Home from my total proctocolectomy...with a foley catheter

I had my total proctocolectomy with permanent ileostomy this past Monday so today is day 7. I just gor home yesterday afternoon. Things are going okay. There is a learning curve in dealing with the pain. I haven't had any problem with getting the remaining digestive system moving and I learning quickly how to empty things.

They sent me home with two drains still in place that are connected to what amounts to turkey baster bulbs. One is going into my abdomen and one up the rear end which is otherwise stitched up...I'm going to have a barbie butt.

After two instances in the hospital of trying to avoid it I'm also sporting a Foley catheter through my penis and into the bladder. I just couldn't get anything to flow when they took it out.

Was anyone else out there sent home with a catheter? How long did you end up wearing it before things calmed down and you were able to pee normally? This thing is really pretty uncomfortable and I hope the problem resolves itself soon.

Thanks!
Brent

Hey Brent,

Sorry to hear you had to go home with that stuff in you still but it must be for the best. I had my surgery same day as you! So we're on the same recovery path. I had bum sewed up but no drain installed there. I did have a vacuum seal over the 5 inch incision below my waist a drain in my abdomen with a ball that they called a jp drain. I had my catheter in for 3 days. When they took the catheter out it was nice to have one less tube hanging from my body but I too had a lot of trouble peeing afterwards. They used stents in my eureter tubes to assist the surgeon in not cutting them open during surgery as they're hard to spot I believe. Did they use the stents on u too? I had a lot of blood in my urine for the first two days then it started to taper so they were cool with the the catheter coming out. However I was able to urinate it was very painful and still continues to be but it seems to be getting a little better every day, so I have my fingers crossed that this urine issue will clear itself up soon. Hopefully your condition is similar and u just need a little more time. I had no idea going into surgery that those stents we're going to be such an issue afterwards.
Another issue I'm dealing with is being in constant pain. They sent me home with 10mg hydrocodone I take every 3 hours and they barley take the edge off, I'm almost desperate for some better pain meds but the original script got denied for me of the Dilodded by the pharmacy (I got mine done at va hospital and the pharmacy has to approve ur take home meds).
Were u on prednisone going into surgery? I was on day 3 of taking 30mg tapering from 60mg and they tapered me down to 10mgs leaving the hospital and now I took 5 today and 5 tomorrow and then I'm done with it. I personally think the fast taper off prednisone has some sort of effect on my pain level and my ability to heal in my urinary tract.
Anyhow, enough of my rant, when u go back for your follow up they'll take those drains out then, just a heads up it is not fun, wasn't for me anyway. Glad they're out though. I think your bladder issue will certainly resolve itself after a little more time too. I'm a 30 year old male now, always been in good health. I was special ops in the military and always took great pride in taking care of my body so having all these issues now not so later in my life is a little difficult but we'll both pull through. We're in the hardest stretch now I think! Positive thoughts, get some rest if your able. Hope I helped a lttle