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Catheter removal - a review

Posted by peterj116 @peterj116, Oct 9 3:44pm

Well, that's another one checked off the list.

This is for anyone else facing catheter removal in the near future - it's a big nothing.
The nurse injected saline into the catheter for some reason, then deflated the balloon.
I could "feel" the tube sliding out, after being instructed to take slow, deep breaths.
But it was over in 5 seconds. No pain or discomfort.
A bit of leakage over the bed, but nothing major.

I was given a diaper designed for Andre the Giant, but after that, I was outta there.
I was instructed to drink a litre of water, then pee it out before I go back this afternoon for a bladder scan.
Apparently the bladder has to be empty for the scan.
Is that right?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

ggimlick | @ggimlick | Oct 19 8:17am
In reply to @peterj116 "Why are they persisting with the catheter? Can't they at least try an external catheter? Gotta..." + (show)
@peterj116

Why are they persisting with the catheter?
Can't they at least try an external catheter?
Gotta be a lot less painful.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22475-condom-catheter-for-incontinence

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The problem isn’t incontinence, it’s not peeing at all. I’m retaining most of it. I painfully put out about 4 ounces ever 30-45 minutes until it becomes problematic and have to cath to drain it. I’ve been on a foley bag twice, but each time it was removed I filled up. They want me to try this way to let things wake up and hopefully start working. I have a followup in a couple weeks and a nurse consult sooner.

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1 reply
peterj116 | @peterj116 | Oct 19 12:29pm
In reply to @ggimlick "The problem isn’t incontinence, it’s not peeing at all. I’m retaining most of it. I painfully..." + (show)
@ggimlick

The problem isn’t incontinence, it’s not peeing at all. I’m retaining most of it. I painfully put out about 4 ounces ever 30-45 minutes until it becomes problematic and have to cath to drain it. I’ve been on a foley bag twice, but each time it was removed I filled up. They want me to try this way to let things wake up and hopefully start working. I have a followup in a couple weeks and a nurse consult sooner.

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Oh. I hope it works out for you. Keep us updated.

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kenhorse | @kenhorse | Oct 19 5:19pm

After my RALP, I developed blood clots (in my bladder or urethra) that keep plugging the catheter too - this was overnight after surgery. They did irrigation twice that night as the pain woke me up. What a relief when they freed the clots!

They sent me home with large syringe and sterile saline so I could do it myself if I needed. As it turned out, I did need to irrigate once the first night I got home (the day after surgery). I've had no problems with clots - or other clogs - since that night. The catheter came out a week later

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kenpelan | @kenpelan | Oct 19 7:18pm
In reply to @ggimlick "Things got interesting a couple days later when my wife called the ambulance because I was..." + (show)
@ggimlick

Things got interesting a couple days later when my wife called the ambulance because I was in extreme pain with back spasms and wild blood pressure swings, I was pretty incoherent. Ambulance crew gave me fentanyl and transported me to the ER. En route my BP tanked to 78/33

During the next hours in the ER they did CAT scan assuming kidney stones, but that was clear. Uncontrollable spasms only mildly affected by alternating doses of fentanyl, morphine, and valium. Diagnosed as bladder spasms compounded by awakened sciatica.

Three days in the hospital before things settled down enough to go home with muscle relaxers and oxycodone (which I didn’t take). Two days later the catheter was removed again and I did pass some urine, but not enough. Returned to the urologist and was instructed how to self-cath with temporary drain. Still not emptying bladder so have to cath about three times a day.

This recovery is nothing like we had hoped. Very discouraging even though I’m told the HIFU went well.

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Ask your doctors about suprapubic cather.Its external.And good luck.

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ggimlick | @ggimlick | Oct 23 11:59am

I’m back on a foley cath with bag. My bladder is holding double the norm and causing right kidney pain. Plan is to stay on bag a week logging volumes then remove the foley and begin scheduled self-cath every 4 hours, hopefully peeing some in between. So far peeing or at least trying has been extremely painful and only dribble an ounce or two. They want the stretched bladder to relax and shrink.
Very discouraging so far.

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1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Oct 30 8:19pm
In reply to @ggimlick "I’m back on a foley cath with bag. My bladder is holding double the norm and..." + (show)
@ggimlick

I’m back on a foley cath with bag. My bladder is holding double the norm and causing right kidney pain. Plan is to stay on bag a week logging volumes then remove the foley and begin scheduled self-cath every 4 hours, hopefully peeing some in between. So far peeing or at least trying has been extremely painful and only dribble an ounce or two. They want the stretched bladder to relax and shrink.
Very discouraging so far.

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@ggimlick, checking in. It's been more than a week. How are things going? Did the bladder relax?

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1 reply
ggimlick | @ggimlick | Oct 30 8:34pm
In reply to @colleenyoung "@ggimlick, checking in. It's been more than a week. How are things going? Did the bladder..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

@ggimlick, checking in. It's been more than a week. How are things going? Did the bladder relax?

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I had the latest catheter removed yesterday with a planned scheduled self-cath set for every four hours. Amazingly, this time everything acted like it should. I peed within an hour or so of removal without pain. After 24 hrs of relatively normal action and caths after peeing showed < 25 ml left in the bladder, they adjusted the plan. I’ll keep logging input/output and cath twice a day to verify the bladder is continuing to empty. The right kidney pain has subsided.

Finally feeling like the light at the end of the tunnel may not be a train!

Thanks for asking.

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