Question About Foley Catheter

I have what might seem like a really weird question. I have a foley catheter in place now for the last 2 weeks. I went through major spasms they seem to have settled a bit and the antibiotic seem to kick in for infection. My problem at this moment is where the catheter enters the urethra feels really sore and dry. I have used the little bottle to squirt water there but it make no diffrence. I have used that jel they use to insert the catheter just at the spot before it goes in but it is imposible to get it inside and that is wear it is really uncomfortable.It hurts because it feels as if it is rubbed dry and it really hurts there is there anything I can do to make this more comfortable?? Thanks Ladies.

Tracy

I, too, have a foley cathater in place. I am at day 10 with mine. I feel dry too, but my discharge from my vagina is enough to keep it from rubbing. I was given strict instructions not to touch the area because I may touch the stitch at my vagina and cause an infection. Are you allowed to shower? I am not yet. My DR has me using a clamp to place on the tube in order that my bladder fills up, and then I unclamp when I feel full and empty my bag. When I unclamp the tube I feel a burning sensation and a sensation to release, although I know I cannot because of the tube. Might this be a bladder infection? Might you tell me why you still have a foley? I could not pee on my own at the hospital before my release and my DR thought 10 days on the cath. might be helpful. Will you have to self-cath after getting out the foley? My DR said I might, but I have no idea what that is.

Thanks, Patti
Sorry I have no advice for the dryness, but know that I am experiencing similar sensations.

Hi Patti

Yep I am Allowed to shower and bath as I am now 3 month post-op.I still have a foley in place as I am unable to pee on my own they think I might have something called urethral stenosis which is stopping me from peeing right now. My stitches are all gone and I use latex rubber gloves when I clean the tubbing as I was instucted to use proviodine on it where it goes in to the urethra 2 times a day. I was not instucted to clamp the tubing at all except if I need to bring in a urine sample then I am to clamp it for a while remove the bag and get a sample to bring in. I am being treated right now for a really bad infection. That is no fun what so ever. I was getting major spasms and alot of pain and burning I always felt like I had to pee even with the foley in place. I know when I clamp to get a sample I too had that burning feeling but was told it was just because of the force of urine being released. It could possible be an infection but with me it was burning ,always feeling the urge to pee and lots of spasms then lower back pain. I just 100% felt crappy. They put me on antibiotics and I feel alot better now. I came home with foley in place for 3 days then removed I was doing self-cath from 3 days after surgery till 2 weeks ago because I still could not pee. They will ask you to try and pee on your own if you can they will probably have you check by inserting a catheter after peeing to see if you retain any urine or not. I was only able to pee 10cc on my own and I was getting 400 to 600cc with the catheter. They went back with the foley in me as I was getting alot of bleeding and pain doing in and out cath 4 to 6 times a day for over 2 month. So they put foley back in to try and give my bladder a break. I am now waiting on a new doctors appointment to try and find out whats up and the reason I still can't pee so I hope it is soon. This is where I posted about my problems. http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/sho...d.php?t=241820
I hope you get you foley removed soon and are able to pee on your own when they do so. As for infection just monitor and if your worried bring in a sample to be checked its better than suffering thats for sure.Hope you get well soon.Take care.

Tracy

Try vasiline after your bath. put a big gob up around the rubber hose where it enters your uretha. You can also move your uretha a little very carefully of course so to get a bit up in there where the hose is laying next to your skin, that wont give you infection and maybe it will help with the irritation of the rubber. I had a cath for about 10 days and was just starting to get irritated from it so I cant imagine 2 weeks. May I ask why your uro hasnt had you try self cathing? After 10 days I still couldnt go pee but my uro didnt want my bladder to rely on the cath so he got me self cathing with a little hose. That seems to wake the bladder faster.
Good luck

Hi Ladyfair

I will give that vasoline a try. I was self-cathing for almost 3 months but lots of problems so they put the foley back in place for now. I started with a 16fr catheter and was down to a pedeatric size 6 in order to buy pass a blockage, they hope leaving the foley in place 1 -2 months will open up the spot where it is blocked. I hate it but I can say it is better than what I went throught with the in and out cath 4-6 times a day for almost three months. I was ready to give up and just let my body explode because it was so much pain. Thanks so much for the info.

Take care Tracy

your welcome and i am with you i hated both i couldnt wait to be able to pee and was about to give up i had to self cath for aobut 2 weeks off and on. 7 days straight then finally i went but only a little then i would go in the mornings but by evening i was cathing again. Good luck to you. I should be ok to touch yourself enough to vasiline up there. Oh and make sure you use dial soap the doctor and hospital told me to use that down there.

Thanks ladyfair

Thats too funny the nurse just told me to use an antibacterial soap and I bought the liquid antibactrerial dial, see I was reading your mind . So are you all better then and able to pee now no problems or is this just recent with you as well?
Thanks Tracy