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The catheter

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ano

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This hasn't been talked about much here (except maybe Doug) that I tought I would start a new thread.

If you are female, you can probably leave because its this probably isn't a big deal for you. For us males, at least for me, the catheter was about my biggest fear before and after surgery.

First, who puts it in? O.K. I don't want to think about that, but when you wake up, its there. Since they don't give you any training on this in advance, there are lots more questions. How does it stay in there and what happens if it gets pulled out? And one more. What happens if, if you get a bit "excited" when your asleep? I discretely asked the nurse, and she laughed a bit, "no, its O.K. it won't hurt anything."

I think I had so much fear that the hose would get snagged on something or I'd roll over and it would pull out that I didn't sleep at all when I had it.

It wasn't until the nurse removed it that she explained how it works. Apparently the hose has this tip which is filled with saline and it expands, and that is what keeps it in. "Just use a syringe to suck out the saline, and it easily comes out" or so she said. I guess here definition of "easily" was a lot different from mine. It wasn't so much pain as it was fear.

When it came out, I was so happy. Yes, I used a bed pan that night, but I could finally sleep.

Anyone else have a bad catheter experience? They have got to redesign those things. :-)
 
I was stuck flat on my back with a foam wedge between my legs, and a pain drip and fluids in my arm....Not much chance of a roll over...or too much excitement. I could not tell it was there...other than I had not urge to go for 2 days while it was in. ...and YES when it was removed..it was very painful. The pain (more of a burning sensation) lasted a couple of seconds and I did pass a blood clot after it was removed. That scared me, but the nurse said it was normal. It was not something to look forward to, but not much to worry about either. There was so much going on post surgery, that the catheter was the least of it (at least for me).
 
Hey Guys, On The Girls Point Of View, Yes The Catheter Sucks. I Had Previously Discussed ON THE RECOVERY SIDE ABOUT Having HAD Four C-SECTIONS And Begging For The Epidural Before They Crammed The Catheter In Me. I Still Remember Having My Third Boy And I Was Quietly Holding Him In Bed Still Hooked To The Pain Machine And A Little Out Of It. Low And Behold I See This Little Curioius Two Year Old(my Second Child)coming To The Other Side Of My Hospital Bed Where No One Would Detect Him. I Feel This Slite Tug Coming From My Bladder And Let Out This Tiny Screeching Sound. Thank God For My Husbands Quick Response To The Almost Fatal Situation On My Part. Lol...so Yes, When It Came To My Hip Replacement Surgery They Knew From The First Day Of Discussion. Patty Out, Catheter In..and Yes, Catheter Out, Patty A Loud Screech...hope I Didn't Put Too Much Fear Into Any Of You...goodluck....
 
Man, I feel better now. I posted on the subject several weeks ago. I thought I was the only one with this problem. The whole idea of an "exit" being used for an "entrace" was driving me crazy. I get anxiety attacks when I'm not in control of myself and having something stuck in me that I couldn't get out was worrying me more than the surgery. I also fear making a complete fool out of myself.

I spoken to several men about this and the first thing they ( and the doctor) told me was that it would be put in after I was put under. I still dread waking up with it.
 
I went through this 2 days ago. I have only been to a hospital 1once before(other than visiting) when I was 19 and having an unplanned operation involving a burst appendix. I was in no shape to notice be concerned with such things then.

This time it was elective surgery, THR. I did not remember that this was involved so the first I discovered it in place was when the doctor told me to wake up, it was all done.
It stayed in place until the next morning, about 24 hours. To tell the truth I did not really notice it much unless I brushed my hand across the tube. There was no pain or discomfort associated with it but I was questioning why it had to be so big in diameter. Thnking back to 19 years old and my only prior expereince I was thinking it was a pretty thin tube. This one was huge and I wondered how they could possibly get it fully in place. A that stage of the procedure, the "target" must have been very soft so leverage would not be the secret. It worked as intended, the little bottle it was draining into gathered about 1 pint over those 24 hours.
When it was to be removed..that was the problem. Not due to pain or difficulty but personal embarrassment. The very pretty young nurse who came to do it prepared with the suction seringe and while starting to pull the tube out(up to this point there was no embarassment) she stated laughing. It is that funny? She explained that she knew me and did not expect the next time to see me was her handling me this way. As it turned out we met in a club and danced all night about a year ago but I did not recognize her in her uniform, hat and her long blonde hair pulled tight in a French Curl, and white nurse shoes instead of 4 inch high heels. Between her finding humor in it and my sudden embarassment, the deed was done and I had only the sensation while it coming out that there was a flood of urine to was trying to push out. There wasn't, that was the feeling of fullness moving over the distance. We talked some and she mentioned she expected me to call and I didn't. I am much older than her and I do not go to clubs to pick up on girls, I go to dance and I stay on the dance floor all night. When I am not aggressive with girls, they misread that often and assume I am shy(I am not, particularly around tall pretty slim blondes like her) or something. I leave clubs with a pocket full of phone numbers that I do not ask for or intend to call. They seem comfortable with me because I am not after them. I explained that to her just after our first set on the dance floor but yesterday she said she assumed I was using that as "line" to get her phone number.
Here in Russia people just naturally exchange phone numbers and email, none of the games playing and tests involved back home in the US. It signifies nothing other than "if you want to talk sometime here is my number" and doesn't suggest attraction.

