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Removal of catheter - can anyone describe?

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Prostate Cancer
How long has it taken for normal urninary function to return?
1 day - 27.3% - 3 votes
1 week - 18.2% - 2 votes
1 month - 45.5% - 5 votes
right away - 9.1% - 1 votes
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Posted 12/3/2007 8:27 PM (GMT 0)
I will be going in to have my catheter removed tomorrow afternoon. It is of course a sensitive topic, but I was wondering if anyone could describe: pain? discomfort? how long does it take? I noticed there is an extra rubber tube on the start of the catheter - is this of use?

Thanks in advance,
Bret
Posted 12/3/2007 8:55 PM (GMT 0)
Montana, the removal happens so quick you will wonder why you worried so much! I was very concerned about it, a male Nurse came in and went over everything he was going to do. The second tube goes to the ballon that holds the catheter in place. They will refill your bladder through the catheter to fill your bladder before they remove it, feels kind of wird, no pain. They they slide it out in about two seconds. They want you to take a leak then, if you can. I have one of those "shy" bladders, and could noy put on a show for the nurse, so he sent me home and said to call back in four hours if nothing happened. I am one of the lucky ones, got home and without leaking, passed the water. Just relax, and go with the flow! Best of luck on this side!

Beachbum tongue

Posted 12/3/2007 8:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Bret,
Probably the worst feeling in this experience was the 1.5 seconds you are asking about. But ya gotta do it! It was over quickly. It made my wife cringe, but I was not in screaming pain or anything. In fact, I was reatively quiet according to the nurse. What will happen is that they will inject saline into the bladder in order to verify right away that the urethra is unobstructed afetr the catheter comes out. Then take a deep breath, 1.5 seconds, done. You then need to pee the saline back out. I did have a little bleeding but only that day and it was gone. I had 4 pads on day one, 2 on day two one on days 3-9 and have occasionally worn one. Maybe a total of twelve since the February procedure. Your next big moment won't be the catheter, but rather the pathology. Because of my high PSA I was prepared for the worst.

Tony
Posted 12/3/2007 9:14 PM (GMT 0)
t h a n k you !!!

I was scared to death but now will be alot better!!!
Posted 12/3/2007 10:31 PM (GMT 0)

I will second Tony's comment... It is really no problem at all.

Barry

P.S. Your survey doesn't have enough options.  Many patents take much longer than 1 month to return to "normal" or "pre-surgical" urinary function.  However, "liveable" uninary function can return quicker :-)
Posted 12/3/2007 10:51 PM (GMT 0)
Montana
Dont worry it takes all of 1.5 seconds and then you are free of that bag and on the road to recovery.
You will leak so dont worry it dose better over time.
Best of luck
Posted 12/3/2007 11:54 PM (GMT 0)
I am glad that you asked the question. I am supposed to get mine out in 4 days, and this has been a big unknown and area of concern for me. I wasn't sure if I wanted to know the answer for fear that I would have something to dread, but now that I do know, it doesn't sound too bad. I sure will be glad to get rid of the catheter, and a few seconds of discomfort sounds like a good trade.
Posted 12/4/2007 12:02 AM (GMT 0)
No problems here either. It happened so quick that the most I felt was a quick "pull" or "tug." Didn't hurt at all.
Posted 12/4/2007 12:15 AM (GMT 0)
In my case, all I got was a tickling,  almost pleasurable shiver as it came out.  No pain of any kind.  All over in a couple seconds.

James C.

Posted 12/4/2007 12:26 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for asking the question.  I counting the days, 9 more to go.

Posted 12/4/2007 12:30 AM (GMT 0)

For me, it was a slight twinge of pain--maybe a 2 on a 1 to 10 scale--but really quick, smooth and easy. 

The beauty of a forum like this is that you can ask the little, the big, the seemly silly, the scarey, the odd, and every-other-kind-of question here and get answers from those of us who have been there.

Take care and hang in there...Tim

Posted 12/4/2007 12:55 AM (GMT 0)
No big deal. Felt different, no pain and when it came out I filled the floor. I didn't bring a big enough pad and by the time I made it to the car I was tracking it down the hall. Be sure to bring some heavy duty pads. It will all get better with time. And by the way it is gone hopefully forever. Take care and get better.

Mika
Posted 12/4/2007 2:19 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Montana:  There was nothing to it.  It feels weird for a sec. or so, but no pain or anything.  Best to ya.  You're on your way to recovery.

Tom

Posted 12/4/2007 4:20 AM (GMT 0)
Apparently it is done in different ways depending on your doctor.  I felt no pain at all.  They did not do any of the "filling the bladder" that I've read about.  There was no leaking at the time and they put a tiny pad over me and I put on a regular pair of underwear.  I thought that I was fine and even visited my office for awhile.  I was very lucky because shortly after I got home I wet me , the floor, my clothes, everything.  My surgery was 10/4 and I am still wearing undergarments although there has been a lot of improvement and I will try wearing just pads soon.
Posted 12/4/2007 4:21 AM (GMT 0)
I had no pain just a second or two of a strange feeling.

