Suprapubic vs Foley

Hi Ladies!

I was talking with a girlfriend of mine and at one point she was a nursing student. She told me that I would probably end up with a suprapubic catheter vs having a foley because of the cystocele/rectocele repair. I am going to ask my doctor next week but I was wondering if anyone else had this. My doctor informed me at presurgical consult that I would come home with a cath for at least 3 days because he doesn't want the bladder completely filling and putting undue stress on the new stitches. I can't imagine them sending me home with that type of cath, but then again....

Karena

Karena,

I had it and to be perfectly honest, it isn't as bad as a foley. I didn't know they were going to do it until I woke up and it was done. I freaked out when I saw this tube coming out of my incision! For some reason it was a lot less uncomfortable and when they removed it there was no burning like when they pull it out of the urethra. I was worried about a hole being in my bladder thinking of the bladder as a balloon. But it is muscular and they explained that it seals up immediately.

So don't worry, I promise, it isn't so bad!!!

=)Debbie

Hi Karena!

Actually, I had both the foley cath and the SP tube. Unfortunately, mine was more of a....boo boo. My Gyn "knicked" my bladder while trying to separate it from my cervix...massive adhesions.
Anyway...I had the SP tube for 11 days, and the catheter for 17 days. Your doctor is right for telling you that your bladder needs to rest.
My situation was totally different, since my bladder was "injured".
I'm not sure of the recovery time in your situation. But the SP tube was much more comfortable than the catheter...in my opinion. And once they remove the tube, you'll have some drainage and you'll have to keep gauze/dressing on it for awhile(whatever your doctor says), but it heals pretty quickly after that.
It's really not bad at all.

Good luck and try not to worry....keep us updated.
Take care,
Eve

Like Eve, I had the suprapubic and foley cath. The suprapubic cath is not that bad. I had mine for 10 days after my hyst and bladder repair. Hey...I didn't have to get out of bed to go to the bathroom!

The "fun" thing about the caths is that you HAVE to come up with a name for your yellow bag. One HS named hers Noah. We of course, have to get matching shoes for our bags! LOL

You received good advice and replies here. Good luck and let us know how you are doing!

Any catheter after the operation is NO BIG DEAL!! The mere fact that all the bleeding incidents, urinary incidents etc. are over!! I had a LAVH with a Burch procedure on April 2, 2001. It is , by FAR, the BEST thing that I EVER did for myself. I had a suprapubic catheter for a week after surgery, but with clamping and unclamping (for bladder retraining) it kept me busy! I felt so FREE when it was taken out, and it TICKLED if you can believe me! I was soooo worried, and it was a "piece of cake"! I was actually Proud of myself for putting up with it for a whole week! Now, 4 months plus post-op My lower abdomen hurts a little if I lift things, but all is well! The best outcome of a hyst and bladder repair is not having to worry about becoming pregnant, which is a MAJOR turn-on for the both of us. It is really like a honeymoon period all over!!

I had my bladder sling 5 years BEFORE my TVH. So guess when my period started? You guessed it-- in the hospital. As for the cathater I had te foley that drained into the bag. My kids called
it "moms Pee-Pee purse!"