HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

The catheter is OUT and it wasn't so bad

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 4/7/2021 11:58 PM (GMT 0)
After 15 days, my catheter is finally out! I can hardly describe how much I dreaded this day. I slept maybe 3 hours last night, and was only able to eat breakfast before my 4:00 pm appointment - my body just didn't want to deal with food.

To anyone out there who's like me, scouring the Internet, wondering what it's like to get it out: for me, it honestly wasn't bad - maybe a 1 or 2 on the pain scale (whereas I was a 10 on the fear scale). It took less than 2 seconds for it to be taken out, and really the only time it hurt even a little was at the very end. Also, it stung when I peed the first four times, but then smooth sailing after that. For comparison, I would say getting the drain out was between a 0 and 1 on the pain scale.

Now that I'm on the other side, I FINALLY understand all those articles I've read where they say that a problem with this surgery is that guys tend to do too much too soon. With the catheter in, three 15 minute walks a day was often too much - now, I want to run full speed around the neighbourhood 🏃

If you're nervous about getting it removed, hopefully this post has helped you
Posted 4/8/2021 12:08 AM (GMT 0)
Glad it worked out for you. Mine just slid out on its own and I didn't feel a thing.
Posted 4/8/2021 12:14 AM (GMT 0)
That's awesome! A lot of people write about their post catheter experience, but not so much about the actual removal; I assume it's because it's such a non issue as it was for you. However, I'm sure there are at least some lurkers out there who are as terrified as I was.
Posted 4/8/2021 12:16 AM (GMT 0)
My cath was in for two weeks after my open RP. When the uro's nurse deflated the balloon and pulled it out, there was no pain -- for a couple of seconds it felt like a butterfly was escaping smile
Posted 4/8/2021 12:24 AM (GMT 0)
Jealous 🙂
Posted 4/8/2021 12:25 AM (GMT 0)
Mine was in for 8 days and it mildly tickled as it was removed. I wasn’t prepared for the lack of control afterwards though. Sure was nice to forget about the cath bag.

Post Edited (patrickm) : 4/8/2021 5:11:30 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/8/2021 12:30 AM (GMT 0)
PS, forgot to mention the solution that was injected into my bladder prior to catheter removal. It came gushing out like a fountain, with the nurse trying to catch it in a pan. Lol
Posted 4/8/2021 1:05 AM (GMT 0)
Wow. So far, we have

"just slid out on its own"
"pulled it out, there was no pain"
"it mildly tickled as it was removed"

as our replies. Crazy what a small factor this is for so many people! From even before I got it in, I was afraid of getting it out ☹️ Oh well - at least it's out now 🎉
Posted 4/8/2021 1:29 AM (GMT 0)
I agree it's a good thread that could help reduce anxiety for lurkers. Thanks for posting it.
Posted 4/8/2021 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
The nurse/technician had a trainee with her for mine and did the requisite procedure of filling and draining. Then she explained that it has to be done quickly and pulled it out like she was starting a lawn mower. I had a burning sensation for a while which had to be due to the speed that she pulled it out. The first pee or two felt odd but was pretty much back to normal after that. I was so happy it was coming out that I could not be disappointed for any reason that morning after 10 days.
Posted 4/8/2021 4:34 AM (GMT 0)
The day mine was removed emotionally felt like the 4th of July!
Posted 4/8/2021 5:12 AM (GMT 0)
Ah! Thank you. This brought back some memories of how nice it was to finally have the cath out. Unfortunately, mine didn't practically fall out as some others enjoyed by required some good tugs. It turned out that a scab had formed around mine which was holding it in so it needed a bit of muscle from from the PA to break free. The strangest part of the entire thing for me though is I was laying on the table when it was removed and they gave me a Depends to put on which I did while still lying down. When I stood up from the table, my entire bladder emptied out immediately into the Depends. Takes awhile to "re-learn" how to control that part but it happened quickly for me and hopefully will for you as well.
Posted 4/8/2021 9:31 AM (GMT 0)
I had mine for 7 days. They put me on the table to pull my staples, and then had me stand up to remove the catheter. After releasing the balloon, I was told to take a deep breath and let it out slow...I felt a little tug, and it was gone. I didn't flood out like some guys.....I was reasonably continent from day 1.
Posted 4/8/2021 1:32 PM (GMT 0)
Next to the days of my wedding, birth of my children, the day my catheter came out was one of the happiest days of my life LOL.
Posted 4/8/2021 4:37 PM (GMT 0)
Having mine removed 8 days after surgery was not something I want to remember. A year later I had an AUS installed and went home with the catheter installed. I asked if I could remove it myself the next day instead of coming back in just for that and the nurse gave me instructions. I used the slow and easy approach rather than the pull it out quick approach I’d had before and it it felt weird but no pain.

