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Kegeling after reaching continence.

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Posted 4/6/2011 2:07 PM (GMT -8)

How Important is it to do kegel exercise after reaching continence? It seems to me that after reaching continence, the muscle that prevents urine from escaping works all day already. Could additionally exercising this muscle tire it unnecessarily?

Any expert opinion on this issue?

Thanks.

Mag

Posted 4/6/2011 4:35 PM (GMT -8)
Mag, the experts at the National Assoc. for Continence say that pelvic floor exercises must become a life long habit.  They say: "After age 40, men and women begin losing muscle at the rate of about half a pound per year, replacing it with fat.   The rate of loss doubles for women after menopause. Unless an effort is made to prevent this loss of lean body mass through exercise, gradual declines take place in muscular strength and endurance throughout the body, including the internal muscles."  Here is a link to one of their articles:    http://www.nafc.org/uploads/pdf/Pelvic_floor.pdf .   I started Kegels several years before surgery (thought it might help with ED) and have never stopped.   I have good bladder control and would like to keep it if I can.  Apparently the Mens Depends don't depend on prostate surgery patients for their sales.  Unfortunately Worried Guy's (Jeff) recent return to continence has not had an impact on their sales.   Carlos
Posted 4/6/2011 6:56 PM (GMT -8)
Hey Mags,

I did kegels for a long time before I got cancer. Doc had me doing them to help overcome ED. I think this probably is why I was dry as soon as they took out the catheter. Now my ED problems have reached a whole new level but I've overcome them with Viiagra (from ADC) and trimix. Sex is different now do to the surgery and better than since I was 21.

So I still do kegels but not as rigorously as before. I don't know about the sphincter muscle itself but don't think I've injured it over the years of kegeling.

Jim
Posted 4/6/2011 7:04 PM (GMT -8)
I did kegels a bit, regained 100% continence by 6 weeks post-op, and stopped doing them.

So far, so good.

Mel

Posted 4/6/2011 7:09 PM (GMT -8)

Actually I stopped doing them for about 2 or 3 month now and have not noticed any problem. Perhaps, up on reading the comments of some of the guys, I will do them again, but not as vigorous as I did before.

Thanks for your opinions guys.

Mag

Posted 4/6/2011 8:06 PM (GMT -8)
At one of my support group meetings a Physical Therapy RN explained that Kegels should be done forever, perhaps backing down the pace a little, but stopping altogether was not a good idea.
Posted 4/7/2011 1:29 AM (GMT -8)
I started exercising the muscles before surgery, and resumed post catheter. I was more or less leak free at 3 months, but I still do kegals at a reduced amount usually 2 to 3 times weekly. At nearly 2 years post surgery and 99.99% continent I feel that I shall keep up with the exercises indefinately.

All the best from England.

Posted 4/7/2011 10:09 PM (GMT -8)

I’m reminded of a time 27 years ago when my wife and I were taking a Lamaze class.  The instructor was explaining to the women how to do Kegels.  Then she said to the Dads-to-be, “you should learn these too; you’ll thank me one day.” 

 

Little did I know …

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