I've had surgeries, but never needed a catheter. Are they put in under sedation? After I'm knocked out for surgery? Before with drugs? Or before without? Just curious as to how this works.
catheter put in while you are out for surgery purposes Or in Lala land And don’t know what’s up. Awake when it comes out. Ive had multiple times removal is not bad. Fast and either feels weird or lititle uncomfortable. You will be on pain meds, so you probably won’t notice.
What everyone said: inserted while sedated, and removed while awake. The discomfort for a man is, perhaps, a bit more intense when they remove it. For us, putting it while awake is without question the last resort. Taking it out was no picnic, but not nearly as bad as I'd dreaded.
Glad to hear about the putting it in part. Removing it like starting a lawnmower should be entertaining. Can't wait. I'll be sure to hit the meds button while she is getting the lawnmower ready.
Removal was no problem for me. I stepped on the tube a couple of times while moving around. That pulled on it a bit and might be the reason why it started to feel uncomfortable inside. Starting on about day four I was telling them they could remove it any time now.
They took it out a day later and that felt really good to me. I just wanted it gone.
I've had three surgeries now and they put it in while you're out, take it out later when they think things are working. You want things working before they pull it out, because putting back in is no fun! It does hurt pulling it out, but it's quick.
Funny story about my nephrectomy. After 2-3 days getting home I passed air where urine should come out. Use your imagination. Scared me like you can't believe! I freaked out. I was trying to imagine how I'd have air in my bladder. Thought maybe they forgot to close up the ureter they cut (since they injected air into my abdominal cavity for the laparascopic surgery). Turns out that sometimes when they insert the catheter it pushes air into your bladder. It didn't show up until a few days because that's the first time I had completely emptied my bladder. Whew.
Just thought I'd give you a little something to worry about. Haha. Seriously, it's nothing to worry about. After a couple of times, it went away. A word of advice, though. Don't google that issue.
that removed my catheter was about 22 yo.... She told me she almost flunked out of nursing school when she was tested on male catheterization. Her instructor asked her what was the first thing she should remove from a penis. Her answer was, "The wrinkles."
My kidney cancer was found while in the hospital for another procedure that required a catheter. I had blood in my urine for 1/2 a day and they weren't going to release me, obviously. It cleared up and they said if it gets blocked I'll be back. On Thanksgiving night I couldn't pee at all. Totally blocked and went to ER. They had to put a foli catheter in while I was awake and that was extremely painful. Had it in at home for 3 days. Taking it out was a piece of cake; a little pressure but felt so good to get the damn thing out. While in the hospital it was always put in when I was out prior to surgery. Still the removal wasn't bad. I had a scope procedure done prior to my surgery and that required them to put a stent in my ureter while I was under. That was very uncomfortable and I continued to have bladder spasms until they took it out. I hate the word catheter, but not being able to urinate was worse I tell you!
Unrelated to a catheter, but bloody uriteric stents, I had 2 for 4 weeks each with kidney stones. Couldn't walk more than 500 m without wanting to die, constant bladder irritation and feeling the need to pee. I was really anxious abou the 2nd one being removed (first one was removed in surgery while under), worried I would have complications, cramping, bleeding, and the urolgist said to me, the relief will be profound and immediate, it sure was, I jumped up, threw on my clothes and went Christmas shopping on the 23rd of December. Evil things. Evil. Yet some people have no problems with them at all.
I was a RN in a hospital for many many years, and have installed and removed an awful lots of catheters. A secret to make removal easier, is to take a big breath and hold it while they deflate the balloon, and breathe out with the removal of the catheter. Makes an unpleasant situation a little more tolerable.
I've had five catheters over the years and remain convinced that they were invented by the Marquis de Sade. When they are taken out, it doesn't matter whether it's a male nurse or a female nurse, I offer to marry them on the spot.
Couldn't have said anything more true! I told the Doc that pulled it out that she was my new best friend and I was in love. My wife was sitting right there!
It was my first time to have one with this surgery. As prior posters have said its a gender thing. I was told its no big deal having it taken out .butttt it was not pleasant and I would prefer never to have again. You'll do great, and have a war story to share
Great info and very appreciated. Not really worried too much about it. I just don't like surprises. :) Would rather plan mentally for what they are about to do.
it's easy to avoid embarassment if you accept that nothing is sacred. If you have one, whatever that is, medical personnel has touched, held it, looked in it, cleaned it, taken it apart, and measured it. I always suggest trusting the professionals. Sit back and watch the show. Do as told and help the process move forward. It is a front row seat. I think people find out that more is expected from them than they expect. It can be a strange trip.