The nurse said that the trick is to use to syringe to fully deflate the balloon, remove the syringe and empty it, then put the syringe back on the catheter and give it another pull, holding that while extracting the the catheter. She said that discomfort comes from the balloon not being fully deflated. Comparing the two methods I experienced I would concur.

BTW, my uro said that they could schedule cath removal appointments for 2am and never have someone miss that appointment.
Posted 4/8/2021 6:45 PM (GMT 0)

Canadian_Scott said...
Wow. So far, we have

"just slid out on its own"
"pulled it out, there was no pain"
"it mildly tickled as it was removed"

as our replies. Crazy what a small factor this is for so many people! From even before I got it in, I was afraid of getting it out ☹️ Oh well - at least it's out now 🎉

"hurt like a mofo"
Posted 4/8/2021 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
Now, I know a guy who accidentally pulled his catheter by tripping over it. THAT had to hurt.
Posted 4/8/2021 7:30 PM (GMT 0)
Or, how about the guys who decide they've had enough of it, and try to remove it -- not realizing there's a balloon that needs deflating.
Posted 4/8/2021 9:41 PM (GMT 0)
No one has ever missed their appointment to have a cath removed. Thanks for the tugging memory. I was with you. 11 on the fear scale and 2-3 on the reality. By time I asked the Doc if I could be put to sleep, it was out.
Posted 4/9/2021 5:24 PM (GMT 0)

GoBucks said...
No one has ever missed their appointment to have a cath removed. Thanks for the tugging memory. I was with you. 11 on the fear scale and 2-3 on the reality. By time I asked the Doc if I could be put to sleep, it was out.

actually my experience exactly smile . the reason i had so much fear was the first time i had a catheter removed i was in custody and i believe they intentionally wanted to punish me and it "hurt like a mofo" and the time and for a few days.
Posted 4/10/2021 9:37 AM (GMT 0)
I'm 2 more days with Foley catheter, looking forward to losing my bags etc, almost out of penis grease! That will make 14 days since the Tulsa pro job, yes,will be removing myself with telephone assistance if needed,.I looking forward to full recovery, excellent treatment, jw
Posted 4/11/2021 4:41 AM (GMT 0)
My cath removal was somewhat painful but it was incredibly quick. Indeed was so happy to be “un-tethered”.
Posted 4/11/2021 2:38 PM (GMT 0)
I took my cath myself on day 10 to avoid a 70 mile one way trip. I got in the tub cut the cath and it came out with no pain. I chugged some water, got in the shower and all was good.
Hero
Posted 4/11/2021 4:11 PM (GMT 0)
Mine was painless. I was very happy to get it out but I too was about an 11 on the anxiety scale until it was out. I think the trick is to drink a lot of water the whole time you have it in.
Posted 4/11/2021 4:16 PM (GMT 0)

Herophilus said...
I took my cath myself on day 10 to avoid a 70 mile one way trip. I got in the tub cut the cath and it came out with no pain. I chugged some water, got in the shower and all was good.
Hero

you earned your name with that one smile
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12