STRONG URGE to pee months post-op?

[Guest DesiB]

Do we have any experienced post-op ladies who, several months after surgery, whenever they felt the need to pee felt that need more severely than ever before?

I know I do not have muscle control issues--I can still stop the flow midstream when I try. And I can hold it with focused effort. Because of my previous career in fire/ems, I was often on emergency runs for hours at a time and have always been able to hold on for very long periods of time. But now I can get the severely strong urge within 30 minutes of urinating and not even having drank much afterward. As an EMT and former paramedic I am also very aware of the effects of diuretics, but I have not had any recent changes in diet, medication, or hormones, although I have been working out at a gradually increased level and am beginning to lose a reasonable amount of weight, but nothing drastic.

If it persists or continues to get worse, I'll call my doc/gyno. But thought I'd see if this sounds familiar to anyone here first. Thanks!

Desi

[~Nova~]

I have always had the smallest bladder in the world. When I have to go, I have to go. The only difference I have noticed is the urge to go feels different. The urge is in a different area and it takes me a few seconds/minutes to figure out the odd feeling.

[Drea]

You mentioned feeling the need fairly soon (30 min) after urinating, can you go then when it happens? Like is it a real feeling or is the urge there but not able to go or if you it is very little?

The only thing that occurs to me is a bladder infection or urinary tract infection since such is much more likely after SRS. Feeling like needing to go, and not really needing to is an early symptom as well as a stronger sensation as needing to go when you do need to.

[Guest DesiB]

You mentioned feeling the need fairly soon (30 min) after urinating, can you go then when it happens? Like is it a real feeling or is the urge there but not able to go or if you it is very little?

The only thing that occurs to me is a bladder infection or urinary tract infection since such is much more likely after SRS. Feeling like needing to go, and not really needing to is an early symptom as well as a stronger sensation as needing to go when you do need to.

So far, every time I've felt the need, I have been able to go, if I didn't try to hold it longer. But I'll keep that in mind.

[Drea]

Another thought, it is so normal to me now that it didn't cross my mind. I experience what I think of as three bladders. As I relax to urinate and start to pee, it runs till it feels done and it stops. But then I feel a slight need to go still and if I relax I go some more. The same sort of thing happens and relaxing once more go some more. Then I am done.

I have no idea why that happens, but it started after surgery. It is just normal now. If for some reason I don't go thru all three levels, all three bladders, I will end up feeling like I need to go very soon afterwards.

[Guest DesiB]

That's interesting. I'll be sure to give it some extra time at the end and see if that makes a difference.

Another suggestion I've heard is that women obviously have less erectile tissue surrounding the urethra to aid in 'holding it back.' But I know my surgeon intentionally left a certain amount just for that purpose. And I know it functions because I am able to have those 'U-spot' orgasms. I wonder though, if over time that may become less responsive and cause me to have less control without more effort?

[Guest DanD]

Well, I am not post op on any bottom type surgery but it would just seem to make sense that for some time, youd have inflammation issues, and nerves reconnecting and things going on with all those organs and tissues and skin down there...

I would imagine that any kind of pressure or nerve thing could set off a feeling like an urge to pee. ot even some kind of urinary infection or kidney infection can do that too.

after my chest surgery i had twitches and itches and various feelings going on here and there from it, it was just the chest things healing.

of course, you should always mention anything to your doctor like that, but i wouldnt worry too much about it, as I'd guess its normal at least sometimes in some cases.

[Guest DesiB]

Well, I am not post op on any bottom type surgery but it would just seem to make sense that for some time, youd have inflammation issues, and nerves reconnecting and things going on with all those organs and tissues and skin down there...

I would imagine that any kind of pressure or nerve thing could set off a feeling like an urge to pee. ot even some kind of urinary infection or kidney infection can do that too.

after my chest surgery i had twitches and itches and various feelings going on here and there from it, it was just the chest things healing.

of course, you should always mention anything to your doctor like that, but i wouldnt worry too much about it, as I'd guess its normal at least sometimes in some cases.

I didn't have this feeling back when I still had the inflammation and the nerves were reconnecting, etc. It's something I've only noticed very recently.

[Guest Jenni_S]

I've had the same thing, and coming up on three years now. Somewhat similar to what Drea described, but only two "emptyings," I guess you could call it, where whatever made you have to go comes out, pause, and then the rest. I've learned that when I do feel that I have to go, I'd better do it SOON! But it didn't take long to get used to, either; just second nature now.

[Guest DesiB]

I've had the same thing, and coming up on three years now. Somewhat similar to what Drea described, but only two "emptyings," I guess you could call it, where whatever made you have to go comes out, pause, and then the rest. I've learned that when I do feel that I have to go, I'd better do it SOON! But it didn't take long to get used to, either; just second nature now.

Glad to hear it! It's probably nothing to worry about--I'll just have to stop being so stubborn about how long I think I should be able to hold it

[Guest Leah1026]

Most people have similar issues immediately post-op and we adjust. Having them 3 months later is odd. Urgency is a symptom of having a UTI, have you been checked for that?

[Guest DesiB]

Most people have similar issues immediately post-op and we adjust. Having them 3 months later is odd. Urgency is a symptom of having a UTI, have you been checked for that?

Yeah, I've heard about it and thought I was fortunate to have skipped such issues (for 6 months actually). But if it persists, I'll definitely look into the possibility of a UTI. Thanks!

[Guest DesiB]

I actually feel kind of embarrassed for even bringing this up now, since the intensity has definitely decreased since Saturday. But I did call this morning and I'll see my general practitioner at noon today. I found that there is an over-the-counter test I could buy for $10. But then I'd still end up needing to see my doctor with a $30 copay, so I'll just go straight there and skip the self test.