I have had catheters with babies and other ops but they were always removed pretty quickly post surgery while I was still under or very sedated so I have no memory of them. I loved my catheter for this operation. I couldn't feel it at all. It was sooooo convenient, didn't have to get up to go the loo, when getting up and down was difficult. It was a nice two stage one with a big wooden handle (kind of like a hand bag) and drained into another bag which meant they could meausre the top bit, drain it into the bottom bit and only empty the whole thing every other observation. Didn't feel a thing having it taken out. I think I felt very positive about it because it was fillig with crystal clear urine which was making all the medical staff very happy, so it was a positive sign immediately that things were going well post op. And if you had told me 3 momths ago I would write an entire paragraph about the feelings I have for a catheter I would have looked at you and though you were bonkers.
I now know what child birth is like when I went through the insertion of the large/foli catheter. She just laughed. Of course, after I was "settled down" a bit. Very painful.
to mirror what fox said I worked as a tech for a few years in a hospital. We have seen everything. Your nudity is not nudity to us. I often would feel bad because of patients feeling embarrassed. There we’re days when I removed 5 catheters in one day. Never thought twice.
To be very honest, at this point, I don't even care. Just want this lump out of me. The nudity part I'm fine with. I used to work in a hospital (surgery) during college as a part time job. Would see people naked laying on tables all the time. At a certain point, you just don't notice anymore. I just wasn't familiar with the process of a cath. Never saw one inserted or removed. Didn't know how and when they were done. I did think the earlier analogy of removal being like starting a law mower funny.
Joined: Mar 2017
My experience
Put in, yes. Taken out, no.
Joined: Sep 2017
Put in after I was out.
Put in after I was out. Taken out a day after the surgery. They monitor the output of your kidneys after the surgery. Or at least they did mine.
Joined: Dec 2017
Normally
catheter put in while you are out for surgery purposes Or in Lala land And don’t know what’s up. Awake when it comes out. Ive had multiple times removal is not bad. Fast and either feels weird or lititle uncomfortable. You will be on pain meds, so you probably won’t notice.
Joined: Mar 2017
I noticed.
She pulled on that thing like she was starting a lawnmower.
Joined: Apr 2017
It's a gender thing, sort of...
What everyone said: inserted while sedated, and removed while awake. The discomfort for a man is, perhaps, a bit more intense when they remove it. For us, putting it while awake is without question the last resort. Taking it out was no picnic, but not nearly as bad as I'd dreaded.
Joined: Nov 2017
Glad to hear about the
Glad to hear about the putting it in part. Removing it like starting a lawnmower should be entertaining. Can't wait. I'll be sure to hit the meds button while she is getting the lawnmower ready.
Joined: Oct 2016
It wasn't too bad
Hi Cybball,
Removal was no problem for me. I stepped on the tube a couple of times while moving around. That pulled on it a bit and might be the reason why it started to feel uncomfortable inside. Starting on about day four I was telling them they could remove it any time now.
They took it out a day later and that felt really good to me. I just wanted it gone.
I will repeat that. Removal felt good.
Steve.
Joined: Dec 2012
Same
I've had three surgeries now and they put it in while you're out, take it out later when they think things are working. You want things working before they pull it out, because putting back in is no fun! It does hurt pulling it out, but it's quick.
Funny story about my nephrectomy. After 2-3 days getting home I passed air where urine should come out. Use your imagination. Scared me like you can't believe! I freaked out. I was trying to imagine how I'd have air in my bladder. Thought maybe they forgot to close up the ureter they cut (since they injected air into my abdominal cavity for the laparascopic surgery). Turns out that sometimes when they insert the catheter it pushes air into your bladder. It didn't show up until a few days because that's the first time I had completely emptied my bladder. Whew.
Just thought I'd give you a little something to worry about. Haha. Seriously, it's nothing to worry about. After a couple of times, it went away. A word of advice, though. Don't google that issue.
Todd
Joined: Oct 2011
The nurse
that removed my catheter was about 22 yo.... She told me she almost flunked out of nursing school when she was tested on male catheterization. Her instructor asked her what was the first thing she should remove from a penis. Her answer was, "The wrinkles."
Joined: Dec 2012
Hahaha
I won't ask how she planned to to do that...the answer would undoubtedly get reported as "inappropriate". :)
Todd
Joined: Apr 2017
I was thinking the same thing...
...I'll just go to my corner for my time-out now...
Joined: Dec 2017
My Experience
My kidney cancer was found while in the hospital for another procedure that required a catheter. I had blood in my urine for 1/2 a day and they weren't going to release me, obviously. It cleared up and they said if it gets blocked I'll be back. On Thanksgiving night I couldn't pee at all. Totally blocked and went to ER. They had to put a foli catheter in while I was awake and that was extremely painful. Had it in at home for 3 days. Taking it out was a piece of cake; a little pressure but felt so good to get the damn thing out. While in the hospital it was always put in when I was out prior to surgery. Still the removal wasn't bad. I had a scope procedure done prior to my surgery and that required them to put a stent in my ureter while I was under. That was very uncomfortable and I continued to have bladder spasms until they took it out. I hate the word catheter, but not being able to urinate was worse I tell you!
