Prostate surgery is done for two very different reasons: to open the channel in severe BPH (e.g. TURP, laser) or to remove the gland in cancer (radical prostatectomy). The recovery is not the same. What they have in common is this: the plan is written by the surgeon who operated on you, not by a blog and not by a capsule.
This article is for informational purposes and does not replace post-operative advice. Food supplements are not medicines and do not speed up the healing of the anastomosis. If you have a fever or heavy bleeding, or cannot urinate after the catheter is removed — call right away. Results are individual.
When medicine even considers surgery
In BPH, surgery is planned if medicines stop working or cause side effects, or if there are bladder stones, recurrent bleeding, frequent infections or acute retention with a catheter. Age, the size of the gland and other medicines factor into the choice of technique.
In cancer, radical prostatectomy is one of the options for localized disease. It is done as open surgery, laparoscopically or robotically. The goal is to remove the gland and, when needed, the lymph nodes — not “an herbal cleanse before bed.”
The catheter and the first weeks
After open radical surgery, the connection between the bladder and the urethra needs time. The catheter often stays in for about two to three weeks (older series also mention 21 days). With laparoscopic and robotic techniques the wound is smaller, and in some men the catheter is removed around the fifth day — if the surgeon judges that the connection is holding. These figures are a guide, not a promise.
After TURP the catheter usually stays in for a shorter time, with irrigation until the urine clears. Red urine in the first days is common; clots that block the catheter, fever or inability to urinate after it is removed are urgent signs.
Possible after-effects to be prepared for
Temporary incontinence after radical surgery is common while the pelvic floor relearns its job. A physical therapist shows you the exercises; don’t start them by forcing through pain. Erectile function may be absent for months; the nerve-sparing technique helps in selected men, but it is no guarantee. Retrograde ejaculation is expected after many BPH operations: orgasm remains, but the semen goes back into the bladder. Fertility is a topic to raise before surgery if you are planning to have children.
Bowel trouble, wound pain and fatigue are part of the early period. Permanent incontinence or erectile dysfunction is discussed with the team — there are medical options. Don’t cover them up with unproven “male formulas” while the wound heals.
Practical rules surgeons keep repeating
- Don’t sit on hard surfaces for long; get up and take short, frequent walks.
- Avoid constipation: water, fiber, a medicine you are allowed — straining puts pressure on the connection.
- Hot, heavily spiced food and alcohol often irritate the bladder in the first weeks.
- Don’t lift anything heavy (usually over 5 kg, until you are told otherwise).
- In the first week there is often no driving; cycling and horseback riding are put off for longer.
- Loose underwear, with no tight seam over the crotch.
- Shower as instructed; sitz baths only if you are allowed.
- Drink enough fluids if you have been told to flush your bladder — the exact amount comes from the team, not a “mandatory 3 liters” for everyone.
- Take your medicines after discharge as written, including prophylaxis if you were given it.
Sex life and self-confidence
Ask when it is safe to try having sex. After radical surgery, the timing is individual. Erection rehabilitation (medicines, vacuum, injections) is led by a urologist, not by a supplement. For habits, stress and herbal support later, once the surgeon gives the green light, see natural solutions for potency and libido.
Nutrition after healing — no oncological promises
A varied plate, lean protein, vegetables, tomatoes as food, pumpkin seeds as food, enough zinc from your diet — that is reasonable. Extracts of saw palmetto, pomegranate or nettle do not “fix” a removed gland and are not a medicine against recurrence. If, months later at a follow-up, you talk about urinary comfort or general vitality, the categories Men’s health and possibly zinc are nutrition, not a post-operative protocol.
Don’t start a new supplement while you are taking an anticoagulant or an antibiotic, or while the catheter is in — unless the surgeon says so.
Two different recoveries: TURP and radical surgery
After TURP or laser surgery for BPH, the gland is partly hollowed out, not removed. Urine is pink in the first days. The stream is usually freer even before you go home, but the irritation — a frequent urge, burning — can last for weeks while the wound in the channel heals. Retrograde ejaculation is common and permanent in many men: orgasm remains, fertility changes. If you are planning to have children, the conversation happens before the procedure, not after.
After a radical prostatectomy there is no prostate. PSA should fall toward undetectable if the entire gland was removed and there is no residual disease. Follow-ups are a calendar, not a mood. Continence is learned all over again: pads in the first weeks are the norm, not something to be ashamed of. A pelvic floor physical therapist is an ally. Erections return more slowly because the nerves have been stretched or cut; rehabilitation starts when the surgeon says so, often with medicines urology knows, not with an internet booster.
In the early period, diet is the same in both stories: prevent constipation, drink as much as you have been told, avoid alcohol while the wound is fresh. The difference is that after cancer you will hear about PSA, and after BPH about the stream and residual urine. Don’t mix forum advice for “one” type of surgery with the “other.”
Write down your return to work, sex and sports as dates the team gave you. If something wasn’t said, ask — don’t assume you are “strong enough.” The strength here is patience.
Home logistics are underestimated. Get pads ready before you are discharged, a clear path to the toilet at night, and someone to drive you to your first follow-up. Drink as instructed, but don’t experiment with “detox teas” that drive diuresis while the catheter is in. If you live on an upper floor with no elevator, say so before discharge — the surgeon will assess whether you need help in the first days. Your partner often carries the burden of care; include them in the instructions on the catheter and constipation, so you don’t learn from videos of dubious origin. Write the ward’s number on paper next to your bed, together with the time of the next follow-up and the instructions on the catheter, constipation, showering and lifting heavy things in the first week at home right after discharge.
Frequently asked questions
- When can I go back to work?
- After endoscopic BPH surgery, often after two to four weeks for a desk job. After radical surgery — depending on the technique and any complications, often longer. The surgeon signs off, not the wish to be “strong.”
- Is it normal to leak urine after the catheter is removed?
- Temporarily yes, especially after a prostatectomy. Pads, exercises with a physical therapist, and patience. If there is no stream at all or you have a fever — go back right away.
- When will my erections come back?
- From weeks to 12–24 months, or not completely. Early rehabilitation is planned by the urologist. Don’t double the dose of herbs.
- Can I drink coffee?
- Many men tolerate it in small amounts after the first few days. If it burns or sends you to the toilet every five minutes, hold off.
- Does Prostatol speed up recovery?
- No. It is not a medicine for the wound, continence or cancer. Talking about a supplement comes only after the surgeon gives the green light, and only as nutrition.
- When is the follow-up?
- After cancer, PSA is monitored on an agreed schedule. After BPH, the stream and residual urine are checked. Don’t skip the appointment because you “feel fine.”
- Can I do ab exercises?
- Not while you are not allowed to lift. First walking, then the pelvic floor, then strength — in that order.
This article is for informational purposes and does not replace medical advice. Food supplements are not medicines. Follow your surgeon’s instructions. Results are individual.
