A question for the gents

sdjeugene

I guess a catheter will be a necessary part of the surgery. I’ve looked at info about the process, but nothing has told me how it feels (insertion, wearing/using, removal?). Painful at all, or just uncomfortable? Also, how long was your catheter in place after the surgery? I can’t be assured if the surgery will be lap. or open, and need for a catheter for each method would differ, I assume. Thanks, Gentlemen...!

medic1971

Speaking as a patient, yes you will likely have a Foley catheter put in while you are asleep. It doesn't hurt to have one in place per say, but it's a tad uncomfortable. You feel like you always need to pee. It will probably stay in overnight. Don't be alarmed if you see some bleed or blood clots in your Foley bag. In fact that's why they keep it in overnight, to help those clots drain out. Taking it out, well that's a very strange feeling as well, it doesn't hurt, but the sensation is a little overwhelming.

Speaking as an nurse. I've put in hundreds, if not thousands, of catheters while working in the ER. Most people tolerate the insertion well, but like I said above, you will be asleep when they put it in, unlike most of my patients :)

Good luck!

sdjeugene

I did think (hoped!) I’d be out when it’s inserted, but thanks for letting me know what to expect when I’m back to my conscious state. (I guess I’ll get to find out how removal feels, but it probably won’t take long for that to be over with 👍.)

stub1969

They put it in while I was in the operating room and already knocked out--as medic describes. When mine was ready to be taken out, my nurse asked me to sit on the side of the bed and she said she'd count down by 5. Well, at 3 she pulled it out--I'm glad she caught me by surprise!

Don't worry about it too much, Eugene. It's a necessary part of the process.

Good luck!

Stub

jeffman

After my partial nephrectomy in Jan. 2020 the catheter came out the day after surgery. No pain but an odd sensation. I was already sleeping when it went in.

Prostate cancer (2017) was another story altogether. I lived with the catheter in for a full week. Uncomfortable at times and inconvenient but yuo gotta do what you gotta do.

sdjeugene

Gotta, indeed! Thanks for sharing, jeffman.