going for catheter removal - any tips?

Just relax, they will remove the water keeping the bulb inflated and usually it will just slide out on it's own. Mine just felt a little itchy, funny sliding out, but no biggie. Good luck on instant dry, and good riddance to that thing, right?

Don't wear boxers like I did... Can't hold the pads close enough to Mr Pee Wee who will rear his ugly head...

Ein - welcome back home -
- hope you remembered to bring some male guards/pads with you and had a non-stress ride home
- catheter removal was a non-event for me - the tube seemed longer than what it was while being removed
- good luck with your recovery
- all the best,
Bronson

Ein,

Too late for you, but for others that come after you here is what to do during catheter removal:

1) Try to clench a bit to hold back the flow. The doc (or PA) will want to see if you can stop the flow immediately or not. You get a Gold Star if you can stop the flow.

2) He may want to see you start and stop the flow a couple times. More Gold Stars if you can do that too.

I suppose none of this matters much in the long run since you can't really practice anything till the catheter comes out. But just be pro-active about stoppin the flow!

J

Thanks Everyone. Truly appreciate the help.

I had this crusty old nurse distract me by talking about something and she gave a big yank and it was out before I knew.

Terry

 

I hope it all went well for you.

Can I just tell you (without meaning to worry you as this happens VERY rarely) about my husband's experience when he had his catheter removed after 6 days following RARP.

He left hospital peeing fine at 4pm. By 6pm, his pee had dried up. By 9pm he was in agony - 10/10 on the pain scale (and he's no wimp). There was severe pain in his left abdomen and his abdomen was distended and rigid. He was advised (by phone) to drink a pint of water and see how much he peed over the next 2 hours. Guess what he peed nothing. We then took him back to hospital at 1am where he was given nothing more than paracetamol until 10am when he was recatheterised (100 ml fluid). The radiologist didn't arrive until 3pm (now 21 hours after first leak) and drained off 1 and a half pints of blood and urine from his abdominal cavity due to a leak in the bladder/urethral join.

He has now been catheterised for 5 weeks and we are hoping to get it out next week if the cystogram shows the leak has completely healed.

We are having private treatment in the UK. If this happens to you out of hours, do NOT go back to your private hospital where they cannot cope with these situations. Phone 999 and get an ambulance to A&E. You will be seen as a priority. Also do NOT drink more fluids even if you are advised to do so!