Control???...14 months and still using 3-5 pads a day. Hope you have better luck then me!

KW
Posted 12/4/2007 4:33 AM (GMT 0)
reply to question about cath.  the best way to have it removed is to have the nurse or person who is removing it to remove it quickly.  the thoughts are the worst part of it.  i had radical prostate surgery whereby my doctor removed not only the prostate but the lymph nodes on either side.  the dread of having the cath removed is not worth the while that you are dreading it.  if it is done quickly there might be just a sting at the moment but that was all i had.  sparks w
Posted 12/4/2007 4:42 AM (GMT 0)
KW, Can you tell us what the bio-feedback is all about?  Thanks.
Posted 12/5/2007 3:58 AM (GMT 0)
The cath has two tubes the one is for urine release and the other is filled with a liquid to increase the size if the balloon in the bladder so that the cath stays in place. Before removing the nurse removes the liquid in the balloon with a syringe and then the cath is removed very quickly. No pain at all and I was really surprised since I had one removed over 40 years ago. That one was terrible. Needless to say I was really dreading it. A lot of wasted energy worrying about nothing. Go for it. Uncle Dan
Posted 12/5/2007 4:33 AM (GMT 0)

    GTM.....,

      You may want to try finding KW's Journey.  It will be several pages back.  If you change the number of post per page it will speed up the search.  There is more info there about the Bio-feedback.  I have heard of different treatments here but this is what mine does.  I put one "stickey pad" sensor beneath my scrotum in the groin area. I run the cord out of my gym shorts. Then I go into therapist office.  She then puts on on my lower abdomen and plugs them into her machine.  Then I sit still and relaxed as she set's the base line on the machine.  Then she has me do some kegeals as she monitors the screen.  Then she will change or add to my exercises depending on what she is seeing.  When I first started I was only hitting at 0.7 or so on her scale.  The last time I went I hit some 7.'s.  So,  I am gaining strength but still have a way to go.

    I have seen where some guys have the shocking type electrodes put on them to make the muscles contract and release several times.  Seems I have even heard of some guys having a electrode placed in their rectum for the treatments!

    All I would suggest is ask you Dr. if the recommend someone.  If they do not use someone just start calling and asking if the use biofeedack to treat male urinary incontenance after prostate removal surgery.    Here in the Oklahoma City Metro my therapist that there were only 5 or 6 that she knew of that did it.

    Good Luck,

    KW

Posted 12/5/2007 8:00 PM (GMT 0)
As a follow-up I wanted to let y'all know how my removal went yesterday...It was unbelievably easy and painless!!! My doctor had my stand up and he removed the suture that held my drain in that was removed last week after surgery...no problemo. Then he took a small scissor and cut the little rubber "extra tube"'s end off and a liquid came pouring out - he said it was water - and without further to do, he gently tugged the catheter out and it was over. I felt no pain whatsoever. It felt wonderful to have it coming out. I highly highly urge all of you to ..... R E L A X!!! And believe me, this has been my major concern throughout the entire process of being diagnosed with cancer in September to all of the tests and biopsies. It was a major pain toting this thing around and I thought it would be a pain coming out - I couldn't have been further from the truth!
Afterwards, I put on a Depends diaper - no problem, I would have worn anything at this point. I would advise purchasing in advance the Mens Depends pads. The easily attach to your underwear and catch any accidents. I got home, had that familiar "gotta pee" feeling from my bladder and went to the urinal and took my first leak in a week! ( rhymes!) And I was almost in tears, I was so happy. Had a couple of minor accidents before i went to bed, but slept all night with out an accident and have taken several trips to the bathroom without incident.
I am very relieved and want all of you to know that I am fine and on the heal.

Take care, be positive, and "This too shall pass"!

Bret
Posted 12/5/2007 9:07 PM (GMT 0)
Congratulations on another milestone. I am supposed to get mine out on Friday, and I am ready. I feel that the catheter has been the toughest part of all that I have been through to date. I am overly cautious with it, and as a result, I think that it (mentally at least) limits my mobility and initiative to exercise as much as I should.

It sounds like your recovery is going great. Hang in there, and post updates when you can for those of us following behind.
Posted 12/5/2007 9:18 PM (GMT 0)
Triker, I'm jealous.  You are a day after my surgery yet your cath comes out 5 days before mine.  Argggggh!  Sigh, every doc has their own protocols but me and my cath are tired of each other!

Posted 12/6/2007 2:26 AM (GMT 0)
On the lighter(?) side, did you ever hang the bag somewhere and then start to walk away, forgetting about the bag.  It's like a training leash.  It gets you back with it immediately.
Posted 12/6/2007 3:39 AM (GMT 0)
Yeah GT, I did that. Wash't too bad till the cat jumped on it....

Jim
Posted 12/6/2007 3:44 AM (GMT 0)
Good ol cat, we'll miss him.

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