Catheter Removal

On Monday I report back to the doctor to have a cystogram, supposedly an x-ray to tell how well the connection back to my bladder has healed. Hopefully, they are going to remove my catheter if things have healed.

It will be 17 days on Monday that I have had this catheter. I thought I had read that 7 to 10 days was about normal and I can't figure out why I have had to have it in as long as I have. I think part of it is because Dr. Herrell only does clinicals on Monday and the timing of my surgery being on Friday has cost me a few more days. I was told he wanted it in for two full weeks. I have had quite a struggle with the catheter these past 17 days. It seems to me that I have quite a bit of urine that runs down the tube and gets everything wet. Quite a bit has been going into the cath, but I am surprised at how much does not go into the cath.

I am sitting here tonight reading of the continence issues alot of you are having and it appears I could be  headed down the same path. I am having urine get onto my genitals and it burns and itches. I am using everything from neosporin, cortizone 10, anti fungal cream. and I am showering two or three times a day trying to stay clear of infection. I was hoping that when the cath was removed things would close off a little better and I would not leak as much. Now after reading some of these posts I am more than a little worried. This moisture and wetness is driving me crazy. I guess I should have expected it but I didn't know it was going to be this bad. I know all of you have probably experienced the same thing so I do not know why I am crying about it.

I guess it is safe to assume after they pull the cath things are just not going to stop leaking. I have been doing some keagles but I am confused as to how many to do as I have read some say you can do too many.

I have been trying to walk a mile or so a day but the leakage is so bad during the walk I can hardly stand it and with the cold weather it is even worse.

I am reading about artificial sphincters and other devices some of you are having to use to stay dry. I have also read about some of you becoming dry pretty quickly. I just don't know what to expect. I guess I will begin to know on Monday.

If anyone has advice for me at the stage I am currently at I would appreciate it. Maybe some suggestions on ways to fight the rash and itching or anything else.

I guess I just should be thankful that the cancer is out, but now that it is out I guess it is natural to want the next best thing which would be continence and erections. If I had to choose I would most assuredly choose to be dry.

 Sorry about the long post, just venting again I guess.

Thanks to all for the information you have given me in the past. I hope all of you can have a great holiday and get good news for your Christmas  presents.

Educator

    Hey Educator,  I'm not sure you should be doing kegeals while you cathiter is in?  Mine was in for 23 day due to slow healing at the suiture sites.  I also had alot of leaking around the tube.  I used some sut up womens pads to wrap around the tube to help soak up the leaking.  My cathiter removal went easy.  The nurse released the fluid from the bulb and it just slid out.  No pain, just a little strange feeling as it comes out.  As far a incontenance I think everyone is different.  I happen to be one of the leakers.  All I can suggest is to use a quality pad that will wick the moisture away from your skin.  Change as often as you need.  Keep working on your kegeals after the cathiter is removed.

   Holler back and let us kow how you are doing.

    KW