After prostate surgery, issues with urinary incontinence are common for several weeks or months and usually improve slowly over time. Most people will need to use incontinence pads in the first few weeks after surgery. Only a small number will need to use incontinence pads long term.
However, for most men, regaining full control of their urine is a gradual process that takes several weeks or months. By six months, most men who were continent before the surgery no longer need pads, though some prefer to wear just a liner for security even if they do not leak.
Right after the catheter is removed, most men cannot control the urine sphincter and leak urine for a few days to weeks; many people stop within a few hours or a few days. We encourage you to bring adult diapers and protective pads with you on the day we remove the catheter.
Make sure to get men's pads. Compression style shorts are found in the men's underwear section of any Target, Walmart, etc. All major brands carry them, just make sure they are not cotton. In most cases, leakage will come under control in a few weeks or months.
Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, and take stool softeners to prevent constipation. Do not strain during bowel movements. Do not take aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), or other similar medicines for 2 weeks after your surgery.
If you have not had a bowel movement for 24-48 hours after surgery, try using MOM (Milk of Magnesia) 1-2 tbsp every 6 hours as needed. If this ineffective, you may try 2 Dulcolax tabs or ½-1 bottle of magnesium citrate (both over the counter). A bowel movement every other day is reasonable.
You'll have a catheter (a hollow tube) coming out of the urethra for two to three days. After this, the catheter is removed and just about everyone is able to void on their own. In rare cases, the catheter may have to be reinserted for a few days or up to a week if you cannot urinate.
Incontinence typically occurs after a prostatectomy because one of the valves that control urine flow is removed along with the prostate. Loss of this valve, along with possible nerve or muscle damage, may lead to incontinence.
For several days after surgery, you may feel burning when you urinate. Your urine may be pink for 1 to 3 weeks after surgery. You also may have bladder cramps, or spasms. Your doctor may give you medicine to help control the spasms.
"Non-vigorous walking for three hours per week seems to improve the fatigue, depression and body weight issues that affect many men post-treatment," said the lead author of the study. "If you walk even more briskly, for only 90 minutes a week, you could also see similar benefits in these areas."
Prostate removal is major surgery, so expect some soreness and pain. You'll receive IV pain medications at first, and your doctor may prescribe you pain medication to use at home. You will also have a urinary catheter in place for about the first week, which you might find uncomfortable.
The day before surgery, you will need to make certain dietary and bowel preparations. Bowel preparation helps clean the intestine and reduce risk of infection.
It is recommended to avoid processed foods such as cheese, bread, bacon, sausage, ready meals, cakes, or biscuits. Also, limit the amount of dairy and meat products to make room for more foods rich in fibers.
You may be tired and need more rest for 3 to 4 weeks after you go home. You may have pain or discomfort in your belly or the area between your scrotum and anus for 2 to 3 weeks.
Avoid drinking fluids containing caffeine, such as coffee, tea, hot chocolate and cola. Caffeine may irritate your bladder. When you are home continue drinking extra fluids until your urine is clear. This may take up to 4 weeks.
Sleeping On Your Back
One of the best sleeping positions after any kind of surgery requires lying straight on your back.
This is usually the result of getting fluids during surgery as well as having lymph nodes removed during surgery, which temporarily lessens the ability of your body to manage fluids. This may result in swelling in your legs, lower abdomen and scrotum.
Simple prostatectomy provides long-term relief of urinary symptoms due to an enlarged prostate. Although it's the most invasive procedure to treat an enlarged prostate, serious complications are rare. Most men who have the procedure generally don't need any follow-up treatment for their BPH .
The incisions may be sore for 1 to 2 weeks. Your doctor will give you medicine for pain. You will have a tube (urinary catheter) to drain urine from your bladder for 1 to 2 weeks after surgery. You may have bladder cramps, or spasms, while the catheter is in your bladder.
Surgical removal includes a radical prostatectomy (RP), with either a retropubic or perineal approach. Radical prostatectomy is the removal of the entire prostate gland. Nerve-sparing surgical removal is important to preserve as much function as possible.
Post prostate surgery urinary leakage is a treatable condition that sometimes lasts beyond three months. After undergoing surgery to treat prostate cancer, some men experience urinary incontinence to some degree.
TURP is generally considered an option for men who have moderate to severe urinary problems that haven't responded to medication. While TURP has been considered the most effective treatment for an enlarged prostate, a number of other, minimally invasive procedures are becoming more effective.
Radical prostatectomy survival rates
The research showed that between 5 and 20 years after having the surgery, only 3% of the patients died of prostate cancer, 5% saw their cancer spread to other organs, and 6% had a localised recurrence.