Practical suggestions post EBRT and seeds

[EdinBmore]

So, I know that radiation can knock one to the ground big time (continence, bowel, etc.). I start IMRT soon; followed by "booster" seeds shortly thereafter. To those of you who have been through this: what should I expect? what products have you used for continence and bowel "issues"? The thought of diapers and pads sends shivers down my spine (the whole loss of control feeling) but I realize they might be in my future (hopefully, temporarily). And how long should I expect these issues to last? Suggestions? Thanks. BTW, 69 yrs old, generally good health (until now, anyway), and just had first hormone injection of Firmagon.

[Tall_Allen]

Continence is seldom an issue with radiation. Here are a list of adverse effects:

pcnrv.blogspot.com/2016/08/...

Here's a handout I give to guys getting radiation:

pcnrv.blogspot.com/2018/10/...

[Hidden]

I see that incontinence is statistically seldom seen after radiation treatment, but I appreciate that you're asking for advice for what to do about it, if it should occur.

I didn't have radiation treatment, but I imagine that managing incontinence is similar no matter the cause.

If you had surgery you would be advised to do Kegel exercises, I'm not sure if this is relevant to radiation treatment, but I can't see that it would do any harm.

If you're the seldom statistic it does happen to, then it appears that it may only be short term probably due to inflammation.

The simplest way to keep dry and clean is to wear pads. Not ideal nor the most comfortable, but tolerable.

You might find a longer term problem or even the only problem is dribbling. This occurs when you think you've finished peeing, put it away only to feel a trickle down your leg!

I don't know about you, but this sometimes happened to me before I had prostate treatment, especially if I didn't "shake my peg"!

There are things you can do about this -

1 Don't panic! Especially if you're in a public convenience.

2 Make sure your underpants aren't too large and change them every day.

3 Give your self extra time between finishing peeing and putting your equipment away.

4 There is a hard to describe technique. Press two (or three fingers) on your perineum starting as far back as the bones you can feel down there (pubic symphysis) and slide them forwards, still pressing, right up under your testicles to the base of your penis. Then grasp your penis all round at the base between thumb and forefinger. Slide up along the shaft of your penis towards the glans. Don't squeeze too hard it could damage your urethra. (I'm thinking of making a Youtube video but it would probably be censored).

5 You should find any urine remaining in your urethra squirts out.

So be careful where you're aiming!

6 Do this discretely if in a public convenience or mutter something about a prostate problem.

7 As a final resort, swear and whilst saying Ah ah ah ah etc hop around on one leg whilst shaking the other. You might need to do some preparatory gymnastic exercises for this.

Think of it this way. It's a matter of body image, think of urine as being part of YOU. It's been in your blood, in your lymph fluid and in your cells. Before you part with it, it's in your bladder and while it's there you don't have any aversion to it. You don't think "I must get rid of this" (unless you're dying for a pee). When you pee, suddenly it's NOT you and you have this aversion for it. It's the same with spit!

So, it's unlikely you'll be incontinent, if you suffer some there are things you can do and think more kindly about your pee.

I hope this helps, or at least gives some entertainment.

[EdinBmore in reply to Hidden]

LOL. Hope you're right about not having this problem but really appreciate the practical and humorous suggestions. Hopefully, this, too, will pass. Thanks again.