Even The Nights Are Better
It's been a while since my last post so I thought it would be a good idea to give an update on the urinary incontinence. Overall it is getting better, although it's tough to see that some days. It is still very dependent on physical activity. The more active I am, the more I struggle staying dry.
The best time, by far, is overnight. When I first got the catheter removed, I was getting up every 1-2 hours to urinate. Now, I'm getting up once a night which is what I was doing before surgery. In fact, this week I've stopped wearing any pads overnight and I've been fine. I've been sleeping on a towel just in case, but there have been zero issues. This is done a lot to help my inner thigh chafing as well.
I have been using a mix of the full undergarments with the pads built in and pads that I put in my normal briefs. Each have pluses and minuses. Overall I think the full undergarments are more comfortable and easier to deal with at home. I think this is because my briefs have a tight fit which I usually like, but adding a pad in there isn't as comfortable. However, when I'm out of the house the pads are nice because I can carry a spare in my back pocket instead of carrying a bag with me. So I still use both most days.
The worst time during the week is evenings after work when I'm doing things like preparing dinner, basic housework, etc. I can have a great day and not have to change out any pads at all and then end up changing once or even twice in the evening as my activity level increases. So I feel like I'm making great progress and then I start leaking a lot. That can be frustrating.
While my control is definitely better, the nerve signals telling me how much urine I have or when I'm really done is still a work in progress. I still can't be certain about these things. The key at this time is a combination of relaxing the muscles, pushing, relax and repeat until nothing comes out. It's not a perfect system, but it's what I have at the moment. The nerves will take longer than the muscles.
I am at a point where diaper rashes don't really happen anymore which is great. I do deal with inner thigh chafing which I mostly treat with baby powder. I also find at least one time per day when I can just let my groin area air dry. And, as I stated earlier, being able to not wear a pad overnight has helped as well.
I have made a couple of work trips as well as social events and they have gone well. The trick is that if I've been sitting for almost any amount of time, the moment I stand up, I need to head to a bathroom. This means when I'm away from home, I need to plan a bit and be aware of where the bathrooms are located. And it has made me change how I am at events. For example, standing up a a concert isn't the best idea. The same for sporting events. If I am going to stand, I need to be able to go relatively quickly. When I run shopping errands, I plan bathroom breaks at most stops.
I am doing a lot of pelvic exercises (kegels). At my first follow-up with my urologist (3 weeks after surgery), she wanted me to do 30 minutes per day. I have since doubled that to 2-30 minute sessions per day. I alternate in 5 minute intervals from holding for 10 seconds/relax for 10 seconds and holding for 20 seconds/relax for 10 seconds. If things don't improve, it won't be due to lack of effort. I have another followup (3 months post surgery) in a few weeks and we'll review my progress on that front and see if I need to do more or other things to get this better. The positive thing is that everyone I've talked to who has been through this reassures me that it really does get better. And when I look at things objectively, that is happening. If you recall from my last post I was using 4-7 pads a day. A typical day for me now is 3 pads. So from that standpoint, I can see progress. But I'm still looking forward to the day when I don't spend much of the day thinking about and dealing with urine.
When I get frustrated, I remind myself that I'm about 10 weeks from the catheter being removed. Taking 6 months to a year to really get better is normal. In that light, it's not as bad. If you're going through this, know that it does get better.
Please note: This blog is based on one man's experience and is for educational and support purposes only. Nothing in this blog should be considered medical advise. Always consult a physician to properly evaluate your particular health issues.