What To Expect After Bladder Sling Surgery

Living Without A Gallbladder

You can live a long and healthy life without a gallbladder, and to help ensure that goal, here are a few tips to consider.

Its common to experience some persistent discomfort after gallbladder removal. To help minimize that possibility, pay close attention to your diet. Gallbladder problems typically develop because of problems with the liver. According to Sandra MacRae, MD , one reason people develop gallbladder stones and other gallbladder problems in the first place is that their liver is unhealthy.

A compromised liver can produce poor quality bile, which in turn may have had a role in forming gallstones and can still interfere with liver function long after the gallbladder is gone. Therefore, she recommends the following tips once your gallbladder has been removed:

• Significantly reduce or eliminate use of grains and dairy foods. These foods are challenging to digest and the grains especially may increase the risk of developing fatty liver.
• Eat bitter foods. Foods such as dandelion greens, arugula, lemons, chicory, and endive improve digestion and assist the body in processing healthy fats.
• Take vitamin D. A vitamin D deficiency is not uncommon, especially among people who have a compromised liver since this is the organ that helps manufacture the vitamin in the body. Talk to your doctor about the proper dosage for your needs.

Dont Miss: Foods To Prevent Bladder Cancer Recurrence

Should You Have Surgery

If your symptoms are making your life difficult, surgery may be the answer. You need to think about a few things:

Your age. If youâre young, keep in mind that bladder prolapse can happen again. Even if you have surgery now, you may end up needing another operation down the road. If youâre older, any other health issues you have may affect your decision.

Your plans about having children. If you want more children, itâs best to hold off on surgery until you decide your family is complete.

Your general health. Surgery has some risks, such as infection, blood clots, or problems with the anesthetic. If you have a heart condition, diabetes, or breathing difficulties, any of these things could make an operation riskier. So could smoking or obesity.

Also, talk with your doctor about the chances that surgery could cause new problems. You might develop urinary incontinence — urine leaking out without your control. Sex might become uncomfortable, and you might feel pain in your pelvis.

Emptying After A Bladder Sling Surgery

Right after a surgery, we need to make sure you can empty your bladder. About 10-20% of the time, women will have trouble emptying their bladders for 1-2 days. This is because of the anesthesia, the local numbing medicine, and the swelling. This problem will go away with time but you may need a catheter while it does. If it does not go away in 1-2 days, your sling is likely too tight and it needs to be modified.

So, after surgery, we have you empty your bladder and then measure how much is left. There are three different ways this can be done.

You may have heard of a suprapubic catheter. This is a catheter that is surgically placed and drains your bladder above the pubic bone. These are still used but rarely and only in complicated cases. It is uncommon to have this type of catheter placed. So I wounldnt worry about this.

Recommended Reading: Surgery For Herniated Disc In Lower Back

What Risks Do Bladder Sling Surgery Brings

Bladder slings made from mesh carry a higher risk of side effects:

• These can be painful to insert, causing serious discomforts. Patients may also have trouble passing urine or urinating properly. In extreme cases, a malfunctioning bladder sling can cause internal bleeding or damaging to surrounding organs. If this pain becomes overwhelming, patients may need to undergo several surgeries afterwards to correct this problem.
• In very severe cases, a synthetic bladder sling can cause erosion of nearby organs in the pelvic area. A sling can also puncture nearby organs, causing serious internal damage. The body may also reject the materials used to make the sling, causing inflammation in the organs that come into contact with it. This can cause sexual intercourse to become difficult due to the increased swelling. In either of these cases, surgery will be necessary to reverse the damage the bladder sling has caused.

What Activities Are Restricted After Bladder Sling Surgery

Its important to listen to your doctors advice on restrictions after bladder sling surgery in order to avoid complications. For example, running after bladder sling surgery is not recommended. Common things to avoid during the first two to six weeks include:- Sexual intercourse- Use of tampons or menstrual cups- Driving

Don’t Miss: Shim Ching Md Asia Pacific Plastic Surgery

What You Should Know:

• A bladder sling procedure is done to treat women who have urinary incontinence. Urinary incontinence occurs when urine leaks out of your bladder. Your bladder is an organ at the bottom of your abdomen where urine is stored. Urine leaves your bladder through a tube called your urethra. Strong muscles around your urethra keep urine from leaking out. If these muscles weaken, you may have trouble controlling your urine flow. Urine leakage occurs most often when you cough, sneeze, laugh, or lift objects.

