Recovering from prostate surgery can be a trying time. In addition to allowing your body to heal there's the added concern of bladder control. It isn't uncommon for your bladder to not function like you remember, possibly forcing you to leave the room for embarrassing leaks as the muscles have become weakened. Strengthening these muscles through some simple exercises can help you to regain bladder control.
When to Start
Once the catheter is removed, and with your doctor's approval, you can start taking steps to strengthen the pelvic floor. While there are a small percentage of men who have no continence issues upon having the catheter removed, this isn't terribly common. Regaining full bladder control could take months or even years depending on the individual. Stay in contact with your doctor through your recovery and make all scheduled appointments as your doctor can ultimately give the best advice for your personal recovery.
Kegel Exercises
Kegel exercises work the pelvic floor muscles by tightening and releasing to help you regain control to the opening of your bladder. Locate these muscles the next time you urinate by stopping the urine stream without tensing up your legs and stomach. Tighten the muscles as best you can and hold it for three to five seconds before releasing and waiting another three to five seconds. This counts as a "set." Perform three to four sets three times per day to help tighten the muscles and work toward regaining bladder control.
Retrain Your Bladder
Set a schedule of every one to two hours or so for going to the bathroom. Plan on trying to urinate at those set times and holding until the designated time if you feel the need to urinate before then. As you begin feeling confident with hour long intervals, gradually increase the time in between by 30 minutes until you can successfully go for three to four hours without any leakage problems.
Watch Out For
Until you have regained full bladder control you will want to wear a protective pad in your underwear. Talk to your doctor about where to obtain these. Avoid caffeinated beverages, spicy foods, and carbonation as these can all irritate the bladder. Drink as much water as your doctor recommends each day, but try not to drink too much of it at night as this can lead to potential leakage problems while you sleep.
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