Happy to find a place men can share after PC

I'm a pelvic physical therapist and have been helping men recover from SUI after RP for over 4 years. Too many feel isolated and become depressed in those early weeks. I can not provide specific treatment or exercises but willing to help with resources and plan of action.

[KissofLife]

I’m not familiar with the abbreviation “SUI” but perhaps you can point me in the direction of resources to help with my husband incontinence; he’s six months post RP and despite having been a strong, fit, 53 year old before this diagnosis, he drips constantly and needs to change his pad 3-5 times a day. He has been doing kegels but it doesn’t seem to be helping at all...

[Hidden in reply to KissofLife]

SUI is the abbreviation for stress urinary incontinence. SUI happen when stress or pressure on the bladder is greater than the pelvic floor muscles when contracted, there by cause urine leakage. Kegel exercises are a component to learning how to properly engage the muscles. But typically the missing component is know when to “kegel” and how strong the muscle contraction needs to be to stop SUI. For example, if he leaks with sneezing. Perform a Kegel prior to the sneeze. If he leaks when standard up from a chair, then Kegel when standing up. Now the question. How hard should the contract be? Only as hard as it needs to be to stop the leak. Meaning less is more. Sometimes, men will develop habits of trying to hold muscles all the time or doing more and stronger Kegels are better. This just causes muscles fatigue.

He can get more specific guidance by seeing a pelvic physical therapist.

pelvicguru.com/directory/

Amazon for books. Prostatectomy, one is written by a pelvic physical therapist.

Hope this helps to point him in the right direction.

[KissofLife in reply to Hidden]

Than for responding! Any books we can turn to are greatly appreciated as we feel like while the urologist was very attentive leading up to the surgery he is no overly concerned with addressing my husband’s leaking and believes me husband is still healing. I don’t know that his is issue is technically SUI, at least he doesn’t communicate it as being related to any specific movement only that it seems to be sporadic but throughout the day, without warning, rhyme or reason . We read so many different things about kegel that contradict each other- hold for 30 seconds, don’t hold too long, do them as often as you can, don’t do too often or you’ll fatigue... it’s very frustrating for him and I don’t know how to help! Thanks again for the feedback!

[Hidden in reply to KissofLife]

Vanita GaglanI’s book Life after Prostate cancer is a 10 week step by step program. It will help he slow down and find the cause of the SUI.