Behavioral advice after prostate removal

After prostate removal, some involuntary loss of urine (urinary incontinence) is usually expected due to physical activity. The duration and amount of urine loss varies and normally decreases over time. We would like to give you recommendations for behavior at home below.

Recommendations for everyday life

• You can perform all the activities of your daily life normally and do not require any rest. During the first six to eight weeks, you should only avoid riding a bicycle and going to the sauna.
• Maintain your usual drinking quantity.
• Empty your bladder at regular intervals (five to eight times of urination per day).
• Reduce the amount of drinking in the evening to avoid waking up in the night.
• Make sure you have regular and soft bowel movements. A high-fiber diet and exercise are helpful.
• Showering is allowed, bathing after 14 days. Avoid direct sunlight on the abdomen for the first six months.

Aids

When you leave the hospital, you will receive urinary incontinence materials and a material prescription from us. The inserts are used as follows:

• Level 2 insert: For light to moderate urine leakage:
  • Fold it well into a shell shape. Wear the wider part in front. Fix adhesive strips to underwear
  • Wear tight briefs/boxer shorts
• Absorin Comfort Mincy men insert: For moderate urine leakage:
  • Unfold at sides and fit tightly to body. Penis and testicles should be embedded
  • Wear tight briefs/boxer shorts

Physiotherapy for pelvic floor rehabilitation

Start with the pelvic floor exercises shown by your physiotherapist after catheter removal. Usually, the continence situation improves greatly in the first 14 days after catheter removal. You will receive a prescription for outpatient physiotherapy from the attending physician.

If you would like to arrange physiotherapy for pelvic floor rehabilitation at the USZ NORD, please contact us at +41 44 255 24 98.

Continence consultation

If you have any questions in connection with urinary incontinence, our continence consultation service is at your disposal. If necessary, you can make an appointment for an aid fitting.

If you would like to arrange a continence consultation at the USZ, please contact us at +41 44 255 54 24.

Restoration of erectile function

If you have undergone vascular nerve sparing, early stimulation of erections with drug support may be indicated. Please consult your surgeon about this before discharge or at the first follow-up.

Aftercare and medical problems

• If the stitches on your wounds were not removed before discharge, they can be removed by your family doctor or at our outpatient clinic. This is usually done between the 10th and 14th day after surgery.
• The first follow-up visit will take place about six weeks after surgery in your surgeon’s office. At this appointment, the first measurement of the PSA value after surgery is usually taken. Please keep the bladder diary for three consecutive days over 24 hours prior to this follow-up appointment. Bring the completed diary with you to the follow-up appointment. If you are unable to fill out the bladder diary, you may estimate the amount of urine. It is important that you note the time intervals between toilet visits.
• After the operation, you may experience blue discoloration in the area of the wounds as well as pronounced swelling of the scrotum and occasionally of the legs. The latter are consequences of lymph node removal. Usually, the discoloration and swelling disappear within the first month and there is no cause for concern. However, if there is additional redness or pain, you should contact your health care provider.