Urinary Problems After Surgery
Leaking urine
Most men cant control their bladder properly when their catheter is first removed. This is because surgery can damage the muscles and nerves that control when you urinate.You might just leak a few drops if you exercise, cough or sneeze . Or you might leak more and need to wear absorbent pads, especially in the weeks after your surgery.Leaking urine usually improves with time. Most men start to see an improvement one to six months after surgery. Some men leak urine for a year or more and others never fully recover, but there are things that can help and ways you can manage it.
Difficulty urinating
A few men may find it difficult to urinate after surgery . This can be caused by scarring around the opening of the bladder or the urethra .Some men find they suddenly and painfully cant urinate. This is called acute urine retention and it needs treating quickly to prevent further problems. If this happens, call your doctor or nurse, or go to your nearest accident and emergency department.
Watch Pauls story for one mans experience of managing urinary problems after surgery below.
Sexual problems after surgery
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Clinical Relevance Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is the increase in size of the prostate, without the presence of malignancy. It is much more common with advancing age, although initial histological evidence of hyperplasia may be evident from much earlier ages .
The enlarged prostate may compress the urethra, resulting in symptoms that refer to impaired storage of urine and symptoms that refer to impaired voiding .
BPH is usually caused by hyperplasia of the glands from the transitional zone of the prostate.
Try A Prostate Massager
Before exploring prostate massagers, you might want to start with a butt plug to get used to the ideas, such as the Nu Sensuelle Remote Control 15-function Vibrating Mini Butt Plug. Proper prostate massagers are designed differently in order to reach the male G-spotthe prostate.
“You always want to buy one with a tail or a wide base that it doesn’t get lost up there. You don’t want to end up in the ‘Butt Bin’ at the ER where they keep objects found in people’s rectums,” jokes Milstein. That said, if you’re interested, here are that can land you in the ER.
Feelmore Adult Aneros Vice #2
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Remember You Can Stop Whenever You Want
Just like how you walk before you run, you insert fingers before inserting anything else of substantial size up your or your partners bum. Slow and steady wins the race here. There is absolutely no reason to rush, and its not a competition, either. Take only what you can take. This isnt a push through the pain situation. This is an if it hurts, stop, slow down, and go back to something tinier situation.
Anatomic Imaging Of The Prostate
Chronic prostatitis 4 is one relatively common issue that men tend to develop. This is a consistent inflammation that affects the prostate gland.
Another common issue that affects the male population would be benign prostatic hyperplasia. This condition is often referred to as BPH or an enlarged prostate. BPH is linked to several potential complications. This includes urinary symptoms, such as frequent urination, urinary incontinence, urinary retention, and even renal failure. The risk increases if the condition is not treated.
Anatomic imaging of the prostate is sometimes used as a way to assist in diagnosing certain prostate-related conditions. The testing procedure can be utilized to assist with identifying prostatitis, an enlarged prostate, and even prostate cancer.
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Is Sex Good For Your Prostate
Whether or not sex is good for prostate problems is a question many men wonder, and its an important one that needs answering.
The prostate plays an active role during sexual activity.
The effect regular ejaculations have on the prostate should become a significant talking point, especially amongst men who are experiencing prostate problems.
This article will determine whether a healthy sex life can reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer.
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Symptoms Of Prostate Problems
1. Prostate issues cause problems with the bladder and urination. If you are having trouble when starting to urinate, it might be a sign of an enlarged prostate. Also, if you urinate several times, especially at night, you may have a prostate condition. Other similar symptoms include:
- You feel the need to pee without feeling the build-up sensation.
- You strain before you get the flow going.
2. Prostate conditions may affect your sexual function. So, look out for sexual dysfunction or erectile dysfunction, which may be related to your prostate.
3. Other prostate problems may cause bladder stones or urinary infections.
4. Additionally, some problems may lead to kidney failure. Equally important, note the following symptoms because they may be related to the prostate.
- Unusual color in urine
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Does Sexual Activity Improve Prostate Health
According to a report published in JAMA, men who reported having more than 20 ejaculations per month were 33% less likely to develop prostate cancer.
These measured ejaculations included sexual intercourse, nocturnal emissions, and masturbation. Researchers evaluated nearly 30,000 patients, of whom 1,449 developed prostate cancer.
