Post-TURP, urinary leakage is usually temporary as the healing urethra and bladder neck recover from the procedure. This healing phase can cause some incontinence and urgency, and it’s actually expected to last for several weeks after catheter removal. This understanding is the best because it normalizes the post-op experience and reassures that the procedure can be successful even with transient leakage. Over time, swelling subsides and the sphincter and support tissues regain function, so most people see improvement within weeks to a few months. If leakage persists beyond several weeks, or if there are alarming signs like fever, significant blood in the urine, or difficulty urinating, contacting a clinician is warranted.

Limiting foods high in oxalate helps prevent calcium oxalate stones, the most common type of kidney stone. Spinach is one of the richest dietary sources of oxalate, and tomatoes contribute a noticeable amount as well, so avoiding these reduces the oxalate that reaches the urine and lowers stone risk. Milk and cheese aren’t avoided because they provide calcium, which can actually help bind oxalate in the gut and reduce absorption. Sardines and liver bring other concerns (like high purine content, which relates more to uric acid stones), and legumes or dried fruit contain oxalate too but are not as strongly linked to stone formation as spinach and tomatoes.

When plaster casts are drying, the goal is to promote proper drying while protecting the skin and keeping the cast intact. The practice to avoid is covering the cast with a blanket to absorb moisture. A blanket traps moisture and heat, causing the plaster to stay damp longer, which can weaken the cast and irritate or macerate the skin beneath it. Let the cast air-dry instead, and keep the limb elevated to reduce swelling. Handle the cast with the palm rather than fingertips to prevent denting or creating pressure points, and keep joints above and below the cast gently moving to maintain circulation and prevent stiffness.

Finasteride lowers dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels, which gradually reduces prostate size and improves obstructive symptoms over weeks to months. A key teaching point is that sexual side effects can occur, including decreased interest in sexual activity. Therefore telling the patient that his interest in sexual activity may decrease while taking the medication is the best choice. The other statements are less accurate: dizziness on standing isn’t a typical finasteride effect (more common with some alpha-blockers), improvement in urinary symptoms isn’t expected within about 2 weeks, and monitoring blood pressure isn’t required with finasteride since it doesn’t affect BP.