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No fun at all for sure. Surgeons trumpet "nerve sparing" surgeory but the reality is much different. Nerves are very small , much like 2 lb mono fishing line. And theses are embedded in the enlarged PC prostate as most are, Surgeons' skill? HA!. VERY few are saved with the RP. You WILL leak, and "sporting wood" is now gone forever. My oncologist asked" how many pads do I use in a day." I responded that I now just use a trash can liner and wear it as a kilt. I is wise to also check ahead for any social gatherings to ensure the seating is vinyl. You now have a miniture "Trevi Fountain" in your shorts.. Small comfort, there are no crowds. Leaking is BY FAR the worst of the post RP effects.
Squirt on lad,
SW
Replies to "No fun at all for sure. Surgeons trumpet "nerve sparing" surgeory but the reality is much..."
Sorry you're having a hard time. I'm kinda in the same boat, in that constant leaking dominated my thoughts and days.
How long since you had surgery?
It's important to note that everyone is different & everyone's experience may be similar in some respects, but rarely the same. Some of us have longer-lasting side effects & some don't.
In terms of nerve-sparing, it's not just the skill of the surgeon.
The whole point of slicing us open in the first place is to get rid of the cancer.
And if the cancer has creeped towards the nerves (one or both sides) - or if it's found it's way to nearby lymph nodes - they have to go, in order to potentially save our lives.
Same thing... some of us are lucky & some are not. My surgery report said no lymph nodes were involved & both nerve bundles were retained.
No idea if the nerve thing is true. Erections are a distant memory & in terms of the 'penile rehabilitation' things we're supposed to be doing, I can't even touch the thing cause it's constantly covered in pee. What are we supposed to do? Wear gloves?
In terms of your long-term outcome, ask the experts who trained for years on this stuff, rather than that internal voice that's telling you that things will never improve.
I'm still struggling with incontinence 5 months on, but I'm not letting my stupid brain tell me that life is over.
I can squarely disagree that a blanket statement of guaranteed incontinence and ED is accurate. I had RARP almost four weeks, ago, had an erection within hours of leaving the OR and all but a couple nerves were spared, and I've had "wood" multiple times a day since, even on demand. I also have not had a single drop of incontinence.
I realize that dodging both bullets is pretty rare, as 85% of men have some form of incontinence - be it a single day or years on end, and about the same percentage have some form of ED as well - but neither of these are guaranteed.
Everyone's results will vary and the surgeons skill is absolutely a factor in saving the nerves, without any doubt - and saving the nerves gives you the chance to not have or to overcome ED. Incontinence, in many cases, can be corrected via pelvic floor work or even with surgical options such as slings and artificial sphincters.
I'm sorry that your experience was on the bad side of the equation, but it's not the guaranteed outcome for all people.
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Incontinence after prostate cancer surgery varies considerably. I did not have to wear a pad after surgery. Only leaked a little with heavy exertion. 3 1/2 years after surgery, I had radiation still no incontinence problems. Five years after that, I started leaking a little and it’s gotten worse and then better with medication. Never needed more than one pad a day.