Post DaVinci catheter and sleeping tricks?

I don't recall what the sticky thread advise, but here's my recommendation:

Put the cath bag in a bucket by the side of the bed, hanging it on the rim of the bucket (the cath bag has a hook specifically for this).

When you move around during sleep, it causes the cath tube to move which may wake you due to the sensation (a bit uncomfortable, but not painful). My strategy was to sleep on my side (facing the direction of the bucket). I put a pillow behind my back to prevent me from rolling. I wore slightly snug underwear to help hold willy and the cath tube steady. (The cath tube passed through the leg of the underwear, not the waistband.)

Have some water handy so you can take a drink during the night without having to get out of bed. Don't worry about drinking at nighttime, since the nighttime cath bag holds a lot of urine (and the bucket would catch any overflow).

Best of luck on Thursday! See you on the other side.

-Gedman

I ended up having to sleep in my recliner.  It made it easier for me to get in and out of bed.  Of course you need to be careful not to get the tubing or bag caught up in the reclining mechanism.

Bag in the bucket works great, I slept on my side. Also used it by the sofa for naps. One time I didn't lock the bag correctly after emptying and it leaked in the bucket over night. That is why you use the bucket.
I also bought one of those 3M removal hooks and put it on the wall in the shower to hang the catheter on when I showered.

By the way, I used the large bag the entire time. Less emptying, just put it in a canvas bag and carried it with me when I walked.

Good luck, you'll do great. See you on the other side.

Bill from Florida

Ditto the bucket at night. I also devised a strap (from two small suitcase straps connected together) which I put over my head and one shoulder attached to and supporting the weight of the bag. This allowed me to be "hands-free" during morning and evening hours when I wasn't wearing the smaller leg bag.
Bob

Slept on side facing edge of bed, pillow behind my back to prevent rolling and sometimes pillow between my knees ( even few weeks after catheter removal) I normaly sleep as though on a rotisserie, changing from side to side usally clockwise. Thus I never slept to great till the cath came out (8 days). Side note: my wife who once in her sleeping position doesn't move til she wakes in the morning, occasionally talks in her sleep, saying, " damit can you please lay still & quit moving"

Yes: I hung mine in my plastic newspaper recycling bin and it was just the right height and would catch anything if it dripped (it didn't). I also put extra tape on my leg just in case that the line pulled. this way the tape would take up the stress and it wouldn't pull on my bladder. Keep a little night light on since you may actually forget that you are hooked up! I was very worried about the catheter but believe me, it was absolutle no big deal. And there was zero pain when it was pulled out after 10 days. It actuall tickled comming out! Make sure that the line doesn't get kinked or twisted. Good luck.

Bill K. from NJ

My catheter had a safe lock device adhered to the inside of the thigh which keeps one from pulling the tube out, but excessive movement did cause some slight pain and sensation. The device did not come off in the shower. I slept in a recliner for a week with bag in pan at foot of recliner for bag. I ran tube under leg. The second week I moved to bed, secured bag beside bed, slept on back and ran tube under leg. Worked well. I was too sore to roll onto side. During day I changed to leg bag which gave freedom of movement, but did require frequent emptying. Leg bag has two straps which run around thigh to secure it. I used the top strap only. That way when I sat down I could make sure back was pointing downward. The bag had a valve mechanism which prevented backflow. You will do fine. Took me about a day to get used to catheter and to learn how to handle the bags. Nurse gave instructions before I left hospital. Important to think about keeping tubes, bag and connections sanitary. make sure you get instructions on this. When my doctor's assistant removed catheter he looked at me with a grin and said, "Are you ready?" I said, "What, I thought you just took it out!" He said, "That was just a practice run!" Then he held up the tube that he removed and we had a good laugh. Good luck with your surgery.

I slept on my back or my side facing where the catheter was hung on the bucket by the side of the bed as Gedman recommended.  I found the catheter a little uncomfortable and unnatural but not painful.  A couple of times at night when the discomfort was bothersome, I took half an oxycodone.  That helped a lot.  (I had stopped regular use of oxycodone two days after I came home.)  Dan P

All good advice above - and keep the tube lubed!

Look forward to all good news from you!

Mikey

I also kept the cath in a bucket, slept in the spare room for a week and laid on my back. You guys will get a kick out of this. I was so paranoid about the cath pulling out that I carried it around the whole time (7 days) in that bucket, instead of strapping it to my leg!Good Luck Inkhorn

Mikey,

Technically, you get to be driven past rest stops. Most surgeons don't allow driving while the catheter is in place.