frequency of going to toilette changed after SRS

[missF]

Hi everyone!

Dunno if this really deserved a topic of its own, but I noticed that since I had my surgery I have been much more frequently to toilette. I still drink the same amount of water than before (my bad, I should drink much more!!) so I was wondering if it could be related to the urethra being shortened or maybe just some psychological thing? And it's specially weird since I'm taking codeine for pain and opioids would normally cause urinary retention as side effect... (so apparently I don't face such collateral effect LOL)

Not that I'm worried or that it is a problem (my professor in clinical pathology used to say that peeing is a therapeutic act ), I just found it curious such fact (ok, I have to admit I am actually a bit annoyed that I nowadays go at least 3x to toilette at night when I'm sleeping - something that never happened before my new life begun). Anyways, anybody noticed the same? Or, the opposite?

Love,

Flavia

[Re: Joyce]

You don't say how long ago you had surgery.  I noticed that my bladder capacity seems smaller, so I go a little more often.

      Having a catheter in for a week tends to mess up the normal workings and it takes a little time to get back to the way things are supposed to be.  I was told to try to "hold it" a little longer each time to help rebuild the muscles.

      I also had a lot of normal swelling in that area right after, so, in the beginning, it was difficult for me to tell when I had to go and when I didn't.  Sometimes, I'd think I really had to go, but it turned out I was mistaken.  It took a while for things to settle down and normal feelings and functions to restore themselves.

[missF]

Hi Joyce!

Oh, sure, of course when I had the surgery could make a difference. D'oh! It is quite recent, 3 weeks ago (26 days to be more precise  )

In my case, I do try to hold as much as I can (specially at night, when I'm too lazy to get up from my sleep. Actually, I'm lazy all the time to go there  ) even though I wasn't told anything regarding this matter. So far I had no false alarms... every time I have the urge to go to toilette I really need to and the urine goes in a nice flow (the flow was very messy and spraying all around only during the 1st few days after catheter was removed).

[Padma]

It's even affected by taking some time to fully clear the general anaesthetic out of your system. Give it time, and do your kegel exercises once you've been told it's okay to do those . During surgery and for a little while after, the muscles all get a bit floppy. And yes, do keep drinking more than you want to (but not tea/coffee/alcohol), it's very good for the body anyway, promotes healing, reduces the risk of urinary infection, and flushes out the anaesthetic faster.

[missF]

It's even affected by taking some time to fully clear the general anaesthetic out of your system. Give it time, and do your kegel exercises once you've been told it's okay to do those . During surgery and for a little while after, the muscles all get a bit floppy. And yes, do keep drinking more than you want to (but not tea/coffee/alcohol), it's very good for the body anyway, promotes healing, reduces the risk of urinary infection, and flushes out the anaesthetic faster.

I know I'm gonna be really arrogant now, but I'm pretty sure anesthesia has little effect to this, specially after 3 weeks... Anesthetic drugs generally speaking have short half life, so in few days there are minimum concentrations on the plasma, if all. Specially with the anesthetic protocol used in my surgery. (I work with anesthesia - not human, so I do have some knowledge about it )

However the drinking water advice is indeed useful, I know I should drink muuuuch more than what I drink nowadays. But then I will need to put my bed on the toilette and make that my bed room (and avoiding coffee is just impossible for me)

And after trying to be arrogant I will be very ignorant: I never heard, or never was told about those exercises. What they would be for? (i know, google is my friend, but nhaa...)

[Ann Onymous]

I don't remember any real increase in frequency, but if there was, it normalized a long time ago (I've been post almost as long as some on the board have been alive).

[Padma]

All I know is, all the times I've had general anaesthetic, it's taken at least a month to feel normal afterwards - and a month before I can stop tasting it! Bodies differ. As for Kegel exercises (to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles - but they also help with bladder retention):

http://www.kegelexercisesforwomen.com/

[Karynm8621]

Since SRS I go much more frequently. I also notice the urge "ramps" up quicker than it used too. In other words, when it's time to go it's time to go