My catheter was removed (after four weeks) on August 28th. At that time, a nurse showed me how to self catheterize. It sounds awful, but I'm actually better at catheterizing myself that some of the ER nurses! I only had to do it a half dozen times - I found that between my own peeing and leaking that I wasn't retaining any urine - when I catherized I wasn't collecting much urine.

However I was incontinent for the third time in my life. There are three types of incontinence - in bed, sitting and moving. Unfortunately I have the first type - which means total incontinence. Fortunately I went through physical therapy for incontinence in the spring so I remember the correct way to do Kegels and I'm slowly improving. At this writing, it's been six weeks since spine surgery. It will probably take 3 to 4 months for me to regain total continence.

I am getting out but I'm afraid of an embarrassing leak - I wear a Depends and insert a pad inside when I do go out  This give me some confidence in social situations. As I continue the Kegels I will gradually only wear pads, and then lighter ones. I've done this before so I just have to be patient, which is not one of my strong points.

People have no idea I wear pads, but I am self conscious. I worry about odors, so I change pads often, take a lot of showers, and make liberal use of powders and cologne.