Why just pads rather than diapers?

I FILLED 2-3-4 diapers a day for months, and now, after two years, leak
a spoonful to a padful daily, depending on my activity. I've been dry
lying and sitting since the catheter came out except for a couple of
overnight gullywashers early in the game.

I.P.

Fred,

I replied to another post about Kegel's but will share my husband's routine
again.

He is three weeks post-op robotic RP and is doing extremely well.  He has
not had any leakage whatsoever.  Not one single drop.  He went through an
hour long Kegel instruction about two weeks prior to surgery that taught him
the correct way to do the exercises.  He started doing them at that time.

He does them twice daily; upon waking in the morning and just before sleep
at night.  He does them while laying on his side in bed.  He does 20
Kegel's -- holds each one for five seconds and then relaxes for 10 seconds
between each one.  This regimen is obviously working for him.  When I say he
has had NO leakage that is exactly what I mean.  Not one single drop.  He
was scared that he would so he started wearing a pad immediately upon
catheter removal but he never needed it.  The sensation returned immediately
and he always knows when he has to go and doesn't have a problem holding
until he can reach a bathroom.

The surgeon who preformed his surgery is the one who perfected the bladder
sling for men so you can't get much better than that.

Good luck,

Jean

Two weeks is still very early days.  For RP at Hopkins, he median time
for men to stop using pads was about 3 months and almost all men
stopped by one year.  There is some controversy, I believe, about
whether or not LRP leads to earlier continence than RP.  But, if you
have any concerns, ask your surgeon to give you an estimate of what to
expect and when he would start thinking about additional measures.

Two weeks is still early in the game so I wouldn't worry too much just
yet.  I leaked like a sieve for many weeks including during a trip to
Italy two months post-op.  It gradually got better although I'm still
using one pad/day over three years out.  As for Kegels, I think they
may help with stress leakage during sneezes and the like but I'm one of
the guys who feels they're a total waste of time for the routine leaks.
Type the word "Kegel" into the archives and you'll get all the
arguments pro and con for them if you're interested.  The good news is
that you're on the road to recovery in all other aspects and the drips
will start to subside soon.
Dave Perry

I found the best thing to help me was walk - walk - walk.
Everyone is different.....

From: Fred.Schw@gmail.com (Fred Schwartz)

I am now 2 wees post robotic radical surgery with nerve sparing - with
an excellent physical recovery from the standpoing of general energy,
etc. The catheter was removed on post-op day 7 and I was fully
incontinent. I went to work on post-op day 9. I wear pads and soak about
10 of the Serenity Ultimates. The most my bladder will hold is about
20cc when I wake up in the AM. DUring the day, the bladder will hold
10-20cc, but then empties.   I realize that I have not been rigorous
on doing kegeling, and probably should do so. Here are my questions: 1)
what is the best Kegel program, and does it work? 2) Is being so
incredibly incontinent par for the course? It is really frustrating.
Thanks,
Fred  

========
hi fred - so far - you are already showing signs of improvement.

in my case, i wore a catheter for 22 days after surgery.  then, when
they pulled it, i had zero control.  

at 3 months, if i was sitting in a chair and felt that i had to go to
the bathroom, by the time i stood up and walked 20 feet, i was empty.
all of it was pushed out during the stand up and the 20 foot walk.

at 9 months, i still on was only 75%

at 12 months, i was about 98%.

the bottom line is that it gets better and each person is different.  

i just want you to know that while i can feel your frustration,  just
hang in there and know that it will improve.  

~ curtis

knowledge is power - growing old is mandatory - growing wise is optional    
"Many more men die with prostate cancer than of it. Growing old is
invariably fatal. Prostate cancer is only sometimes so."
http://community.webtv.net/PALMER_ENT/doc

I really appreciate all of the support and comments that many of you
have made.  It is really reassuring.  I'll keep kegeling...

Has anyone found that Detrol LA helps at all?

Thanks,
Fred