Exactly 6 weeks after my RP, and 30 days since TWOC, I played my first round of golf today. Apart from my concern about how I'd play, (erratic best describes my game), I was also concerned about how dry I would be.
I have been dry at night from day 1, but I have had little or no control when active. I managed the first 11 holes with a L2 pad, and was able to change it at the loos on the course, with only slight leakage from the pad.
However, when playing the last 4 holes, and despite not drinking on the course, it seemed as though there was a constant stream, resulting in a rather wet pair of trousers. Thankfully, it was a wet day, so I had my waterproofs on as well, which were repelling liquid on both sides! Being the ex boy scout I am, I was prepared and had spare clothes, and was able to clean myself up at the clubhouse.
I will be better prepared next time, but I have had an active day all round, and later had to change another pair of trousers after being taken by surprise at how quickly I filled a L3 pad. Overall, an interesting day!
Being dry at night, I was hoping for some improvement in the last month, but in reality, there has been none. Has anyone else experience they can share of how they have improved as they become more active?
I am determined not to let this get me down and stay positive. I have been referred to the local incontinence nurse, (still awaiting my appointment), and would far rather put up with this than have had the PCa spread out of the prostate, which I have been told it didn't.
Anyway, experiences of incontinence and an active lifestyle would be much appreciated.
Paul
Stay Calm And Carry On. |
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Some thoughts.
1. It takes a while for drinks to progress through your body so your morning coffee was still working its way down on the first half of the golf course
2. Your body became tired so it was harder for your subconscious to tense the sphincter
3. You started to relax and enjoy the game and forgot to tense your sphincter
4. The action of swinging a club puts an awful lot of strain on your abdominal muscles and you have rushed it a bit.
Whichever, you are doing well and should not be concerned. John was younger than I think you are, in the gym 6 days a week and still playing decent rugby when he had his op but at 6 weeks he was just about leaving the house. Certainly wouldn't have been able to drive or play golf. I think you should be very careful not to do too much too soon.
Edited by member 23 May 2014 at 02:53
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"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard
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User
In addition, the fact that you are dry at night is a good sign and suggests there has been no major mechanical catastrophe 🔧👷
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard
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User
Paul,can't help but think you are pushing yourself too far here too early,this is only a personnel view but its only been six weeks from your op,it takes time for it all to heal properly.I should add I had the op last July and it was 8 weeks before I went back to work on light duties and full time at 10 weeks my job involves some lifting and I could still feel some pulling in the op area even then.
Edited by member 23 May 2014 at 09:30
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Thanks for your concerns and advice. I can feel no reaction to having played yesterday, so will probably play again on Tuesday. I was dry again last night, having to get up once, so no damage done there. A bit of dusting and other cleaning to do now, plus shopping and admin, and off to the Bridgewater Hall tonight for some Elgar and Vaughan Williams. No rest for the wicked!
Stay Calm And Carry On. |
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Do take it a bit easy. Your insides need a lot of healing!
I was about the same as you at first, but three months in there was a sudden improvement in control - not total as you can see from my profile, but enough to let me hold on for a while - the "Motorway Service Area" test (enough control to get from the car to the loo without leaking, but not much more). I put the sudden improvement to nerve recovery.
Tony
TURP then LRP in 2009/2010. Lots of leakage but PSA < 0.1 AMS-800 Artificial Sphincter activated 2015. |
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Originally Posted by: Online Community MemberThanks for your concerns and advice. I can feel no reaction to having played yesterday, so will probably play again on Tuesday. I was dry again last night, having to get up once, so no damage done there. A bit of dusting and other cleaning to do now, plus shopping and admin, and off to the Bridgewater Hall tonight for some Elgar and Vaughan Williams. No rest for the wicked!
