What will happen?
In the first few hours and days after having the catheter removed you may feel that you have no control over your bladder. It isn’t possible to predict exactly how you will be affected, some men will leak small amounts of urine, whilst others will lose or 'gush' large amounts.
You may leak urine for a few days or many months, but most men find that their leakage improves over time. However, this improvement may not be smooth, it is normal to feel that you are taking one step forward and two steps back.
[image:x: “ You are going to go two steps forward and all of a sudden you find that you go five back and it will take you another two weeks to get back to where you were but then you will suddenly notice that maybe for the next three weeks you’ve improved”]
By 12 months after your operation approximately 85% 1 of men will be continent again (no leakage of urine). If you are one of the few men who is still leaking urine 12 months or more after your operation, unfortunately research suggests [ref x] that you are unlikely to improve further. However, there are still other treatment and product options available to you.
What can I do?
There are a variety of products and practical tips that might help you to cope during this period. Finding the right combination of continence products that work for your lifestyle, will make a big difference to your quality of life.
Most men initially use pads to cope with any urine leakage, but if your leakage continues to be a problem and starts to have an impact on your activities and lifestyle, then it is time to find about other products that may work for you. Read more about the types of product that are available and coping with bladder leakage that has occurred for less than 12 months. (Note this did have a link to coping with bladder leakage we are considering whether that section is not needed)
Be honest with your surgeon at any follow up appointments about how much urine you are leaking
If you haven’t done so before Read about diet and lifestyle and PFM exercises
Anything else I need to know?
If on returning home you experience any of the following contact your GP or ring 111:
-Weak urine stream
-Straining to start the stream
-Urine stream stops and starts
-You cannot pass water (urine) at all
-You have a temperature, chills or abdominal pain.