How Do I Reach The Physicians And Nurses

• During the week day from 8am-4:30pm please call the office 732-4838 and press #2 to leave a message for the nurses on the voice mail. Please leave your medical record number, name and phone number where you can be reached. Even if you were operated on at South Shore Hospital or Newton Wellesley or Faulkner Hospital, ALL calls go to the Brigham office.
• Before or after hours, or on the weekends or holidays, please call the office 732-4838 and press #0 to reach the paging operator at the Brigham and Womens Hospital. The page operator will page the clinician on call. Even if you were operated on at South Shore Hospital or Newton Wellesley or Faulkner Hospital, ALL calls go to the Brigham office.
• If you have any trouble reaching us through the methods described above, call the Brigham Page Operator at 617-732-5500 and ask him/her to page the urogynecologist on call.

You May Like: Torn Rotator Cuff Surgery Cost

When Should I Contact My Usual Healthcare Provider

Contact your healthcare provider if you have symptoms of any of the conditions that require bladder surgery to treat. Bladder cancer symptoms you should report include:

• Hematuria . This is the most common symptom of bladder cancer. Your urine may look red, or it could look pink or dark brown.
• An urgent need to pee.
• Frequent urination.

Dont Miss: Why Does My Bladder Leak When I Sleep

When Should You Call For Help

anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:

• You passed out .
• You have chest pain, are short of breath, or cough up blood.

or seek immediate medical care if:

• You have bright red vaginal bleeding that soaks one or more pads in an hour, or you have large clots.
• You are sick to your stomach or cannot drink fluids.
• You have pain that does not get better after you take pain medicine.
• You have loose stitches, or your incisions come open.
• Bright red blood has soaked through the bandages over your incisions.
• You have vaginal discharge that has increased in amount or smells bad.
• You have signs of infection, such as:
• Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness.
• Red streaks leading from the incision.
• Pus draining from the incision.

Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if you have any problems.

Also Check: Nasal Valve Collapse Treatment Without Surgery

Incontinence Surgery And Recovery After The Incontinence Surgery Procedure

Incontinence, also known as bladder leakage, is a life-altering condition. Surgery to treat incontinence can likewise be life-changing. Before you decide to pursue incontinence surgery for male bladder leakage, youll want to understand the stress incontinence surgical procedures, the incontinence implants available, the SUI surgery recovery process and what it will be like to live with a male sling or artificial urinary sphincter device.

First of all, you should meet with your urologist for a focused physical exam and discussion about treatment goals. Depending on the severity of your incontinence and medical history one or more implantable device may be indicated for your stress incontinence surgery.

Your Eating Habits May Change

Digestive changes are common, especially in the first few weeks after surgery as your body adapts to the lack of a gallbladder. At first, you may experience some bloating, gas, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort after eating. These symptoms can be eased by cutting back on your intake of:

You May Like: Different Types Of Bladder Cancer

Don’t Miss: South Florida Center For Cosmetic Surgery Reviews

Contact A Caregiver If:

• You have a fever .
• You do not feel like you are able to empty your bladder completely when urinating.
• You feel the need to urinate very suddenly.
• You have pain when urinating.
• You have a new skin rash.
• You have chest pain or trouble breathing that is getting worse over time.
• You have questions or concerns about your procedure, medicine, or care.

Basic Skin Care With A Urostomy

If you have a pouch, youâll need to pay attention to the skin around the stoma to keep it from getting sore. To avoid skin problems:

• Be gentle when you remove the pouch.
• Change your pouch as often as your nurse tells you to. Doing it too often or not enough can cause skin problems.
• Donât use more tape than you need.
• Make sure your pouch fits your bodyâs shape.
• Measure your stoma carefully so you can cut your pouchâs skin barrier to fit closely.

Also Check: Do You Need Antibiotics For Bladder Infection

Don’t Miss: Dog Obstruction Can T Afford Surgery

What To Expect After Your Surgery

As you can see, radical cystectomy is very major surgery and youll have a lengthy recovery. Many parts of the body are affected during the surgery and need time to heal.

On average, your hospital stay will be 5 to 10 days. Walking starts the day after surgery. This helps the bowels to start working again. Remember, this is bowel surgery too, not just bladder surgery! Expect to be on a liquid diet for the first few days before solid foods are gradually introduced.

While in hospital, youll have a number of IV lines and tubes, depending on your type of surgery. These will provide pain control, urine drainage and drainage of excess fluid from the surgical site.

And What Happens When Sling Surgery Is A Success

Debbie is 61-year-old mother of one. Her leaking woes started shortly after giving birth to her daughter 28 years ago. Being a mom and caretaker, I kept putting myself off, she explained.

But then, a few years ago, she started trying everything from core exercises to a pessary, but neither stopped the leaking for long. She had reached her threshold. Debbie decided enough is enough! and that it was time for a urethral sling surgery .