I am not medically qualified, so can not offer advice on whether or not you are overdoing it, but from personal experience I think that you are expecting too much too soon regarding regaining urinary control. You could argue that as other men may have regained urinary control sooner than you are relatively slow to regain control and that this is a cause for concern? You are not doing as well as them. On the other hand some men regain control much later, so you are doing really well, compared to them. As for playing golf, and hoping to play well, and expecting to retain control, you are having a bit of a laugh! http://community.prostatecanceruk.org/editors/tiny_mce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif As I recall to play golf you have to relax, and swing, tensing up will result in a pull, hook or a slice. The core plays such a part in the swing that relaxing the core will probably result in a leak. You could wear waterproofs all day every day when you play? Billy Connolly did a sketch many years ago about a friend of his with the runs who wore waterproof pants to a disco, with elastic bands around the ankles to keep fluids in. As he walked and danced the legs filled up and he waddled mrs and more as he swung the legs back and forwards!
Night time control is easier to get back as gravity lends a hand. That was my experience. Day time control took a lot longer, and physical activity, I was using a treadmill, even after going for a wee and wearing a pad could end up with wet pants.
As long as you look out for the signs of over doing things, aches and pains and strains, and ease off you may do no harm. The fact that you are still dry at night after activity is a good sign IMHO. Take care not to overdo the cleaning and dusting though http://community.prostatecanceruk.org/editors/tiny_mce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif!
atb
dave
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I have been a runner for most of my life. I also do a great deal of long distance walking - up to 16 miles at a time. I had my RP (robotic) last October and took my first tentative running steps 5 weeks later. What I found was:
- at first I leaked - it couldn't be noticed into black shorts but I also wore a pad for reassurance
- after initial quick progress I noticed I was getting tired and I had some discomfort 'down below' so I eased back a little
- I leaked more when I was tired
- after 10 weeks the leaking stopped altogether
- I was then able to increase the effort and distance
- 20 weeks after the operation I was able to run a half marathon (in under 2 hours - I am 63) with no reaction from the operation and no leaking
The lessons I learned were not to push myself too much too soon and to listen to my body.
Now I am fully dry - daytime and nighttime. However, on some odd occasions I do produce an unwanted little trickle (passing wind - can be a cause). I still do the pelvic floor exercises two or three times every day and am resigned to doing them for the rest of my life!
So don't push yourself too much too soon and keep doing the exercises.- you will win in the end!
User
Hi Paul, my husband seems to have the same problems. Friday he was erecting some garden fencing with my son in law and was leaking more or less non stop. Yesterday he was less active and was fine, with just the minimal leakage and the same today..... 8 weeks post op.....he has been prescribed Vesicare which seems to be working, fingers crossed.
User
Can't add to advice other than to say coffee in particular and to some extent common tea are diuretics and pass through the body fairly quickly. Decaffeinated coffee and tea (if not already the type used) may slow the throughput and enable you to get back to the clubhouse less wet if not dry. Maybe worth substituting cranberry juice for these anyway before playing a round.
Barry |
User
Apart from being a diuretic caffeinated coffee is also a bladder irritant. It can induce an urgent, and sometimes uncontrollable, need to urinate as the bladder attempts, in the only way it knows how, to remove the substance that is irritating it.
Caffeine also hangs around in the body for quite a long time with the consequence that the need to expel the caffeine also lingers longer than you might expect.
User
Less to drink before I played today, and not as much leakage. Changed the pad once, after 6 holes, and it has lasted a good while. Oh, and I won the roll up with 34 points and am £6 to the good so I'm a happy man.
Stay Calm And Carry On. |
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Originally Posted by: Online Community MemberLess to drink before I played today, and not as much leakage. Changed the pad once, after 6 holes, and it has lasted a good while. Oh, and I won the roll up with 34 points and am £6 to the good so I'm a happy man.
That will pay for a few pads!http://community.prostatecanceruk.org/editors/tiny_mce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif
Dave
User
Just lost out on the money today, but I have learned a lesson.
That's the last time I'll be drinking even a small latte before I play. I won't go into more detail!
