How to Live With a Neobladder

A bladder is the part of the urinary tract that stores urine. If it becomes medically necessary for a surgeon to remove your bladder, you may have a neobladder, a replacement bladder, made from your own tissues. Initially, you’ll have to empty the urine into a urine collection bag, which needs to be emptied periodically. After your doctor removes the catheter from your abdomen (about three weeks after surgery) you can void the new bladder yourself.

Things You'll Need

• Urine bag
• Syringe
• Sterile water

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Drain your urine collection bag as often as needed. You should not need to remove the bag to drain it. Raise your leg to the toilet and empty the bag by flipping the clamp. A nurse can help you the first time you do this.

• 2

  Irrigate your neobladder three times per day. This will prevent any mucus buildup that can block the catheter. Wash your hands to prevent bacteria transfer.

  The University of Wisconsin instructs patients to draw about 40-50 cc of sterile water into the syringe. Insert the tip of the syringe into your catheter. Inject the sterile water into the catheter gently, never forcefully. Then gently withdraw the water back into the syringe. Repeat this process until you no longer see mucus in the syringe.

• 3

  Void your neobladder on a regular basis after your doctor has removed the catheter (about three weeks following surgery). According to the University of Michigan Health System, you should void every two hours during the first week, both day and night. You can wait for three hours between voiding on the second week, after which you may be able to go three or four hours. Over time—a year or two—your neobladder will enlarge and you’ll be able to hold more urine.

• 4

  Train yourself to void in a new manner. A normal bladder has muscles that squeeze out urine; your neobladder is unable to do so. Instead, you’ll have to push with your abdominal muscles and relax the sphincter muscles.

• 5

  Regain control over urine leakage by strengthening the muscle that you use to stop a stream of urine. The University of Michigan Health System recommends contracting this muscle for 10 seconds, then relaxing for 10 seconds. Repeat this exercise about 15 times, three times per day.