Bladder Problems After Hysterectomy: Tips For Managing Your Symptoms

Having a hysterectomy can already be a traumatic experience. And once it's all over, there's nothing you want more than to rest and recover. But how can you do that when it feels as though your bladder is turning against you?

Bladder troubles after a hysterectomy can be incredibly uncomfortable and more than a little annoying. But with our management tips, hopefully, you can start to regain control over your bladder and say goodbye to your bathroom troubles for good.

Understanding Bladder Problems After A Hysterectomy

Bladder problems after a hysterectomy can involve a range of issues. These may include everything from feeling the need to pee more frequently to experiencing discomfort when you pee and urinary incontinence (leaks). This happens because the bladder sits close to the uterus, and when the uterus is removed, it can disturb the bladder's function.

Some of the changes in bladder control can develop because of the shifting of your pelvic organs, temporary swelling after surgery, and even nerve damage or changes.

For some women, bladder problems may mean needing to pee more often, having a sudden and intense urge to pee, or struggling to empty their bladder completely. In fact, the kind of troubles women struggle with usually depends on the individual woman and her set of circumstances.

How common are bladder problems after a hysterectomy?

Unfortunately, bladder troubles after a hysterectomy aren't uncommon. While most women won't experience long-term complications, there are plenty who notice a change in their bathroom habits. This is particularly true during the early stages of post-surgery recovery.

However, you don't need to panic if you experience some of these bladder issues. After all, your body is still adjusting after surgery, and for many women, these symptoms resolve themselves over time.

However, there are some cases where these will linger or appear much later - especially when there are underlying issues. These may include pelvic floor weakness, nerve damage, or hormonal changes. But there is always support available, and you should always talk with your GP, urologist, or physiotherapist.

7 Causes Of Bladder Troubles After Hysterectomy

After a hysterectomy, several factors can contribute to postoperative bladder dysfunction. It may be one or a combination of factors, which can also determine the severity of the issues you're experiencing.

1. Hormonal changes

If your hysterectomy involves removing your ovaries (oophorectomy), it's only natural that your body will experience a sudden drop in estrogen levels. This can affect both your bladder and the surrounding tissues since estrogen helps maintain the health and elasticity of your pelvic area.

With low estrogen, you may start to notice urine leakage, urgency, or discomfort when you pee. There is also a risk of vaginal atrophy, where the bladder tissues become thinner and more fragile. This may also lead to urinary troubles.

2. Pelvic floor dysfunction

The pelvic floor muscles are responsible for supporting your bladder, uterus, and other organs in the pelvis. However, a hysterectomy can make these muscles weaker and lead to pelvic floor dysfunction in some people

When the pelvic floor is damaged or weakened, it can cause difficulty in controlling the urge to pee or stress urinary incontinence. This is when you experience leaks because of pressure on the bladder caused by laughing, coughing, sneezing, or even exercising.

Luckily, with the help of certain exercises and physiotherapy, you can strengthen these muscles again and regain control of your bladder.

3. Urinary tract infections (UTIs)

Dealing with a urinary tract infection (or multiple UITs) after a hysterectomy is incredibly common, especially immediately after surgery. Usually, they're caused by postoperative urinary catheterisation, which creates a higher risk of bacterial growth within the bladder, leading to UTIs.

A UTI can lead to even more bladder problems, such as burning or pain when you pee, more frequent urination, bladder spasms, and general discomfort. That is why it's so important to stay hydrated after your surgery and keep an eye out for symptoms. If you notice any, let your GP/ surgeon know, since early antibiotic treatment can help prevent complications.

4. Bladder injury during surgery

In rare cases, your bladder may be injured during a hysterectomy because of how close it is to your uterus. When this happens, it can cause bladder problems like urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, ongoing discomfort, or finding it tricky to empty your bladder fully. Rarely, an additional surgical procedure to repair this damage may be necessary.

5. Changes in nerve function

The nerves controlling urination may sometimes get damaged during a hysterectomy. As a result, it can interrupt the communication between your bladder and brain, and cause bladder irritation and other problems.

Although these symptoms can sometimes improve over time, more severe cases may require further treatments or therapies to help restore bladder control.

6. Post-surgical adhesions

After any type of surgery around the pelvic area, there may be a risk of adhesions forming between the bladder and other organs. These adhesions, which are bands of scar tissue, can cause bladder issues by putting pressure on your bladder or limiting its ability to stretch properly when full.

The most common symptoms of post-surgical scar tissue are pain, discomfort, a constant feeling of pressure, or finding it tricky to fully empty your bladder.

