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Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP): Home Recovery
TESTS AND PROCEDURES

Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP): Home Recovery

December 17, 2017

Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP): Home Recovery

Older couple sitting on couch.Take it easy for the first month or so while you heal after transurethral resection of the prostate. During the first few weeks, you may feel burning when you pass urine. You may also feel like you have to urinate often. These sensations will go away. If your urine becomes bright red, it means that the treated area is bleeding. This may happen on and off for a month or so after a TURP. If this occurs, rest and drink plenty of fluids until the bleeding stops.

While you are healing

To help prevent problems during the first month after your surgery, follow these tips:

  • Drink plenty of fluids.

  • Avoid strenuous exercise.

  • Don’t lift anything over 10 pounds.

  • Avoid sexual activity and strenuous exercise.

  • Avoid straining at stool. If you are constipated, take stool softeners or laxatives for a few days.

  • Talk to your doctor about when you can return to work.

  • Ask your doctor when you can start driving again.

  • Don’t sit for more than 60 minutes without getting up.

  • Check with your doctor before taking over-the-counter pain relievers. These include aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen.

Follow-up care

You will visit your doctor to make sure you are healing without problems. If tests were done on your prostate tissue your doctor will discuss the results with you.

 

When to call your healthcare provider

Call your healthcare provider right away if any of these occur:

  • You’re not able to urinate, or notice a decrease in urine flow

  • You have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as directed by your doctor

  • You have severe pain that is not relieved by prescription pain medicine

  • You have bleeding that doesn’t stop within 12 hours

  • You have bleeding with clots, or blood plugs up the catheter. (A little blood in the urine is normal.)

  • The catheter falls out

Getting back to sex

BPH and its treatments rarely cause problems with sex. Even if you have retrograde ejaculation, your erection or orgasm shouldn’t feel any different than it used to. Retrograde ejaculation can result in infertility, as the semen will not come out of the penis. If you notice any problems with sex, talk to your doctor. Help may be available.

Trouble controlling your urine

Some men will have trouble controlling their urine (urinary incontinence) after this surgery. This may last for a few days, weeks, or months, but it will improve with time. You may also pass your urine more often (urinary frequency), like you did before the surgery. This will also improve as you start to heal.

Updated:  

December 17, 2017

Reviewed By:  

Goode, Paula, RN, BSN, MSN,Greenstein, Marc, DO,Image reviewed by StayWell art team.