How much water?????

Ok here goes.  Ever since my catheter was removed and I started my long trip down the road of becoming continent again, I think I have been withholding drinking ample amounts of water.  Not only have I given up sodas, coffee, beer, and darn near every liquid but water, I have also held back with drinking water in the amounts that perhaps I should have.  I limited water intake thinking it would limit the amount of leakage.  The last several days, I have experienced a fairly high level of burning in my bladder and the plumbing out.  I even had a lab test my urine for infection....nil.  So, in order to help eliminate the burning, I thought I would increase my water intake just like I was doing when I use to experience the same type burning when I use to deal with prostatis.  What I have found out it that increasing water, decreases the burning sensation.  I suppose my question here is:  Has anyone that had a prostadectomy been advised by their surgeon concerning the amount of water one should be drinking?  Mine never said a darn thing about how much to drink.  I am now wondering if it was wrong or at least ill-selfadvised to not drink ample amounts of water.  Should I be drinking more water than usual? 

Any advise along these lines.  Y'all's continued educating me is very much appreciated.

Semper Fi

MasterGuns

I would also try drinking a bit of cranberry juice. It makes the burning go away and is full of antioxidents. Todd

Hello Master,

Nice to see you again. My doc said: no juices, no soda, no sparkling water, etc. etc. He did say milk products ok. The other things aggervate the walls of the bladder when learning to become continent again. As far as quantity, the current thinking is that 8 glasses a day may be too much, because the food you eat contains water and the 8 glasses rule didn't compensate for food intake, etc. I read recently, that approx. 1 1/3 liters is a better amount for most people. Yes, the color of the urine tells you a lot, too dark - not enough water. As a rule of thumb, I was told that the proper balance for most people will make the urine look like watered down lemonade, perhaps like if you let the ice cubes in the glass melt first. A subjective thing. There is a good med you can be on for a few days that absolutely takes care of the burning pee pain, I've been on it twice, called Pyridium. It will make your pee look like orange juice, and it stains really, really bad, i.e. clothes, etc. My doc said too, that pee more often, and let your bladder muscles heal up at their own rate. Might be aggervating, I know, I am still becoming dryer by the day and week. I was use to only going perhaps 4 - 6 times a day before surgery, so for me to go every hour or hour and a half is too often. But my doc. says over a period of time, it will take care of itself. Hope this helps and the other good advice above. My best to you brother.

David the Squid

yeah stx, was just mentioning pyridium above your post, great stuff for the buring, with me, it instantly stopped it.

OH, BTW, I have been drinking my wife's pee tea and within a few days, the "burning" has gone away completely. Only takes 8 ounces a day.

http://www.belllifestyleproducts.com/04b-BladderControlTea.htm

This is the "woman's" version of the product. I had symptoms much like my wife's over active bladder (a side effect from her chemo during her BC treatments).