Is there much concern about developing urinary incontinence in MTF SRS, or is it nothing to worry about?
There is a risk, it is one of many many risks.
Oh goodie I'll just ad it to the list :icon_doh:
Depending on how well you recover from SRS, there may be a period where your bladder sphincters do not have the same muscle tone so mild incontinence can occur (when you cough or sneeze). But if you are in reasonable good health prior to surgery, then this should be temporary.
Practicing urinary control post operatively can help regain muscle tone.
-Sandy
Quote from: Jessica.C on July 12, 2010, 10:36:17 PM
Oh goodie I'll just ad it to the list :icon_doh:
Well now that y'all mention it, I don't seem to be able to hold my water
as well as I did pre operatively.
But I just thought that was due to getting older.
I also have had more UTIs post than pre.
THE increase in UTI susceptibility is just a consequence of the shorter urethra and the shape of female anatomy.
Surgical risks are many. Just ask my therapist, who made darn sure I was fully aware of ALL of them before she would write my letter for surgery. :o Two I've had have been bleeding and bleeding! Oh and a clogged urinary catheter. OMG. But yeah, lots of risks. Only you can decide that they are worth it.
For me it was all worth it.
The first couple times after my catheter was completely out, going felt like I was peeing in my pants because I wasn't used to the new configuration. But there was a period of a few days when I still had the catheter shunt but disconnected the bag, which helped in practicing bladder control as Sandy mentioned.
Just to illustrate the entire randomness of SRS,
I know of one case where SRS cured urinary incontinence.
While it can happen it is thankfully very rare indeed. So not a good reason to shy away from SRS.
What is not so rare, and indeed I have found to my cost on a couple of highly embarrassing occasions :embarrassed:, is the fact that as your urethra is now about 90% shorter than it was, you can find that if you do get caught without a loo and are really desperate, the leaks are more sudden and erm... well... rather more drastic!
Talk about feeling childish and silly... I felt like I was back at school in first grade :embarrassed:
As a result I now carry a discrete STP device in my bag whenever I'm out in real "bandit country".
Seeings how were on the topic of urination. What are girls experience with the stream going straight down or spraying every which way.
Seems like with all the possible complications odds would be that you would end up with at least one or two :(
Quote from: Jessica.C on July 13, 2010, 06:31:00 AM
Seeings how were on the topic of urination. What are girls experience with the stream going straight down or spraying every which way.
Seems like with all the possible complications odds would be that you would end up with at least one or two :(
Well I've had both... actually that was a large part of the reason why I had my recent rework.
The original result which I lived with for several decades needed careful management to avoid messy spraying... the upgraded mk 2.0 configuration (complete with new software ;)) doesnt!
I now have a lovely straight stream, well more of a river really ;D
I believe that incontinence from SRS is very rare.
As far as peeing, it goes everywhere at first - mostly dribbling all over. I was assured by the surgeon's office that I would develop a stream. Sure enough, it got better gradually and at about 2 months post-op there is almost no dribbling.
The surgeon's office also stressed the problems inherent with a much shorter urethra - the higher risk of a bladder infection and the greater need to keep everything clean.
As Jay said, you have to balance the risks against the possible results. You have to accept the drawbacks along with the advantages.
- Kate
In the beginning, just peeing is a relief.
At first it will be like a leaky roof in a bad rainstorm with drips coming from everywhere.
You'll need a couple of square feet of toilet paper. >:-)
Eventually you will get to the point of being able to write your name in the snow if that's still your thing!
Quote from: rejennyrated on July 13, 2010, 05:34:56 AM
While it can happen it is thankfully very rare indeed. So not a good reason to shy away from SRS.
What is not so rare, and indeed I have found to my cost on a couple of highly embarrassing occasions :embarrassed:, is the fact that as your urethra is now about 90% shorter than it was, you can find that if you do get caught without a loo and are really desperate, the leaks are more sudden and erm... well... rather more drastic!
