5 Ways to Recover From Prostate Surgery

1. Limit Your Activity

Even if you feel great in the recovery room, for the first few days, you must strictly limit your activity and get some rest. You can usually return home from the hospital after about four to seven days. You should then continue to rest as much as possible for a few weeks. Avoid strenuous exercise and lifting anything over 10 lbs. for about four to six weeks. You can't see the incisions inside your body, so you may not be able to adequately judge when you can return to normal activity based on outward appearances alone. If your job requires heavy lifting, discuss this with your doctor, who will monitor your activity and help you with any setbacks.

2. Drink Plenty of Water

Flush out the bladder by drinking at least eight cups of water a day. Clear urine in the catheter bag shows that you are drinking enough water. If it darkens, drink more water. Continue drinking plenty of water after your catheter is removed, as well. This is vital to your recovery, even if you are experiencing incontinence issues. Caffeine and alcohol cause irritation of the bladder, which may result in difficulty urinating, burning sensations and prolonged healing.

3. Keep Yourself Regular

Constipation delays recovery, so take a stool softener to avoid it. If you were prescribed painkillers, taking too many pills may cause constipation. Try eating a fiber-rich diet after surgery. Avoid straining during any bowel movement; take a laxative if needed.

4. Try Kegel Exercises

Urinary incontinence affects most men after a prostate operation. Unfortunately, this is a normal part of recovery, and the severity depends on the surgical technique that was used. The longer incontinence affected you before surgery, the longer it will take to pass afterwards. The average is about two to three months until you regain full control. Regular Kegel exercises help boost continence, and speed that portion of recovery. Kegel exercises require you to tighten your pelvic muscles in sets throughout the day. As the muscles strengthen, you should find it easier to control your urination.

5. Give Sex Some Extra Time

If you could get an erection and perform sexually before an operation, you should also be able to after surgery. However, prostate surgery will not correct any dysfunction. During recovery, you may experience bleeding and urine dribbling, which don't exactly lead to feeling sexy. It may take up to a year for you to get back to a normal sexual routine, which lags far behind the remainder of your recovery. The actual ejaculation will be different, which you may need to get used to. A counselor can help you work through any sexual issues that arise. Speaking to someone can remove some of the pressure and anxiety surrounding post-surgery sex.