Assuming the men answered the survey questions honestly, the results indicated that active sex life is not associated with higher cancer risk in most men.
An Australian study of 2,338 men also came to a similar conclusion. This study found that men who averaged 4.6 to seven ejaculations a week were 36% less likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer before the age of 70 compared to men who ejaculated less than 2.3 times a week on average.
The study found no connection between prostate cancer and the number of sex partners.
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Touching Your Prostate With Your Finger
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Prostate Histology And Pathology
When a patient is suspected of suffering problems with their prostate tissue, there are certain things that a doctor needs to take into account. This helps the doctor determine what the patient might be suffering from.
This process generally starts even before any major tests are conducted. The doctor begins to collect data on prostate pathology and histology when the patient initially complains about specific symptoms.
Certain conditions can affect prostate gland function. This is why it is important for a male patient to ensure they consult with a physician when they have symptoms that may signal prostate problems.
Histology helps a doctor determine the specific risks that affect the patient. This can be an important part of choosing the right diagnostic tools. For example, with histology, the physician needs to consider the history of conditions like BPH and prostate cancer in the patients family.
Some studies have liked these conditions to certain hereditary and genetic factors. For this reason, a man with a family history of the conditions may be at a higher risk of developing these problems themselves.
This also helps to reduce the risk of unnecessary tests being conducted. For example, if a man has a family history of benign prostatic hyperplasia, a physician may consider testing for this condition first. This reduces the risk of a needle biopsy being performed, which can have serious side effects.
What Are The Common Conditions And Disorders That Affect The Prostate
Common conditions that affect your prostate include:
- Prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer that affects men and people assigned male at birth .
- Inflammation . Four different prostatitis conditions cause inflammation in your prostate gland: acute bacterial prostatitis, chronic bacterial prostatitis, chronic pelvic pain syndrome and asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis. Its the most common urinary tract issue in men and people AMAB younger than 50, and the third most common in men and people AMAB over 50.
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia. BPH causes your prostate to grow, which can cause blockages in your urethra. Almost all men and people AMAB will develop some prostate enlargement as they age.
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What Is The Prostates Role In Urination
When urine is emptied into the bladder from the kidneys, its kept inside the body by a couple of valves that stay closed until your body tells them to open when you urinate.
If youve had your prostate completely removed, youve had a surgery called radical prostatectomy. Along with the prostate gland, the surgeon has to remove one of the valves outside the prostate that open and close to let urine out or keep it in. Usually having one working valve is enough, but there might also be also be some effect on the nerves and muscles in the area from the surgery that allows urine to leak. Approximately 6% to 8% of men whove had surgery to remove their prostates will develop urinary incontinence.
Treating Benign Prostate Enlargement
Treatment for an enlarged prostate will depend on how severe your symptoms are.
If you have mild symptoms, you do not usually need immediate treatment. Your doctor will agree with you if and when you need more check-ups.
You’ll probably be advised to make lifestyle changes, such as:
- drinking less alcohol, caffeine and fizzy drinks
- limiting your intake of artificial sweeteners
- exercising regularly
- drinking less in the evening
Medicine to reduce the size of the prostate and relax your bladder may be recommended to treat moderate to severe symptoms of an enlarged prostate.
Surgery is usually only recommended for moderate to severe symptoms that have not responded to medicine.
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What Are The Signs Of An Enlarged Prostate
In many cases, that tubular opening of your prostate becomes tight and constricted when your gland enlarges. This leads to a restricted flow of urine. So, difficulty peeing is the most common sign of prostate problems, Dr. Ramin says.
In 2017, the American Urological Association created a seven-question symptom index for severity benign prostatic hyperplasia. How you answer themoptions include not at all, less than 1 time in 5, less than half the time, about half the time, more than half the time, and almost alwayscan help your doctor evaluate you.
The full questionnaire from the AUA is available here, but the symptoms include the following:
1. The sensation of not emptying your bladder when youre finished peeing
2. The need to pee again less than two hours after you finished urinating
3. Stopping and starting again several times when you urinated
4. The difficulty to postpone urination
5. Having a weak stream of urine
6. The need to push or strain to start to pee
7. Waking up often at night to pee
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A Guys Guide To Prostate Health
This little gland can cause big problems if you dont keep tabs on it.
