Posted 06 Apr 2025 at 22:37

Hi, my poor husband has just had the catheter removed after his prostratectomy. He is aged 55 and feeling down already about his lack of control. It seems to be particularly bad in the afternoons. When did people start seeing an improvement in continence? We know it is early days as his catheter was only removed on Friday but I hate seeing him disheartened about it all. He has downloaded the squeezy app and is doing his pelvic floor exercise. 
Any advice on how to cope with this stage and how long it lasts would be gratefully received.

Many thanks 

Fernie

User
Posted 07 Apr 2025 at 07:26

Fernie 

it is early days and everyone is different. Some are lucky and have control immediately others less so. I am now 2 years post op and still need a pad a day mostly for security as I have the occasional unexpected drip. 

Post op I really struggled with my continence. I could not as they say hold water - what went in came right out again with no control. I was going through 9/10 pads a day and often leaking through..It was a difficult time. I must have been a nightmare to potty train! However some 3 weeks post catheter removal something clicked in the brain and bladder and I started to regain a semblance of control. After 4 weeks I was on 5 pads a day which reduced in steps to only 1 pad a day after 9 months or so. 

Time is a healer. Tell your husband to keep squeezing take it easy and remember less is more. Patience in this case is a virtue. 

Good luck

User
Posted 07 Apr 2025 at 12:17

Fernie, it is a bit a of a cliché to say it's early days, but it is true. Things are still healing, swelling will be reducing, bits of scabs and possibly stitches are dissolving. How long is a difficult question to answer. I was lucky that 4 days after catheter removal I was 99 percent dry.  I still had to be careful when sneezing or bending. 

An exercise that the physio on Andy's zoom meetings recommends is to practice tightening up the pelvic muscles as you go from sitting to standing. It may become almost second nature to do it. He may need to be careful about what he drinks, more than how much he drinks.

Many guys report being dry at night before regaining control.

Thanks Chris 

 

Edited by member 07 Apr 2025 at 12:19  | Reason: Spelling

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User
Posted 07 Apr 2025 at 07:26

Fernie 

it is early days and everyone is different. Some are lucky and have control immediately others less so. I am now 2 years post op and still need a pad a day mostly for security as I have the occasional unexpected drip. 

Post op I really struggled with my continence. I could not as they say hold water - what went in came right out again with no control. I was going through 9/10 pads a day and often leaking through..It was a difficult time. I must have been a nightmare to potty train! However some 3 weeks post catheter removal something clicked in the brain and bladder and I started to regain a semblance of control. After 4 weeks I was on 5 pads a day which reduced in steps to only 1 pad a day after 9 months or so. 

Time is a healer. Tell your husband to keep squeezing take it easy and remember less is more. Patience in this case is a virtue. 

Good luck

User
Posted 07 Apr 2025 at 12:17

Fernie, it is a bit a of a cliché to say it's early days, but it is true. Things are still healing, swelling will be reducing, bits of scabs and possibly stitches are dissolving. How long is a difficult question to answer. I was lucky that 4 days after catheter removal I was 99 percent dry.  I still had to be careful when sneezing or bending. 

An exercise that the physio on Andy's zoom meetings recommends is to practice tightening up the pelvic muscles as you go from sitting to standing. It may become almost second nature to do it. He may need to be careful about what he drinks, more than how much he drinks.

Many guys report being dry at night before regaining control.

Thanks Chris 

 

Edited by member 07 Apr 2025 at 12:19  | Reason: Spelling

User
Posted 07 Apr 2025 at 15:09

Hi Fernie.

Like ANYTHING in the PCa game there are no certainties. However I think the 'average' bloke is fully continent within 6 to 12 months.

I was.peeing like a fountain for a couple of weeks, then things gradually settled down. I'd regained control about 7 months after the op.

Good luck. 👍

 

 
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