I'm going to have surgery for urinary incontinence...

[zanne]

Has anybody out there had the surgery, and if you have, do you have any advice to give me? I've been reading up on it, but there's nothing like personal experience. My doctor is talking about the "band" surgery. What do you think?

[flamingyouth]

1. You've been in PT for this, haven't you?

I have bladder cancer and have been in PT for pelvic pain, et al, for several weeks now. Don't know much about the details of this particular surgery, but I've had bladder surgery, so I can sympathize. Sending you my best wishes. :pals:

[Warpy]

2. I know it can help tremendously with "dribble" incontinence

AKA the "Sneeze and Pee syndrome." I'm not sure how well it works with "gush" incontinence. I think drugs may work better for the latter, although a combination of banding and drugs may be necessary for some folks.

As surgeries go, it's not terribly painful or debilitating, but you will be sore for a couple of weeks and have lifting restrictions for about 6 weeks.

It's either that or a lifetime of making your butt look bigger by wearing diapers and spending the day not smelling very nice.

[zanne]

3. Yup; I have stress incontinence.

I've been to PT for it and I've taken three different drugs for it so far with no success. My doctor told me that this surgery has an 80% success rate; I hope I'm one of the lucky ones. My mother had to wear Depends (she had Alzheimer's). She was in her 80's; I'm 54. I just can't accept the fact that I have to wear pads.