What's a catheter like?

My doctor said she'll put one in and take it out the morning after the surgery. I've never had one before and wanted to know how it's done. If I have a bag to collect the urine, how am I going to get up and walk around afterwards the way they want you do? I have an 11 year old son and I think I'm going to be really embarrassed by this...I know it's stupid..but my mind is thinking of all these things. Can anyone tell me what it's like and how it's done?

It is inserted after you are put to sleep. There will be a bag to collect urine, they clip it to the side of your bed, when you walk they put it on your IV pole. Yes it is a bit embarassing, but I didn't find it uncomfortable. My son was 10 at the time of my hyster and he actually thought it was cool because my urine was blue, then green for a day(die form the cystoscopy they did). When he is there though you can use the blanket to hid it on the bed. Good luck to you!

They insert the catheter during surgery so you just wake up with it. They should secure it to your leg with tape or a strap so it doesn't pull, I really didn't feel mine but if it pulls you can feel it, like you have to "go". To walk, the nurse (or you) carry the bag, or hang it on the lower part of the IV pole, if you still have the IV. I think you can cover the bag with a pillowcase or towel so your son can't see it so much, if that worries you. You can ask to have it out same night but you might be glad to not get up in the middle of the night. I didn't feel mine, walked several times with it, and forgot I had it. I thought it would bother me but I was so medicated and preoccupied that I forgot all about it and no longer cared who saw it. It was removed at 4 or 5 AM, very early as I recall, to give me lots of time before I went home. Coming out was pain free and I barely felt it. Good luck with catheter and surgery, and ask any questions you have, it's not stupid.

I wasn't allowed to get up until after the catheter came out. It came out pretty soon after surgery.

My doctor doesn't have me walk until the cath comes out. If you do walk with it, you strap it to your IV tower. It's no biggy at all. I've had 4 caths in my life. I love them. You can rest in bed post surgery and not have to worry about getting up to go pee. It's really important to just allow yourself pure rest the first 6 hours. Also, the cath allows your bladder to rest, which helps reduce the risk of post-op bladder complications.

Some Dr's remove the catheter before you even wake up fully. Ask your Dr.

That's the only thing I hated during my c sections. They put it in before the spinal. I was so mad. I counted the minutes until it could come out. It doesn't hurt just bothered me to know its not supposed to be there. Lol

My cath was in when I woke up. My doctor did not allow me out of bed for the first 24 hours after surgery. I was so thankful for that! I also had a heart monitor (i have a heart condition), leg compression thingies, IV and a blood pressure cuff on me for the first 24 hours. I was telling people I was abducted by aliens and tied to the bed with tubes, LOL! I drank water to my hearts content knowing I didn't have to get up. Staying hydrated is so important, and the pain meds gave me a very dry mouth.

I've been cathed three times - after each c-section and after my DvH. One thing to know is that after they take it out, you might have feel like you have to pee all the time, but get very little out. This happened to me all three times, but it goes away within a couple of days.

he most likely won't notice it. It hangs beside your bed. If he does, it's just a white bag filled with pee, you can ask your nurse to turn it around so he just sees the white part. Mine was left in overnight and taken out in the morning. It's actually wonderful LOL...you don't have to get up to pee! My almost 6 yo son didn't even notice mine.