HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Post-Surgery Diet

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 11/13/2015 2:53 AM (GMT 0)
I apologize if this has been covered. I imagine it has, but I can't seem to figure out how to search the forum for old threads.

Anyway, I've seen reference here and there to dietary suggestions for best bladder/continence recovery after prostate surgery. Some are obvious, like limiting alcohol. Someone mentioned avoiding citrus.
Are there other suggestions of things to avoid and things to try to eat more of, to improve recovery?

If there is an old thread on this, feel free to just point me there.

Thanks
Andrewski
Posted 11/13/2015 2:58 AM (GMT 0)
Caffeine and sodas should be avoided for awhile. Caffeine is a bladder irritant.

The best thing you can do is to walk as much as you're able (without over doing). Even if it's just laps around the living room a few times a day. That goes a long way to recovery.

Andrew
Posted 11/13/2015 2:58 AM (GMT 0)
Your surgeon should have a full protocol of what you can eat/drink (and can't eat/drink) and the progressive steps back to a normal diet.

Regarding continence, alcohol, carbonated beverages and spicy foods (if I recall) should be avoided.

Gedman
Posted 11/13/2015 3:12 AM (GMT 0)
My surgeon said "you can eat anything you want" when I was released from the hospital the day after surgery. Not helpful.

Caffiene, soda and alcohol are easy for me to avoid, as I never used them anyway. Spicy food is another story. How spicy is too spicy? Is mild salsa ok, or should I avoid salsa altogether?

I am walking every day, at least a mile, sometimes two, plus the additional walking I get running errands, working around my hangar, etc., though I do leak a lot more when I walk vs. sit. My surgury was 23 days ago, by the way.

Andrewski
Posted 11/13/2015 3:25 AM (GMT 0)
Andrewski, The nice thing is that it will change almost daily, normal will develop. I had to experiment and figure it out as I went along. On the other hand, I also have a hiatal hernia and GERD, do I have to watch things in that direction as well.

Your "medium" spice might be my "impossibly hot", so it's hard to define that one. Staying away from habaneros and ghost peppers might be a good plan.
Posted 11/13/2015 4:08 AM (GMT 0)
So what did you see as signs that you were eating the wrong thing, while "figuring it out"? Did certain foods have a noticeable impact on now you felt, or on your leakage? Sorry, just trying to figure out what to look for.
Posted 11/13/2015 5:17 AM (GMT 0)
Since I lived in Texas for over 20 years, giving up hot salsa was the hardest for me. In fact, when I was going to be released from the hospital, I asked the nurse, Can I eat Tex-Mex? She said, "If you do, you will end up back in the hospital and I won't be so nice then". : nono

Bill from Florida cool
Posted 11/13/2015 5:31 AM (GMT 0)
You also want to eat and drink to avoid constipation, bowel movements post surgery are painful for a few weeks
Posted 11/13/2015 7:59 AM (GMT 0)
My husband had issues with beer. Seemed to cause him to leak. Wine and cocktails were ok in moderation but beer is the enemy now. I don't know if this is true for others but sure is for him. He is 99% continent now but he avoids beer.
Posted 11/13/2015 11:06 AM (GMT 0)
I actually kept a food/reaction diary for a while, to really try to track what was connected to what. I found that too little water was actually more of an issue than too much. Staying hydrated is a huge deal, both for continence and keeping the bowel working well-especially because I take metamucil daily. It only really works when there is plenty of water in the system.

I've never been a huge fan of spicy food, so that wasn't much of an issue for me, and I'm a 'one drink and I'm done' guy when it comes to alcohol, and I don't like most beers.
Posted 11/13/2015 12:37 PM (GMT 0)
My DH is still struggling a bit with continence. he has a sit down job so he leaks a bit more when he moves after work. The diet is vegan here and very flavorful. We like a bit spicy. Beer is out and a evening glass of red wine is in :) Withholding liquids for bladder caused extreme burning so stay hydrated enough. Finding the balance was trial and error. So far no balance with tri mix here. We are working on that balance act these days!! With all that said...it seems you have to find a balance thru trial and error.
Posted 11/13/2015 12:54 PM (GMT 0)
Beer and soda act like a diuretic.
Posted 11/13/2015 6:08 PM (GMT 0)
Andrweski, i think while there are certain basic guidelines that we should all be aware of, everyone is different with what affects their continence. So you have to experiment and figure out what affects you with trial and error.

I found caffiene and alcohol were somewhat of a problem for me. So i went from presurgery having 2-3 cups of regular coffee each morning, to one cup of half caf. And i rarely but once in a while drink a beer or a martini or a Jamesons, but limit how much i take in
As far as spicy goes, no affect on my continence whatsoever. I love spicy, and i am constantly putting hot stuff like chili peppers, flakes, korean bbq sauce, etc, on everything. It doesnt affect my continence. Heartburn is another story though, and i control that with Zantac.
Posted 11/14/2015 1:29 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Pratoman, et al,

As far as I can tell, what effects my continence is movement ;). Sort of kidding, but not really. If I have a quiet day and am mostly sitting, I don't leak too much. If I'm walking around I leak a moderate amount. If I'm working on my airplane, van, or motorcycle (getting up and down, bending over, pushing, pulling, etc.) I leak more. To be expected I suppose, as I'm only two weeks post-op. I've not noticed any connection to diet, but then, as I've said, I never do caffiene or alcohol anyway. Hmmm...I haven't actually CHANGED my diet at all either, and it tends to be much the same day to day, so who knows; maybe there IS a trigger in my diet somewhere. Maybe I should experiment with cutting things out one at a time and see what happens. Or just chill, and see how things are in a few more weeks.

Andrewski
Posted 11/14/2015 2:23 AM (GMT 0)
Two weeks post surgery? And you're worried about a few leaks? Seriously, dude, chill out. You're mostly dry at night, right? Then you're well on your way, let it take it's time.
Posted 11/14/2015 2:58 AM (GMT 0)

halbert said...
Two weeks post surgery? And you're worried about a few leaks? Seriously, dude, chill out. You're mostly dry at night, right? Then you're well on your way, let it take it's time.

Whoops; I mis-spoke. I meant two weeks post-catheter removal. about 3 1/2 weeks post surgery. Yes, still early. Leaks total about 250-500 ml (1 to 2 cups) in the course of a day, depending on how active I am. Yes, mostly dry at night, which is very nice.
Posted 11/14/2015 11:15 PM (GMT 0)
Andy
Everyone reacts differently but anything which makes you want to urinate more due to irritation of the bladder is not helpful to recovering continence. That includes caffeine, citrus , alcohol and spicy foods. But irrigation / hydration is good and I fell in love with sports drinks. You need to experiment to see what works for you. The quicker you lose the pads the better!
Bob
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply