Urethral sling surgery is done to treat stress urinary incontinence. It's often done after prostate surgery. The sling lifts and supports the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to outside the body. After surgery, you may feel weak and tired for several days. Your pubic bone may feel bruised, and you may have some pain or cramping in your lower belly. These symptoms should get better in 1 to 2 weeks.

If you are unable to urinate on your own the day after surgery, a tube (catheter) to drain urine from your bladder will usually be placed. The catheter will be removed about a week later to see if you can urinate on your own. Your doctor will tell you how to care for the catheter and when it can be taken out. Tell your doctor if you have any problems urinating after it’s removed.

You should have less or no urine leakage when you sneeze, cough, laugh, or exercise. In fact, at first you may find that it is harder than usual to empty your bladder. This usually gets better after 1 or 2 weeks as the swelling goes down.

You will probably be able to go back to work in 1 to 2 weeks. But you will need at least 6 weeks to fully recover before returning to all your usual activities. You must avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activities during this time. These might put extra pressure on your bladder while you recover.

• Rest when you feel tired. Getting enough sleep will help you recover.
• Get moving as soon as you are able. Try to walk each day. Start by walking a little more than you did the day before. Bit by bit, increase the amount you walk. Walking boosts blood flow and helps prevent pneumonia and constipation.
• Avoid strenuous activities, such as jogging or weight lifting, and straddling activities, such as bicycle or horseback riding, for 6 weeks. Or wait until your doctor says it's okay.
• For 6 weeks or until your doctor says it's okay, avoid lifting anything that would make you strain. This may include heavy grocery bags and milk containers, a heavy briefcase or backpack, cat litter or dog food bags, a vacuum cleaner, or a child.
• Ask your doctor when you can drive again.
• You will probably need to take 1 to 2 weeks off from work. It depends on the type of work you do and how you feel.
• You may shower as usual after 24 hours. Pat the cuts (incisions) dry. Do not take a bath or swim for the first 2 weeks, or until your doctor tells you it's okay.
• Do not have sex for 6 weeks or until your doctor says it's okay.

• You can eat your normal diet. If your stomach is upset, try bland, low-fat foods like plain rice, broiled chicken, toast, and yogurt.
• Drink plenty of fluids (unless your doctor tells you not to).
• You may notice that your bowel movements are not regular right after your surgery. This is common. Try to avoid constipation and straining with bowel movements. You may want to take a fiber supplement every day. If you have not had a bowel movement after a couple of days, ask your doctor about taking a mild laxative.

• Your doctor will tell you if and when you can restart your medicines. You will also get instructions about taking any new medicines.
• If you stopped taking aspirin or some other blood thinner, your doctor will tell you when to start taking it again.
• Take pain medicines exactly as directed.
  • If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.
  • Store your prescription pain medicines where no one else can get to them. When you are done using them, dispose of them quickly and safely. Your local pharmacy or hospital may have a drop-off site.
  • If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine.
• If you think your pain medicine is making you sick to your stomach:
  • Take your medicine after meals (unless your doctor has told you not to).
  • Ask your doctor for a different pain medicine.
• If your doctor prescribed antibiotics, take them as directed. Do not stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to take the full course of antibiotics.

• If you have strips of tape on the incisions, leave the tape on until it falls off.
• Do not wash the area directly, but allow warm, soapy water to run over the incision daily. Then pat it dry. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can slow healing. You may cover the area with a gauze bandage if it weeps or rubs against clothing. Change the bandage every day.
• Keep the area clean and dry.

• Ask your doctor when you can do pelvic floor (Kegel) exercises, which tighten and strengthen pelvic muscles. Your doctor may want you to wait several weeks after surgery before you do them.
• To do Kegel exercises:
  • Squeeze your muscles as if you were trying not to pass gas. Or squeeze your muscles as if you were stopping the flow of urine. Your belly, legs, and buttocks shouldn't move.
  • Hold the squeeze for 3 seconds, then relax for 5 to 10 seconds.
  • Start with 3 seconds, then add 1 second each week until you are able to squeeze for 10 seconds.
  • Repeat the exercise 10 times a session. Do 3 to 8 sessions a day.
• If you are having trouble finding out what muscles to squeeze, you can try stopping the flow of urine a few times. But don't make it a practice to do Kegels while urinating.
• If doing these exercises causes pain, stop doing them and talk with your doctor. Sometimes people have pelvic floor muscles that are too tight. In these cases, doing Kegel exercises may cause more problems.
• If you aren't sure how to do these exercises, talk to your doctor about getting a referral to see a pelvic floor physical therapist.