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

@gchdrake, thinking of you today as you get ready for surgery. I look forward to your update and insights regarding the catheter as you recover.

I had an RP several years ago for prostate cancer and a subsequent partial nephrectomy for kidney cancer. After the nephrectomy, I developed "clot obstruction"---blood clots obstructing the urethra (very bad). Both that and the RP required multiple catheters. The doctor even replaced the catheter for the clot obstruction with a larger diameter one and I was expecting the worst. Fortunately, the catheter insertions were not painful, just uncomfortable. I never used the leg bag. I carried the catheter bag in a shopping bag when I went out, which I held close to my leg. No one could tell.
I strongly recommend placing the catheter bag in a bucket next to the bed at night to avoid accidents-like stepping on the bag when you get up (very messy). By the way, my PSA is now undetectable and I just had an MRI showing that the kidneys are cancer free.

Seems the side effect is more common than the doctors would tell you.

After radiation a year and a half ago, I have had at least 4 episodes of retention, each time a trip to the local ER was required. This is only my experience with catheters! I hated them. Could be the local ER nurses, I'm not sure, but painful each time going in, to the point of almost coming off the table. Only my experience, but sheer misery--:) The stream is still weak, and I'm always afraid..."Please, not again".

Hi. Mine was 10 days, which seems to be the time needed. I was given detailed printed notes on removal and there is a utube version as well. I found the printed instructions fine and “tested” the procedure as a dry run. It probably took 15 minutes max end to end. It is easier, quicker , less stressful and more comfortable to do it at home. Go through the process as a trial run first so you are comfortable with the steps. It is painfree, if you do it yourself then you are bound to be careful with your “bits”. It is not difficult, I think the worry of going into the unknown was the worst bit. The hospital route may be an option but you have the travel and waiting around for a nurse. Go for it!
It is a major milestone when you are catheter free.

Yes Gordon. Doing it yourself means no pain. There is some sensitivity as you make your way through the prostate. Think of it as giving yourself an orgasm. Well, not exactly, but it's not an unpleasant feeling.

Thank you, this is very helpful.
I have been most nervous about the 'post' routines. I am a pain wimp and a bit squeamish, is the catheterization a relatively pain free experience having done it so often?

Thanks,
Gordon

Very practical and encouraging advice. Thanks so much,

I have read now of several people removing the catheter on their own. I assume the Doctor/RN gave you guidance and timing instructions on this? Is 10 days the timing for proper healing?

The shift in movements is duly noted!
Cheers,
Gordon

I am in the uk and had a robotic prostate removal 5 weeks ago. I had a catheter for the first 10 days post op. Initially the challenge was to check the levels of the bag, as you have no physical sensation of how full it is. I removed mine at home as my hospital gave me notes and guidance on how to do it. It was quite ok and painfree. Occasionally I had a bit of blood while having the catheter, mainly caused by tension on the tube between the catheter and the penis. Nothing serious. For nighttime check you have enough movement.
Post catheter it’s a new learning curve to know when to pee, there is a disconnect between bladder and brain , this improves with time but not in a linear fashion.
As nerves renew you may get confusing signals as to what is a pee alert and what is just a nerve tingle. When it comes to pads, get a selection . I use a small pad at night, it is normally dry now .
The main problem area is during the day. The transition from sitting to standing or from lying down to sitting or standing. The bladder can get confused by sudden movement. Before you change position , think first and gradually change position.

Everyone is different, I hope this helps a bit. Wishing you all the best for your op.

Your experience with the catheter will depend on which procedure you have. I also had a lot of apprehension about the catheter. I had the transurethral ultrasound ablation (TULSA) in September, 2024 at Mayo in Jacksonville. When I awoke from anesthesia post procedure, I had a Foley catheter in place. I was discharged from the hospital with the instructions to return in one week for catheter removal. I had a day bag and a night bag which I used interchangeably. Daily shower with bags disconnected and catheter dangling. One week post op I returned to the clinic to have my catheter removed in the morning. I was told to drink lots of water and return in the afternoon for a bladder function test. During the day I was urinating small amounts but not vacating sufficient amounts of urine. An ultrasound revealed quite a bit of urine still in my bladder. They asked me if I wanted to return in a day or so to see if I was vacating any better. Since I didn't live in the immediate area I asked them to train me in clean intermittent catheterization (CIC). They did this and gave me a box of single use catheters and sent me home. (They also wrote me a prescription for one months worth of catheters.) They asked me to cath myself twice daily, once in the morning after first urination, and once in the evening after last urination and prior to bed, and to keep a log showing amounts remaining. They said anything below 100 ml was good. At first, I was seeing 40-80 ml, but recently I'm seeing 20-50 ml routinely. As an aside, I have been observing little flakes of tissue in the measuring container and was told this is normal for several months after TULSA. I have a video conference with a nurse practitioner in two days, and hopefully they'll suspend this catheter business. My biggest problem now with daily living is when I feel the need to pee, I need to pee right now. So, I have been wearing diapers/pads when I venture to town just in case I leak a bit. Self catheterization is easy to learn and by being the one inserting the tube, you can be as slow and deliberate as you need to avoid discomfort. The main thing is to follow the hand washing protocols to avoid giving yourself an infection.