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2 weeks - quick question for the group

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Posted 7/14/2013 5:08 PM (GMT 0)
Is it just me, or is it always on the weekend that questions arise...

I'm now just about 2 weeks post-surgery - still having a little bit of discomfort, especially from the hernia incision site - but manageable with Tylenol etc. Still getting tired later in the day - but overall feeling like I'm making good progress on the road to recovery.

However, I am having some urinary symptoms that concern me a little - a little pain/achy-ness after I pee - I wouldn't call it "burning," just an ache - no blood, and the urine looks clear to me - and I'm also feeling a little more urgency than usual. Obviously, I'm being hyper-vigilant about any signs of a bladder infection - but at the same time, I don't want to be alarmist. It seems reasonable still to expect a little discomfort from the urinary system so soon after the surgery - does this sound familiar to you guys? At what point should I raise the red flag?

I know bladder irritation can also be related to diet - I definitely noticed a little irritation a few days ago after drinking about half a glass of wine (guess I jumped the gun there a little!) - but otherwise, my diet has been pretty bland and free from the usual irritants (caffeine, carbonated drinks, etc).

Many thanks -

DougInLA
Posted 7/14/2013 5:32 PM (GMT 0)
Doug,

Most of what you report sounds pretty typical. A number of guys report discomfort after they pee. It comes on as a sort of an ache while you are expelling the last bit of urine from your bladder and the discomfort lasts a few minutes and then lets up. Is that the one? I used to get that all the time. Still do occasionally. I wouldn't worry about it unless it gets worse over time.

And one note on caffeine. According to my biofeedback tech coffee is more of a problem than caffeine -- because it is acidic and causes the bladder to contract. Switching to decaf does almost no good but switching to tea can help because, while it has comparable amounts of caffeine it does not acidify the urine.
Posted 7/14/2013 5:44 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the info, Peter - yes that's the one. This morning I've got a little more of the burning/irritation feeling...but I also had a cup of decaf coffee earlier, which might explain it - I'll switch to tea and see how things go. I've got an appointment tomorrow for a pelvic floor rehab session at my uro's office, so I will also mention this to them while I'm there.

Thanks again -

Doug
Posted 7/14/2013 6:11 PM (GMT 0)
And whether you do tea, coffee or whatever, it is very helpful to drink a lot of water such as the usual "8 glasses a day" regimen. It will not only dilute and neutralize some of the other things you are drinking but will also help flush your urinary system which will reduce chances for UTIs and also keep your blood clots and bleeding down.

..
Posted 7/14/2013 7:59 PM (GMT 0)
I'm 3 months post-op, and I still have the dull ache at the end of urination. Not a big deal for me.

I mentioned this to my surgeon recently, who said that the ache is likely due to the fact that the bladder is still healing and stitches have not fully dissolved yet.

-Gedman
Posted 7/14/2013 8:01 PM (GMT 0)
Most of what you say is very normal and typical this soon out of surgery.

Would stay away from even the small amount of wine for now, and keep flushing yourself with plenty
of plain old water.

Your bladder neck and urethra has been through a lot, so the pain you say is well in realms of normal.

Good luck in your recovery, just one day at the time

david
Posted 7/14/2013 8:48 PM (GMT 0)
With everything else, you should be walking every day. I say this not as a fitness enthusiast, but it is a protocol that all medicos prescribe for post op recovery. It and water will flush all the nasties out. You will notice blood in the urine, when you do this , it is to be expected.
Posted 7/14/2013 11:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hey, be glad you're peeing. It took me 4 weeks before I had the urge to pee and then there was pain, kind of an ache more than a burn. I also had an infection about a week out but that was indicated by fever and pain. I'm 14 weeks out and doing ok, the first 2 months, each day was better than the day before, now it seems like each week is better the week before. Folks ask me how I'm doing and I say I feel better than I did before the surgery but I'm still recovering.
Posted 7/15/2013 2:28 AM (GMT 0)
Doug, that all sounds normal to me. I'm at 3 months and still feel the need to pee. Keep doing those kegels.
Posted 7/15/2013 3:19 AM (GMT 0)
Normal!  Let us know if the doc says anything differently.  Almost 8 weeks post-op and I still have occassional aches during and after urination. Feels kinda like a tightening or contraction of muscles. Feeling can migrate from anal area to the scrotum.

Frequency at night and urgency will diminish with time (my experience).

Things are still healing.  Also, my doc said no "flexing" to empty the bladder or urethra right after surgery, just pee until it stops and call it good.

Generally, and although I feel like I had pretty good control after 2 weeks, recovery seems like a slower process than I'd hoped.  I haven't seen progress day to day, it's been more like week to week.  So, as many here and my uro nurse told me, patience!  So, with patience, I'm making progress and you will, too.

--Steve

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