How to deal with catheter while recovering after prostate surgery?

Happy to explain. In my case the catheter is put through penis to the urinary bladder, I think. My catheter is small, but can be extended by another tube. The catheter is tied to the thigh. The leg bag is connected to the catheter. The bag will store the urine upto 800 ml. The valve of the leg bag is used to empty the bag. In my case the bag is supplied by the hospital. The flow of the leg bag is one way and no return.
Individual cases may be different. All the best.

Agree100%. I didn’t have prostate surgery and didn’t realize that it involves stitching the urethra to the bladder. My comments on using a valve would only apply to longer term use after the anastomosis is fully healed.

Don't worry about that - it is impossible scenario ;).

I agree with you a 100%. Those of us who will have prostate surgery need to use the bag (leg bag or night bag) to drain the urine that comes out of the bladder, as it comes out, not after it accumulates. So, I can't imagine urolgists will agree if we request to replace the bag with a valve.

Soli - you have to use bag after the surgery since the whole point of catheter after RP is to make sure that urine drains constantly without any delay. There should be no strain on your bladder since your urethra was cut off and than reattached to your bladder. There will be a lot of blood in your initial urine and possibly some small cloths also. All of that junk needs to drain, drain , drain. This gentlemen was kind enough to explain his way of dealing with catheter placement and attachment. The rest does not apply for RP.

I'm not a medical professional but I did have RARP and my care team really stressed keeping the bag below your bladder so the urine can freely drain into the bag so it doesn't back up into your bladder and put stress on the stitches. Also, that's why the night bag is so big is so it won't fill up and stop the draining. It's also why I used the night bag during the day at home so I could lay around with my feet up and have the bag on the floor below my bladder. So I agree with @windrider354 that using it to go without a bag sounds like a real bad idea to me. My care team did give me a clamp (looked like dull scissors) to clamp the catheter for about 30 seconds when changing bags, but not for continuous use. If you do want to pursue this, definitely ask your care team before you do it, and make sure they understand how you intend to use it. But even if you didn't plan to go without a bag, having a valve that could get left shut accidentally (or get accidentally closed somehow) seems like a bad idea for a recovering RP patient. Just my 2 cents. Best wishes.

The point of a valve is to avoid the need for a leg (or night) bag. As you said, urine collects in the bladder as it would normally and you just open the valve over a toilet whenever you feel the need (or every few hours). I have not had prostate surgery so I'm not sure about putting strain on the bladder but that doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Just ask your urologist.

I could be wrong but I think I now understand the function of the Uro valve. It is is a tap-like device fitted into the end of a urethral catheter which allows the bladder to fill and then be emptied into a toilet or container at regular intervals. Or it could be direclty connected to the leg bag. In your case, I am assuming it is directly connected to your bag. Is that correct? If yes, how exactly are you using the valve? What it the benefit of having the valve when you are also using the bag. That is not clear to me. Also, was the use of the valve approved by your urologist? Couldn't it place a strain on a bladder which is still healing?

I was in the same situation I live alone and I was worried about it and that’s what made me decide to get my prostate removed and not get to Radiation. Once you get the Prostate out you may need radiation afterwards if you have cancer outside of the Prostate in the lymph nodes. When you go to the bathroom at night just drain the bag as much as possible clean and close it, you may have to sit to avoid any hernia issues later. you don’t need To change the bag until morning keep the tips wiped off. Don’t rush at all.I had a nurse 2 days a week to clean the wounds and pt2 weeks later

The bag is tied at the leg, called leg bag. It has two buttons. One for drain and the other for shutting. You raise the leg and keep it on the side of the seat. Now the opening and shutting of the value become easy. Just drain it and shut. One can do it when ever necessary without outside help. Is it clear? Feel free to ask.