Leakage after Prostate Cancer surgery: Concerned about travel and pads

@dmccarthy104
Great post!

@captainbrent, I love it when a reader/lurker comes out from behind the keyboard to make a post. Welcome.

Your message is helpful and hopeful for men facing surgery. The trip sounds amazing, although I'm sure you were nervous about making such a long flight after surgery.

Now that you're back home, how are things going in your own surroundings and routine? Still doing Kegels? Keeping active?

Colleen, this forum has provided me with valuable insights and if my journy can help someone, that is what I want. Yes, I was very nervous during the pre trip planning phase, an aisle seat near the bathroom was important. But it all went well. I am a very active person and have completely adjusted to being back home and still do my Kegels, but not more than 20 min a day and I often skip a day. This is what I have learned that may help others: I did my Kegels every day post op, but never more than 20 or 30 min during the day...usually 2 sessions of 10-15 min. Like any muscle group, that in my case, needed building up, I needed to do it slowly and not over due while the muscles were getting stronger. When I got to the point where I could hold off urinating even though I thought I needed to go, the muscles seemed to be doing their "New" job. At that point, it was mostly a mental thing. After all, my brain had to use a new approach to knowing how to control the flow from what it was used to. I remember getting one night post op saying to myself: "I have to learn how to pee again just like a little child does". Anyway, I think I confirmed this by my trip, as I didn't do hardly any Kegel's for 30 days, yet I am now (at 6+ months) almost 100% back to normal and can enjoy a few beers at happy hour with no problem. The solution is: after the muscles are strong enough to do their job, the rest is rewiring your brain to use them involuntarily. I have no idea how to do that, but I think it is the key.

My comment doesn’t help you with traveling. It will get better. My Robot assisted operation was March 3rd. At 6 weeks out I just use thin dribble pads. I use a fresh one in the morning and it usually last all day until bed time. A fresh one at bedtime. I usually sleep all night without any leakage. Small dribbles during the day especially if you sneeze or move the wrong way. It seems to be getting better every day. Just got my follow up PSA test was .014. Made me very happy. Good luck with your travels. Make sure you drink enough water. Don’t try to regulate your leakage by cutting back on fluids.

@eshan I’ve used a clamp, also Weisner, for 4 years. Works like a charm.

It has been 8 weeks since I had Robotic Surgery. I am still on 5 medium pads, 3 during the day and 2 during the night.
More the water I drink, and more I walk, I have to change the pads in 3 hours.
It is frustrating. My checked out < 0. 014 which is a very good.
I guess I have to deal with it. We cancelled our trip in July. I was not sure how long it will take stop leaking.
Thanks everyone for your input.
Eshan

@lsk1000
Mine is not working as as good as yours. I use it when I take the shower.
Thanks for reply.

@eshan
The clamp is to prevent Leakage. When you’re in the shower, leakage is irrelevant. Why would you put the clamp on when in the shower? Peeing before you get in the shower would really reduce the amount of leakage to almost nothing. It’s something you would use when you’re outside the shower, At least that’s when I use it, when I go to the gym, when I go out to dinner, when I go dancing with my wife on Saturday nights. That’s when you don’t want leakage.

How I wish that all prostate removal surgeries were performed using the same technique that was used on me.
I wish and hope this technique will be soon a standardized protocols for every person who decided to undergo prostate removal surgery.
I have my surgery on March 9th...5 weeks ago.
I feel very good and feels like I do not have any surgery at all.
New surgery technique’s can give immediate continence and with nerve sparing. The old stories everyone has grown up about being incontinent and impotent after prostate surgery are giving way to the new technology. I even went home from surgery the same day.
all urine leakage had completely stopped on fourth day after catheter out.
Surgeon is approaching the prostate from behind the bladder (through the pouch of Douglas), it avoids damaging the Retzius space, offering superior, often immediate, urinary control.
He further does Retzius sparing of the tissue between the bladder and the prostate which further helps with continence. During the surgery he send I was in surgery the prostate tissue to check on clear margins to the hospital pathology for staining to see whether I had the clear margins.
Many Surgeons do not bother with this and at your post surgery appointment they give you the disappointing news that you have positive margin.
will repeat myself I hope this technique will be soon a standardized protocols for every person who decided to undergo prostate removal surgery.

I had a DaVinci Robotic Single port (one incision) surgery.

@jeffmarc
Thanks Jeff.