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Posted 9/23/2012 5:43 PM (GMT -5)
Does it feel like before?  Do you need to do kegel exercises the rest of your life?  Trying to educate myself in order to make choices...

Thanks,

J

Posted 9/23/2012 6:16 PM (GMT -5)
As to urination, for me (now) the sensations are no different, although I have nowhere near the capacity I once had (less than half, I would guess). In the months after surgery, there were often urinary tract infections, which will get your attention.

Kegels are forever as I see it. When I stop for a few days, I leak for days afterward. On the other hand, a lot of walking helps even three years out.

 

Posted 9/23/2012 6:46 PM (GMT -5)
J, welcome to HW! You might post your stats, like mine below, to give an overall picture of your situation, if you want additional feedback.

The urination question for me: It feels the same but, in a sense, it is much better. I had an enlarged prostate plus I think I was having urinary cancer symptoms. Today, I can go much longer between bathroom breaks and don't worry about flow, starting and stopping, etc. And yes, I will do Kegels for life. But, to me, that is no sacrifice -- just part of my fitness routine. Plus, strong pelvic contraction muscles are a big plus for me in the sexual enjoyment department. I recommend that to any guy, prostate cancer or not.


SC 

Posted 9/23/2012 7:01 PM (GMT -5)
Thanks guys -

me: age 53 PSA 6.44 G6 (3+3) dx one week ago 14 cores - 1 positive with 4% cancer
Have enlarged prostate and chronic prostatitis

J
Posted 9/23/2012 7:20 PM (GMT -5)
After prostate removal, and healing completed, I can pee like a racehorse... lol... No obstruction from an enlarged prostate or BPH getting in the way... :-)
Posted 9/23/2012 9:00 PM (GMT -5)
I was 99% continent from catheter removal, attributed to surgeon skill on urethra restich, and years of marathon running, which strengthen the whole core and pelvic area. Never did and still don't kegal. To your point directly, I had dull and unpleasant type exit pain for a solid 8 mos post op whenever I urinated. Upon complaint to my surgeon, he said it was normal. That there was a lot of " hacking and hewing" in there and the pain had to go somewhere. It did self resolve.
Posted 9/23/2012 9:35 PM (GMT -5)
Post surgery, after 6 weeks, I was 100% continent.

I pee much better. I was having problems with BPH before the cancer dx. and relied on flomax.

Mel

Posted 9/23/2012 9:36 PM (GMT -5)
Once I got over the initial recovery from the surgery -- a couple of months to regain nearly-normal control -- I'd say it's never felt any different. Though now 10 years after surgery and 2 years after SRT, I still sometimes get a sense of urgency and am then surprised to discover that the feeling was brought on by not much volume.
Posted 9/24/2012 1:33 AM (GMT -5)
Welcome

Actually peeing should be very similar. In fact I reckon that a (negative) change in peeing after surgery would probably be something that surgeons would regard as unwanted and they would ask you to tell them about, as it might indicate a blockage, stricture etc.
Full bladder control after surgery, ie control of starting, stopping and staying stopped might well be different to before surgery however.

The only time peeing felt really different for me was the first couple of hours aftyer the catheter came out when it felt like the urethra was half an inch in diameter and with no muscle control what ever. Muscle control for stopping was about 90% by the time I went to bed on the day the cath came out.
Peeing the next morning felt just about the same. It was when I tried to stop, and stay stopped, that I could feel a difference, but that soon felt okay too.
Control was back to about 100% after six weeks, when I stopped wearing pads.
So I would say that six months after surgery peeing was for me the same as it had been six months or six years before surgery.
I'm now over three years on from surgery, and while the sensation while having a pee is the same, there is less control over staying stopped in between pees due to the effects of SRT.

Yes you'll need to keep doing Kegels to keep the muscles in shape, but don't think of it being an exercise that is anything like having to spend an hour down the gym every morning at 6am. It is in fact important not to do too many kegels, just do a few every day. (I've just done a couple now while typing this for instance) I guess the trick with kegels is to get into a routine so that you almost do it without having to rememebr, eg do it when you clean your teeth, or do it when you park your car in the garage, or when waiting for a train etc.

Alf
Posted 9/24/2012 4:14 PM (GMT -5)

I'd have to say the kegel requirement varies.  I haven't done a kegel since maybe six weeks after surgery and am fortunate to be one hundred percent continent.  Some guys aren't so lucky.

Urination is no different, except I can pee a whole lot faster than most guys my age, and I no longer have the urinary urgency that I had prior to surgery.  Maybe one trip to the john during the night, or sometimes none at all, and no hurry during the daytime.  Prior to surgery, I had to find a bush to pee behind during nine holes of golf.  Now, I can often go 18 without worrying about it.  I wish everyone here at HW was that lucky, but some are and some aren't.

My question is, with just one core positive, and a very low volume in that core, are you really considering surgery at this point?  Have you discussed Active Surveillance?

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