Any tips for catheter removal day ? : )

Thanks everybody for sharing your experiences and tips ! 🥰

I agree @mjp0512 - why not do something preemptively , at least for patients who would like to know how to do it . They obviously anticipate a problem since they do not (for example) wish to make app. for removal Friday since dr. office is closed over the weekend and if there IS a problem than patient has to go to ER. *mehhh As always, lets just solve the problem when it arises and no prevention for anything is ever offered.

Jay, good point about bringing extra pair of pants : ) - thanks, and perhaps a stress ball for myself 😋, he is going to chat with a nurse and laugh, I can already see that, and I will be gulping for air in a corner with set of random palpitations 😬...

I wholeheartedly agree. I've had to self catheter a number of times before and it would have saved me a night of pain and misery getting to the ER and waiting on a physician. Self catherizing isn't a big deal and it isn't painful, justa bit uncomfortable. I have several on hand now just incase something else happens.

I've being using a catheter 5 or 6 times a day for half a year. It's not even uncomfortable anymore and it's actually pretty convenient knowing exactly when I'm going to void. And if I have to go out, I just cath before I go. No more searching for public rest rooms. 😁

10 months out from RALP, catheter removal was no big deal, nurse gave me a 3, 2,1 count, but pulled it on two! I always appreciate a sense of humor. Not painful …More startling and odd feeling than anything else. Did not leak, but definitely had to work at getting a stream started for a about a week. Not able to hold much at first… maybe 4 or 6 ounces. Also , felt like I was retaining urine, after a few weeks went to my urologist and they did an ultrasound and said everything was fine and I was not retaining anything. They said the urgency would pass and to watch what I drink and eat for awhile. They said lots of water which I did and it has gotten better. I can retain a more normal quantity, but I am still cautious about fruit juices and some spicy food as they can still trigger some urgency that is manageable . Everyone is different in outcome, but as you can see from the posts everyone is pretty happy to get that thing out. Wish you all the best tomorrow.

Oh. It's P Day tomorrow. Good luck.

Yeah, I asked my surgeon about spicy food & coffee.
He said just a normal diet - eat what you like. Just as well. I do love curry.

Sooooooo...how'd it go?

Oh , so sorry, poor "catheter event" got downgraded in importance due to my "onco blues" episode yesterday and this morning 😋.
Yes - it was as described by others very fast and no pain of any kind, just weird feeling. Nurse was very nice (all nurses so far were top notch - kind, capable, upbeat and helpful 💗 and just great human beings ). He was able to pee in doctor's office to show that nothing is blocking urethra and than he was free to go home. BUT he was so happy to be free of tubing that he insisted on having a stroll in the city, than a lunch, than stop for a decaf cappuccino "just to smell it" he said lol, and than he took 2 sips 🙄. Luckily trusty "Depends" were on - of course a squirt happened with all that commotion 😆 but nothing fazed him, he was so happy to be out and about in his spiffy jeans and all 🥰.
We did not expect full continence on a day one, honestly. As of now it is pretty decent IMHO. He had a nap this afternoon and managed to get up and go to the bathroom with full bladder without leaking, for example, but mini squirts happen if he makes sudden twist or similar. He was instructed to NOT start with Kegel's in the next 3 days since sphincter and urethra need to rest from catheter.
All in all , he is very happy and relaxed and is looking forward to fun days ahead. 🌞

Outstanding! 👌

Great news. Another thing checked off the list.
He'll feel so much better without being tethered to a tube.

You two must be glad the worst (aka: wearing a cathehter) is over. I consider cathether removal day "liberation" day. 🙂