I've seen her twice today, even though she in not assigned to me, and each time she giggles or laughs and inquires about my progress. The source of my embarassment gradually changed from thinking this young girl was laughing my body to my not remembering her.

After the removal of the catheter I notices one thing, it was hard to get normal urine flow to resume but gradually that returned to normal after a few hours. Overall, there was no pain or discomfort. But why did have to be SO big?
 
Stanj,
Once Again Another Priceless Story On Catheters. You Notice I Am The Only Female On this thread. Maybe I was a little too forward...LOL...I Guess Not Too Many Are Ready or wanting To Share Their experience (it is quite personal in nature) OR they Are Like My Mother, She Loved Having A Catheter And Even Asked For One Everytime She Went Into The Hospital..HA..go Figure??...westexas
 
OK I could not let west texas be the only female on this thread. My first catheter experience was during labor with one of my kids. The doctor decided I needed an emergency C-section. A student nurse was inserting her first catheter. It took her a few tries and it did hurt a lot.

I had cervical spine surgery last summer (Although I am extremely active the body seems to be protesting at the age of 51) The catheter was removed the day after surgery and my problem became urinating. It was not happening. All evening the nurse was threatning to call my primary care Dr. if I did not urinate. I tried. So about 11pm she decided I was ready to explode and she called. Then started the catheter in to empty my bladder, then removed. This went on for the next 24 hours. I did not feel it hurt very much, it really was no big deal.

My right hip replacement is this coming friday. I will be in the hospital for 5 days after surgery as I was asked to be in a clinical study testing the effects of IV acetaminifin which is not approved in the US. Staying in the hospital 2 extra days works for me. I have a husband and 3 kids at home, but after last summer's experience none have that nurturing tendancy!! Really challenging to get anyone to help. The hubby has caught on, but does need to go to work.
Now I am rambling. Nervous and excited in So. Cal.
Judy
 
Ok - some explanations for you all!

First, catheterization is hardly any problem for the ladies as the urethra is a very short, straight tube about 2½-3" long. Thus it is easy to use a small diameter catheter of about 10 or 12 gauge.

For men the situation is complicated by the fact that the urethra is 8-9" long and is not a straight line. So the catheter has to be 'encouraged' to navigate the bends on it's way into the bladder. Also the muscle sphincter at the entrance to the bladder is a lot stronger than in females. So a catheter has to be used that will withstand some pushing and this requires a tube with some size, like an 18 or 20 gauge.



<end of lecture>
[Bonesmart.org] The catheter
 
Sorry you had that experience - but I didn't say it never hurt, just that it wasn't so much of a (techincal) problem as for men.

However, I have never experienced any pain the few times I have had it done. Was a tad uncomfortable but that was all. Perhaps I was just lucky!
 
the other female,
I only had it hurt like he double chopsticks when the student nurse kept trying, but I was in labor too.
As far as all the time in the hospital, maybe it is a diffent type as it is just to drain the bladder.
Also, I like to be strong and not admit that something is hurting. I did have an uppper endoscopy done with out sedation. That was awful.
Josephine, I had read that only in the USA we are wimpy and get knocked out before endoscopy. Is that true?
Judy
 
Untrue!! We give a heavy sedation which is almost one step away from a general anaesthetic.

As for me, if I needed a gastric endoscopy - well they'd have to catch me first!
[Bonesmart.org] The catheter

 
Note to self: Tube intended to to be stuck you know where/student nurse. Never never.
Heed Judy's experience.
Mine cathetar event when I had my knees done was very uneventful thank goodness. Probably like Josephine said, lucky. Also though, it went in in during surgery and out the next am, so both situations involved the influnce of very heavy strong good drugs.
Jo's "lecture" explains why we ladies nedd to pee so much more often and desparately, not only a smaller bladder, but weaker sphincters! lol
 
Well, I had the no med. endoscopy . It did teach me to always accept prescription drugs, always say I am in pain, always go for general anesthesia.
I did tell the nurse when she asked me how it was, that it was worse than childbirth. Also wished I had a signal with the Dr. to knock me out. I sure wanted to as soon as she stuck that monstrous thing down my throat!!!
Judy
 
Damn, I'm having one on 6/23 and agian on 6/25, the male variety, and if I read any more I'm reaching for the xanax and vodka. Spare me any more detail. And to think I encourged this discussion. What was I thinking!
 
Oh yea, by the way, this must be like renting a horse. Never tell them you have ridden before; they give you one to break!
 
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