Maybe you are interested in surgery for your leaking. You’ve decided you are ready (if you aren’t, check out my post on things to consider while getting ready). But as you make the decision to move forward, you want to know what to expect after surgery. Few of us have surgery frequently and the idea is often frightening. So what can you expect while you recover after a midurethral sling surgery for bladder leaking?
Everyone is a little different
Know that surgery and recovery are a different experience for everyone. And there is a range of experiences that are normal. Women that have medical diagnoses such as fibromyalgia or a history of trauma frequently have more pain after surgery. And recovery, even after a small procedure like a sling surgery, is always impacted by your social support. Women with a good social support system always have an easier road after surgery. Trying to manage your daily life- family, kids and work- on top of recovering from surgery is a daunting task.
Right after surgery
A sling surgery, when done without other procedures, takes less than one hour to perform. It is almost always done as an outpatient, meaning that you go home on the same day. You will recover for a few hours after the sling surgery in the hospital or surgery center. During this time, you will wake up from anesthesia and the nursing staff will evaluate pain and nausea. It can be harder to empty your bladder when recovering from a sling surgery, so it is important to make sure that you are emptying well before you go home. Some women have trouble emptying for 24-48 hours. Once you are feeling well and emptying well, you will be sent home.
Recovery when you are at home after sling surgery
While you recover after the sling surgery, you will be able to take care of yourself at home. Most women experience pain behind the pubic bone. Many will describe this like significant period cramps. Heat and over the counter pain medication like ibuprofen and tylenol should control the pain well.
You will have some vaginal bleeding for a week or two after surgery. This is common but it should not be heavy. You may also notice significant bruising around your pubic bone. If the bleeding is heavy or increases, you should contact your physician.
A surgery for leaking almost always changes the way that you empty. It is common to feel like your urine stream is a little slower or takes a second longer to start. All of this is normal. It should not be hard to empty. If you are having trouble emptying, contact your surgeon. In <4% of cases, the sling can be placed too tightly and may need to be loosened. Urinary tract infections after sling surgery are common. If you have burning with urination of frequency, you should be evaluated.
Every surgeon has slightly different activity restrictions after surgery. I ask my patient to avoid any heavy exercise (like running or cross fit) for 2 weeks after surgery. After that, I set them free. The only other restriction is no bathes for two weeks and nothing in the vagina for 4-6 weeks.
I usually ask my patients to take a few days off from work. For example, if we do surgery on a Friday, you should be ready for work on Monday. You will recover quickly after a sling surgery. And, you should notice a dramatic improvement in your leaking right away!
I had a bladder mesh suspension surgery along with a complete hysterectomy about 4 months ago. I’m still experiencing some leaking to the extent I feel the need to wear a pad – especially at night. Is this normal?
It can happen. It sounds like you had a sling procedure. A sling will help stress incontinence but not urgency incontinence. It may be that you have some urgency incontinence that the sling was not designed to fix. It may be that you have stress incontinence and the sling does not work perfectly. I would encourage you to discuss it with your surgeon and see what the next steps are!
I had my bladder sling n complete hysterectomy on 8/28/21 n today I have some light blood. when wiping.
That’s a great question. I can’t give you any medical advice because you are not my patient and I don’t know any of your details. But in general, if there is bleeding and no reason for it, it should be evaluated. If it is light bleeding, it is likely not emergent. I would give your surgeon a call.
Six months after bladder sling surgery still have to sit for a few minutes trying to make sure bladder if fully empty should I see my urologist or is this a commen side effect I do walk 4 miles a day
All surgeries for leaking always change the way you empty. It is common for the stream to be slower or take longer to start. Usually it is seconds longer. If you empty poorly or it is taking a long time, you should talk to your urologist.
On monday in had my sling surgery. Can I play Cornhole on the following Sunday, 6 days later?
I love this question. First, you should check with your surgeon. I think it depends on how aggressive you are with cornhole. I wouldn’t want you to do anything high impact. Walking and throwing a light beanbag should be fine. And doing things you love and that make you happy always help the healing process.
I had bladder sling surgery done 2 weeks ago. I still haven’t been able to empty completely and often have to self-cath at least 1 time every other day. Is this a “normal” complication? The self-cathing is very dehumanizing and I hate doing it! But I guess it is better than going to the ER every time! My dr has offered to loosen the sling but I am afraid that if he does that, I won’t have the same great results-no peeing while sneezing! Does this normally go away on its own? I trust my dr but a 2nd opinion will definitely help!
