Incontinence after prostate removal

Hi Seadog. I had my op two years ago. We are all different but it sounds as though you are like I was to begin with. For me, things improved vastly at about four months and I felt more in control. I still had to plan what I was doing around finding a toilet and/or changing pads but leakage was much reduced. 

Since then it has improved slowly. I still leak a bit if walking or excerting myself but in doors I can make do with just wearing Tena washable boxer shorts. Now I feel totally in control really. I just make sure I have access to pads and plastic bags and one pad will generally be adequate for all day, no matter what I am doing.

You are right. Patience is the key. There is no magic wand but there are a few options that some take (clamp, sheath, op). What I would suggest is that you speak to an incontinence nurse who should be able to advise you more suitably.

Re pelvic floor exercises, I very recently thought that I knew better than the experts and stopped doing them. Perhaps it was also partly due to laziness. Anyway leakage increased considerably after about two months. I started them again and it decreased back to what it was after about a month.

Hi Seadog

Good news on your successful surgery and PSA score. I had the op a year ago and have no incontinence issues now. I guess it's only 8 weeks since your catheter came out, so not a long time really for your muscles to retrain. Good advice from Static re keeping up the pelvic floor exercises. However, I have also read that it is possible to overdo them, which can make you muscles tired and that can affect control. Might be something to ask the nurse about if you haven't already done so.

Caffeine and alcohol can irritate the bladder and I found giving them up, at least for a while, made a difference.

Hi Static, thanks for reply. You made some interesting points. I am coming up to three months since post op so hearing your comments gives me hope. I felt like giving up on the pelvic floor exercise but I will now carry on with them daily. I get frustrated some days as you probably have. My job entails a lot of walking outdoors . I can't return to work the way I am which is also frustrating and probably difficult for people I work with to understand. Thanks again for your advice and I will let you know if things improve.

Hi LTC61, thank you for sharing your experience. It all helps and gives everyone hope . I will continue with my pelvic floor exercises. I hope to get help from my GP very soon.