So, is this something that GG's normally deal with but just grow up with it? Are we using the same muscles to stop the urine as a woman as we did when a man? Men still shut off the stream back inside the body, right, or is there some shut off down the pipe, so to speak? Seems men always have that dribble problem from what's left inside.
Quote from: rejennyrated on July 13, 2010, 05:34:56 AM
While it can happen it is thankfully very rare indeed. So not a good reason to shy away from SRS.
What is not so rare, and indeed I have found to my cost on a couple of highly embarrassing occasions :embarrassed:, is the fact that as your urethra is now about 90% shorter than it was, you can find that if you do get caught without a loo and are really desperate, the leaks are more sudden and erm... well... rather more drastic!
Talk about feeling childish and silly... I felt like I was back at school in first grade :embarrassed:
As a result I now carry a discrete STP device in my bag whenever I'm out in real "bandit country".
As kyril and you have pointed out, the uretha is much shorter, and when the need to void occurs I don't
have the same ability to stop it as I dis pre operatively.
Quote from: Robertina on July 13, 2010, 10:23:17 AM
So, is this something that GG's normally deal with but just grow up with it? Are we using the same muscles to stop the urine as a woman as we did when a man? Men still shut off the stream back inside the body, right, or is there some shut off down the pipe, so to speak? Seems men always have that dribble problem from what's left inside.
Men and women use the same muscles to stop the flow, yes, but the male genital configuration has an extra several inches of tubing beyond the valve.
re: spraying, that can also just be a consequence of the shape of the anatomy >:(
Quote from: Robertina on July 13, 2010, 10:23:17 AM
So, is this something that GG's normally deal with but just grow up with it? Are we using the same muscles to stop the urine as a woman as we did when a man? Men still shut off the stream back inside the body, right, or is there some shut off down the pipe, so to speak? Seems men always have that dribble problem from what's left inside.
The urethrial sphincter is located in essentially the same place in g-men as g-women.
The resons for the drips in men tend to be the length of their urethera.
Catheters are a known cause of incontinence. When I was nursing I always tried to train people, after they had their catheters removed, to deliberately hold their flow. Let it go then hold it again. By stopping and starting like this, continence can usually be restored.
There is an exception to this though, and one which is affecting me more and more. I don't doubt, it affects others. that is, I am no aware that my bladder is full until it begins to flow. My spincter is fine. There is a triangular shape in the bladder called the trigon. When the bladder is full, it is suppose to be stimulated to tell you to empty it. For some reason, some of us, this trigon loses sensitivity.
I do know that insensitivity in the trigon can be caused by bladder infections and as a result of surgery in that area. But I can't be certain why it happens to everyone.
Post Merge: July 13, 2010, 12:40:49 PM
Sorry kyril.
I was writing my missive while you were posting your response.
I've never had a catheter - that's a big scary for me. It sounds so painful.
Quote from: Robertina on July 13, 2010, 01:55:42 PM
I've never had a catheter - that's a big scary for me. It sounds so painful.
Don't worry. You'll have enough pain from the surgery that you will hardly notice the catheter. And I didn't find it at all painful - just awkward and a bit uncomfortable.
- Kate
Isn't it strange how some things scare us so. I used to swear that I would never get married because you had to have a blood test first, and I had a fierce aversion to needles. To my chagrin, karma had me in need of taking weekly then bi-weekly injections.
Thanks for the reassurance :)
Quote from: K8 on July 13, 2010, 02:07:34 PM
Don't worry. You'll have enough pain from the surgery that you will hardly notice the catheter. - Kate
OMG :icon_yikes: LOL :laugh:
after 3 weeks I have a fairly straight stream, sort of aimed forward but only a bit of running when finishing. I can tell you it's a lot easier to pee sitting down now than it was with all that extra anatomy down there ;) You use the same muscles to control it, but it's still somewhat a different experience.
Quote from: Robertina on July 13, 2010, 01:55:42 PM
I've never had a catheter - that's a big scary for me. It sounds so painful.
