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Too chicken to go home, going into nursing home
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11-18-2003, 02:13 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 36
Hysterectomy: December 1st, 2003
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Too chicken to go home, going into nursing home
I am going in on Dec. l. My Dr. said I was not having a vaginal hysterectomy, yet the papers I signed indicated just that. He said he did not know if he would have to take out my uturus till he got in there. I am real worried that I might have to go home with a cather. I have decided to go into a nursing home for a few days after the operation especially if I have to have a cather tube. I just do not think I could function at home right aways with that inside of me. I know its silly but it is a real morbid fear of mine. I was in east Berlin when the russians were still there and that did not bother me at all but the idea of a cather just blows my mind.
Are there any of you out there who got lucky and did not have to go home with the cather?
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11-18-2003, 02:43 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 151
Hysterectomy: August 19th, 2003
Surgery Type: TAH/SAH
Ovaries: Undecided
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Catheter
To HannahPotter:
Hi,I'm patybear. I saw your post reguarding;
Going home without a catheter.You didn't say in your post where
you're living now,or what type of surgery you'll be having.But from what I can gather from reading many of the posts at this site,in quite a few cases,its removed before you go home.I had a
S.A.H.August 19th,and I didn't have any pain or discomfort from it.
The nurse took it out the second day after my surgery.I took a deep breath,and then I felt a slight tugging sensation.Then it was out.I was able to walk to the bathroom after that. Its really
not that bad,sweetie. Talk to your doctor.
patybear
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11-18-2003, 02:45 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 378
Hysterectomy: July 15th, 2003
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Too chicken to go home, going into nursing home
I had a hysterectomy and bladder suspension and did not have to go home with a catheter. Before I left the hospital I was able to urinate on my own and never really had any problems.
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11-18-2003, 02:47 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 51
Hysterectomy: October 1st, 2003
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Too chicken to go home, going into nursing home
Hannah,
I was terrified of having the catheter at home also, but my dr. told me she would be taking it out the day after surgery and that is what she did! I'm a big baby and it didn't hurt when she took it out. Ask your dr. what he/she plans on doing...that might ease your mind a bit.
Good luck!
Karin
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11-18-2003, 03:04 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 7,120
Hysterectomy: July 11th, 2003
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Too chicken to go home, going into nursing home
Dear Hannah,
I believe that *most* women do not go home with a catheter.
Sure, some do, but from what I've seen and read not the majority.
that being said, yes, it could happen that you would go home with one.
there was a post I saw the other day from a woman who was very worried about having a catheter, but found to her pleasant surprise that it was no where near as difficult to deal with as she had imagined.
https://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/sho...hreadid=119451
that doesn't mean everyone would find it as easy - but it sure is encouraging.
And if going to a nursing home is a good solution for you, then it is great that you have that option. do what you feel will be best.
best wishes,
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11-18-2003, 03:43 PM
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Posts: 30,771
Hysterectomy: February 4th, 2002
Surgery Type: TVH
Ovaries: Removed both
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Too chicken to go home, going into nursing home
Oh (((Hannah))), chances are you won't have to go home with a catheter, most ladies don't.... I think I already posted to you somewhere about my experience so I won't repeat it here, but I did go home with one for a week and honestly sweetie it was not bad AT ALL... I was in East Berlin way back when too (just visiting though) and I have to tell you a catheter has NOTHING on that.
I went out to brunch for Valentine's Day with my catheter on, and nobody knew except my date... I just wore loose fitting slacks over the small leg bag and still had a lovely time. I went to the store with it on, too (did not push the cart, of course, that is a for all post op Princesses regardless of whether we have a catheter).
In the unlikely event that you do have a catheter, you can do everything any other new can do, except wear tight fitting slacks (and I didn't feel like doing that anyway!). Emptying the bag is a breeze, you just stand over a toilet and open a valve and it drains out, your hands don't even touch anything. I took a shower with mine on every day for the week that I had it in, no problem at all, I just had to dry off the leg bag afterwards.
If it makes you feel more comfortable, you could have someone stay with you to help you out... but if the only 'problem' (and I hesitate to call it a problem) that you have when you go home is a catheter, then you won't need nursing care, you can manage it yourself. Why not save the money and spend it on a few really pretty new outfits for after your six week checkup?
s,
-Linda
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11-18-2003, 06:44 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 42
Hysterectomy: November 13th, 2003
Surgery Type: SAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Too chicken to go home, going into nursing home
On 11/13 I had a TAH, A&P repair and a bladder sling. Before surgery, my biggest fear outside the pain was the catheter. I was told I would have to catheterize myself. I thought that was a fate worse than death. Two days post-op, they took out the foley. Since they were concerned with urine retention, I had to call somebody when I pee'd so they could catheterize me to see what was left over. It was not fun. The dr's kept coming to me telling me that I needed to learn how to do it myself and I continued to resist.
Finally, they laid down the law and in no uncertain terms told me that it was a skill that could be mastered and would be mastered before I left the hospital. I bit my lip to keep from crying but put in black and white it was easy to see how stubborn I had been. I guess I wanted control over something, anything.
I was verbally walked through it and told to go to the bathroom. If I needed help a nurse would come in and help me. I went in, did it and then cried. It was so much easier than having somebody do it to me. I did have to go home and continue doing it, but I felt in control of my own body. I had to keep a log of how much I went and how much was left over. Once it went below 100cc's consistently, I was able to stop.
I am sooo sorry that you have to be going through this. Please don't spend money on a nursing home if you don't need to. It really is just a skill and it can be learned. We learned how to use a tampon, set the timer on the vcr and how to use the computer, we can learn how to do this too.
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11-18-2003, 07:18 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 37
Hysterectomy: November 4th, 2003
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Too chicken to go home, going into nursing home
Hi
I am 2 weeks post-op today and I went home with a cath and STILL have it. Doc wanted me to have it for 3 weeks. I had cervical cancer so I don't know if that had something to do with the time or not. I was afraid of the thing too, was afraid it would hurt, afraid to bend, afraid to take a shower etc....but its really not all that bad. I can't wait to be "me" again though.
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11-18-2003, 08:04 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 67
Hysterectomy:
Surgery Type: SAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Too chicken to go home, going into nursing home
I would think the catheter would be removed after 24 hours, unless of course you are having bladder surgery along with the hysterectomy. don't worry about the tube so much - it really isn't that hard to take care of and is very manageable at home. Although, I really doubt you'll go home with it. Good luck.
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11-18-2003, 11:03 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 38
Hysterectomy: October 22nd, 2003
Surgery Type: TVH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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No cath for me!
I had a tvh and bladder sling on 10/22/03, and that was one of my biggest fears too! They had told me that if I was unable to urinate in the hospital before they released me that I'd be sent home with the cath until Monday. I was actually in the rest room trying to pee again, when me doctor came in. He was explaining to my dh what the procedure would be if I had to go home with the cath, etc. I think it "scared the pee out of me" because I immediately started peeing! ;-) I yelled thru the door--I won't need it! I just went!" They checked my output and I passed the test and was able to go home without it.
Now, that first night home it seemed like I had to pee every hour--it would wake me up and I felt like I went gallons each time. I don't know if that was because of all the IV fluids I had had, or because I'd been drinking a lot of water, or what. Someone told me that your bladder can spasm after you've been cathed for a while and that is what caused it. By the next day though, it was back to normal, and has been fine ever since.
My sling procedure was also very successful as far as we can tell at this point. I've been out and about several times, even sneezed and coughed and remained dry! ;-)
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