Introduction:
Bladder removal surgery, or radical cystectomy, is a major procedure performed to treat bladder cancer. The procedure brings a lot of changes to your daily routine. Also, it will affect your mental health. This article will provide valuable insights into how you can improve your mental health, how diet changes enhance healing, and how physical rehabilitation helps your recovery.
How to Manage Emotional Well-being After Bladder Removal?
After the bladder removal procedure, you may experience various emotions that are hard to handle. Here are some ways to care for your emotional well-being during the recovery period after cystectomy.
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Accept your feelings. It may take time to adapt to the situation after radical cystectomy. Your body undergoes a lot of changes after this major surgery. Give yourself sufficient time to process the feelings you have. Also, you can get support from your friends, family, or therapist to overcome this situation.
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Also, try to connect with people online or offline who have been through the same situation. It can help you discuss your feelings and motivate you.
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Get help from your loved ones. They will be ready to help, but they might not know how to help you. Communicate with them and tell them whenever you need help, like performing routine tasks, listening to you, etc. They will be happy to help you.
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Healing after cystectomy is a long process. Even small achievements after surgery are significant. For example, congratulate yourself on getting out of bed alone.
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Spend time on yourself. Engage in activities that relax and calm you. Read, listen to songs, or do any other form of relaxation.
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Mild exercises can help you stay motivated and relaxed. Before doing any exercises, discuss them with your doctor.
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Life after bladder removal surgery can be completely different, but that does not define who you are. So, give yourself time to process the emotional variations and become stronger than before.
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If you feel low or depressed for a long time (for more than two weeks), you can get help from a physician or mental health therapist. They will help you overcome the situation with proper treatment.
How Can You Modify Your Diet After Surgery to Improve Your Health?
We know that diet contributes to the big picture during the healing phase after any form of surgery.
Below are some tips on diet to improve your health after surgery -
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Drinking water is essential after any type of surgery, but this is particularly true with bladder removal surgery, to avoid infection.
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Practice eating small quantities at regular intervals to prevent any discomfort or bloating. After surgery, your digestive system will take time to return to its routine, so avoid three big, larger meals.
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Avoid alcohol or caffeine, which may irritate your new urinary output system.
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Also, include a fiber-rich diet. Constipation is a common problem faced by many individuals following surgery. Include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and so on to help you manage constipation.
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To increase your protein intake, you should include protein-rich foods like lean meat, eggs, and milk products. Protein is a nutrient that helps with tissue repair.
How Does Physical Therapy Help Improve Your Life After Surgery?
Physical rehabilitation focuses on improving strength, flexibility, and movement. Proper rehabilitation techniques help patients overcome the hardships they face after surgery.
Let us discuss the ways to restore your strength after bladder removal-
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Light exercises like walking slowly or moving your ankles and legs can help avoid stiffness. It also improves blood circulation.
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As days go by, increase your exercise intensity from mild to moderate, including brisk walking, stretching exercises, etc. This will also help improve your cardiac function.
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Bladder removal surgery weakens your abdominal muscles. So, practice core-strengthening exercises to strengthen your abdominal and pelvic floor muscles.
Why Is Sexual Health Affected by Bladder Surgery?
During your bladder surgery, along with the bladder, your doctor might remove structures associated with reproductive and sexual health. This affects your sexual function. After the treatment, you will get instructions about when you can have sex again and whether you will face any issues during sex. Most women will not experience any changes after bladder removal, but men may experience certain complications. While having sex for the first time post-surgery, you may feel uncomfortable. Your partner worries about hurting you and might be nervous. You may feel anxious since you know how your body will react. The best thing to do is to communicate with your partner about your feelings and make it easy for both.
Among men, if the bladder is removed due to cancer, then the surrounding structures like the prostate and seminal tubes are removed. It means you cannot ejaculate because the structures that carry the semen are removed. Also, men may experience erectile dysfunction. This is because nerve damage during surgery is more prevalent. You can handle this with the help of medications or a vacuum pump to erect your penis. However, sometimes nerve damage will reverse on its own.
Among women, if cancer has spread, then the doctor might remove the uterus, cervix, and part of the vagina along with the bladder. This results in menopause leading to dryness of the vagina.
What Changes Do You Have to Make to Adapt to Your New Life After Surgery?
Life after bladder removal is not easy. Well, I am not exaggerating. You will have to go through a lot of changes after surgery. Take help from your friends or relatives till you adapt to your new lifestyle, and you can ask for any advice from individuals who have already overcome this situation.
Conclusion:
So far, we have learned how to manage mental health issues after bladder surgery and the required diet changes after surgery. We have also learned how physical rehabilitation helps improve physical health during recovery. So, if you underwent bladder removal surgery, stay strong, adapt to your new routine, and lead a healthier life.
Key Takeaway/Note from Icliniq
Undergoing a cystectomy affects your overall health, but you can overcome it with proper guidance and support. We at iCliniq have far more experienced doctors who can help you overcome the difficulties associated with cystectomy and live healthily for years.
