Month 17 - The New Normal

Well, not much has happened in the last month or so.  With an earlier spring than usual, I've been quite busy around the house, and all of that activity sent me back to wearing pads for a while.  If I know that I'm going to be doing a lot of lifting, bending, or squatting, I just resign myself to the fact that I'm going to spring a leak or two, so the pads go back in the underwear.  Not the ideal situation, but it beats the alternative.

As far as sexual function is concerned, there's been some slight improvement (or perhaps wishful thinking on my part), but still have a long way to go.  I've thought of trying the Cialis again to see what happens, but that gets a bit pricey--about $140 a month.

So that's about it for this update.

Month 16 - Nothing to Report

Okay, so I'm a day late posting this.  Sundays are supposed to be days of rest, right?  (That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.)

It's been a good month except for a little head cold that brought enough sneezing and coughing that sent me back to wearing pads for a couple of days just because of the equal and opposite reaction down below.

I think that I had a light bulb moment during the cold: This is my new reality, and I shouldn't be frustrated by having to wear pads on occasion.  (In last month's post, I was still fighting the idea of having to do that.  This month, I've come to terms with it.)

I continue to try and educate when an opportunity presents itself without being overtly aggressive about it.  If awareness is enough to cause another man to get checked out, then it's worth it. 

So that's about it for now.  The warm weather got me cleaning out the garage this weekend... It was more fun than one would think...

Month 15 - Spring Cleaning

Okay, so it's mid-February and I've gotten an early jump on some serious spring cleaning.  But being so active has highlighted the fact that the stress incontinence persists. 

Bending, twisting, lifting, stooping, climbing, all can bring a little "surprise."  And, as usual, some days seem to be better than others.  If I'm going to be really active for an extended period, I find that I will revert to using the pads again.  Not something that I'm thrilled about, but a necessity.

When I was at the surgeon's last month, we talked about this and he said that at a year out, there's not going to be much more improvement.  In other words, this may be as good as it gets.

Disappointing?  Certainly.  Of course, I'd love to be 100% dry, but I guess that just isn't in the cards.  So I'll adapt and learn to live with what I have.  And, again, it's more of a nuisance than anything and something that I can tolerate given the alternative.