How to Heal Bladder Leakage After Surgery

Bladder leakage is a common problem after surgeries in the urogenital area, such as prostrate surgery. The problem of bladder leakage may be as trivial as an occasional leak every time you sneeze or cough, or it can be as serious as immediate urination that may not even wait until you get to the toilet. Usually the healing of bladder leakage involves some simple changes in lifestyle, medical treatment or surgery, all depending on your doctor's advice. The following tips may help heal your bladder leakage problem, and hopefully help get rid of all the feelings of anxiety and embarrassment associated with it.

Things You'll Need

• Biofeedback device
• Medications (antimuscarinic, sympathomimetic, anticholinergic drugs, or estrogen)
• Artificial urinary sphincter
• Collagen injections
• Catheter

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Use Kegel exercises. A Kegel exercise is unconsciously performed whenever your pelvic muscles are tightened every time you try to stop urine or gas. The pelvic muscles involved in this exercise can help the external sphincter, the set of muscles involved in urination, to become stronger. While maintaining normal breathing and keeping your thigh, buttock and abdominal muscles relaxed, tighten your pelvic muscles for 3 seconds as if you are withholding the flow of urine, then relax. Perform Kegel exercises regularly while you are standing or sitting, anytime and anywhere. Seek the advice of your doctor to determine the frequency of your Kegal exercises. It is necessary to use these exercises subsequent to surgery after the catheter has been removed.

• 2

  Consider using biofeedback when using Kegel exercises. It is a special training program that is designed to monitor and evaluate how well the Kegel exercise is performed. Biofeedback employs a variety of instruments that convert the contractions of the sphincter muscles into a flash of light or a tone that shows how well the Kegel exercises were done. The goal is for the patient to perform the muscle contractions that produce the correct feedback.

• 3

  Time your urination. Schedule your urination instead of going to the bathroom every time you feel the urge. Begin by going to the bathroom only every hour, and you may go up to even a four-hour gap when you have established full control of your bladder. This way, you are conditioning your brain to command the bladder. If the urge to go to the bathroom comes up before the set time, distract yourself with any activity.

• 4

  Avoid foods and beverages that make you urinate more often than usual. Foods such as sugary foods, spicy foods, chocolate, and acidic fruits have this effect on the body. Caffeinated drinks and alcoholic beverages have a similar effect.

• 5

  Ask your doctor about the possibility of using medications. Antimuscarinic drugs are the usual prescriptions for overactive bladders. Sympathomimetic drugs are also as effective. Moreover, ask the doctor about using anticholinergic drugs. Consider estrogen therapy as a solution if you are a woman.

• 6

  Avoid medications that can lead to frequent urination, such as sedatives, antidepressants, antihistamines, calcium channel blockers, narcotics and diuretics.

• 7

  Try losing weight. Abdominal fat may cause pressure directly on the bladder. If you rate above 29 in your body mass index (BMI), it is time for you to consider controlling your diet in order to lose some pounds.

• 8

  Consider using an artificial urinary sphincter (AUS). This is a surgical procedure used as an option in cases of persistent and severe bladder leakage.

• 9

  Ask you doctor about using a series of collagen injections if bladder leakage persists even after 18 months.

• 10

  Use a catheter. Insert this device regularly to drain urine from the bladder. Consider placing a condom catheter at the end of the penis to drain urine into a bag placed beneath the clothing. This option is only for men and is necessary if the leakage still persists beyond 18 months.