Week 1: The catheter period
You'll go home with a catheter. Most men keep it for 7 to 14 days. It's uncomfortable. It's annoying. It's also doing important work by keeping the surgical site still while the initial healing happens.
During this time, your job is simple. Walk. Rest. Stay hydrated. Don't try to be tough about it.
What to do with the catheter in
- Walk for 10 to 15 minutes, 2 to 3 times a day. Slow is fine. This prevents blood clots and keeps your body moving.
- Drink enough water. Your urine should be light yellow. Dark urine means you're not drinking enough.
- Don't lift anything heavier than 10 pounds. No groceries, no kids, no laundry baskets.
- Sleep with pillows that keep you comfortable. On your back with a pillow under your knees works well for most men.
- Keep the catheter bag below your bladder level at all times.
What NOT to do
- Don't start kegels yet. Your tissues need to heal first. Wait until the catheter is out and your doctor clears you.
- Don't strain on the toilet. Use a stool softener if you need one.
- Don't sit for long stretches. Get up every 30 to 45 minutes.
- Don't compare your recovery to anyone else's. The guy on the forum who was "dry in 3 days" is either lying or an outlier.
Get the house ready
- Male incontinence guards (not women's pads) and pull-up style underwear.
- A waterproof mattress protector.
- Loose, dark, soft clothing.
- A small toilet stool, flushable wipes, and the stool softener your surgical team recommends.
Stock up on male incontinence pads before the catheter comes out. Not female pads. Male pads are shaped differently and catch leaks where men actually leak. You'll go through several a day at first. That number drops as you get stronger.
Ask your surgeon
- How long will my catheter stay in?
- When can I restart pelvic floor exercises?
- What leaking should I expect the first month, and when should I call?
- What are my lifting and activity limits?
- Who do I call, day or night?
The emotional reality
Nobody prepares you for how this feels. You beat cancer. You should feel grateful. And you do. But you also feel frustrated, embarrassed, and angry that your body won't cooperate.
Some men get depressed during this period. Some withdraw from their partners. Some stop going out because they're afraid of an accident in public. If that's you, you're not weak. You're dealing with a real loss of function and it takes a toll.
Talk to someone. Your partner, a friend, a therapist, a support group. The men who recover fastest are usually the ones who don't try to do it alone.
What comes next
Week 2 is when the catheter comes out. After that, gentle pelvic floor work starts once your doctor gives the green light, and the plan builds week by week from there. That is the rest of the program, with a video for every exercise.