Incontinence After Catheter Removal

Sounds pretty typical for less than 3 weeks post-op. You have a lot of healing to do and it just takes time, months actually before things are fully healed. Keep kegeling and stay as active as you can. If you’re not already walking, start now with low mileage and add a little each day. You should start seeing some improvement at night as your bladder gets used to being filled again. There is some shrinkage that occurs while the catheter is in. Next improvement should be in the morning and early afternoon before those pelvic muscles get tired.

You’ll get there, stay positive and keep kegeling and walking.

Jeff

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DX August 2017, Age 52
PSA 6.3 (3.8 a year earlier)
Biopsy 3 of 12 cores positive, 5%, 5%, 20%; Gleason 3+3=6
MRI PI-RADS = 4
Robotic Prostatectomy - 10/30/2017
Final pathology 3+4=7, Stage pT2cN0, approx. 30% involvement
Pad free 10 days after catheter removal
40 mg/day sildenafil started 11/24/17, no improvement in ED yet

LOL, as you can see from our sigs, Saipan and I have both been where you are recently. Stay positive and active, things will get better. If you have any questions along the way, just ask. There are some very knowledgeable and experienced guys on this board. Welcome!

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DX August 2017, Age 52
PSA 6.3 (3.8 a year earlier)
Biopsy 3 of 12 cores positive, 5%, 5%, 20%; Gleason 3+3=6
MRI PI-RADS = 4
Robotic Prostatectomy - 10/30/2017
Final pathology 3+4=7, Stage pT2cN0, approx. 30% involvement
Pad free 10 days after catheter removal
40 mg/day sildenafil started 11/24/17, no improvement in ED yet

Yes I was similar just about a month and a half earlier. In the early weeks consider removing coffee, sugars and chocolates. In my case I was dry at night post catheter. It took about 4weeks to return to work part time. I was tired in the afternoons and had leaking, standing, bending and getting up, and leaking more when was tired. I did have a uti and ended the antibiotic at 6.5weeksso be cautious of that. At 6weeks, I went back to physical therapy and started walking in earnest(I stopped as between work and being tired I stopped) and from week 7 on have had minimal leaking one pad a day now, and pad free when I am home for hours. It just clicked, stay the course listen to the guys on the forum, they are an immense help (to me invaluable). Nine weeks out now the surgery seems like a distant memory you really start to feel good. Best of luck

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Surgery 11/7/17 robotic, catheter removed 11/13, pathology, right pelvic lymph nodes- negative
Two pelvic left nodes negative , 3+4=7, grade 2, prostate 126g, 6.9x6.0x5.2 cm,
Biopsy 8/29/17 6 specimens, Gleason 3+4=7, 10% of one of 2 cores, Gleason 4 comprises 30%of tumor right apex high grade.
Last psa 19. 34 on 10/11, detected infection, 8.91 on 4/5, 5.7 on 3/13

Does anyone know of a site like this for our wives? My loving wife of 36 years has some worrisome days. She's not a fan of the facebook site, as she doesn't want the whole world to know that I'm somewhat laid up. She had Stage 0 breast cancer 11 years ago, but is fine now. Cancer runs in her family. Surprisingly, it does not run in my family.

However, we both agree: It's great to hear from you guys!
Just prior to surgery, which was almost 3 weeks ago, I was running 1 mile every couple of days or so, doing 40 sit-ups, 10 push-ups, etc, and was looking forward to joining the YMCA over the winter. We live in Upstate NY, so it's cold and snowy. I'm almost 3 weeks post surgery, and exactly 1 week post catheter removal.

I'm now doing 25-30 kegels per day, and we are finally getting out of the house, to stores, and church. I'm still counting on the Doctor's promise that 97% of his patients are pretty much dry, 4-8 weeks post surgery, due to his use of: "Bladder Neck Preservation" and "Nerve Sparing". He's done over 1,200 robotic prostatecemies, and apparently does them on Doctors too. I researched several Doctors prior to surgery and only found 2 that do that type of surgery.

My biggest concern right now, is how much water to drink, in order to balance peeing with constipation.
I take Citrucel fibre, which works fantastic, if I drink water. I probably had too much yesterday (about 5 cups + 1 cup of grape juice), and was leaking most of the day. However, the day before, I was so happy, after having about 3 cups of water. I combined that with something I noticed from Roswell Park Cancer Institute's literature: "Always stand-up to pee". That made a big difference. I felt essentially normal, except for the need to change pads or diapers, about 5 times. I'm going back and forth between pads and diapers, as needed. I'll try 4 cups of water today.

Sunday was my best day so far. It was so nice, kind of normal.

58 years young
Gleason 9
T2c with clear margins
10-15% of the prostate was cancerous

If I don't limit fluid intake, I am essentially totally incontinent, dribbling 24/7. The only way to stop it is to lay down, but then I must get up to pee every 30 minutes or less.
I don't have a choice.

-By the way, my wife LOVES the website links.
and,
I took your advice and just walked a little over 1 mile on the treadmill / ran a little too. We'll go out to walk more once it stops snowing.
Thank-you!

Post Edited (december21) : 1/9/2018 6:50:29 AM (GMT-7)

Thanks Saipan. Much appreciated.

Thank-you. I've always peed more than most, even though I don't think my prostate was to blame. I guess, what I'm currently experiencing is probably related to that.

Thank-you.
Here's another question:

Does continence return by doing the kegels and walking exercises alone, or does it require you to kegel every time incontinence strikes?

Thanks Saipan.

Right now I am a little more than 3 months since RALP totally dry at night but still 50/50 during the day. If I limit getting up from my chair or fluid intake it’s much better But still a big issue every time I get up or walk. Still being told I’m on track though so waiting for the day I can stand up without worrying. Great news is just had psa checked and it’s 0

Has anyone noticed a leak when blowing your nose, even immediately after completely voiding? I've learned to blow my nose in the bathroom, after voiding. Doing so, I may get 3-4 additional streams. Perhaps this is because things are still swelled up, which prevents a complete void every time.

58, excellent health
RP 12/21/17
Catheter out 1/2/18

From hanging around this forum for a couple of years, time to mostly or full continence varies quite a bit. Some guys take months to get there, for me I was almost fully continent when the foley came out.

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DX - 1-13-2015 (age 66) -- PSA 4.02 (9-16-2014) to 4.38 (12-5-2014)
RALP on March 2, 2015
G6 to G7(3+4) to G7(4+3)
Stage pT3aN1
12/2017 PSA < 0.1
7/31/2015 HT - six month's injection of Lupron
ART 11/2015, 33 sessions