very confused

No, you do not lose bladder control. Whatever stage you are at with your neo-bladder and pelvic floor muscle strengthing, does not just "go away" because of drinking. If you were totally drunk, you might forget to pee and then have become a little incontinent, but not because of loss of muscle control. If you were completely wasted would you lose control of your colon? You'd have to be really, really out of it...not likely at a dinner with your wife.

Your pelvic floor muscles and the urethra sphincter control the release of urine through the urethra. Both of these recover and get stronger after the operation..but it can take several months.

Anyway, you couldn't lose bladder control...you won't have one!

I pee less now than before the operation.

Mike Greenberg

1 very important thing to remember is..without this operation (regardless of dervision)WE WOULD DIE !!!
i seem to forget that every now & then..sorry
so no matter which you choose..you will live..you will adapte and you will be fine
you must have faith
its up to you

George,
One last thing, about the difference between the bag and the neo, with the neo your worry is about incontinence it seems, your emotional make-up has alot to do with your choice, we recently counceled a man who was having a hard time accepting his bag, his emotional self was rejecting the fact he had this thing on his side, finally after other issues he had smoothed out he has acceprted it well and has moved on. So being we are all made up differently emotionally speaking, your decision has to be your own, get whatever makes you more comfortable with yourself for your lifestyle. One thing about the bag is there is no incontinence from day one. My husband was 67, so we wanted to have the least problemmatic, we have and always have accepted the bag, small price to pay as he has his life....Ginger

Hello George,

In the first few months of recovery I had several accidents in what was the learning curve.

When I coughed or laughed or had the hickups then sometimes I would have a dribble. Nothing dramatic just a few dribbles and this was absorbed by the incontinence pad.

These accidents are rare for me now...one year post RC although I still wear a day time and night time pad in my underwear just in case. I guess it is my security blanket even though in the day I do not leak.

During the night I wake automatically to urinate and rarely leak and when I do it is because I am too tired and sleep on through. I use the bathroom just before bed and wake once during the night.

I enjoy lifes pleasures and drink wine and beer and eat whatever I choose.

The urge to urinate is different now with a full feeling in my lower abdomin and I can hold my urine for much longer than with my original bladder.

If I am planning on going out for a meal or visiting the cinema or theatre then I use the bathroom just before and after.

Regards
Leigh

George,

Here's the thing ,,if you choose the neo which sounds like you have, it will be up to you as to its performance. Going to dinner after recovery say 2 months later. you may or may not have full control. So its depending on how well you do and how soon you have it mastered. Everyone has a different story about that. Most wear pads to be sure at least for awhile. At this point if your consumed by this thoughts, maybe your still wavering back and forth, the bag is still an option. Whatever the choice, you will be in my thoughts and prayers, George good luck tomorrow.

Ginger and Gene

best wishes to you
i have my operation on 8/1
we'll have to compare stiches !!!!