I am, guessing that catheter comfort discussions probably go by the wayside as soon as they are removed. I am not that fortunate yet, and am hoping there are some methods to be more comfortable living with a catheter, short lived as that time may be.
I have tried Bactein and Neosporin applied to the very sensitive area where the catheter comes out of me. I have tried different positions for the tubing and where it attaches to the velcro strap on my thigh. I don't seem to notice the sensation so much when I take a couple of pain pills, I think they desensetize me to almost everything, but I really don't want to be dopey if I can help it.
Well, as trivial as this my seem, I really would like to know, and there are probably a few more that would love to hear it if there are methods that relieve some of the discomfort of a catheter.
I'm guessing you've only been home with your catheter for a couple of days. I think you have done everything I did to deal with the discomfort. All I can say is after 4 or 5 days it's not as bad, and for me I had it removed on the 6th day (what a great relief!) So hang in there; sleep on your back, and hopefully soon it'll be gone.
Our urologist said to leave the area completely free of anything....
Expect mucus to appear on the tip of the penis... This is normal and should not be removed....people have a tendency to wipe the mucus away. If the mucus is removed...it will cause the area to become dry and cause irritation.
If this isn't the case.... call your pharmacist and see if there's anything s(he) can give you for relief
You may have a urinary infection that will need antibiotics.... this is very common with a catheter.
So - don't wait to have this checked. You don't need to be in pain!!!
Take care and let us know how you're doing.....
mama bluebird
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Buddy 53 RRP April 3, 2006 PSA 4.6 Gleason 3+3=6 T2a Confined to Prostate
Hi Brixy, Yes, it's pretty uncomfortable, I just sat back as much as possible, did my walks as slowly as possible and took my pain meds, I tolerated it. My doctor did give me a antiseptic cream though to put around the opening of the penis and this did have a slight numbing effect. Mine was removed in a week, and what a relief it was to be able to get up and walk around and to shower throughly like a human being again. Be patient it'll be over before you know it. Take care. Gary
I had a catheter in for two weeks. I found that strapping the tubing to one leg one day, then switching to the other leg the next helped alleviate some of the discomfort. I also made sure the there was some looseness in the tubing coming out of the urethral opening so that it wasn't being pulled.
I tried topical antibiotics for lubrication and that seemed to help too. It's an inconvenience and an irritation, but it only last a brief time. I tried to remember the reason it was in there--to give the anastomosis connecting the urethra and the bladder a chance to fully heal--and it made me feel better about having the catheter. Age 57 PSA 2.5 Gleason 5 Open Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy 6/21/06 Cancer confined to prostate
I guess that I was lucky. While I certainly didn't find the catheter a pleasure ... I did not find it painful at all ... nor was it particularly uncomfortable.Had robotic surgery for prostate cancer in November. Would like to chat with others who have had either robotic or open surgery.
I'm new. Just had a catheter put in for second time in three days. I can't pee on my own. First catheter not much blood around entry by ueretha This second one however every time I pass gas blood squirts out of penis. Normal? I didn't receive instructions on how to clean except from googling. I was on vacation and am flying home tomorrow. See my urologist Monday. Any help suggestions ? Thanks. This is my first post:)
Welcome. Boy, you revived a nearly 10 year old thread! I bet most of these folks don't even post here anymore---and let's hope it was by choice.....
I didn't really get much blood, unless I strained BM/gas), but even then it was just some dribbles. As far as cleaning goes, this elderly woman, nurses aid I think, at the hospital showed me how to do it before I was discharged (a bit embarrassing, but at that point who cares? I just wanted to go home!). If I recall, it was to pull the penis head back so about an inch or so of the catheter tubing on the inside could be cleaned, and up to about 2 inches or so on the outside. Soapy water on a washcloth to clean that approximately 3-4 inches total of tubing (either by holding everything over a sink, or standing in the shower/tub). Then, after drying everything off, lube the same part of the tubing with petroleum jelly. And gently release everything back to where they should be. I've heard some use an antibiotic gel, but that's not I was instructed to do, so I used what the hospital gave me in my goodie bag--PJ.
Jose, this is as a result of PC surgery/treatment? Good luck and hoping all works out for you.
MDNative51 yoa at Dx--Some family history of PCa From 9/2013 to 3/2015 PSAs between 4.85 & 6.7, TRUS Bx-neg 12/2013, 12/2014 PCA3:38, 3/2015 switched from local urology group to Johns Hopkins, PSA 5.8/FPSA 17.4/PHI 28.4, 3/2015 mp3T MRI & Fusion-Guided Bx @ JH, 2/14 cores pos, Bilateral, <5% involvement, GL=6, RRP: 8/2015 @ JH (Dr. Carter)
Post surgical pathology – Upstaged to G7 (3+4), confined throughout, Negative margins, lymphnodes (11), and seminal vesicle involvement. Additional findings: HGPIN
Thanks for the reply. I've had issues with urination/prostate. My psa is 7 - 8. I've had four biopsies all benign. I've been taking flomax. Anyways I flew to Atlanta and took a sinus pill. Urinated fine all day the first day then at night I had urge to pee every 20 seconds or so it seemed. Went to er and got the catheter. Took it out two days later but could not pee so I have another.
I had to wear a catheter for a while following a TURP operation back in 2011, and I concur with the good advice that others have presented to you so far.
But there is another significant situation that involves wearing a catheter, whether in the hospital or at home, that is extremely important and has not been addressed by anyone so far. I know all about this issue from personal experience, because of something that happened to me during my recovery stay in the hospital, after the catheter had been inserted and was in place in me.
