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Anybody here ever refuse to be catheterized through their urethra?
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Feb 22 8:24am | Replies (35)Comment receiving replies
Prior to my radical prostatectomy, with full knowledge that I would be catheterized, I "told" my doctor: "I don't know how or when you insert the catheter prior to surgery, but you will NOT insert that catheter while I am awake." He quickly said: "I always insert the catheter as soon as you are under anesthesia."
It was no thrill 11 days later when it was removed though. In typical "nursing assistant fashion", the nurse assistant said: "just take a deep breath and exhale blowing hard as I 'gently remove' the catheter...it won't hurt at all." She just did one, firm, long pull/tug on the catheter, and for those 3-4 seconds I thought I would go through the roof in discomfort. Fortunately though, right when the discomfort was going to peak, the catheter was out. I looked at her and said: "I thought you said it won't hurt at all?" She smiled and said "it's easier if we just tell you that." Literally. I just casually, but directly said: "you should never lie to patients about anything." So...your "good news" is that you will be asleep when the catheter is inserted. Secondly, I don't even know how you could manage a supra-pubic catheter for 10-14 days. Managing the traditional catheter at home those first post-op 10-14 days is an annoyance at worst. You just visually inspect the bag filling up, and decide when you will go to the toilet to open the stopcock to drain it. Good luck...and don't worry.
Replies to "Prior to my radical prostatectomy, with full knowledge that I would be catheterized, I "told" my..."
@rlpostrp I had suprapubic catheter for 13 months after urethroplasty
Exchanged every 4 weeks. That is a new 10 on the pain scale when it gets pulled out and a 20 when they push it back in. Good luck
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@rlpostrp I just learned (I think) that the Foley catheter during RALP is not just to enable urination, it is also the "stent" that enables the urethra to heal in the form of a tube, and so if that is correct then I should do as you did and request or demand that the catheter be installed after the anesthesia is administered.
As far as the removal, I wonder what they would have said if you said that you weren't willing to have it removed without substantial anesthesia? Apparently legally they cannot just hold you down and force it out of you, and so they would either have to comply with your wishes or send you home without removing it.
On one hand, I could see them arguing against "unnecessary anesthesia", but on the other hand, isn't it AT LEAST equally unethical to send a patient home without removing the catheter...and then just allowing infection to develop, etc?
I honestly don't know what a urologist would do, under these circumstances.
My urologist "fired" me...as in "either you have the systematic biopsy or find another urologist, because if you don't do the biopsy then I won't help you with your other urological needs, either...and there will be no discussion"... and btw, he is the only urologist within a 2 hour drive from here.
I was hesitating about having a systematic biopsy and wanted to explore the possibility of having a fusion biopsy.
So I don't have any confidence at the current time that any urologist would necessarily do the ethical nor compassionate thing.