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

Do your Kegels! I had a problem removing my small bag to my evening bag, so they told me I could leave the small one in the entire 9 days. It caused no problems. After removal, I had ZERO incontinence issues! Best wishes.

My post from another thread:

I am 10 weeks post-op. The catheter was a pain in the butt (no, they didn't put it in the wrong place) 🙂

You will get some bladder spasms from time to time. Just be prepared for them and let them happen. Don't fight them, that only makes it worse.

You will bleed from around the tip of your penis a bit. Nothing alarming, but it will be there.

I tried the leg bag, but it was much more trouble than it was worth. I just carried the large bag around in a Target bag.

I also bought inexpensive sweatpants and cut a slit on the left-hand side to put the catheter tube and bag through. You can find them at Walmart or Amazon inexpensively. I used these for the week along with adult incontinence underpants. A side note: I ordered a pair of " pre-slit " sweatpants with velcro, which were a waste of money. Sent them back.

Patience is a big part of having the catheter in. Remember: it's "only" 7 days.

Lubricate the tip of the penis where the catheter is, and don't be afraid to put some in the penis itself. Get a fresh bottle of Vaseline or similar. I used a new tube of triple antibiotic from CVS for this, just in case any little critters wanted to get in there.

Most importantly, we are here for you so if you have any questions, fire away!

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!

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.

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!!!!

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!

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.

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

Gordon

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!

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.