What happens during this surgery?

You will be given medicine to make you sleepy and not feel pain. There are two ways to remove the prostate. The prostate can be removed with special tools through small cuts in the abdomen or a larger incision will be made to remove the prostate gland. Your doctor will decide which is best for you. You will be required to stay in the hospital for 2-5 days after the surgery.

How do I take care of myself after the operation?

• You may drink whatever you wish but avoid all carbonated beverages for the next 3-5 days.
• Do not drink alcohol such as beer, wine or vodka.  
• You may eat your normal meals. Avoid constipation by adding more fiber in your diet.
• Drink at least 8glasses of water a day.
• You may take long walks and go up and down stairs. No heavy lifting or stressful activity for six weeks.
• You will go home with a catheter in place. You will be given instructions on how to care for the catheter before you leave the hospital. The catheter will remain in for 2 to 3 weeks.
• You may shower when you get home.
• You will also go home with support stockings. You can remove these when you shower. You can stop wearing them in 4 weeks.
• You can resume driving in 5 weeks -unless otherwise indicated by your doctor.
• Six weeks after surgery you may resume your normal activities.
• Take the medicines you were given at discharge as written on the bottle.

What are important symptoms?

Common Symptoms -Expect these symptoms when you return home:

• Bloody discharge around the catheter when you strain to have a bowel movement.
• A small amount of blood in the urine bag. Drink plenty of fluids and this should stop.
• Leaking around the catheter is normal. This can be managed with a pad.
• Pain in the abdominal/perineal area will resolve over time. Try to avoid activities that bring it on.
• Scrotal swelling, lie down and place a towel beneath the scrotum to ease this.

Serious Symptoms -Call tyour doctor or go to an Emergency Department right away:

• Infection at the catheter site. If you see pus or large amounts of bloody drainage, call us right away.
• Blood clots in the urine.
• No urine draining into the bag.
• Pain that does not go away with the prescribed pain medicines.
• If you have a foul smelling drainage from the incision, redness around the wound or develop fevers callus right away.
• If you have swelling, pain or redness in the legs, shortness of breath, chest pain or coughing up blood, call911 or go to the Emergency Room right away.