It is important to urinate after surgery, even if it is not always easy. Anesthesia can relax the muscles of the bladder so much that it causes difficulty in urinating and promotes a number of problems known by the medical definition of "urinary retention". Therefore, if you are unable to perform this function, a catheter will be inserted to help you empty your bladder. To make sure you do not experience this complication, consult your doctor before surgery, move around and try to relax your bladder after surgery and inform him of any postoperative problems.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Dealing with Preoperative Problems
Step 1. Empty your bladder completely before surgery
It can be helpful to get rid of it before going under anesthesia, but you should do it immediately first. Any residue retained during the operation can make urination more complicated later on.
Even if your bladder will not be full after the surgery, you will still urinate. You should excrete at least 250cc of urine within 4 hours of surgery, although some patients may produce 1000 to 2000cc
Step 2. Recognize if you are at risk
Some people are more likely than others not to urinate after surgery. Some medications increase this risk, so you should discuss this with your doctor before you have surgery. Other risk factors include:
- Over 50 years of age.
- Male patient, especially if suffering from prostatic hypertrophy.
- Prolonged administration of anesthetics.
- Increased parenteral nutrition.
- Taking certain medications, such as tricyclic antidepressants, beta blockers, muscle relaxants, urinary incontinence or ephedrine medications.
Step 3. Do the pelvic floor exercises
If you are a woman, you can benefit from practicing Kegel exercises. They help you strengthen the muscles that are activated during urination by promoting bladder control and possibly also the ability to urinate.
Step 4. Change your diet before surgery if you suffer from constipation
People with constipation can suffer from urinary retention. To slightly reduce the risk or severity of this problem, be sure to drink plenty of water in the weeks leading up to the operation. You should also consume plenty of high-fiber foods, eat more prunes, and avoid elaborate meals. Also, stay active and move as much as possible.
Fruits and vegetables contain a lot of fiber, so include them in your daily diet. You can try apples, berries, green leafy vegetables, broccoli, carrots, and beans
Part 2 of 3: Promote Urination After Surgery
Step 1. Get moving
The more you move, the more you will be able to urinate. Sit down, stand up and walk whenever you can. This will stimulate the bladder and urge the body to urinate by moving this organ to the right position.
Step 2. Go to the bathroom more frequently
If you stay more than 4 hours without urinating, bladder problems or difficulty urinating may arise. After surgery, try to empty it every 2-3 hours.
Step 3. Open the faucet
If you're having trouble, try turning on the sink faucet and letting the water run. Sometimes this noise can stimulate the brain and bladder. If that doesn't work, run some water over your abdomen.
Step 4. Sit down, if you are a man
If you have trouble urinating after surgery, sit on the toilet. By doing this, you can relax your bladder by causing it to empty. Try this a couple of times instead of standing up.
Step 5. Take a warm bath
Don't hesitate if you can. In this way, you will be able to relax the brain, body and bladder, promoting urination. Sometimes it's easier to urinate in the tub after an operation, but don't feel uncomfortable. In these circumstances, no possibility should be precluded.
- While taking a bath, try using peppermint oil by pouring it into a diffuser or other aromatherapy device. The smell can help you urinate.
- This option is not always feasible. You will likely not be able to bathe after surgery if the medical staff wants you to urinate before you are discharged from the hospital.
Step 6. Avoid drinking too much while trying to urinate
While it is necessary to consume fluids and stay hydrated after an operation, you shouldn't consume them in excessive amounts in the hope that they will cause you to urinate. There is a risk that they will overload the bladder, stretch the tissues or cause other problems. Instead, sip some water or drink it in normal amounts and let the stimulus come on its own.
Part 3 of 3: Dealing with Bladder Problems After Surgery
Step 1. Identify the symptoms
You may have difficulty urinating due to anesthesia. You will likely not be able to urinate, feel like you can't empty your bladder, or try to force yourself. You may feel the need to urinate frequently, but without success. Be aware that these can all be symptoms of a bladder infection or other health problem.
- If you have a bladder infection, you may pass small amounts of urine, but still feel the need to go to the bathroom. Typically, it looks cloudy and smells bad.
- If you have urinary retention, you may feel a painful sensation in the lower abdomen or some tension when you apply pressure. Even if you feel the need to empty yourself, you cannot urinate.
Step 2. Tell the nurse or doctor that you cannot urinate
If you are unable to empty your bladder after surgery, let your nurse or doctor know. They will likely visit you by touching it to see if you feel any pain. They may also have an ultrasound scan. If they think you need help, they will apply a catheter to help release her until you are able to urinate on your own.
- If you are discharged immediately after surgery, you should urinate within 4 hours to get rid of any fluids that were given to you during the operation. If you are still having difficulty after 4-6 hours, contact your doctor or go to the emergency room.
- You will probably only need to use the catheter once. In more severe cases of urinary retention, more prolonged use may be required.
Step 3. Keep track of your urinary habits
After surgery, write down how often you go to the bathroom for a few days. Note the time and amount of urine you can pass. Record how much liquid you take in and compare this data with the outgoing quantities. You should also monitor how you feel when you urinate. For example, do you feel the need to free yourself, but are you having difficulty? Do you have to force yourself? Do you have the impression that you have not completely emptied yourself? Is the smell bad? These details can help you figure out if there is a bladder infection or another problem.
Step 4. Get drug therapy
Your doctor may prescribe medication to help you urinate after surgery. It will act on the area of the brain that controls urination by neutralizing the effect of anesthesia and helping you to free yourself more easily.
