incontinence after robotic

tr008
tr008 Member Posts: 9
edited March 2014 in Prostate Cancer #1
I would very much appreciate anyone responding to this post. I'm starting to get to the "worried" stage where I'm wondering if this is the way it's going to be for the rest of my life.

I am 64, was diagnosed with cancer on July 29, 2009 I had robotic surgery on Nov. 3rd, my catheter out on the 13th. Saturday, the 14th, I was running errands all over town, in and out of the car, walking, whatever and with no problems. By Monday it was going down hill. Now 1 week later I still can barely get up from sitting without losing something that means a pad change, probably would lose it all if I weren't so close to the bathroom. Walking is fine but if I sneeze or cough it could be trouble. I am doing my Kegel exercises.

I would love to hear from those with any like experiences. Did it get better? How soon? What else can I do?

I am of course willing to share my experiences with anyone I think it would help.

Tom

Comments

  • gkoper
    gkoper Member Posts: 173
    #2
    Incontinance
    Give the healing time.....took me a month to get "dry"
  • William Parkinson
    William Parkinson Member Posts: 60 Member
    #3
    gkoper said:

    Incontinance
    Give the healing time.....took me a month to get "dry"

    It is way too early to get
    It is way too early to get worried about this yet. Like potency itself, it can take some time, although nowhere near as long as the time it takes the average man to return to potency. My best estimate would be another two months from now (or even three months more). Even then, that would be in no way a time to panic. That can still be early for some men. Bear in mind, there are many options to help this problem should the time come (e.g., collagen injections, which create a stenosis; thst is to say, a narrowing of the bladder neck, making it much easier to control your flow and even artificial sphincter insertion). So don't get discouraged yet at all!!!!
    Cheers
    Bill
  • txbarton
    txbarton Member Posts: 89 Member
    #4
    Incontinence
    Tom,

    I was diagnosed on 28 July, had my RP on 7 Oct. My RP included reconstruction of the neck of my bladder due to numerous bouts of prostatitis over the years which thinned it. My surgeon said due to the reconstruction to expect incontinence for about 2 months.

    I was pretty wet the first day then started being improving quickly; I put on a pad after showering in the morning and changing it when I went to bed, both times the pad was fairly dry.

    I developed a urinary tract infection at about week 3 so started antibiotics and restarted anti-spasm medicine. When the UTI cleared up so did my short lived improved continence. Rationalization was that I no longer had the constant urge to urinate so I wasn't clenching as much, more relaxed resulted in more leakage.

    The UTI seems to be back but the leakage is about the same. My night time pad is effectively dry in the morning but I go through 2-3 pads during the day. I know most of the time when I leak; sneezing, coughing, transitioning to or from standing. With the infection I sometimes miss that I really do need to urinate and that creates a leak.

    One of 2 sphincters that controls urination was removed; we have sort of relearn how to urinate and how not to urinate. It takes time.

    My doctor says I am on track and should continue to improve.

    VB
  • Ocean-View
    Ocean-View Member Posts: 26
    #5
    Incontinence after robotic
    My da Vinci was September 24. I'll be 62 next month. I am down to one pad. I seem to do fine over night and most of the day until around 5 or 6 in the evening and start to leak some.

    It takes time to heal.

    On my six week check up my doctor asked me how I was doing and I told him I was down to 3 or 4 a day. He said I should try the bio feedback they offer. Also that it might not be covered by insurance. I decided to really concentrate on staying dry. I got it down to one pad, with the 6 o'clock leak.

    That's where I am at.

    Tom D Orlando
  • lion1
    lion1 Member Posts: 241
    #6
    Ocean-View said:

    Incontinence after robotic
    My da Vinci was September 24. I'll be 62 next month. I am down to one pad. I seem to do fine over night and most of the day until around 5 or 6 in the evening and start to leak some.

    It takes time to heal.

    On my six week check up my doctor asked me how I was doing and I told him I was down to 3 or 4 a day. He said I should try the bio feedback they offer. Also that it might not be covered by insurance. I decided to really concentrate on staying dry. I got it down to one pad, with the 6 o'clock leak.

    That's where I am at.

    Tom D Orlando

    Incontinence
    Patience everyone. I have been incontinent for the last 3 1/2 yrs. You all stay positive and I wish you the best.

    Lion1
  • acslife
    acslife Member Posts: 12
    #7
    incontinence after robotic
    Be patient. My surgery was in July 2007 and didn't get rid of the pads until ten months after.
    Regular walks and excercise were very helpful. Hang in there.
  • sfis
    sfis Member Posts: 15
    #8
    Too early to worry
    It's way too soon to be worrying about it. You can expect leakage for several months and based on what my doctor told me, that's very normal. It sounds like you're off to a pretty good start.
  • tr008
    tr008 Member Posts: 9
    #9
    sfis said:

    Too early to worry
    It's way too soon to be worrying about it. You can expect leakage for several months and based on what my doctor told me, that's very normal. It sounds like you're off to a pretty good start.

    Thanks
    I want to take time to thank all of you who have responded to my question. It must have been that "false Positive" I got from that first day after cath. removal. I just never expected to go backwards from there.

    I'm not going to say anything stupid like "you don't know how much it has helped, because I know that each of you do know". And it is greatly appreciated.

    Tom
  • NM
    NM Member Posts: 214
    #10
    tr008 said:

    Thanks
    I want to take time to thank all of you who have responded to my question. It must have been that "false Positive" I got from that first day after cath. removal. I just never expected to go backwards from there.

    I'm not going to say anything stupid like "you don't know how much it has helped, because I know that each of you do know". And it is greatly appreciated.

    Tom

    kegals and walking
    Both of these things helped me a lot and I know this sounds weird but drink a lot of water it helped me immensely..

    Nick

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