Catheter after abdominal surgery?

Hi - reading all the posts here, I'm starting to think I am the only person who didn't have a catheter put in after an abdominal hysterectomy!!

I had to get up about every 2-4 hours the first day to go to the bathroom from all the IV fluid. It wasn't all that hard so I didn't think much about it. Now in retrospect, I wonder what would've happened if I couldn't get up!

My doctor never said anything about a catheter and I never even knew that was an option. He was pretty thorough about everything else I can expect. I wonder how they decide whether to put one in. Did anyone else not have a catheter? Just curious....

Judy

I had a LAVH/BSO not an abdominal and yes I had a cathetar.
I hope you are doing good!

I had a LSH and a catheter. It was a good thing, since I had complications that kept me from getting up. Especially since I ended up in emergency surgery the next day as well and in ICU for the rest of my stay. My original surgery was Tuesday, I didn't even sit up until Thursday. They tried to get me up and walking around and I threw up. (I told them I didn't feel well.) No one tried again until Friday evening. Saturday morning, they pulled the catheter, I used the restroom, and I was released to go home.

It's amazing, when you think about it, what your body goes through and how you can recover so quickly. All I wanted to do is go home to get a good night's sleep (there is no sleeping in an ICU unit) and be with my family.

Patti

My hyst was 5 days ago and yes I did have a catheter and I'm really glad I did because they said the i.v. fluid was going right thru me! Plus I had the blow up things on my legs to help prevent blood clots ( I hated those things, made me feel trapped) , oxygen up my nose and the i.v.(not to mention being nausous and throwing up the first 12 hrs. after).. I can't imagine having to get up to go to the bathroom!! The next morning everything was taken out or off of me so I could walk around. That feeling was sooooo good!! But I asked the doc about the catheter beforehand and was a little relieved to know I wouldn't have to get up until I was good and ready!!! Good luck

Ugh, that would have been horrible. The catheter was my best friend. I'm so glad I didn't have to get out of bed the first day. I hated it when they removed it because I didn't want to keep getting up. Your doctor must have a different protocol and has obviously never had abdominal surgery.

Interesting. I really didn't think it was that bad getting up. It hurt more to actually urinate than to get up and walk.

Any one else? Am I truly the only one? I will have to ask my doctor the next time I see him, though at this point it's more idle curiosity.

And Robbi, yes, I feel I'm doing very well! I've started going back to work part time last week and so far so good. Just need for the swelly belly to go down!

Judy