I've had catheters as a guy and as a girl, and trust me, it's a LOT easier having a catheter as a girl!
-Sandy(both are ouchie though.)
There is a risk of that, I had that happen to me. Kegal exercises helped, and then I took some medication (imipramine) for a couple of months, which constricts the bladder thingy, so no leaking. It allowed for that part of my body to heal (as I also kept getting UTI infections since i kept leaking). I have no problems now, even if I cough, laugh, or lift anything.
a lot of women suffer from leakage, but there are options to fix it. If it is extemely bad, they can do surgery, but they'll try the other options first.
A lot of post-op women I know didn't have any problems after surgery.
As most posters in this thread have rightly said incontinence after srs is rare, I did suffered a degree of incontinence leakage after my srs for a few months, it used to get me depressed and caused me some discomfort, having to wear pads to avoid ''accidents'' but it did settle down, it got a lot of getting used to, Iv no problems now, but I do notice all them years ago when I was a guy, no problem holding a pee, I think guys can hold on to it much longer, an advantage when theres no loo, but now if I have a need to go I have to find a loo much quicker, I can hold it but a much shorter time, on a rare occasion its painful lol when theres a queue outside the ladies.
Its funny, I was at a shopping market last Saturday with BF and 2brothers, all 4 of use went to use the loos, they just sailed in and out of the mens, no bother, I spented 10mins waiting on my turn in the ladies, otherwise no problems, I still use panty liners, but just for hygiene.
p
Quote from: FairyGirl on July 13, 2010, 04:55:15 PM
after 3 weeks I have a fairly straight stream, sort of aimed forward but only a bit of running when finishing. I can tell you it's a lot easier to pee sitting down now than it was with all that extra anatomy down there ;) You use the same muscles to control it, but it's still somewhat a different experience.
As a pre op when there was a dirty seat I would do 'the hover',
outside I would squat. Urine sample I would be seated with the
cup between my legs.
Post op the same applies.
Looks like I never will get to write my name in the snow. :icon_redface:
Post Merge: July 15, 2010, 03:00:54 PM
Just realized that there is something else that we haven't discussed:
The sound of genetic female peeing versus a pre op, versus a post op, which are different.
The genetic females is louder as it hits the water, if they are both sitting.
Now if a pre op is standing the sounds are somewhat similiar.
Not sure why I've spent so much time listening to the acoustical differences beteween natal
females, post ops, and pre ops.
Maybe worried about getting clocked in the loo, if my sound wasn't right. :icon_suspicious:
Quote from: peggygee on July 15, 2010, 03:54:24 PM
Post Merge: July 15, 2010, 02:00:54 PM
Just realized that there is something else that we haven't discussed:
The sound of genetic female peeing versus a pre op, versus a post op, which are different.
The genetic females is louder as it hits the water, if they are both sitting.
Now if a pre op is standing the sounds are somewhat similiar.
Not sure why I've spent so much time listening to the acoustical differences beteween natal
females, post ops, and pre ops.
Maybe worried about getting clocked in the loo, if my sound wasn't right. :icon_suspicious:
OMG i was wondering the same thing and your saying it still sounds different even after surgery?? :( :( :( And yes i too though about getting clocked in the loo LOL
One of the things the nurse who unpacked me said was that I would develop a stream and the sound would be the same as a natal female's. I don't have a lot of experience in women's loos, but different women sound different. They can't all be pre-op and post-op TS's. :)
- Kate
Not to get too graphic, but not all of our openings angle the same way - some of us don't even hit the water :-\ Kate is right, we all sound very different. I sound different depending on how badly I have to go and how nervous/uncomfortable I am about going in a particular environment.
I never could pee in front of other guys! The plumbing just froze up. Then when you get older you have to deal with the umpteen trips to the bathroom in the middle of the night, and the occasional slow draining pipes - not to mention trying not to spray the bathroom wall while you are half asleep. There are advantages to sitting down!
one thing SRS will not necessarily cure is the "slow draining and umpteen trips to the bathroom" as you put it.
