@fritzo

For the “itchy-burny,” I found that barrier cream works…sometimes. What seems to cause it is that with Depends fitted with a guard, it’s easy for the head of my penis to get pushed up against the guard, especially when sitting or lying down.

As urine drips out, it gets the guard wet, and my tip is sort of trapped up against in a perpetually damp spot, causing the discomfort, which causes constant adjusting and readjusting, trying to find a comfortable position for it. Sometimes the cream helps, sometimes moving around and adjusting helps, and sometimes, it’s just a matter of enduring it.

Pelvic floor & core - I didn’t start that until two months after my catheter came out, and my incisions were well on their way by then.

I’m not the least bit active beyond having a quick disposition, I suppose you could say. I’ve always walked a lot, that’s about it, no gym work or anything like that. I’m guessing you’d find my core work pretty light, compared to what you do - I’m doing things like pelvic tilts, leg exercises with resistance bands, things like that, nothing very taxing, but they help.

Sitting down and lying down seem to be the easiest position from which to do a kegel. Standing…a bit more difficult, and holding one while walking or mounting a step is very difficult for me. I can engage it, but lose it at the first bit of exertion, but I’m getting better. We managed to go out to dinner tonight, and nothing more than a few dribbles - as recently as a week ago, I would have emptied my bladder as soon as I exited the car, would have needed to change guards in the restaurant, and would have done the same upon returning home. Tonight, one Depends pull-up, no guard, and it’s not even damp, and I’ve had it on for three hours. That’s pretty good.

Take care. Feel free to ask me anything at all about my surgery, recovery, side effects, etc. I have no shame and don’t know when to shut up! 😉