LAVH: cathater...curious

I had lap but it's probably similar. They put the cath in while I was out. It was left in overnight but that may have been because I couldn't get up. I was throwing up a lot and sitting made it worse. It didn't hurt to take it out and once out I had no problem peeing.

Catheters are inserted once you are asleep and typically remain in until early the next morning. The reason for them is because sometimes things are swollen down below and it's hard to pee. I've only ever had a catheter once, after the birth of my first child, and I don't remember much about it. I'm rather dreading the catheter this time but all things considered I guess it's not that bad...

I ended keeping mine all day and night due to being dehydrated. I was glad it was in because there's no way I would have made it to the bathroom that night on my own. I was just too dizzy and tired even with help. They put it in after I was out and taking it out was not bad at all. The nurse slid it out gently while I was sitting in a rocker. I was nervous about the too... Take it from someone who was so scared, you can do this. I don't regret it at all, esp. Since my uterus was the size of a cantaloupe (according to my Doc)!! I feel so much better even only 4 days after surgery.

I too was a nervous wreck prior to my surgery. I didn't want to think about catherters or IVs. I am very glad I had a catherter and I did cart it down the hall in a midnight walk. Trust me, you just don't care. It was a relief not to have to get up to go to the bathroom. They took mine out the next morning by 7 a.m. I am now 5 1/2 weeks out from my DVh, long sense (3 1/2 weeks) back to work and feeling pretty well. Good luck to you, I'm sure you'll do great. I can honestly say I am very glad I had my surgery.

They will put it in after you are asleep. I was glad to keep mine in overnight. They pumped me full of fluids and the thought of getting up to urinate every 45 minutes.....NO WAY! I would rather try to rest then have to bug the nurses so much. They pulled it the morning after, around 10:00. It did not hurt getting it pulled. I urinated about an hour later and never had any problems. My personal recommendation is to leave it in over night so that they will not have to re-catheterize you if something comes up, but that's just my personal opinion from experience. I enjoyed seeing my bright blue pee, too!! That was cool!