Lets talk about your prostate, isnt exactly the icebreaker most guys want to hear. But maybe it should be, because this tiny gland plays an important role in mens health.
Actually, no, it doesntat least not directly.
So why all the fuss about prostate health? While it doesnt serve any truly essential functionsespecially if youre not trying to have kidsa troublesome prostate can cause an oversized number of health issues. Heres what you need to know to keep your prostate gland from wreaking havoc.
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Caring For Your Incision
The incision runs from above the base of the pubic area to below the navel. It is important to keep it clean and dry. Showering once a day should be sufficient. If you notice extreme or increasing tenderness, progressive swelling, more than a small amount of drainage or any pus or redness, notify your doctor right away.
Recovering From Prostate Surgery
To treat prostate cancer, doctors perform tens of thousands of surgeries each year. In recent years, one procedure called a radical prostatectomy has become a fine art, says J. Brantley Thrasher, MD, a professor of urologic surgery at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City. While side effects like incontinence and impotence are still major concerns, most patients respond well to the surgery, Thrasher says.
In fact, many men respond almost too well. They feel so good after the surgery that they start to push themselves too hard, he says. One of his recent patients went on a two-mile jog while still wearing a catheter. I told him he needed to slow down and rest for a while.
If you have a radical prostatectomy in your future, youll want to know what to expect. Heres a closer look at this procedure. As youll see, your life wont necessarily take a turn for the worse after prostate surgery. In fact, it just might get better.
Why do surgeons perform radical prostatectomies?
According to the Food and Drug Administration, radical prostatectomy is considered to be the most definitive treatment for many men with prostate cancer, a disease that kills about 30,000 American men each year. Depending on their age and the stage of their cancer, however, some men do well with a less invasive treatment.
How should I prepare for surgery?
What happens during a radical prostatectomy?
What will happen during recovery in the hospital?
References
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Risk Factors For Prostate Cancer
Some risk factors have been linked to prostate cancer. A risk factor is something that can raise your chance of developing a disease. Having one or more risk factors doesn’t mean that you will get prostate cancer. It just means that your risk of the disease is greater.
- Age. Men who are 50 or older have a higher risk of prostate cancer.
- Race. African-American men have the highest risk of prostate cancerâthe disease tends to start at younger ages and grows faster than in men of other races. After African-American men, prostate cancer is most common among white men, followed by Hispanic and Native American men. Asian-American men have the lowest rates of prostate cancer.
- Family history. Men whose fathers or brothers have had prostate cancer have a 2 to 3 times higher risk of prostate cancer than men who do not have a family history of the disease. A man who has 3 immediate family members with prostate cancer has about 10 times the risk of a man who does not have a family history of prostate cancer. The younger a man’s relatives are when they have prostate cancer, the greater his risk for developing the disease. Prostate cancer risk also appears to be slightly higher for men from families with a history of breast cancer.
- Diet. The risk of prostate cancer may be higher for men who eat high-fat diets.
When To Contact A Medical Professional
Contact your provider right away if you have:
- Less urine than usual
- Back, side, or abdominal pain
- Blood or pus in your urine
Also contact your provider if:
- Your bladder does not feel completely empty after you urinate.
- You take medicines that may cause urinary problems, such as diuretics, antihistamines, antidepressants, or sedatives. DO NOT stop or change your medicines without talking to your provider.
- You have tried self-care steps for 2 months and symptoms have not improved.
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When Is Anatomic Imaging Of The Prostate Typically Done
Anatomic imaging of the prostate gland is not a first-line diagnostic tool. This process is also not done as part of a routine examination that men tend to undergo. It is a diagnostic tool that will only be requested under certain circumstances.
A doctor will generally perform a digital rectal examination during a regular check-up with a male patient. During this procedure, a finger, covered in a glove, will be placed in the patients rectum. During this exam, the doctor will feel for abnormalities with the patients prostate gland. A digital rectal exam may also be performed when a patient complains about symptoms that signal a problem with his prostate gland.
If an abnormality is detected during a digital rectal exam, then anatomic imaging tests may be advised. These can help to provide a more accurate view of the prostate tissue. It ensures the doctor is able to determine the most appropriate diagnosis to make.
It should be noted that additional tests are often needed after anatomic imaging of the prostate gland. This is especially the case when prostate cancer is suspected.