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Posted 11/19/2006 1:07 PM (GMT -6)
    Hello All,  I have enjoyed and appreciated reading all of your stories.  I wish mine would have been a bit easier.  But still would not trade it for having the cancer still in my body.

    I have been reluctant to start walking due to my uncontrollable leakage.  I know my Dr. said I could start walking I guess I did not realize how much it could help with the bladder control.  The weather here in Oklahoma is supposed to be nice the next week so I'm going to start walking today.

    My question is, Do you all try to control the leakage when walking, or do you just "Go with the Flow" and clean up when you get finished?  How far and how many times a day do you walk.  I work in a maintenance / industrial type facility and am on my feet all day so it's nothing new I'd be starting.

    I look forward to hearing your advice.

    KW

 

Posted 11/19/2006 5:46 PM (GMT -6)
kw,

It has been a week since I had my catheter out and I started walking the first day. I did gush a lot and I am using the male undergards pads but even after a mile and a half the pad was not soaked. Now a week later I am going all day with one pad and that does not get soaked. I plan to go to a lighter poise pad tomorrow and see how that does. I walk twice a day, morning and afternoon. I do about a mile and a half to two miles each time. I do leak worst in the afternoons when the muscles get tired. I do not try and control it while walking but probably subconsciously I am tensing the muscle in that area. One thing I found that I was doing wrong is too many kegels. I probably did 40 or 50 the first day and I gushed badly the next day. Since then I do about 10 in the morning and 10 in the evening. My surgeon told me that on average his patients obtain continency in the seond to third month after surgery. I am hoping that will be my case. Right now I am mostly dry at night. If I am just sitting then I leak very little. Moving around it gets worst but I believe that I need to walk to heal quicker and get back to normal.

Tamu
Posted 11/19/2006 6:03 PM (GMT -6)
Just to give you an idea - we kept track of Bob's pad numbers via the calendar just to kind of get an idea of progress. He is 7 weeks post surgery and using one pad a day now. One week after the catheter was out he had used all 52 in the package. The second package took him 2 additional weeks; we are now at just over 3 more weeks on  the third package.

The continence comes back slowly but surely. For the longest time he was fine at night; semi-fine when sitting (but had to hurry to the bathroom whilst leaking) and walking was a disaster. This last week the biggest change has been noticed in even being able to "hold" better.

So it just keeps going along, but progressing nonetheless. I can see the second to third month being just about the norm. The younger more fit men seem to get it the fastest.

Take care, good luck and kw - please keep us posted.
;o) Linda & Bob
Posted 11/19/2006 6:49 PM (GMT -6)
I had an open surgery on Aug. 2; had a catheter for 10 days; and had good control immediately after catheter removal.  The weekend following Labor Day (four weeks after catheter removal) I was down to a few drops per day; so, I experimented by going pad free over the weekend.  I never wore a pad again.  I only used a total of 28 pads the entire time (one per day; I changed each day even though the pads were relatively dry at the end of the day.  I never wore a pad at night).  After reflection, I realize I was one of the blessed.  I was 50 yrs, 10 months at surgery (relatively young) and I ran roughly 30 miles per week pre surgery for at least 15 years (I was in pretty good shape beforehand).  I also had an experienced surgeon with exemplar credentials.  I think those three factors (age, pre-surgery shape and surgeon) played a significant role with my regaining continence in such a short period of time.  At the six week post surgery mark, I recommenced my running...slowly and for short distances at first.  After a week (seven weeks post surgery), I was up to five miles in 47 minutes, all pad free.  I never leaked during the runs from the get-go. 

I am now just shy of the four month post surgery mark.  The very last stage of regaining total, complete control for me was at about the seven week mark when I did not drip when I passed gas.

Based on the posts I've read over the past several weeks, I am convinced age, pre-surgery shape and the quality of the surgeon are the primary factors when determing the time it will take a patient to regain continence. 

Remember, it is different for everyone.  We must have patience. 

 

