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How can you care for yourself when you have urinary retention after surgery?
- If you did not go home with a catheter, drink fluids and spread them throughout the day. Also, avoid drinking a lot at bedtime.
- If you did go home with a catheter, drink fluids regularly throughout the day.
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine.
- Do what your doctor tells you to do for your catheter. Wash your hands before and after you touch the catheter.
- Be safe with medicines. Take your medicines exactly as prescribed.
- Check with your doctor before you use any over-the-counter medicines. Many cold and allergy medicines can make this problem worse. Make sure that your doctor knows all of the medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbal remedies you take.
Urinary retention after surgery: When to call
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
- You did not go home with a catheter and:
- You can't urinate at all.
- It's getting harder to urinate.
- You haven't passed urine for 6 hours.
- You went home with a catheter and:
- The catheter is not draining in the bag.
- Urine is not coming out.
- The urine is going around the outside of the catheter.
- You have symptoms of a urinary tract infection. These may include:
- Pain or burning when you urinate.
- A need to urinate without being able to pass much urine.
- Pain in the flank, which is just below the rib cage and above the waist on either side of the back.
- Blood in your urine.
- A fever.
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
- You have any problems passing urine or with your catheter.
- You do not get better as expected.
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The content above contains general health information provided by Healthwise, Incorporated, and reviewed by its medical experts. This content should not replace the advice of your healthcare provider. Not all treatments or services described are offered as services by us. For recommended treatments, please consult your healthcare provider.