7. Pre-existing bladder conditions

If you already had bladder issues before your hysterectomy, such as incontinence or an overactive bladder, they may continue after surgery but they may also get better.

Tips For Managing Bladder Troubles After Hysterectomy

If you're struggling with bladder issues, it may be time to manage your symptoms with a few handy tips and tricks. Of course, this doesn't mean you should neglect the advice of your doctor. Instead, you can work with your medical team to develop a comprehensive treatment and management plan to help reduce your discomfort and ease your symptoms.

It's important to remember that these tips may not eliminate the cause of your bladder troubles. Rather, they can help reduce the severity of your symptoms to make your condition more manageable in your day-to-day life.

Pelvic floor exercises

Your pelvic floor muscles are extremely important for supporting your bladder and helping you maintain control. This is particularly true when it comes to incontinence or leaks since they can help support a full bladder and tighten the bladder muscle to stop urine from leaking out.

However, after surgery, these muscles may be slightly weaker than before. Plus, if your ovaries have also been removed, they may naturally lose their strength and elasticity because of the quick decline in your estrogen levels.

There is a way to strengthen these muscles again, though. With pelvic floor exercises like Kegels, you can rebuild stronger and healthier muscles. While there are tonnes of tutorials for these exercises online, it may be best to work with a physiotherapist to learn how to do them safely after a hysterectomy.

Lifestyle changes

Dietary changes

When you're struggling with bladder troubles, one of the easiest things you can do is adjust your diet. Although this may sound like a big undertaking, it couldn't be simpler. All you need to do is avoid bladder irritants.

But what exactly are bladder irritants?

Well, what we eat and drink impacts our bladder health and can cause bladder inflammation, making your symptoms worse. Generally, you should stay away from:

• Spicy food

• Acidic foods

• Alcohol

• Caffeine (including caffeinated fizzy drinks and coffee)

Bladder training

Bladder training is a simple method of retraining and strengthening your bladder by scheduling your trips to the loo. It is best done under the supervision of a healthcare professional who can help you create a personalised plan. For example, you can start by allowing yourself to go to the toilet every hour. Then, you can gradually increase the time between your bathroom trips. This will help control your bladder's contractions and response to stimulus when it starts to fill.

Your healthcare professional will help you ensure that you never force yourself to wait if you are desperate for the loo. Getting the right balance is key as holding in urine for too long can have the opposite effect i.e. make it more likely that you'll have an accident and it can do more harm than good to your bladder.

Double voiding

Double voiding can help when you're struggling to empty your bladder completely. Usually, it involves sitting on the loo for a little while longer after you've peed and then trying to urinate again after around 30 seconds.

This technique can help ensure your bladder is as empty as it can be and may lower the risk of leaks. Double voiding can also reduce the likelihood of strong, sudden urges to run to the bathroom every few minutes.

Medications

Certain symptoms like bladder spasms are possible after a hysterectomy. Luckily, your surgeon or GP may be able to prescribe you certain medications to help manage these spasms and any other bladder troubles you may be facing.

Typically, these medications work by relaxing the bladder muscles so that they don't contract or spasm as often. So, by taking them as part of your recovery regime, you can experience relief from these uncomfortable sensations.

Incontinence products

Unfortunately, things like leaks may continue while you're recovering. They may even continue to happen during your treatment plan for your incontinence. That's why we came up with comfortable and discreet incontinence products to help you feel confident and dry all day long.

You can say goodbye to worrying about embarrassing leaks with our incontinence pads and totally leak-proof pants. These products are both super absorbent and perfect for use anywhere and everywhere - from the comfort of your home to the office or a fun night out.

FAQs

Will my overactive bladder go away on its own?

If your overactive bladder has been caused by your hysterectomy, it may end up resolving itself as you go through your healing journey. However, this isn't always the case.

Whether you have just started experiencing the symptoms of OAB, or it has been a persistent problem since your surgery, the best thing to do is discuss your symptoms with your doctor. They will be able to pinpoint the cause of your troubles and come up with a customised treatment plan.

Can bladder problems after a hysterectomy be permanent?

Some bladder problems may be permanent after surgery - especially if there is unavoidable damage to your bladder. Luckily, this doesn't mean that you have to struggle with discomfort or pain. Instead, your doctor may be able to prescribe certain medications or a management regime to relieve your symptoms. That way, you can continue to live your life with confidence.

Final Thoughts

Bladder problems may be tricky to navigate after a hysterectomy - especially when all you want to do is recover. But they don't have to feel like a punishment. Instead, with support from your doctors and our handy management tips, you can take control of your bladder and get rid of those pesky problems once and for all.

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