Prostate Surgery Urinary Incontinence: How To Avoid It
If you are reading this, there is a good chance that you or someone close to you has had an issue with urinary incontinence.
Whether it be the result of prostate surgery or another condition, this can be an embarrassing and frustrating problem.
However, many people aren’t aware that there are things they can do to help alleviate the symptoms associated with urinary incontinence.
Disclaimer:
This article is written for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information should not be construed as offering medical opinions. Any of the recommended treatments presented here may cause side effects and complications of varying severity; therefore one must always consult a medical professional before administering any treatment.
Prostate Surgery Urinary Incontinence
If you’ve had prostate cancer surgery, you might have stress incontinence, which means when you cough, sneeze or lift your arms up, you might leak urine. This can be embarrassing and frustrating. However, there are things you can do to help yourself if this is your issue.
How Incontinence Happens
Before discussing how to deal with urinary incontinence, it’s important to understand the mechanics behind it: when you urinate, a sphincter muscle at the end of your bladder (the bladder neck) remains closed, acting as a valve to stop the flow of urine.
When you urinate, this sphincter relaxes to let the urine pass through. Often, this valve does not open properly when it should due to injury or other factors, causing incontinence.
What Is The Main Cause Of Post-Prostatectomy Urinary Incontinence?
The main cause is a problem with the sphincter muscle. In most cases, this is injured during prostate surgery when the surgeon removes the prostate. When the sphincter becomes injured or does not work properly, it cannot hold urine in.
Fortunately, there are several things you can do to help yourself if you experience urinary incontinence after prostate surgery.
Urinating Several Times A Day
Drink plenty of water, eliminating as much as possible any liquids that are diuretic (causing frequent urination). Drinking fluids will keep your bladder full. If the muscle is unable to hold urine in because it is weak, this may help to relax the muscle enough that it can hold urine in.
Prostate supplement
One of the most recommended supplements for urinary incontinence is PX7 Primal Flow. It works by reducing the size of the prostate, helping to protect it from injury during sudden movements. It also helps strengthen the muscle that makes urination possible by going through a process called “prostate apoptosis.”
This supplement works for many different prostate conditions, including urinary incontinence. In fact, studies have shown this to be an effective way of treating urinary incontinence after prostate surgery.
In addition to these supplements, there are several other steps you can take to help your urinary incontinence:
Exercise regularly
This helps strengthen the sphincter muscle so it works properly. Pick an exercise routine that you will enjoy, and stick to it.
Kegel exercises
Also called pelvic floor exercises, these strengthen the sphincter muscle. To do them properly, squeeze for a few seconds, holding yourself at the point of maximum pressure before relaxing completely. Repeat this 10 to 15 times, then rest and repeat the routine again two or three times daily.
How Long Does It Take To Recover From Incontinence After Prostate Surgery?
Most men recover from incontinence within six months to a year after prostate surgery. But some have problems for several years afterward.
The right tools for the job
Always use a pad or sanitary napkin when bladder leakage does occur. These products are designed to be very thin and absorbent so they do not attract attention. If you have problems with incontinence, it’s important to avoid using bulky pads that will draw attention. Incontinence is an embarrassing issue, and you should choose the right products to help reduce humiliating situations.
There are several different types of incontinence pads available. Some have wetness indicators that change color when they’ve absorbed urine, so it’s important to use a pad with this feature so you know when it needs to be changed.
The most popular adult diapers on the market are the Pampers Swaddlers and Huggies Supreme diapers. Both of these brands offer a wide variety of absorbency levels, with Snug & Dry being the most absorbent.
Some people experience some stinging when they stand up after sitting for a while. If you do, try wearing pads more often and changing them at least twice a day.
Is It Normal To Pee A Lot After Prostate Surgery?
Yes, it is normal to pee more often than usual after prostate surgery. This is because the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body) was squeezed by the surgeon when he removed your prostate during surgery.
It could also be due to irritation caused by the catheter that was placed during surgery, or because your bladder may be inflamed.
Also, the body is going through a healing process after surgery, and this will cause you to pee more often.
This condition can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months depending on the severity of your situation.
What Are The Side Effects Of Prostate Removal?
The most common side effects after prostate surgery are incontinence and erectile dysfunction. Incontinence is when you lose control of your urination, or when you take a long time to be able to start urinating.
Erectile dysfunction is the inability to have an erection, which in turn makes sexual intercourse impossible. Both of these conditions are very common after prostate surgery.
