6½ Weeks Post-Surgery: When Does the Leakage Get Better?

[u/ckarim]

It's been 6½ weeks since my RARP, and I'm wondering if you guys could share your experiences with urinary leakage. How long did it take you to graduate from Depends to pads, and eventually to nothing?

I'm still wearing Depends because I leak quite a bit during the day. Every time I stand up, walk, bend over, or move around, I feel a little leak. When I'm sitting watching TV or sleeping at night, it's much better.

I'm an avid golfer and recently tried getting back on the course, but I had to change my Depends after just 9 holes. On some days, I go through as many as three.

I know everyone recovers differently, but I'm starting to get frustrated. I was hoping to see more improvement by now.

I'd really appreciate hearing how things progressed for you, especially from those who had similar leakage at this stage.

Please tell me it gets better!

[u/Appropriate-Owl-8449]

Had mine a year ago. I switched to Tena pads about a month in to just push myself. I think they are almost as absorbent. I stopped leaking at 6 months. But I used the Squeezy app and did Kegels constantly. I did go to Pelvic Wall physical therapy too. I still leak a bit when I laugh and turn one way. Coffee and booze is an issue too. It’s early for you and keep digging.

[u/No-Annual-3338 → u/Appropriate-Owl-8449]

So you are dry but you start leaking again when you drink alcohol?

[u/planck1313]

My situation improved almost overnight about six weeks after RALP. I went from 3-4 of the small pads a day to only needing one, mostly for security. I did keep doing my Kegels religiously though.

[u/robbbbb]

Are you doing kegels?

I'm at about 5 1/2 weeks since surgery, had been doing kegel exercises for a couple months pre-surgery. I'm still doing the exercises post-surgery.

I've been wearing pads during the day since the catheter came out, and Depends pull-ups for sleeping, but honestly I'm not even sure I leak at all at night.

I've never had to replace the pad during the day because of excessive leakage. I was actually curious the other day about exactly how much I leak, so I weighed my new pad in the morning and again at the end of the day before bed, and it amounted to about 2 teaspoons of urine leakage.

My urologist seemed to be happy that I don't go through more than one pad a day. Honestly I had no idea what "average" leakage was, I'd just assumed my experience was normal.

[u/ckarim → u/robbbbb]

I do Keagels. Started using the Squeezy app to be remided and keep track

[u/ImaginaryTouch5 → u/ckarim]

The Squeezy app was very helpful for me. Exact same situation as you. However, my urologist set me up with a pelvic floor specialist/therapist and that was a game changer. Once you see the bio feedback while working with your therapist you will quickly learn how much you need to squeeze. As it would happen, I was squeezing at 100% figuring I was doing great - instead, I was just exhausting a very small muscle. Watching the feedback and learning to squeeze at 60-70% put me on a path that had me drying up pretty good just 3-4 weeks after. And I was soaking pads and frustrated let me tell you lol. The specialist is where it’s at-just be prepared to have sensors placed around your exit area lol. They don’t hurt at all - you just have to do a bit of reverse man-scaping to help out the therapist get those electrode things to attach. Best of luck and know that you’re in a temporary situation. Be a warrior 💪

[u/OkCrew8849]

It is major surgery and about 50% of guys have some sort of leakage 1 year after RALP.

[u/gg-3]

There was not much improvement until after ten months, then rapid, substantial improvement.