During the outpatient surgery, a sling is placed around the urethra to lift it back into a normal position and create a hammock to keep you from leaking. Studies show that about 8 out of 10 women might be cured after the surgery. Some may still have some leakage because other problems are causing incontinence. Over time, some women say that the leakage can come back. To increase the chances of a successful surgery, doctors recommend quitting smoking and doing pelvic floor exercises.

It can take anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks to recover fully from the surgery. Dr. Ferrante advises that women dont lift heavy objects or participate in strenuous activities . If theres difficulty peeing, the sling may need to be readjusted or removed.

After years of leakage stress, Debbie could finally laugh without worry.

Have you considered getting a sling surgery, or have an experience with the surgery already? Share your story with us in the comments.

Posted: July 31, 2019

Read Also: How To Help Overactive Bladder

Read Also: How Long Does Bunion Surgery Take

What To Expect After Surgery

Urethral sling surgery can be safely performed in an outpatient surgery center. There is normally a 2-4 week recovery period, during which you should avoid doing too much activity to allow your body to properly heal.

Its likely you will feel some pain and discomfort where your incision is and you may feel some cramping in your abdomen. Your doctor will prescribe you medication to help with the pain during the first few days after surgery. If you continue to experience pain, be sure to contact your doctor immediately.

Recommended Reading: How Can A Man Strengthen His Bladder

Can Pelvic Floor Exercises Treat Stress Incontinence

Yes, pelvic floor exercises can improve stress incontinence. These exercises strengthen the muscles that support your urinary system. It can be challenging to correctly work and strengthen your pelvic floor muscles.

A physical therapist who specializes in pelvic floor disorders can help you master the proper techniques. This provider may use biofeedback to ensure you work the right muscles. It can take four to six weeks of regular exercise to see symptoms improve.

Donât Miss: I Feel A Lot Of Pressure On My Bladder

Also Check: Trans Surgery Female To Male

Everyone Is A Little Different

Know that surgery and recovery are a different experience for everyone. And there is a range of experiences that are normal. Women that have medical diagnoses such as fibromyalgia or a history of trauma frequently have more pain after surgery. And recovery, even after a small procedure like a sling surgery, is always impacted by your social support. Women with a good social support system always have an easier road after surgery. Trying to manage your daily life- family, kids and work- on top of recovering from surgery is a daunting task.

Should I Be Careful With What I Eat Or Drink With A Urostomy

No, just drink plenty of fluids, like water. Itâs best to limit caffeine and alcohol, because theyâre less likely to keep you hydrated. Thatâs important to lower your chance of infection.

Go easy on beverages near bedtime, and attach a larger night drainage bag to hold more urine while you sleep.

Your pouch is odor-proof, so you wonât smell anything until you empty it. If your pee has a very strong odor, it could be a sign of an infection. But other things can affect the smell, too:

• Foods, like asparagus, coffee, fish, garlic, and onions
• Medicines, such as antibiotics
• Supplements, like vitamins

Read Also: Bone Spurs On Top Of Foot Surgery

Immediately After Your Procedure Incontinence Surgical Treatment Recovery

After sling implant surgery, male urethral slings work immediately. Some patients are hypercontinent which means that the sling actually obstructs the outflow of urine. This usually will resolve in a matter of days or weeks and is a good predictive sign for future continence. Treatment consists of either a short-term catheter or self-catheterization. The implant procedure pain at the incisions and overall pain is quite limited and has not been reported to be a problem. Usually my patients leave the same day. Within a few days my patients are back to their usual activity. I advise them not to squat for the first several weeks after the surgery to allow the sling to heal without loosening. Other activities of daily living such as walking, sitting, or light work-outs are of course possible.

Pain at the incisions and overall pain is quite limited and has not been reported to be a problem.

How Painful Is Bladder Lift Surgery

Bladder lift surgery is often done laparoscopically.

This means that a surgeon will make just a few small cuts in the abdomen during the surgery. To perform the surgery, theyll use a small camera and tools inserted through tubes placed in the cuts.

Laparoscopic procedures are less invasive than open surgery. Recovery time for midurethral sling surgery and colposuspension performed laparoscopically is often much quicker than for open surgery.

Youll most likely leave the hospital after your surgery to recover at home. In some cases, though, you may need to stay overnight.

On the other hand, a traditional sling surgery and colposuspension with abdominal surgery usually require that you stay in the hospital to recover for a few days.

You may feel some pain or cramping in your lower abdomen and may need to take pain medications for 1 or 2 weeks. Most people fully recover from this procedure in about 6 weeks.

As with any surgery, bladder lift surgery comes with some risks. These include:

Read Also: Kendall Endoscopy And Surgery Center