Update and questions

Ehud and wife:

Can't answer your question about cathater, as I didn't have one, but do want to extend my thoughts to both of you while you are going over this bump in your journey.

Take care,  Dutch

Mrs. Ehud,

My physician team almost always keeps the catheter in for three weeks.
(I suspect it keeps the patients from getting too active....)
I had mine in for 21 days, also.  I also had very little control upon catheter removal - while standing - for some time.

Your husband has control while sitting.  THIS IS GOOD NEWS!
The unconsciously controlled (smooth muscle) valve of the bladder is still working.

Your husband needs to walk a lot (with liner pads) and be patient as the stretched bladder and shortened urethra both get accustomed to their new positions.  For now, try holding ever-increasing amounts of urine in the bladder as you are sitting.

Kegel exercises:  Your husband should be doing at least three 20 to 30 minute sets a day. 
After a few weeks and the muscles get stronger, he can do more.  As many as he feels like without getting exhausted.

It takes awhile to develop the necessary muscle tone of the pelvic floor muscles.
This flexing - supports and works with - the remaining bladder valve.

Tamu's suggestion about contracting the muscles to stop the stream flow is good. 

In Bluebird's Journey (Lee & Buddy's Journey), Buddy starts and stops the flow over the toilet.
He practices kegel exercises on the stairmaster.  This is good as walking stairs without leaking is one of the early challenges in gaining control.

If after week 8, you don't see at least some improvement in control while walking, I agree with KW that you will likely benefit from working with a bio-feedback therapist that will make certain you are exercising all of the pelvic floor muscles.  I talk a lot about my work with my bio-feedback therapist in my thread "Zen and the Art of Symphonic Continence"
If you have time to look and want some encouragement, this thread is linked in Helpful Links at the top of the page under Other Topics. 
I also talk about walking around the garage nude with a styrofoam cup to learn how to flex while walking.  Again, all of this is about muscle tone and coordination, not just a constant 24/7 flex.

Don't get discouraged!  While a very few have almost instant continence when the catheter is removed, most don't gain almost complete control between months 4 and 6.  
I feel a positive attutude will help speed this healing. 
Many of us felt we would never really gain control.  Then, one day after week 16 and before week 24, most just suddenly don't need pads. It is that sudden.

Sincerely,

C^Cedar
ICTHUS!

Ehud and Wife

I had my catheter 14 days - When it came out I had no control for about a month and then it started to improve - took over five months before I was basically padless and only had a few minnor stress leaks.
I too would have no control when I stood up if i sat too long. It was a matter of practice for me to get to learn when time sitting was just about right. I found the kegels helped me and still do them even though RRP was in Dec 05. The radiation I had to have in 06 has made the continuation of the kegels important.

I hope that Ehud recovers quickly.

Rufus

Here's a few direct links taken from      Prostate Cancer Resources, Helpful Hints, and Topic Thread Links   Listed under *Urinary... Kegel Help?  started by KW Listed under *Other Topic Threads...   "Zen and the Art of Symphonic Continence"  started by Cedar Chopper   Pull from all ~ what works best for you!!   Quotes & Partial Quotes…     ** Excerpts taken from a wonderful book called “ Dr. Patrick C. Walsh’s “Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer” by: Patrick C. Walsh, M.D. and Janet Farrar Worthington.   Copyright 2001…..      Excerpt: Page 246 ** After the catheter is removed….      > Until your urinary control has returned to an acceptable level, don’t force fluids.     >Once the catheter is out, you’ve got to slow the pace considerably.   Avoid drinking excessive amounts of fluids, and stay away from caffeine in all forms---coffee, tea, even soft drinks.   Caffeine, especially, is a powerful pharmacological agent that increases the frequency and urgency with which you need to urinate.       ** Urinary continence: The return of urinary control:     ** Phase One is when a man can remain dry when lying down.   ** Phase Two,   you’re dry when you’re walking around.   ** If you can walk to the bathroom and not urinate until you get there, that’s a       GREAT SIGN!!!…     ---it means that the sphincter is intact.   ** Phase Three , you are dry when you stand up (using muscles that put pressure on the sphincter)  after sitting.   ** Remember, the recovery of urinary control is a slow process.   The most important thing you can do during this time is not to get discouraged.       Excerpt: Page 244 ** It’s hard to believe, but urinary control does continue to improve over two years and, in an occasional patient, even longer than that.   ** Can you do anything to speed things along, and improve your urinary control?   First, whatever you do, do not wear an incontinence device with an attached bag, a condom catheter, or clamp!   If you use any artificial device, you will hurt yourself in the long run.   You won’t be able to recover your urinary control, because you won’t develop the muscle control you need.     Excerpt: Page 247 ** Exercises you can do :   Every time you urinate, do it standing up.   You can’t practice the following exercises, which strengthen the external sphincter and speed up your recovery of urinary control, while you’re sitting down.   Start your stream, and once it’s in full force, stop the stream by contracting the muscles in your buttocks --- not your abdominal muscles, not the muscle “up in front” around the penis.   Tighten your buttocks: imagine you’re trying to hold a quarter between your cheeks.   Hold the urine back for 5 or 10 seconds, and repeat as many times as you can.   Note: Only perform these exercises when you’re urinating; if you keep contracting these muscles throughout the day, you’ll overdo it—the sphincter tires easily—and you’ll end up wetter than you would otherwise. END Quote...     Previous paragraphs address… things to speed up your urinary control.   One is not using any artificial devices…… and certain high blood pressure medication relaxes this muscle so you may need to check with your doctor.     *Thanks Dutch ~ for your support in sending members to the thread above!!!