Trial removal of catheter

Posted by peterj116 @peterj116, Sep 27 4:36pm

I've just read my discharge papers after prostatectomy.
It says I'm booked in 2 weeks for a TROC.
Google says that's a *Trial* Removal Of Catheter.

Why Trial? What does that mean?
Are they likely to put it back - and under what circumstances?
Great. Now I get to have nightmares for 2 weeks.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

jeffmarc | @jeffmarc | Sep 27 6:49pm

Two weeks after a prostatectomy, they remove the catheter. That’s pretty standard, by then the spot they have joined the urethra tube has healed. I guess it’s possible they could find that it had not healed properly, but I’ve never heard of it.

They will remove it, unless a problem occurs they will do nothing more.

peterj116 | @peterj116 | Sep 27 8:05pm

Thankyou.
I wonder what problems warrant a reinsertion.
New fear unlocked.

tom9410 | @tom9410 | Sep 27 10:34pm

In reply to @peterj116 "Thankyou. I wonder what problems warrant a reinsertion. New fear unlocked." + (show)

I had my cath removed last week and they conducted a bladder function test by injecting some saline into the bladder through the cath port and then see if you can give it all back into a cup. I passed! I hope you do too. There may be other criteria for approving cath removal, but that's all I had. Really wasn't as bad as I feared...over pretty quickly.

peterj116 | @peterj116 | Sep 27 10:46pm

Oh good. I thought they did that as the last part of the surgery. So... inject saline through the catheter, pull out the catheter & see if you can pee it out again?

tom9410 | @tom9410 | Sep 28 8:13am

In reply to @peterj116 "Oh good. I thought they did that as the last part of the surgery. So... inject..." + (show)

Exactly, hope all goes well that day and going forward for you!

harvey44 | @harvey44 | Sep 28 8:28am

In reply to @peterj116 "Thankyou. I wonder what problems warrant a reinsertion. New fear unlocked." + (show)

After the removal of my catheter, about 2AM I had the urge to pee. I couldn't and my bladder was full and my brother took me to emergency. It took a doctor almost a hour to see me and I was experiencing excruciating pain from my bladder. Finally a doctor arrived, catherized me and drained my bladder. I was put back on a catheter and bag for at least a month. After that time, it was removed and I was able to urinate on my own. Of course, I was instructed to self catherize during that time to make sure my bladder was empty. Not pleasant but all of that worked and I enjoyed normal urination afterwards.
Good luck!

tom9410 | @tom9410 | Sep 28 2:55pm

In reply to @harvey44 "After the removal of my catheter, about 2AM I had the urge to pee. I couldn't..." + (show)

Whoa, sorry you went through that brother, glad it's over!

peterj116 | @peterj116 | Sep 28 5:07pm

In reply to @harvey44 "After the removal of my catheter, about 2AM I had the urge to pee. I couldn't..." + (show)

Wow. Sorry about that. Did they say why the initial catheter didn't work?
And were you awake when they put the new catheter in?
Glad you're doing better now.

michaelcharles | @michaelcharles | Sep 28 11:23pm

Actually, I removed my catheter on day 10.
I was treated at Johns Hopkins 70 miles from my home in Central PA.
I was trying to establish with a local urologist, but was not able to get an appointment with him or his staff for removal.
With some direction from the surgeon's team, I stood in the shower, put aside my trepidation, deflated/drained the internal balloon, rotated the tube 1/4 and out the cath slid. Painless and honestly convenient at my house.
And apparently it is quite common to remove the catheter yourself.
Not necessarily urging you or anyone to do this, however for me it was not a big deal.
I did follow catheter cleaning instructions (and watched an online video) and believe that prevented infection, reduced crystallization and lubricated the catheter, thereby easing removal.
What can I say 🤔 ?