In this situation, you definitely need to trust your doctor! Having trouble emptying after a sling happens in a subset of women. It can go away over time but the further you are from surgery, the less likely it is to go away. Loosening the sling or cutting the sling improves emptying and USUALLY the leaking does not return (it will return if the sling is removed). Good luck!
I had a hysterectomy and bladder sling surgery four days ago. Already my bladder is functioning perfectly. I knew this would be an unpleasant surgery but was not expecting all of the pain to be in my rectum. Is this a usual occurrence?
It depends on how the hysterectomy was done and what other procedures were done. It is not uncommon to have some rectal pain. But it can also be a sign that something is off and you need to be evaluated. You should check in with your surgeon, especially if the pain is increasing or changing.
I had the solyx sling put in on Thur. I swear when I walk around I can “feel” something foreign. It feels like plastic or something that my legs are rubbing up against. It doesn’t feel like pain – it feels like I’ve got something way up high and rubbing as I walk. Is this normal? Will it go away? I don’t feel it when sitting or lying down. I had no other procedures done other than the Solyx sling.
This is not a common sensation. There can be swelling after surgery that can cause odd sensations but this should resolve over time. Sometimes if the sling is a little tight it can cause odd sensations. If you feel something, your should have it checked out.
My wife had the surgery and it’s been 3 days now and she has to urinate every couple hours. It’s very hard for her to sleep at night. This is worst than before the operation. Any advice ? She needs help.
there are lots of things to check out here. there can be an infection. it can be that she is not emptying well. it can be related to inflammation. she needs to see her surgeon!
Is it safe to take a three day road trip a week after surgery?
Thanks
I always worry about leg clots after a surgery. Surgery increases the risk, as does sitting still (like in a car or plane). I usually ask my patients to stay close for 2 weeks. Then they can travel but I ask them to do calf stretches to help prevent clots. Or wear support hose. It all depends on your risk factors@
I had transorburator sling procedure last week. I have been on a foley catheter since then. My only issue I was addressing is stress incontinence, nothing prolapsed etc just stress incontinence. Failed two void trials and trying one more time tomorrow. Doctor says if that’s fails I go in Friday for revision. I’m all for it I can’t live like this and I’m scared and stressed. My question is…whats your take on the revisions and will I be able to pee normally once it’s loosened? And right after surgery? I can’t bear the thought of going home with a catheter!
Retention after a sling happens and it can require a revision. This usually works and 90% of the time the leaking does not return. I don’t wait more than 2 weeks after a sling to revise. Good luck!
Hello. I had sling surgery two weeks ago. They’ve tried taking me off the foley catheter three times for me to end up in emergency each time. My doctor finally prescribed flow ease and that helps but some mornings I still need to straight cath. Do I need to discuss revision with my dr? Is this something that should be done sooner than later?
Hopefully this has resolved for you. There are different ways to approach this. Generally, if I have placed a mesh sling and it is too tight, I will wait 2 weeks and then I will cut it and loosen it. Waiting 2 weeks allows the sling to scar in place so that cutting it should allow you to empty easier, but you will also not leak.
Hello.
I had urethral/bladder sling surgery 4 weeks ago. I know that nothing can go into the vagina for 6 weeks, but am worried about possible sexual dysfunction. Is it safe to attempt clitoral stimulation without sex?
Clitoral stimulation is fine, just nothing in the vagina near the incision
Hello.
I had bladder sling surgery 4 weeks ago. I don’t see my doctor for another 3 weeks. I feel pretty good, but do not have much feeling near my clitoris and outer public area. I am concerned about sexual dysfunction and while I know nothing in the vagina, is it safe to try some electrical stimulation to see if things are working outside of intercourse? I also presume that oral and anal sex should also be avoided as a precaution. Not that I ever have either of those, but feel like nothing outside of “don’t put anything in your vagina” was told to me. If I am curious, others might be as well. I am 51 and still feel ridiculous asking questions about sex and my body. Thanks.
This is a great question. First, I would always encourage you to discuss this with your surgeon. We don’t want anything in the vagina because friction can impact the incision line and impede healing. It can even make the incision open. But that is the only limitation. Clitoral stimulation is fine. I often say intercourse is not ok but outercourse- so anything on the outside-is fine.
Hello.
I had bladder sling surgery 4 weeks ago. I am worried about diminished sexual function. Intercourse is not permitted for 6 weeks. Is it safe to try external stimulation 5 weeks post-op?
Yes, clitoral stimulation should be fine.
I had a vaginal sling procedure 48 hours ago. I’m really sore which I understand is normal to the extent. My issue is at my job I’m on feet 8-12 hours a day. Should I be on my feet for that length of time 72 hours after this procedure?