Stay Calm And Carry On. |
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My continence is improving weekly except when...................I play golf. Or do anything like gardening where a lot of bending is involved. Still, progress is being made. I'm still dry at night, if I can get completely dry by the end of the year, I will be delighted.
Stay Calm And Carry On. |
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Just over 12 months on, still some way to being completely dry. After golf yesterday, there was at most a couple of teaspoons of leakage. Squatting seems to trigger most leakage.
Since the turn of the year, there seems to have been little improvement. One pad per day copes easily, I am dry at night, but I wonder whether I'll always need some protection.
I do my PVEs once per day - don't know whether more would help.
Still feeling very positive - enjoying life, I've taken on a major committee role at my club again, (I was asked before I'd even sat down after the Charity Day), and apart form the leakages and trying to get my little stick to work properly, all's well.
Paul
Stay Calm And Carry On. |
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Hi Paul ,
I think im actually at the same stage as you listening to you . Im sorry it took me so quickly . Im wearing a pad during the day , and to be fair it can easily last 2 days , and I change it mainly for hygiene. A man off the site sent me them . They are from a company called ID-Direct and are much cheaper at 25p per pad . I actually really don't mind wearing them ( my wife wears pads big deal ) and you just KNOW you aint gonna get those embarrassing dribbles. Did you read that man's excellent post on here about his own home-made little pads which cost nothing and just slip on the end of his old-chap ? It was a good idea .
Im glad you have reached this level of confidence , but fully understand you are 11 months down the road from me and are probably frustrated. Congratulations on the role
Chris
User
Hi Paul,
I think I must be a couple of months behind you in terms of surgery dates etc.
Like you, I've had minimal improvement with continence since early January ...
I'm currently using 1 pad a day.......sometimes 2 if I increase my normal level of physical activity.
I don't play golf, but most of my leakage occurs when out walking the dogs, which I do twice a day for an approx total time of 2 1/2 hours.
I'm due to see my consultant for my 4 monthly 'squeaky bum ' consultation in early August.... I did mention to him in April when I last saw him if it was worth me carrying on with the PFE's as I felt they were not having any further influence on my recovery.
Of course, he advised me to carry on with them, but I'm not convinced.
I've been doing a minimum of 3 sets of 20 squeezes ( hold for 10 secs and rest for 10 secs ) for the past year, but after the initial few months I don't think they have helped me at all to be honest.
Life for me is virtually back to normal also and I've learnt to manage the pad situation. I doubt very much if I ever will be completely dry again, but I can cope with that and am grateful that I have been given the chance of a 'cure'
My ED is still improving which is encouraging, although I still need the help of Cialis and a vacuum pump at the moment.
Good luck with the golf!
Luther
User
Luther
14 months post op.
I was dry very early and did my PFEs without fail usually when driving. As time went on I stopped doing them as much, of late I have had the odd leak if I try and wait too long, it may be down to an ongoing stricture problem or not doing the PFEs so I have restarted the exercises.
Thanks Chris
User
Paul
glad to hear you are enjoying your golf and taking an active role in the administration at the club.
best wishes
xx
Mo
User
Originally Posted by: Online Community MemberLuther
14 months post op.
I was dry very early and did my PFEs without fail usually when driving. As time went on I stopped doing them as much, of late I have had the odd leak if I try and wait too long, it may be down to an ongoing stricture problem or not doing the PFEs so I have restarted the exercises.
Thanks Chris
Cheers for your input Chris....
I won't stop doing my PFE's completely as I realise the importance of keeping that group of muscles strong for the rest of my life....
As I understand things the external sphincter ( which is associated with the PF muscle group ) is the only muscle we now have to control urine flow?
Obviously if the external sphincter has been compromised / damaged / weakened for whatever reason during surgery no amount of exercise will completely stop leakage...
As you have been dry quite early on clearly your sphincter was not damaged and is working well! Maybe in your case it would be a good idea for you to continue with your PFE's to help control the odd leak?...
Best Wishes
Luther