This highly negative experience which I will now describe can be classed under the category of know where your catheter tube is at all times!
A day or so following the TURP operation and catheter insertion, I was lying in the hospital bed watching the television on a stand on the wall, when I decided I wanted to change the channel. So I leaned forward on my forearm to lift myself over to the bedtable where the TV remote was. In fact, I assort of lunged forward toward the table, again, leaning on my forearm, not realizing that my catheter tube had somehow gotten lodged under my forearm, and was now being held down by my forearm. The result of such body movement was a sharp yank on the catheter.
This yank caused a terrible explosion of awful pain in my groin area and penis, causing me to let out a YELP loud enough to have caused any nearby nurse to come running fast into my room to see what was the matter, had one heard it. None did, none was close enough to hear I guess, and as I was alone in the room at the time, the experience was mine and mine alone.
I fell back on the bed. The resulting adrenalin surge from the shock caused a sharp pounding pain rhythm in that area that lasted for at least 2-3 straight minutes, and only gradually tapered off.
Hopefully you have not so far experienced any such "yanks." Believe me, they are something you want to avoid.
And to avoid this, a good suggestion was made in another post on this forum some time ago. It was to do the following. Get yourself a couple of belts, preferably long, one in each hand, and walk through all of your house, dragging the belts on each side of you on the floor. Notice where they bump or catch on to anything as you walk along. Wherever that happens, make a note of it, and come back later and remove that thing, even if there is only a slight chance your catheter might ever catch on it if you were to walk that path later on.
A word to the wise.Age: 70 Chronic prostatitis (age 60 on) BPH w/ urinary obstruction, 6/2011 TURP, 7/2011 Ongoing high PSA, 7/2011-12/2011 Biopsy, 12/2011: positive 3/12 (90%, 70%, 5%) Gleason 6(3+3), T1c No mets, PCa likely still organ contained IMRT w/ HT (Lupron), 4/2012-6/2012 PSAs (since post-IMRT): 0.1 or lower
Thanks for the advice. I try and keep an eye out but I've only had it a couple of days. Very uncomfortable. I'm still trying to figure out how to walk somewhat normal. I hope it's just temporary.
Good advice from 81G. Also, avoid cabinet knobs! I too kept track of the tube for the most part. Whenever I needed to move much, I always grabbed it tightly so I could control where I needed it to stay.51 yoa at Dx--Some family history of PCa From 9/2013 to 3/2015 PSAs between 4.85 & 6.7, TRUS Bx-neg 12/2013, 12/2014 PCA3:38, 3/2015 switched from local urology group to Johns Hopkins, PSA 5.8/FPSA 17.4/PHI 28.4, 3/2015 mp3T MRI & Fusion-Guided Bx @ JH, 2/14 cores pos, Bilateral, <5% involvement, GL=6, RRP: 8/2015 @ JH (Dr. Carter)
Post surgical pathology – Upstaged to G7 (3+4), confined throughout, Negative margins, lymphnodes (11), and seminal vesicle involvement. Additional findings: HGPIN
Jose, sure there's a chance it's just a setback--or less. I'm no doc, but I don't think you're gonna bleed out by Monday! Be sure there's no tension on it. If you sit, grab hold between your penis and where it's strapped to your leg to keep it still.
As long as it lets you pass urine, I think you're OK.51 yoa at Dx--Some family history of PCa From 9/2013 to 3/2015 PSAs between 4.85 & 6.7, TRUS Bx-neg 12/2013, 12/2014 PCA3:38, 3/2015 switched from local urology group to Johns Hopkins, PSA 5.8/FPSA 17.4/PHI 28.4, 3/2015 mp3T MRI & Fusion-Guided Bx @ JH, 2/14 cores pos, Bilateral, <5% involvement, GL=6, RRP: 8/2015 @ JH (Dr. Carter)
Post surgical pathology – Upstaged to G7 (3+4), confined throughout, Negative margins, lymphnodes (11), and seminal vesicle involvement. Additional findings: HGPIN
Lidocaine. It saved me. Got this from the guys on this board. And to them I will be eternally grateful. No pain with lidocaine. You will need a prescription.
And then there are the stories of the guys who pulled their foley out without deflating it first.......I know a guy who was getting dressed to go to the dr to get it removed, and got tangled up somehow and tripped over it, and it pulled out all the way. He said it felt like pulling an elephant through it's own trunk.Age at Diagnosis: 56 Biopsy: 3 of 12, G3+3, all on LT side, 20%, 5%, 3% Clinical Stage T2C Bone Scan, CT scan negative for spread RALP on 2/17/15, BJC St. Louis, Dr. Figenshau 58.5g, G3+4, 20%, 4 quadrants involved PSA 3/10/15: 0.10 5/18/15: <.04 8/24/15: <.04 11/30/15: <.04 2/29/16: <0.04 My Story: www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=3300024
Hey Hal.....It think if that happened to me, I might learn to levitate on the spot!Age at DX 53 PSA 11/14=8, 11/15=11.5 DRE Nodule LHS LWR 22 Jan 2015, Biopsy 3 of 10 positive 3+3, 4+3, 4+4 Scans...NEG for METs Triple Play Chosen (HT/HDRBT/EBRT) Lupron Depot/Casodex 4 months base plan - Started 31st March 03/31/16 PSA=10.40, T=9.0 NTAF MY FRIENDS!