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How to deal with catheter while recovering after prostate surgery?
I plan to have prostate surgery relatively soon. Onc big concern I have is how to deal with the cathether for 7 to 10 days. I live alone so I am thinking of hiring a private nurse for one hour in the morning , and one hour late afternoon to help me change from night bag to leg bag in the morning, and from day bag to night bag in the afternoon. An experienced nurse will know how to do it in a sanitary way to avoid infection. An alternative I am thinking is always keeping the night bag, which has pluses, but too bulky to drag 24 hours. Any suggestions?
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Don't worry about that - it is impossible scenario ;).
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1 ReactionAgree100%. I didn’t have prostate surgery and didn’t realize that it involves stitching the urethra to the bladder. My comments on using a valve would only apply to longer term use after the anastomosis is fully healed.
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3 ReactionsHappy to explain. In my case the catheter is put through penis to the urinary bladder, I think. My catheter is small, but can be extended by another tube. The catheter is tied to the thigh. The leg bag is connected to the catheter. The bag will store the urine upto 800 ml. The valve of the leg bag is used to empty the bag. In my case the bag is supplied by the hospital. The flow of the leg bag is one way and no return.
Individual cases may be different. All the best.
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4 ReactionsThe catheter is a pain in the butt, but easily handled. My only suggestion is to go online and get a better leg bag than the hospital will give you. I bought a couple and rather than clean the bags, I just threw them out.
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3 ReactionsYes, I got that idea myself and bough couple on Amazon and will bring one to the hospital to compare and see if I have any questions for a nurse (in case that they are different).
That is interesting. I did not think of buying cathether bags. Did you buy the leg bag or the night bag? And why do you believe it will be useful to buy them? What is the beneift? To dispose of them instead of cleaning them?
Yes, I think it might be more hygienic just to dispose them. I bought big (night) bags.
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2 ReactionsMy tube was taken on 22 easily by a nurse. Now everything is fine. Some
lack of control in retaining urine is there. Over time it may be regained
depending on individual and exercises.
With Regards,
Joseph T J.
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2 ReactionsBased on what my urologist has told me and my own reserach, a certain level of incontinence is to be expected after the cathether is removed. I also understand the extent and duration widely varies from person to person depending on my factors including pelvic exercises. While hoping for the best, I am preparing for any scenario and have already purchased pullups and male incontinence guards. I also ordered the Janibell incontinacne disposal unit to be placed in my bathroom for storing used items in an airtight and sanitary manner. I will get a small one for my upstairs bathroom.
I believe it is better to prepare ahead of the surgery, so I can focus 100% on the recovery post-surgery.
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1 ReactionI had mine for a week and just put it in a plastic shopping bag and went about my business. Funny story, when I went in for my removal a week later the weigh in nurse asked if I could give a specimen, I grinned and held up the bag and told her she could have all she wanted. I was grinning she was rolling her eyes. Oh well I thought it was funny.
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