Enlarged Prostate

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What to Expect After Surgery

Immediately after the surgery you will be taken to the recovery room. When you are fully awake and stable you will be transferred to your hospital room.

  • Post Operative Pain: Although you will not experience any pain from the actual resection of the prostate, you may have bladder spasms (pressure or cramping pain in the lower abdomen) from the urinary catheter that will be left in place after surgery. You may experience some discomfort and burning at the meatus (tip of the penis). Your urine may be bloody and you may see shreds of tissue pass into the bag. This is normal. Medicationn can be given to relieve the discomfort from bladder spasms.
  • Nausea: You may experience some nausea related to the anesthesia or pain medication. Medication is available to treat persistent nausea.
  • Diet: You can expect to have an intravenous catheter (IV) until you are tolerating fluids. An IV is a small tube placed into your vein so that you can receive necessary fluids and stay well hydrated, in addition to providing a way to receive medication. Most patients are able to tolerate liquids the evening of surgery.
  • Fatigue: Fatigue is common and should start to subside in a few weeks as you increase your activity.
  • Incentive Spirometry: If general anesthesia is used, you will be expected to do some breathing exercises to help prevent respiratory infections by using an incentive spirometry device (these exercises will be explained to you during your hospital stay). Coughing and deep breathing are an important part of your recuperation and help to prevent pneumonia.
  • Ambulation: It is very important to get out of bed and gradually increase your walking activity. This will reduce the risk of forming blood clots in the legs.
  • Urination: After your surgery, you will have a urinary catheter, called a Foley, in your penis (narrow, hollow tube which drains urine from the bladder to the outside). This catheter will be connected to a drain bag, and the urine will be pink or even red. When the irrigation fluid is discontinued, you may see more blood in your urine, which is normal.