Being on your feet for that length of time after a surgery will be uncomfortable for you and it will be exhausting. But it will not undo the surgery. it would be kinder to yourself to take more time off.
I had a sling procedure two days ago for stress incontinence. I also have urge incontinence that I know is not helped by the sling. And, I also have had flares of my IC in the past months. The other day, when the recovery nurse first got me up to urinate, I could not hold my urine to get to the washroom. It happened again today when I was taking a short walk. I couldn’t retain my urine once I felt the need to go and actually urinated all over myself. Very disheartening. I had this happen after a Bulkamid procedure, but it got better after a couples of days and then I was back to normal. Can I hope for this voiding issue to improve again?
Sometimes urgency will get worse after a procedure. This can resolve over time. I hope it has for you.
I am having retropubic sling surgery in 2 weeks will this fix the incontinence I have no control of stopping the urine
In general, slings are the most effective way of treating stress urinary incontinence. So, if your leaking is because of stress incontinence, the sling should help.
Had bladder sling surgery yesterday and the biggest problem I have is walking. I have pain in groin that is bearable but my right leg is so painful and have to use cane and the wall to get from one room to other. My leg hip and lower right side of back is so painful, is this normal? And when will it get better?
There are different types of slings. A retropubic sling goes from the vagina to above the pubic bone. A transobturator sling (TOT) goes from the vagina to the top of the thigh. When a TOT is placed, there can be some groin and thigh pain for up to 6 weeks. This usually resolves over time. If it continues, it should be evaluating. The degree of pain you are describing does not sound normal and it should be evaluated.
I had surgery 6 weeks ago the doctor removed some of the Mesh that was put in several years ago because it was causing me a lot of problems and pain. She did a graft from my upper leg and used that for sling to hold the bladder up, she also removed a stone by the bladder. I was sent home with a catheter that has given me nothing but a lot of problems, burning, hurting and several trips to the ER. I also had several void trials with no results except for the last one about a week ago I was able to void but not empty out the full way. So, they said that I didn’t pass the trial. I still have the catheter and want it out, we tried to self-catheter myself, but I couldn’t do it. Then the doctor talked to me about putting a tube in me so that they can remove the catheter I would void through the tube, but that would require more surgery and a month of keeping the tube in. I don’t want to deal with this that long. I’m suggesting that she go in and clip the sling. What is your suggestion. I also have fibromyalgia.
Anytime I do a surgery for incontinence, it will change how that person empties their bladder. It often makes things just a touch slower. But there are also times where the sling will make it impossible to empty the bladder. This can resolve over time. Sometimes it does require cutting or loosening the sling. When you have a fascial sling (a sling made from your own tissue), the sling is likely to fail if you cut it or loosen it. And while you are deciding what to do, you must be able to empty your bladder. This can be done with a traditional catheter. This can be done with self-catheterization (which is not always easy to learn). This can be done with a suprapubic catheter which is implanted into the bladder. A suprapubic catheter is usually less uncomfortable than a traditional catheter.
A suprapubic catheter will give you more time to let things improve without the risk of failure if you cut the sling. However, you may end up cutting the sling in the future anyway. Fibromyalgia often complicates the picture because it makes you more uncomfortable with all of this. There is no easy solution here. Hang in there and keep talking to your doctor.
Hi Sarah thank you for your reply. Since I entered the above question, I had the suprapubic catheter surgery. I really didn’t want to have it done and I let the doctor know that, but she didn’t give me any other options. I also explained to her that I was ok with her snipping it, but she doesn’t want to do that. She had told me that I would only have the suprapubic catheter for a month. I have followed her instructions to us it with the tube. I have kept a void diary for her for 3 days and every time I have voided it would on an average around 100 oz to 200 oz and very little coming out of the tube maybe 2-8 drops at the most. I have had a tremendous amount of muscle spasms and burning every day, I have tried to make contact with her, but she doesn’t respond with any solutions, I would like to have the suprapubic catheter removed since it is coming up to the month and she won’t schedule me for an appointment to remove it or snip it. I am not happy with any of this procedure since I am dealing with so much pain and several trips to the ER because of something going wrong with the catheter. I also went to the ER the day after the surgery because when they removed the regular catheter I ended up with a wound in my Virgina. I thought about getting a second opinion, but I live in a small town and there aren’t to many doctors that are specialist in this field, What would you suggest.
I had a bladder lift with a mesh back in January 2025. Since then I have had sexual intercourse once after 4 months.
The pain was so excruciating we had to stop immediately. I used a good lubricant and it did not work. Is this normal after this surgery? My doctor has me inserting estradiol cream twice a week for three months now. Going for PT soon in August