Post RC Updates continued

KC good point now that you mention it. I was under the impression that I would have to watch the clock like you. But as it turns out I can usually tell when it's time to go. I do not have the same sensation as with my real bladder, but non-the-less I just feel it and know I have to go. In the last week this has even been occurring at night. I just wake up and know I have to go. If I get really full I can feel it in my lower back left side and also in the abdomen. Usually, I don't even get to that point.

Anyone else!

Rudy

I nerver did do any kegels or any other exercises. My continence just kind of happened after my RC. I think the outcome of neobladder RC varies greatly. I also think its kind of your own learning curve as exactly how to void. Took me a while to learn how to control the right muscles to void completeley. As long as we are discussing this I have a question. How many of you with neobladders have the sensation to urinate when your neo is full? I aways expected that after my RC, I would have to watch the clock as I would not have the felling of a full bladder. Much to my suprise after my RC I still can tell when my new bladder is full and that felling is almost the same as it was with my original equipment. Am I just incredibly lucky or do others with a neobladder sense when it is full??

KC

OK... So I got no info about roll-ins and outs. Or at least I don't think I did. I would assume that this is roll your gut or stomach muscles inward (like when I was young and saw a nice looking woman at the beach) and then relaxing the stomach muscles and letting it distend.

I have been doing that when voiding anyway just because I had discovered it worked well. I also sometimes inhale and hold my breath and push that seems to work well also. I did get the info about bridges.

Rudy

Mike, I completed 12 weeks of physical therapy for pelvic floor muscles. My therapist recomended that I continue doing the roll ins, roll outs, and bridges daily for the next year.
I know that when I started I was going through quite a few pads during the day, and sometimes changing the underwear during the night. I am now pad free during the day, and just wear a pad to bed. I get up once a night to void, and the pad is mostly dry come morning. The exercises are supposed to help you releax to void as well.

Are you sure your not closing off? I had to go back into the hospital and have a cysto-balloon. I had a scar tissue issue at the urethra to bladder connection. I could not void, I got an infection, and got sick as hell.
They opened it up with the balloon, and I have no problem voiding now. I do have to cath every other day to encourage the path to stay open. I hope I only have to cath for three more months. Though I have gotten really good at it, i'm tired of it as well.

But 7 months post op, I can't believe how good I feel.
I really turned the corner about 5 months. So those just starting, it may seem like an eternity, but you will be better in no time!!

Merry Christmas, Jim

Hmmm....Good info Jim.

Did I mess up by quiting the exercises after I got daytime continence? Do those of you with neobladders still do those exercises regularly?

Do the exercises help empty the neo or just with the retention?

The only exercise I had on the sheet I came home from the hospital with was the kegels. I just figured that once I achieved daytime continence that the muscle was trained and since I haven't lost continence I figured it retained the knowledge of how it is supposed to behave now.

I have retention just fine but I could never empty so I just quit trying to empty without using a catheter. Using the catheter is easy but it's a pain trying to discretely wash the catheters in public restrooms at airports and at client sites.

I can empty some without the catheter but it's a real chore.

Any thoughts that others have would be appreciated.

Mike

Thanks for the encouragement Jim. Tomorrown it will be 6 weeks out of the hospital and I guess 3 weeks with the Foley and associated plumbing removed (the removal of which I will never forget). I do get up often at night but it seems to work better than changing diapers or pads for now. As long as I am able to get back to sleep its OK with me. As for daytime... it seems to improve more and more every day.

Regards,
Rudy