Joined: Oct 2017
Stents - evil things
Unrelated to a catheter, but bloody uriteric stents, I had 2 for 4 weeks each with kidney stones. Couldn't walk more than 500 m without wanting to die, constant bladder irritation and feeling the need to pee. I was really anxious abou the 2nd one being removed (first one was removed in surgery while under), worried I would have complications, cramping, bleeding, and the urolgist said to me, the relief will be profound and immediate, it sure was, I jumped up, threw on my clothes and went Christmas shopping on the 23rd of December. Evil things. Evil. Yet some people have no problems with them at all.
Joined: Dec 2017
I was a RN in a hospital for
I was a RN in a hospital for many many years, and have installed and removed an awful lots of catheters. A secret to make removal easier, is to take a big breath and hold it while they deflate the balloon, and breathe out with the removal of the catheter. Makes an unpleasant situation a little more tolerable.
Joined: Jun 2016
That's great, but...
Cindy T, that's great, to hear it helped you remove catheters when you were an RN. Any advice for patients, though?
Jerzy Grrl
Joined: Jun 2016
I've had five catheters over
I've had five catheters over the years and remain convinced that they were invented by the Marquis de Sade. When they are taken out, it doesn't matter whether it's a male nurse or a female nurse, I offer to marry them on the spot.
Joined: Dec 2017
Couldn't have said anything
Couldn't have said anything more true! I told the Doc that pulled it out that she was my new best friend and I was in love. My wife was sitting right there!
Joined: Sep 2017
Mine was put in while I was
Mine was put in while I was out. Was taken out while awake and it was nothing at all!!!
Joined: Mar 2017
Have to go through it to answer it
It was my first time to have one with this surgery. As prior posters have said its a gender thing. I was told its no big deal having it taken out .butttt it was not pleasant and I would prefer never to have again. You'll do great, and have a war story to share
Joined: Nov 2017
Great info and very
Great info and very appreciated. Not really worried too much about it. I just don't like surprises. :) Would rather plan mentally for what they are about to do.
Joined: Oct 2011
When you end up in the hospital,
it's easy to avoid embarassment if you accept that nothing is sacred. If you have one, whatever that is, medical personnel has touched, held it, looked in it, cleaned it, taken it apart, and measured it. I always suggest trusting the professionals. Sit back and watch the show. Do as told and help the process move forward. It is a front row seat. I think people find out that more is expected from them than they expect. It can be a strange trip.
Joined: Aug 2017
Sorry Guys
i didnt feel a thing
now childbirth and painful periods.. that was something to talk about..
Annie
Joined: Jul 2016
Come on....
Didn't feel a thing?? I'm not sure which was more uncomfortable removal of the catheter or the drain tube.
Stub
Joined: Oct 2017
Must be a gender thing
I have had catheters with babies and other ops but they were always removed pretty quickly post surgery while I was still under or very sedated so I have no memory of them. I loved my catheter for this operation. I couldn't feel it at all. It was sooooo convenient, didn't have to get up to go the loo, when getting up and down was difficult. It was a nice two stage one with a big wooden handle (kind of like a hand bag) and drained into another bag which meant they could meausre the top bit, drain it into the bottom bit and only empty the whole thing every other observation. Didn't feel a thing having it taken out. I think I felt very positive about it because it was fillig with crystal clear urine which was making all the medical staff very happy, so it was a positive sign immediately that things were going well post op. And if you had told me 3 momths ago I would write an entire paragraph about the feelings I have for a catheter I would have looked at you and though you were bonkers.
Joined: Dec 2017
I told my wife....
I now know what child birth is like when I went through the insertion of the large/foli catheter. She just laughed. Of course, after I was "settled down" a bit. Very painful.
Joined: Dec 2017
Worked as a tech
to mirror what fox said I worked as a tech for a few years in a hospital. We have seen everything. Your nudity is not nudity to us. I often would feel bad because of patients feeling embarrassed. There we’re days when I removed 5 catheters in one day. Never thought twice.
Joined: Nov 2017
To be very honest, at this
To be very honest, at this point, I don't even care. Just want this lump out of me. The nudity part I'm fine with. I used to work in a hospital (surgery) during college as a part time job. Would see people naked laying on tables all the time. At a certain point, you just don't notice anymore. I just wasn't familiar with the process of a cath. Never saw one inserted or removed. Didn't know how and when they were done. I did think the earlier analogy of removal being like starting a law mower funny.