Re: Impact of Incontinence after Surgery

[Guest guest]

Dave, Have you really studied your options, or had a second opinion

from a specialist that does something other than surgery?

Please keep in mind that prostatectomy of any version is MAJOR surgery

and that there are potentially more serious side effects than with

some of the other methods of treatment. Please visit Terry's YANA site

and read through some of the examples.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

Fuller

>

> Hello All,

>

> I was diagnosed with PCa in December and am leaning toward Robotic

Surgery with a very

> experienced surgeon. I'm 46 years old, PSA 5.8, Gleason 6 and in

pretty good shape. I have a

> question about incontinence during the recover period....

>

> What is the impact on everyday activities of having to wear pads? I

hear people say they need

> to wear 1, 2 or 3 pads but I don't have a good understanding of what

means. Do you ever

> have leaks? Is the odor detectable? What are long car rides like?

Can you get back to

> strenuous physical activity?

>

> My job requires a lot of driving around New England and I'm trying

to understand the

> medium term impact (assuming I'm not one of the fortunate ones who

regains full

> continence almost immediately).

>

> Thanks in Advance,

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I would seriously discuss the use of a condom catheter with your

urologist before using one. I know I've read somewhere that use of a

condom catheter can ultimately impact the ability to control the

sphincter muscles.

I'm not saying don't use it, I'm just suggesting you get a medical

opinion first.

> > >

> > > Hello All,

> > >

> > > I was diagnosed with PCa in December and am leaning toward Robotic

> > Surgery with a very

> > > experienced surgeon. I'm 46 years old, PSA 5.8, Gleason 6 and in

> > pretty good shape. I have a

> > > question about incontinence during the recover period....

> > >

> > > What is the impact on everyday activities of having to wear pads? I

> > hear people say they need

> > > to wear 1, 2 or 3 pads but I don't have a good understanding of what

> > means. Do you ever

> > > have leaks? Is the odor detectable? What are long car rides like?

> > Can you get back to

> > > strenuous physical activity?

> > >

> > > My job requires a lot of driving around New England and I'm trying

> > to understand the

> > > medium term impact (assuming I'm not one of the fortunate ones who

> > regains full

> > > continence almost immediately) .

> > >

> > > Thanks in Advance,

> > >

> > >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Dave

You ask some very good questions, and my experience is similar to the

others. And this is over time the need for a pad and 'leakage' have

diminished.

background; surgery completed Oct 2003.

But you asked;

- What is the impact on everyday activities of having to wear pads?

Minimal impact, no one notices, and it doesn't have to slow you down

at all.

- I hear people say they need to wear 1, 2 or 3 pads but I don't have

a good understanding of what means.

My issue is with running, and I still leak a little bit when I run.

At first I'd leak so much I'd have to double up on the pads when I

went for a run. One pad just wasn't enough. To this day I still wear a

pad when I go out for a run, though there is minimal leaking...every

once in a while I try running w/o a pad, but so far I prefer having

the insurance of a pad (and staying dry). I dunno, when running after

a while there will be a slight leak, leaving me with the sensation of

warmth + moisture, which leads to more leaks, and so on, and its not

pretty from there (but this is me).

Do you ever have leaks?

Yes, occasionally bending over to pick a pencil off the floor, or

twist funny, slight leak on occasion with a fart. Though interesting

I did a full circuit workout yesterday morning that included circuits

on the bike trainer, squats w dumbells, lunges w dumbells, crunches

with dumbells, etc...and no leaks, go figure.

OR, after two martinis. Or a couple beers.

Is the odor detectable?

At times I have thought it is, but no one else to date has noticed.

What are long car rides like?

Car rides, for me not an issue. You are pretty stationary riding in

the car, you may need to make a pit stop on a more frequent basis, but

that's it.

Can you get back to strenuous physical activity?

Yes of course. for example, I completed an IronMan this past June

wearing a pad for the 112 mile bike as well as for the marathon.

Though for 1/2 ironman distance races I've not worn a pad. And the

1/2 IMs have been relatively dry, as in real slight leak. Anyway for

peace of mind decided to wear a pad for the longer distance event.

And no one noticed, trust me, no one noticed.

But just after surgery, let's see that was Oct 1st, and I ran an

organized 10K at the end of November. So ~60 days from surgery to

being out there doing a real event (had to wear two pads for that one).

The doctors keep reminding me to do my Kegels...and every six months

or so I get on a steady Kegel routine, though its not resulted in

having stress free and dry long distance runs. Again, this is me, and

I'll trade having to wear a pad on a run with the alternative any day,

any time.

Hope this helps.

Bob

> > -- Original Message ----

> > From: davew175 <davew175@>

> > To: ProstateCancerSupport

> > Sent: Friday, January 4, 2008 8:49:24 PM

> > Subject: Impact of Incontinence after

> Surgery

> >

> >

> > Hello All,

> >

> > I was diagnosed with PCa in December and am leaning toward Robotic

> Surgery with a very

> > experienced surgeon. I'm 46 years old, PSA 5.8, Gleason 6 and in

> pretty good shape. I have a

> > question about incontinence during the recover period....

> >

> > What is the impact on everyday activities of having to wear pads? I

> hear people say they need

> > to wear 1, 2 or 3 pads but I don't have a good understanding of

> what means. Do you ever

> > have leaks? Is the odor detectable? What are long car rides like?

> Can you get back to

> > strenuous physical activity?

> >

> > My job requires a lot of driving around New England and I'm trying

> to understand the

> > medium term impact (assuming I'm not one of the fortunate ones who

> regains full

> > continence almost immediately) .

> >

> > Thanks in Advance,

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> ______________________________________________________________________

> ______________

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> > know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.

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> >

>

[Guest guest]

--

I hope I don't have " ongoing incontinence " .

I'm only two months post-surgery, and my continence is still

improving. I'm using the condom catheter as a stopgap until I'm able

to exercise without leaking.

But it's a _good_ stopgap. It's never leaked, I empty the bag into

any toilet that's handy, and I can disconnect the condom from the

tube, and take a whizz if I want to.

I wash the bag (water and vinegar) and condom catheter (soap and

water) daily. I've had no problems with bacterial growth, odor, or

skin rash.

The way I feel right now, I'd choose to continue using the leg bag,

rather than giving a surgeon permission to cut me open again to fix my

sphincter. I might feel differently in a year, if things don't improve.

>

> -I haven't followed this entire thread, but have you talked to a

> urologist/surgeon about an implantable sphincter? If you have ongoing

> incontinence, seems like life altering issue, and would at least

> justify a look/see at this option!! The condom cath is not without

> it's challenges, application, leakage, bag to drain and transport

> around???

>

[Guest guest]

--

My urologist/surgeon approves.

I understand the problem -- if you rely on the catheter, you may not

give enough attention to " continence exercises " . And that would lead

to trouble.

My goal is to keep the bag _empty_, by using the toilet regularly

before I leak. Except for exercising, I'm usually successful.

>

> I would seriously discuss the use of a condom catheter with your

> urologist before using one. I know I've read somewhere that use of a

> condom catheter can ultimately impact the ability to control the

> sphincter muscles.

>

> I'm not saying don't use it, I'm just suggesting you get a medical

> opinion first.

>

>

>