cathetar

This may sound strange, but do you still feel like you have to use the bathroom when you have a cathetar in place?

nope i could not tell at all, i did not realize i even had one after surgery, they put it in after you are out, that groggy wake up i kept telling my husband i felt wierd down there, and we thought it was because i had a LAVH or maybe ther was gauze packed for bleeding (i remember reading they sometimes pack with something) then he seen the line and told me it was a cathetor....i could see it going into the bag, but had no clue i was going or needed to. when they take it out it does feel wierd for a couple of minutes, you feel like you ned to pee, but you really do not becasue the cathetor keeps you empty.

Hi!

I had a catheter for a couple of weeks after surgery and sometimes I did feel like I had to pee while it was in. Usually it was because I was not sitting high enough and it was not draining properly. Try checking your line and see if it is draining. Good luck!

Sharon

Someone please tell me I can pee by myself by the time I come home from the hospital. It sounds awful to have to have a cathetar for weeks.

I felt like I had to go right after I came out of surgery. I got used to the catheter pretty quickly and never felt an urge to go because my bladder was always empty.

i was peeing just fine after, mine came out at 8:30 at night, i had surgery that morning. she said i should pee within 6 hours if not let her know i may ned it back in, but i had no trouble, iwas up starting at about 11:00 peeing every hour or 2. the stomach muscles are not quite ther so it may take a few "tries" to get it all, but i think the majority of us have no trouble. from my understanding it is just people who have hard surgeries such as the bladder is knicked or something, maybe someof the other ladies can confirm or deny this for us!! i am sure you will do great. one of the first post i read on here was about a sister comming home with her cathetor and i kept thinking how do i explain this to an 8 and 4 year old....lol!

Hi again,

I don't know why you had surgery, but I had vaginal cancer, so I also had vaginal work done that had to heal. That is why I had a catheter for a little longer than others. Most Hysterectomies they seem to take it out pretty quickly from what I have read.

Sharon

Twomed - the only reason I went home with a catheter was because my ureter was damaged during surgery. If you aren't having any surgery to your bladder and there are no unforeseen complications there's no reason you would have a catheter very long - it would probably be removed the next day. In any case, a catheter isn't so bad. I appreciated not having to get up to go to the bathroom.

Once the catheter was removed a week after surgery, I had no trouble going the old fashioned way.

OK I feel better. From listening to everyone I expect the catheter will be a smaller issue than I have imagined it to be. And on the plus side, I have even learned to spell it.

I had a TVH in July and I too was very concerned about the catheter. I was very glad I had it in so I didn't have to get out of bed for 24 hours. Once I got up and walked, they took it out. I don't think I woke up fully from anesthesia for 12 hours since I remember little until 8:00 at night. Does not hurt at all, just a little annoying having something stuck to your leg (they tape the hose). I only felt like peeing when the bag was getting full and didn't drain well. Otherwise didn't even notice it.

No worries, sleep is what you will need the first night.