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Long term incontinence

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Posted 6/30/2009 3:04 PM (GMT -8)
To the "longer-timers" around here...

I'll be two years out of RRP this coming December. I have been steady at needing (or at least thinking I need) one pad every 24 hours for several months now. After buying an electronic scale for my kid's pinewood derby (scouts) car, I have noted that the pad increases in weight around 5g a day, which translates to 5ml (one of the nice things about the metric system). Some of this "weight/volume" may be sweat...or so I tell myself.

Long question longer, can I expect any improvement from now on, or is this likely as good as it gets?
Posted 6/30/2009 4:27 PM (GMT -8)
Pads will absorb natural sweat, but never thought about weighing it before.
Posted 6/30/2009 8:19 PM (GMT -8)
I was at about that stage for a long time, so a week ago or so, I decided to see what happens if I toss the pads. I am dry, it does not smell, but I do see a bit of staining on my underwear. 5g is so little during the day you will likely not notice it.
Posted 7/1/2009 7:29 AM (GMT -8)
FWIW, I was told by one of my uro's that if you leak after 6 months, you will not improve. I let it go for over 2.5 years. I don't think that applies to everyone because we all heal at different rates. I tried to go padless briefly, but leakage drove me back to my 1 pad-a-day habit. I remember one little squirt that happened while in a store and I had to pull my shirttail out to cover up till I got home. Miserable feeling.
Posted 7/1/2009 8:25 AM (GMT -8)
Geebra, I switched to the premium extra thick Hanes (Michael Jordan?) black underwear for that very reason, that once in a while little stain. 
Posted 7/1/2009 9:25 AM (GMT -8)
I have wondered about the is it sweat or urine issue. I know that urine fluoresces under black light (UV) They sell black lights to detect pet stains and pet owners report that human urine reacts even better. One source suggested that this was much less true of sweat. Does anybody have any further information?
Posted 7/1/2009 6:19 PM (GMT -8)
Although I was still leaking, I decided to stop using pads. My thought process was that the pads provided an excuse for me to not work hard at controlling my incontinence. In my case, the ploy worked well. I still have stress incontinence when lifting heavy objects, but day-to-day activities are no longer a problem. I just try to remember to go to the bathroom whenever the opportunity arises. Of course, your mileage may vary. Godspeed!
Posted 7/2/2009 9:23 AM (GMT -8)
JetLagged:

If you query my name, you will see that I went thru extensive pad weighing about 9-10 months ago (?). I am closing in on 14 months post op and I wear one light pad a day. I still have random squirts on a daily basis - my pads usually indicate 5-10 grams. I just cannot shut it down completely because they are so random. I sweat a lot, too. But usually there is some discoloration in the pad that indicates I have leaked a bit. And I HATE the feel of damp undies.

So, I'm doing one pad a day, and if I never get any better, so be it.

kcragman
Posted 7/2/2009 10:12 AM (GMT -8)
I think that some of us, myself included, forget that we may have had little tinkle drips and marks on our underwear even pre-treatment/pre-surgery, not uncommon at all. James C. is right on, wearing dark underwear makes you feel less self conscious about the whole subject, and it helps to wear briefs as opposed to boxers, the boxers would allow any mini leak or drip to run down your leg and onto your pants a little easier in my opinion. And for any of the men that still want to wear a single light pad for long term, if it gives you confidence, then do it, many women have to do that all their lives after childbirth, etc, and don't think nothing about it. Do whatever works best for you.
Posted 7/3/2009 4:37 PM (GMT -8)
You are right David.....Women wear light days pads all the time.....I havent been posting much this summer, Pete has been doing well, and we have been taking some family trips outwest.....,, but also dont forget about the AUS....Artificial sphincter operation.....for men that have high incontinence. Pete had one put in last Sept....not a complete panacea, but it is much better than being sopping wet all the time. He uses three pads a day....The doctor said that a complete success is one pad a day.....Di
Posted 7/3/2009 6:48 PM (GMT -8)
Good to hear from you Diane, and about Pete. Think of you two often. Glad you are able to do the family trips. Yes, with his AUS, it has to make Pete's quality of life better, and it is a big improvement on how life was for him before that. I am happy to hear that.

David in SC
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