HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

Suggest Remedies For Urinary Incontinence After Gallbladder Surgery

Posted on Mon, 25 Jul 2016

Question: Hello - I am a 67 year old healthy and fit male and had my gallstone bladder removed 10 days ago - I was sent home the same day. For the last 6 nights I have been totally incontinent (urine) and have had to get up at night at least 9 times to try to urinate, without much success (I am wearing incontinence pads). I thus get very little sleep. There are no signs of improvement as yet so will this improve and is there anything I can do or take to alleviate this nighttime problem ? This is very frustrating as I have experienced no other problems. I saw a doctor 2 days ago and he tested my urine which showed no infections but his advice was to put up with it for at least another week.
Thanks for any help you can give. XXXX

Answered by Dr. Baranidharan Kuselan (26 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Ruled out enlarged prostate

Detailed Answer:
Hi there,
Thanks for posting in HCM.
I am Dr.Barani and I am pleased to assist you.

Enlarged prostate is one of the common causes of urinary incontinence in elderly males.
An ultrasound scan of abdomen/pelvis may be done to look for enlarged prostate.
If the scan shows enlarged prostate, Prostate specific antigen test and uroflometry tests are to be done.
For benign enlargement of prostate, medications are enough to control symptoms in milder cases. In severe cases surgery has to be done.

Infection which is another cause is ruled out in your case.

Regards,
Dr.Barani

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Veerisetty Shyamkumar

Follow up: Dr. Baranidharan Kuselan (23 hours later)

Thank you for your answer re my problems with severe urine incontinence after my gall bladder removal operation - thankfully the prostate and infection are not a cause.

Daytime everything is now almost fine.

As to the nightly urine continence problems (sadly still ongoing) is there any advice you can give :

1) as to how much longer it might take to get back to normal

2) any help regarding possible medication and diet to speed the healing process up

3) anything else that might help.

Thanks XXXX

Answered by Dr. Baranidharan Kuselan (22 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Answer given below

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Good to know that you neither have prostate issue nor infection.
I presume you do not have diabetes too as high high blood sugar also causes increased nighttime urination.

Try to restrict fluid intake few hours before sleep.
Avoid alcohol.
Avoid caffeine.
These steps may help you to control your nighttime urination.

If symptom persists then you may to have to undergo tests for cardiac issues, sleep apnea and pituitary hormones.

Regards,
Dr.Barani

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Baranidharan Kuselan (29 hours later)

Thankfully, I do not have diabetes, as this was tested before my gallbladder operation.

Are you able to give me any information as to approximately how much longer this incontinence is likely to last, as of now (2 weeks after my operation) there has still been no improvement.

If there is no improvement in the next week, I will then try to see my own local doctor for what to do next.

Answered by Dr. Baranidharan Kuselan (22 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Answer given below

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
We still do not know the cause for increased nighttime urination.
We have ruled out all the common causes - Prostate enlargement, infection and diabetes mellitus.

Increased nighttime urination after surgery is not expected in all cases.
Moreover your symptoms have persisted for more than 2 weeks now.
So a proper evaluation is necessary.
You can follow the simple measures I have given in my previous post.
- Try to restrict fluid intake few hours before sleep.
- Avoid alcohol.
- Avoid caffeine.

Maintain a bladder diary.
This will help us know whether the bladder is overreacting or normally acting.
Please note down the following for three consecutive days.
- Record the type and amount of fluids you drink
- Record the time and amount of urine you pass during all the three days and night
- Record any leakage of urine and the circumstances
- Record whether you had any urge to pass urine before leakage.

This diary will help to know why you are urinating more in the night in the absence of prostate enlargement, infection, diabetes , in spite of not taking alcohol and caffeine.

Further management can be planned based on this.

Regards,
Dr.Barani

Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Veerisetty Shyamkumar