What to expect?
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.
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“When I had it taken out it was uncontrollable. I couldn’t get a towel off and get another one on before it would leak all over the floor. It was really bad but that was on the day, that was …seven or eight days after the operation”.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.
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“ 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.”4
“I only went to play golf again for the first time after four months…. and I just about got round nine holes without filling a pad.”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. Be honest with your surgeon at any follow up appointments about how much urine you are leaking.
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.
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“At home here it’s no problem going to the loo as soon as I need it or go upstairs and change a pad as soon as I feel it’s feeling too wet …I wear a sheath and a leg bag so when I go out for the day I use those and that’s an absolute godsend.”Anything else I need to know?
If you haven’t done so before Read about diet and lifestyle and PFM exercises
You can read more about the types of product that are available and coping with bladder leakage that has occurred for less than 12 months after surgery.