I had a vaginal hysterectomy back on May the 13th. Along with the hysterectomy my doctor also did some extensive work on my bladder. As a result of all of the swelling I was unable to urinate when the hospital took the foley catheter out and I had to wear it home. Since then we have tried to take it out, and every time I do I do start peeing on my own but my doctor is unsatisfied with the amount that is coming out because I pee 100 ml every 30-40 min, but then I go to the office and then they straight catheter to see what is left and it's normally around 300 ml. After having it out and back in 3 times in the past 2 weeks I had enough so when it was taken out this past Friday and the same result I refused to have it put back in. So, instead he gave me a few straight catheters and said to do that at night before bed and then in the mornings for 2 days and if it was still the same I really needed to have the foley back. I do not want it back so my question is, what can I do to strengthen or retrain my bladder and the muscles down there to make it start pushing out more urine at a time? I know there has to be something that I can do WITHOUT the foley catheter to help myself. Kegels? exercising? more water? I could see it if I wasn't able to pee at all, but I am. He told me the biggest concern was possible infection, but I am on 2 very strong antibiotics and I am drinking a lot of water, and honestly I feel that there is just as much risk of me getting an infection if he keeps reinserting a catheter as there is if I go without and just try to make my bladder strengthen and do it's job finally. Please give me some tips advice that I can do to help my bladder get back to full strength. thank you!!