Catheter questions, pre-and post-OP: Your insights?

Hey Gordon,
I'm afraid there are a lot of different experiences here. Some of it is related to how much tissue/nerve etc.. the surgeon has to remove, some is related to personal experience and how people perceive things, some is related to ..well..people are different. 🙂
The only thing we can do is share experiences to give you ideas and food for thought...

My catheter was in for around 10 days. It was not removed at all during that time frame, in fact, I didn't see the doc again till it was time to remove it. I'm not sure what you mean by "clear" but my urine was very normal by this time.
At first there was the occaisional spec of dried blood, which my doc told me was normal. That lasted a couple days.
You will be told not to "push" when moving your bowels to avoid extra pressure on the catheter.

On around day 3 I noticed a white milky substance, just a very little coming out around the catheter from my urethral meatus (pee hole). I used the medical portal to ask about this, I was told it's not uncommon and to just let them know if it got any worse. It cleared up a day or so later. After about the 4th day, very normal ops.

I was apprently different than a lot on here. While on the cath I used the big bag for a few days then tried out a leg bag. This goes under baggy pants nicely (or jeans) and you can go out into the world without dragging the big bag with you. I'd stay fairly close to a place where you can empty it if needed till you get used to it. ( I live in a suburban area where a bathroom is never really more than 10 minutes away). I'd always use the large bag at night. I've seen quite a few on here say they would just put the big bag in a shopping bag when going out, as well.

I'd use a little neosporin after showers to help avoid infection. You'll be told how to shower and wash the area.

Pants and pads? I used my regular pants but wore older style boxer underwear with the pee flap. If on a leg bag I'd put the hose through the underwear flap to my leg. If on the big bag around the house, I cut a slot in an old pair of sweats for lounging around the house.

I never had to wear diapers, some do. I used a pad for maybe a couple weeks after the cath was out anytime I was concerned that there might be leakage. There wasn't any generally speaking, just under stress. Sneezing, coughing, flatuating (you'll have to learn that art over again! 🙂 ). Those all went away over time. Do your kegels!

Only thing I can think of I'd do differently? Maybe get PT prescribed to help with the potential incontinence so that the stress leakage would have gone away faster.

Best of Luck to you!

Thanks so much, very helpful information.

Learning curves....

I like web265 response. The catheter as was my understanding you need very limited stress or movement. Surgery cuts through your ureter. The catheter tube is keeping everything in place until it heals. Then you need to very careful for at least 6 weeks after. As web265 mentioned everyone is different. Different surgeons, different location and extent of cancer. I had a very early cancer and 5 years later I am still not continent.

I too liked web265’s comments to you. Your experience will vary from what you read here - maybe better or not. I would add that I appreciated a book about preparing for continence post-op. That is “Life After Prostatectomy” by Vanita Gaglani. It includes pre-op exercises so get started!

Best of luck to you, Gordon. Come back here frequently and check in with this awesome group of people. Someone here has “been there, done that.” My surgery was Sept ‘23 and things have gone well for me. You will do great!

Thank you,
I will look for the book and get started.

Gordon

My cath was in place for 10 days. Really not an issue for me. I only had and used the large bag; carried it in a plastic bucket.
2 suggestions: watch a cath cleaning video; pretty simple but important to clean and lubricate daily. And I walked 20 mins daily in the house in 5 min increments (carrying my bucket).
I had no drainage or leakage with the cath and wore gym shorts only in the house. I sat on a lined bed pad and a towel to protect the mattress and recliner.
RP is a major surgery and your body will need time to just relax and rest (I was 72 and winding down my career).
I enjoy Kodiak brand pancakes, and I could nibble on those while resting in the first few days.
Cath removal was a nonevent; I actually removed my catheter in the shower🤭 ).
You will do fine.

Hi Gordon,
Good questions and I'll try to help.
Pads/pants?? You don't know what your 'continence' will be post-op so maybe you want to prepare for the worst. So buy one package of men's diapers (our stores have them with the "feminine" products). One pack of "overnight" pads (these usually have a number rating for absorbance; go for a higher number). And one pack of "daytime" pads (a low number like 2) for inside regular briefs. If you're really continent you'll throw out some good items. At the worst of the worst (incontinence) you'll know what to buy next.
Catheter? I hated leg bags - painful to penis. So I devised a way to suspend them from my belt/waist. No (minimal) movement of the hose makes for a comfortable penis tip! And the bag is hidden inside your pants.
You are planning well so expect the best! You deserver the best possible!

Hello Gordon
My catheter was in for a little over 30 days following my initial prostate surgery. It wasn't really bothering me too much, it was more of a pain in the butt. I remember they did this bladder test after 2 weeks and determined it still needed to stay in. After it came out, i had real difficulty urinating. Just couldnt do it ... had to really force every time. They put the catheter back in again while scheduling another surgery to try to fix the issue. After the surgery, the catheter was in for another 3 weeks (I think ... this was back around 10 years ago). Had one more surgery to try to fix the urinating problem ... and since then, it has worked out for the best. No issues with that now. I never had an incontinence issue during or after my surgery's or radiation sessions. I had planned for it but ended up giving all the stuff I had bought to my elderly neighbor and he was very happy.
Good Luck to You!!!!

I am currently in the hospital on a catheter.

It is not removed. "Daily". It stays in all the time until the docs think it might be time to get rid of it. The nurse cleans and wipes down the catheter tubage every day.

I also wear "diapers" just as a backup precaution.

I expect to continue in this manner day by day until whatever the treatment is calls for removal of the catheter.

I had my catheter for about 10 months. I experienced excruciating pain after about 2 or 3 days. Imagine somebody squeezing a pliers while holding a torch to your junk. I finally had enough and said to myself I am going to kneel down and say the Rosary. I knelt down wincing in pain and made the sign of the cross. I started the prayers and had trouble getting the first couple prayers out because I was in sooooo much pain.
Well, the next thing I knew, I was up doing whatever and after however much time, I was like, oh, that's right, my junk hurts. However, it did not hurt at all, anymore. I never experienced any more pain from the catheter other than every time I had the catheter changed (every 3 weeks) I ended up with a UTI. The first couple made me wonder if I was about to meet my maker. Then by like the 3rd or 4th time, I learned to detect the very first signs of an infection and went right to the ER.
Bottom line, prayer works. Other than that, I wish anyone who has to go through the use of a catheter as minimal of pain and discomfort as possible!