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Posted 4/22/2018 6:42 PM (GMT 0)
I had surgery on Wednesday, home Thursday’s and afternoon adjusting to the catheter I am pleasantly surprised at how comfortable I am. Obviously, I have a long way to go waiting for pathology report and anxious about continence and ED. But right now I am wondering about the experience of having the catheter removed. It shoulda painful and like I could have serious bladder discomfort and lack of control.
Posted 4/22/2018 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
Glad you are home, good luck with your recovery! Getting the cath out is simple, fast and painless. The nurse removed the little ball holding it in and pulled it out, nothing to fear. I had no bladder discomfort and didn't leak very much, stopped wearing pads after the 11th week.
Posted 4/22/2018 7:14 PM (GMT 0)
The sensation caused by the removal of the catheter is "strange" but not painful at all, from my experience.

Good luck, walk alot. As much as possible. Every day.
Posted 4/22/2018 7:29 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks very much.
Posted 4/22/2018 9:26 PM (GMT 0)
The anxiety of the removal is far worse than the actual event. But I was extra anxious about it accidentally coming out at home doing my walking and emptying my bag. So I spent the week fearing it coming out right up to the Dr visit. The freedom after is a great feeling. Wishing you continued good recovery.
Posted 4/22/2018 10:34 PM (GMT 0)
Trust us, the catheter removal is trivial and not painful. It's a bit like giving blood, the fear (for some of us) of the needle is way worse than the reality.

Focus on walking, walking and walking. Keep the kegels going as well......I still do mine every day 1,400+ days after surgery.
Posted 4/23/2018 2:14 AM (GMT 0)
I had a different experience with the catheter removal. I had RALP 5-1/2 weeks ago and the the removal was the most discomforting part of the entire experience. Mine was removed on day 7 after the surgery. It only took a second or two but I had to lay there for a few minutes to recompose myself. The doctor who removed it did it VERY quickly, as a friend who had his out a while back described, like he was starting a lawn mower.

That said, the relief of getting rid of the thing makes it worth it. I was immediately leaking and at this point I still am when standing or walking. Kegels, Kegels, Kegels.

Vince
Posted 4/23/2018 2:56 AM (GMT 0)
There are always exceptions, but for the vast majority of men, catheter removal is one or two seconds of minor discomfort that doesn't linger. If you Google foley catheter removal, you'll get hits for other threads on the topic, in this forum (dating back to 2007) as well as others, and the message is the same: it's not worth getting anxious over this.
Posted 4/23/2018 3:55 AM (GMT 0)
I was still bracing for the pain...grasping the side of the table... when she asked me...."You gonna lay there all day? It was out when I walked away from ya a while ago"

good luck with the rest...thinkin' it's gonna be ok for ya
Posted 4/23/2018 4:15 AM (GMT 0)
The funny thing is, all of us RP guys made it through JP drain removal in the hospital, which is like 10 times worse, and then we obsess about the nothingburger Foley removal. Maybe because of the sensitive site, maybe because we've got days and days to dwell on it before it happens.
Posted 4/23/2018 11:01 AM (GMT 0)
Getting rid of that darn catheter was better than having an orgasm! Mmmmm not sure if i would have agreed with that when i was 20 but now in my 60's you bet! LOL

Larry
Posted 4/23/2018 11:18 AM (GMT 0)
With my surgical team approval to avoid a 140 mile round trip I removed my own in the tub and it was a non-event. No Pain! Nothing really.
Hero
Posted 4/23/2018 11:23 AM (GMT 0)
...dropped my JP bulb in the toilet (clip let loose of my hosp. gown) while (finally!!) having my first bowel movement after surgery. They pulled it right quick after that. wink

We did a 'how much can you retain across the room to that pee collector" test when the catheter was pulled 7 days post surgery, along with the comment that everybody leaks profusely when the cath is removed. blush
Posted 4/23/2018 12:24 PM (GMT 0)
Catheter out was a non event when done by an RN. After my TURP, catheter out by a well meaning MD was an awkward, but painless process.

Like Sapain, getting unplugged from the JP drain, in the hospital, by an experienced nurse was, shall we say, eye opening.

It’s always something and obsessing about it will surely make it worse. Good luck, guys!
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