Posted 11/20/2006 7:44 AM (GMT -6)
I would be about two miles behind you after 47 minutes!
A month or so after my operation (3-10-06) I did some treadmill and elliptical work, maybe 45 minutes with maximum pulse rate of 155+, but that rate only for a few minutes. (I'm 59, and have been jogging on and off since 1968, when it was called "Coopering".) Mostly I go at a 12+ minute pace. For a while I tried just walking wearing a weight vest, which I really liked. Then, once the weather warmed up, I layed off the gym and played golf once or twice a week, walking and carrying my clubs.
I'm not so lucky in the continence department. I'm mostly dry at night, am okay when sitting, but soak my pads when standing, walking, or exerting. Not great for seven months. I have to say I was not religious about doing the Kegels until this past month. I read that ultimately the results are the same whether you do them or not, but my recent experience leads me to believe that that is not the case, at least with me. I have notice a marked improvement over the last month.
Over the years I've also lifted weights (intermittently), and have a nifty setup on my indoor patio, which I'm looking forward to using again. Which brings me to my question. Where is the literature on post-rpp fitness and conditioning? I've googled until I'm blue in the face and can't find anything worthwhile. Besides Kegels, aren't there other things we can do to strengthen the ol' pelvic floor? Yoga, Pilates? And what are the risks? Can we retard the progress or actually screw things up by doing too much, or the wrong exercises?
Even just reading this forum, some people say to do as many Kegels as you can, others say twice a day. And do we all agree that walking is beneficial?
Anyway, I have to wait until after my nuclear stress test next week. My GP picked up a variation in my EKG, and the cardiologist told me to "lay low" until after the test, althought I had an echocardiogram and the technician said it looked good.
I think I'll start another thread about this. I assume I'm not the only one whose cancer has motivated them to get back in shape.
Posted 11/20/2006 8:14 AM (GMT -6)
Everyone recovers at a different pace. "We" had no leaking the first 2 weeks after catheter removal. Then, all of a sudden it just started gushing, leaking, dribbling, whatever. Even now, some days are good; others are not. None when lying or sitting - only with activity. Surgeon did a sphincter test in the office and all is good and tight. Just one of those things. It's very emotionally upsetting/demeaning, but we know it'll get better.

With regard to kegels, our research and surgeon both said that pre-surgery, do as many as you can each day. Post-surgery, drop back to the 2x/day routine with 10 kegels/3 minutes each time. That may be where some of the confusion comes in: pre-surgery recommendations vs. post-surgical.

(And welcome, KW. We're - me, mostly - former and long-time Okies. I married a born-and-bred Texan, however, and that means sooner or later yur gonna end up back in Texas!)
Posted 11/20/2006 9:29 AM (GMT -6)
KW, I sometimes do a partial Kegel while walking. But usually I'm so involved with what I'm doing that I forget. It's like the old "walk and chew gum at the same time" joke.
Posted 11/24/2006 10:24 AM (GMT -6)
Hello, we are JoSal.  I was diagnosed right before Labor Day after progressive elevated PSA readings and a prostate biopsy was positive in 1 out of 12 samples taken.  The next month was a whirlwind of anxiety and emotions for both of us.  The recommended treatment for someone of my age with early stage prostate cancer was surgery, and we had pretty much decided right from the get-go that was our treatment of choice.  We wanted the cancerous prostate OUT.  We were referred to a urologist in Rochester, NY who performs DaVinci robotic laproscopic prostatectomies and had a consult with him 2 weeks after initial diagnosis.  Things moved fast and had the surgery 3 weeks later, catheter removed 10/20.  Physically am doing fine, surgery was relatively easy with little real pain, more discomfort from the catheter.  When catheter was removed, some leakage at first, but as activity has increased, so has the leakage, and at times, it is discouraging.  Your symptoms and concerns are similar to mine.  I am pretty much dry at night (thank goodness), maybe a few drops on the pad in the morning, and very minor leakage when I'm sitting down.  My leakage is worse later in the day and it's frustrating even though I know and accept the fact that this will take weeks, if not months to get better.  I do not regret having the surgery.  I returned to work this past Monday for a short work week, and found that due to leakage, I could not perform my job (I am a heavy machine mechanic in a manufacturing facility).  My employer has been understanding and put me on light duty work where I am not on my feet all day.  My doctor did tell me that my leakage may tend to be worse because I am not a slim man and gravity works against me.  So, just wanted to let you know that I share similar concerns and frustrations as you, but my prognosis is good, and for that, we are greatful.

54 year old robust male

Latest PSA pre-biopsy 6.7, next PSA due 1/07

Gleason 3 + 3

Stage T1a

DaVinci robotic laproscopic prostatectomy 10/11/06

post surgery pathology:  malagnancy in less than 1% of samples 

Posted 11/24/2006 11:43 AM (GMT -6)
josal

You might want to try external catheters.  Something to look into.  I was on the go from the start and it enabled me to keep going.  I gushed a lot.  It may be only for a short time for you. 

Posted 11/24/2006 12:44 PM (GMT -6)
Just to let you all know,  I started walking about an hour a day this past Sunday.  After just two days my control had improved greatly.  I am now using only the regular duty pads that slip into your underwear.  Before I had to use the belted undergarments (diapers).  I am using about 5 pads a day now.  Getting better all the time.  Keep up with the walking.

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