I have asked this same question on two forums over the weekend and so far have found no one else who has experienced the same pattern, so I am convinced this is NOT related to my surgery. Most people have any urination issues immediately afterward, if at all--I didn't have any. No one else recovers and has totally normal function then 6 months later develops a sudden strong urge to urinate. I've never experienced a UTI myself, but I have had kidney stones in the past, including once in the past 6 month and several times over the past 2 decades.

Thanks for all the advice, and I'll let you know what I find out.

Desi

[JJ]

Since I have lots of UTIs due to an anomaly, probably from genital revision surgery as a small child, I am really familiar with them and how to keep them from developing. If your Dr confirms it then you'll recognize the feeling next time, If you take cranberry pills-Crandopholis works best for me-from the first moment you feel it then you can head it off. For me works 100% but you still need to see a Dr now to confirm and because if that it what you are feeling it may need an anti-biotic once established,

The cranberry pills have lots of anti-oxidents and no side effects so they can't hurt anyway. Just don't substitute them for medical care please

Johnny

[Guest DesiB]

UTI CONFIRMED

My young doctor who is both a general practitioner and a gynecologist, has been very good about showing compassion toward me as her patient and an eagerness to learn whatever she needs to take care of any special needs I many have. She said my urine had some blood in it and an increased amount of white blood cells, indicating an infection. She also understood and explained that with a shorter urethra I'll now be more susceptible to UTIs since my urine now has a shorter distance before getting backed up into my bladder than it had before. Makes sense.

[Drea]

Good to hear you found out what it is. You can get some treatement and be done with it. Be thankful if the sense of urgency wasn'tconstnatl. Such things can be very uncomfortable. I;ve had half a doxen and usually try to react quickly when I suspect I might have one. Sometimes they feel a bit different.

Post SRS, like women in general, you will be more succeptible to such. In my experience dialating increases the risk as it adds foriegn matter down there.

Cranberry juice is supposed to help. I found that if I let myself get a bit dehydrated I could almost predict I would get one. So I make an effort to keep hydrated and it hasn't been a problem.

[Guest Leah1026]

In my experience dialating increases the risk as it adds foriegn matter down there.

That's poppycock. As long as one follows proper procedure during dilation and thoroughly cleans their dilators after each use this is NOT an issue.

I'm about 5 years out and have never had an issue.

What does increase the occurence of UTI's is use of human dilators. Your sexual partners are much more likely to give you a UTI than dilation.

[Drea]

In my experience dialating increases the risk as it adds foriegn matter down there.

That's poppycock. As long as one follows proper procedure during dilation and thoroughly cleans their dilators after each use this is NOT an issue.

I'm about 5 years out and have never had an issue.

I am glad my experience never happened, I am so relieved.

Seriously, it is obvious it hasn't been a problem for you so this has given you experience as to the contributing effects?

I wouldn't consider what I experienced to be much of a problem either, but I figure I have gotten some sense of contributing factors with my experiences.

Cleanliness of the dialator is far from the only meas by which material can get in there to cause problems.

I by no means suggested dialating was the primary cause, but I will stick by it being a contributing factpr. I would say avoiding getting dehydrated is the best way to avoid such (assuming otherwise good hygene).

For all I know, it could be some surgical complication that is the biggest contributor.

Somehow I suspect being 5 years out would change my view on this, but anything is possible.

[Guest Sarah E]

Apart from the feeling to go being in slightly different place, I haven't noticed any real difference in peeing as a post op than it was as a pre op. The motion is exactly the same and I can hold on for ages to the point where it actually starts to hurt. I rarely hang on that long though as it's not good for you, but I have had to a few times. I've had a few UTI's but nothing really bad and some of them have been very mild and have cleared on their own without medication. The worst one was about 2 years ago and it was very uncomfortable and I was passing a lot of blood which was scary. I'm very fussy about which toilets I'll use which I think has helped me to avoid more infections, but they're always a risk for any woman. I drink at least 2.5 litres of water each day which means I need to pee a lot but I find that helps me to stay more healthy "down there".

[Guest inaminutehoney]

Do we have any experienced post-op ladies who, several months after surgery, whenever they felt the need to pee felt that need more severely than ever before?

I know I do not have muscle control issues--I can still stop the flow midstream when I try. And I can hold it with focused effort. Because of my previous career in fire/ems, I was often on emergency runs for hours at a time and have always been able to hold on for very long periods of time. But now I can get the severely strong urge within 30 minutes of urinating and not even having drank much afterward. As an EMT and former paramedic I am also very aware of the effects of diuretics, but I have not had any recent changes in diet, medication, or hormones, although I have been working out at a gradually increased level and am beginning to lose a reasonable amount of weight, but nothing drastic.

If it persists or continues to get worse, I'll call my doc/gyno. But thought I'd see if this sounds familiar to anyone here first. Thanks!

Desi

I'm 4.5 months post-OP. For the first 3.5 months I had a frequent urge to urinate but there were several factors which could have caused this.

I had a meatal stricture about 7 weeks after surgery, leading to acute urinary retention which had to be treated in the ER first and later with a meatotomy. This was hell. Also, I had to wear a suprapubic catheter after I was discharged because I couldn't pee. This was obviously causes by swelling of the urethral opening. Happens in 50 percent of the patients, I was told. And last, I had a UTI from wearing the catheter for 3.5 weeks.

I feel much better now, the urge to urinate seems to get better. I don't have nycturia anymore. I also avoid coffee, citric fruits, alcohol, anything which could irritate the bladder.