Urinary Retention Recovery

Urinary retention recovery for patients who have undergone transurethral surgery can be long or short, depending on the procedure. The more incisions, the more bleeding, swelling, and pain will occur, which will slow recovery. Laser and endoscopy procedures, however, are less invasive and usually result in less bleeding and faster recovery.

Urinary retention recovery may include the use of an indwelling catheter in the bladder after surgery to drain the urine. However, because using a catheter increases the risk of contracting a urinary tract infection (UTI), our doctors will prescribe antibiotics to prevent bacteria from spreading and causing additional problems during recovery.

Some patients experience urinary incontinence (or the loss of bladder control) after surgery. Some men being treated for an enlarged prostate may not only develop prostate surgery incontinence but also erectile dysfunction after prostate surgery. Incontinence after prostate surgery can also lead to bladder pain, urge incontinence (or overactive bladder), prostate infection, and bladder leakage. Most people who develop incontinence after surgery experience these urinary symptoms for a few months before urinary function returns to normal. Sexual function may take up to a year to normalize.

Having your procedure done by Dr Fernando Bianco or Dr Edward Gheiler, our two leading, world-renowned urologists, at Urology Specialists has many advantages. Not only are you receiving the best urologic treatment in the world, you can also recover while enjoying the beautiful sunny weather in Miami, Florida. During your follow-up visits, our doctors may re-conduct a pelvic exam, vaginal exam, rectal exam, or prostate exam to make sure your body is recovering correctly after a procedure. They may also repeat some of the diagnostic tests, such as a post void bladder scan to test your post void residual, a urodynamic study to see how your bladder and urinary tract are functioning, and a bladder ultrasound to make sure your bladder is staying in place and is not bloated. Our doctors will also want to know if you are still experiencing a bladder spasm, loss of bladder control, or urinary leakage.

Urinary retention recovery also involves some adjustments to your lifestyle and behavioral changes. Dr Bianco and Dr Gheiler will help develop a recovery plan that is best for you. To avoid having an irritable bladder, you should stay away from caffeinated and carbonated drinks. You should eat foods high in fiber and maintain a healthy weight. Doing some bladder training exercises, such as pelvic floor Kegels, can help build strength in your muscles and avoid bladder leakage. You may use our bio-feedback equipment to help train your bladder again. The staff at Urology Specialists will be there to help you – from diagnosis, to treatment, to recovery – to make sure you can live a healthy, productive life.

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