Suprapubic catheters

Hello! This is my first post, although I've been reading and learning SO MUCH from everyone else. I would like to hear from those of you who came home with suprapubic catheters. How long did you have to have it in? How was it to have it taken out? Is there anything at all you can do to "encourage" your bladder to get going again? I am at Day 16 post-op and nothing is happening -- no urges to pee when I clamp the catheter. I guess I had thought it would be out by now, and I'm worried about it and tired of dealing with it, and I think until it gets out, I will still feel "sick." Other than this, I have had great recovery and am feeling about as I expected at this point! Thanks!

Hi Cogoha, I can't help you, but I just wanted to let you know there are two ladies that have just gone thru what you are. They post under the names Homebody and Trckrswif (you can do a search and read their posts) and both are on the chat team, so if you come into chat and meet HSChatTeamSmilie or HSChatTeamDarMar, those are the two ladies that can give you support for what you're going thru. You can email them too, I know they will be more than happy to talk to you. Hang in there, things do get better. Jan

Hi Cogaha,

First off 's to you.

Just read your post and wanted to let you know it will get better. I had a Foley Catheter in for 8 weeks and 6 days and trust me, there could be nothing more agonizing than this..., but now that it's out I feel so much better. I don't know anything about the Super Pubic Cath, but if it's anything like the Foley, then I can sympathize with ya. Home Body is the one who had a S/P cath in for 7 weeks and I'm sure she'll be along anytime to give you her experience. She's wonderful.

I will keep you in my thoughts and er's that you have a quick and uneventful recovery from this. Just don't let it get you down. The depression will pass.

If you need someone to talk to, you can email me anytime or join us in chat.

DarMar The New "CATH QUEEN" (smile Vicki)

Hi Cogaha,

First off 's to you.

Just read your post and wanted to let you know it will get better. I had a Foley Catheter in for 8 weeks and 6 days and trust me, there could be nothing more agonizing than this..., but now that it's out I feel so much better. I don't know anything about the Supra Pubic Cath, but if it's anything like the Foley, then I can sympathize with ya. Home Body is the one who had a S/P cath in for 7 weeks and I'm sure she'll be along anytime to give you her experience. She's wonderful.

I will keep you in my thoughts and er's that you have a quick and uneventful recovery from this. Just don't let it get you down. The depression will pass.

If you need someone to talk to, you can email me anytime or join us in chat.

DarMar The New "CATH QUEEN" (smile Vicki)

Like TR says hun it will get better and the day will come soon that you will have a bldder that works. I was 7 weeks cathed. I have sent you a lone e mil well kinda looks like a manuscript lol, hope it helps and remember I am here if you need me anytime. Hugs Vicki

Hi Cogaha, I had a supra-pubic cath in after my surgery.

I had it for 18 days post-op. My Dr. had me leave it open to drainage to allow the bladder to "rest", and then had me try bladder training on day 16. This consisted of clamping the catheter, waiting for the urge to void (or 2 hours, whichever came first), voiding and measuring my output, then immediately clamping the catheter to measure the residual urine. He wanted the residual urine to be less than 50 cc's.

At my insistence, my Dr. allowed me to try this at 9 days post-op, but the residual urine was a couple of hundres cc's each time. So back to leaving the catheter open to drainage for another week, at which time everything worked well.

The catheter was removed right in his office. My s-p cath was held in place with 2 stitches, one on either side. He snipped them and pulled it right out. It was a weird sensation, but didn't hurt at all.

Best wishes and s