If you are already old enough to have those problems they probably will not change. My partner was over ten years older than me when starting her HRT. She now has some minor problems of that sort whilst I, who took my first pills (ahem unofficially) when only 21 do not, and indeed oddly I have been told by a doctor that I do not appear to even have a prostate, either because over the decades of ultra high estrogen levels it has now become so small as to be undetectable, or because it was never properly there on account of my IS condition.
Oh yes - and as to sounds - postop the sound is well within the range of noises made by other women so no worries there. I tell you what though - for me that first pee after the catheter came out was an unforgettable moment.
Quote from: Jessica.C on July 15, 2010, 05:15:02 PM
OMG i was wondering the same thing and your saying it still sounds different even after surgery?? :( :( :( And yes i too though about getting clocked in the loo LOL
Quote from: rejennyrated on July 17, 2010, 04:08:36 AM
Oh yes - and as to sounds - postop the sound is well within the range of noises made by other women so no worries there. I tell you what though - for me that first pee after the catheter came out was an unforgettable moment.
Was being somewhat facetious about our sounds as post ops, so really no worries on that as there is
alot of variance in sounds between women. Even my own sounds will vary from time to time.
On the catheter, I remember vividly how the doctor would not take me off the catheter until I was able
to control my bladder. It was sort of a mini rite of passage when I finally became untethered from the
catheter and the collection bag.
Quote from: peggygee on July 15, 2010, 03:54:24 PM
Just realized that there is something else that we haven't discussed:
The sound of genetic female peeing versus a pre op, versus a post op, which are different.
The genetic females is louder as it hits the water, if they are both sitting.
Now if a pre op is standing the sounds are somewhat similiar.
Not sure why I've spent so much time listening to the acoustical differences beteween natal
females, post ops, and pre ops.
Maybe worried about getting clocked in the loo, if my sound wasn't right. :icon_suspicious:
OK, seriously on this issue. In the fifteen years I've been using women's restrooms, not one person has ever looked at me funny after I've exited a stall. I highly doubt that anyone, except for some of us (yes, I have listened and compared and wondered) are really listening to the sounds of other women urinating. :) Now, having said that, I have, on occasion heard some other rather interesting sounds coming from other stalls while using the restroom--like the distinct sounds of *ahem* female masturbation :icon_eyebrow:
lol I've never heard anyone masturbating in the restroom! I had my first chance to try the hover experience since being post-op the other day and was glad that it points slightly forward now. I was worried about splashing all over the place but thankfully didn't have that problem.
Since my catheter has been out, on my surgeon's instructions I have not used any regular bathroom tissue. I use feminine wipes (Always brand are nice and soft) instead. I buy them by the box for home use and I got a few packs of the individually wrapped ones to carry in my handbag for when I'm out in public. I'm still very sore in that area and they are much nicer to your skin than dry paper lol
Quote from: FairyGirl on July 18, 2010, 10:43:02 AM
lol I've never heard anyone masturbating in the restroom!
Trust me. I know what I heard and it wasn't pretty. :laugh:
Quote
Since my catheter has been out, on my surgeon's instructions I have not used any regular bathroom tissue. I use feminine wipes (Always brand are nice and soft) instead.
I bought the ones called cashmere, but I don't know if they are ok or not. The package says that they are hypo-allergenic with aloe and vitamin e. The list of ingredients includes parfum, which I think is french for perfume. Maybe I'll just bring them to Montreal with me and see what the nurses say.
Quote from: Kristyn on July 18, 2010, 11:38:53 AM
Trust me. I know what I heard and it wasn't pretty. :laugh:
I bought the ones called cashmere, but I don't know if they are ok or not. The package says that they are hypo-allergenic with aloe and vitamin e. The list of ingredients includes parfum, which I think is french for perfume. Maybe I'll just bring them to Montreal with me and see what the nurses say.
That's all I found too, i couldn't find exactly "Unscented wipes" so I got the scented ones. Ill probs shop in montreal if she says no...