Saturday Morning Update: The Death of Catheter #13

Fingers crossed
Alfred

Here's hoping........

Skeener

Thank you, Alfred, I sweated this part, but it went smooth

thanks, james, nah, no need to go cross eyed

skeener, thanks too, another item to mark done on the check list that i am hoping will free me

sheldon, thanks for all the crossing, but don't try walking about like that, you are liable to tumble and hurt yourself.

Squid,

And this is my mid-afternoon report. Just by removing that foley from the bladder neck and urethra, I would say my pain so far today been reduced 60-70% from this time yesterday. Actually drove for the first time in a week, went to a few stores and ran some errands. Home now, tired and sore, but what an improvement. Spasms today have been fewer, and perhaps 4-5 on the pain, instead of 8-10 back to back ones like I was getting the past few days.

I will speak to my uro Monday, and should be able to start experimenting turning the SP cath on and off, and see how well the bladder neck repairs are working. If it hurts too much ,or it it blocks, I still have the safety of the SP in place. That's a big piece of mind when you are dealing with these chronic stricture issues.

David in SC

Thank you much, Jennifer. Sunny skies and about 65F here in western SC today, suppose to be even warmer the next few days too.

Yipee you're moving forward. . .

CareBear

David, so glad to hear that the "twin" is out...and that you are feeling so much better.

Sheldon...everything you have two of ... does that mean you're crossing your ...aw, forget it.

Be well guys.

David . sounds like everythings going in the right direction best of luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DEERHUNTER

I hope 13 is the charm. At first, I thought why would he do this on a Saturday when the doctor's office is closed. Then I said this is #13 and his wife is a nurse. You are in good hands. Again, I hope this works and hope you are having a good weekend. Nothing but sunshine here in Houston.

Arnie, thanks, I am real systematic by nature, so on my check list, this is one for the record book

Thanks and hugs, Carebear

Ohio, you will never change, I had already read the most recent Zufus posting, and complimented and thanked him for it, no one has ever denied the guy is a warehouse of harder to find PC knowledge.

Bronson, thanks as usual, you are a kind fellow. Well with a last name of Riley and wife's maiden name of O'Neill, we are pretty Irish. My mother, though a Brit, father was from Belfast, and my Great Grandfather on my father's side came over from Ireland during the free land grab in OK, as in the movie "Far and Away". The family farm for generations was a quarter section, 160 acres near t he Kansas border. One of the largest Irish celebrations is in Savannah GA, outside of NYC or Boston, but its about a 4 1/2 hr drive for me.

Sephie, thanks, my best to you beloved John. Prior to this morning, my two catheters would cross each other natually, lol.

Jeff, nah, todays event was just a repeat of many a cath removal, my wife did great on the syringe part, and I learned by watching my uro remove two former caths from me, telling you, or for anyone new, have your caths removed while standing up

Deer Hunter, thanks my friend, you been there for me a time or two already, appreciate it

Steve, there is so much lubricant on a cath, to aid in the insertion side, it works well on the removal side, this lil fellow only lived for 4 days, but bore, did the nasty thing put the hurt on me during that time. Hope that is the last foley cath I have to think about for a long long time
After over 5 months, the SP cath really is just a minor bother, I can understand why neuro patients and others that have them for years get use to them. You would think it would hurt coming out of a hole in your stomach, but it really doesnt as a rule

rob, if my wife wasn't a very experienced nurse, this would have never happened today, but didnt want to suffer two more full days till Monday, plus t he doctor was fully confident in her skill level.

Thanks, my good mate Billy Mac. I want to be normal just like you. (Geez, can't believe I said that, lol)

Big thanks, Br. Jeff Go Saints!

David,
I mentioned the SP cath to my uro during my procedure last week. He says to hang in there for now. I will bring it up again on Monday during the pre-op chat. I have a bad feeling about this. The two uros I talked to both seemed to think that for now this is no big thing - not uncommon. I have a great doctor so i will just keep the faith and see what happens with the surgery. My feeling is that they are cutting out excess scar tissue that formed after the reconnect during surgery. I would imagine that scar tissue will again form after it is cut this time. It seems like an endless cycle. My incontinence was almost zero before the stricture problem. Now the Uro is telling me that the stricture could have helped with the incontinence problem and when he opens it up and cuts out the scar tissue I might go back to the great but hard to control flow. Saw your note on a previous post about your initial surgery. Our cases are so similar it is amazing. I spent 6 hours on the operating table and close to 4 hours in recovery. My family thought I was dead for sure. The only thing that kept my wife going was a call from one of the surgical nurses every hour to say I was doing fine. My surgery was open also. The Uro said all along that the reconnection was "extremely difficult" because of the position of my bladder and my fat gut. I feel for you and all the suffering you have dealt with so far. I really don't want to follow in your footsteps any more!!!! Get well. Squid.