Catheter Question

[FairyGirl]

I just noticed this from my surgeon's instruction sheet:

1. Your Gender Confirmation Surgery is scheduled for June 21st at 7:30 AM...
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10. You will be in the hospital from 6/21/10 until your discharge date of 6/25/10.
11. Your first post-op appointment is scheduled for 6/29/10 at 9:00 AM. During your first appointment, you will have your catheter removed.

Okay, so this means 5 days in the hospital but the catheter stays in for an additional 3 days? Eep! How long did you have to keep your catheter in? I was under the impression it came out during that first 5 days.

[sarahb]

Let's see, 2 days in the hospital, 2 days to get the dressing off, 2 days to get the stent removed, the next day the cath was removed, so a total of 7 days until it was removed.

Yours sounds about right.

~Sarah

[Janet_Girl]

Some surgeon let the catheter in while healing continues.  Dr. Nguyen leaves it in for 10 days.

[Flan]

Some surgeon let the catheter in while healing continues.  Dr. Nguyen leaves it in for 10 days.

yeah, reed says 12 days (!) although in practice it's only a week.

4.  FOLLOW-UP.   Surgery is the zero day. You may shower on the 7th day post-op and also consider tub baths with cup of either table salt or Epsom salt for 15 to 20 minutes, 1 to 2 times a day to promote wound healing and reduce swelling.

Sutures to be removed on the 14th day. Your healthcare professional may choose to leave them in longer if there is not sufficient closure.  Catheter to be removed on the 12th  day...
<snip>

[Kristyn]

@FlanKitty

FlanKitty upon learning that srs will have to wait a little while

[Kristyn]

The catheter is the last thing to be done. If we were not able to pee before it was time to go, they would reinsert the catheter and it would have to be removed by your own home doctor a week later.

No one wanted that to happen to them so we all worked very hard to pee. It was the focus of the day. It was challenging as peeing is very different afterwards but we were all happy to report success. We asked each other, 'did you pee?' and answered 'yeah, whew'. 'Was it hard?', 'yeah, very weird'.

What was so hard about it?  Did you drink a lot of water?

[Kristyn]

It was hard to figure out how to send the right signal for the muscles. It is different than before, things are rewired. It is weird. At first you sit there and think, 'how does this work?'. It wasnt automatic. The other girls said the same thing. But we figured it out.

That's interesting.  So what's the secret?  Is it just relaxing and allowing it to happen?  Are you able to stop the flow once it starts?

[FairyGirl]

thanks for the answers, I guess I was just thinking it was taken out sooner than that. I have a feeling that first week or so is going to go by in a blur anyways 

[aubrey]

thanks for the answers, I guess I was just thinking it was taken out sooner than that. I have a feeling that first week or so is going to go by in a blur anyways 

One can only hope!

[LordKAT]

You do realize that fairies are very special. Take care of yourself. This means reduce stress. I think that helps with healing as much as anything. Then it will pass quickly. As painful as the sirgery is, I wish they had a good version for me. AS it is not to be, I will pass on all my surgery leprechaun powers to aid your fairy dust and give you a more relaxing time when it happens. In the meantime, you have 29 days more to fret so put that part off and enjoy today, even while planning and packing and moving and living.


In one year you will hardly care if it was 5 days or 10 days.

[blackMamba]

The catheter is the last thing to be done. If we were not able to pee before it was time to go, they would reinsert the catheter and it would have to be removed by your own home doctor a week later.

I was told they would try Flomax first before they would reinsert.  I had a little problem at first, but with a little effort I was a "good girl".

Most of the time I forgot about the catheter, but when I did it was just another reason to take things slow and move around carefully.  They hold it in there with a stitch so it's not going to yank out too easily.  I wouldn't have too much anxiety about the catheter.

[Kristyn]

I was told they would try Flomax first before they would reinsert.  I had a little problem at first, but with a little effort I was a "good girl".

Most of the time I forgot about the catheter, but when I did it was just another reason to take things slow and move around carefully.  They hold it in there with a stitch so it's not going to yank out too easily.  I wouldn't have too much anxiety about the catheter.

What about sleeping with the catheter.  Is there any chance that this thing could get caught up on something if you thrash around in bed like I do?

[blackMamba]

What about sleeping with the catheter.  Is there any chance that this thing could get caught up on something if you thrash around in bed like I do?

Yeah, what Valerie said.  But also, I always had mine tucked into the gauze underwear they had you wear.  The tube is contained in the underwear.  So thrash away!

[Kristyn]

So thrash away!

  THANKS!

[katgirl74]

Fairy,
   Since you are going to McGinn, and I just did, they remove the bag from the catheter when you leave the hospital. So, you are left with a four or five inch tube with a cap on the end of it. You will keep that in until your first follow-up appointment. It stays pretty secure under pads and your underwear. You use those days to "train" your bladder to hold pressure again. It's not pleasant, but it's only about 4 days, so not too bad.
   As for moving in bed, you will pretty much be on your back, no side sleeping or anything like that, so no worries about it getting pulled or anything like that.

Kat

[K8]

My catheter came out on day six.  It was supposed to be day seven, but I think there was a scheduling problem with the nurses.  I was glad to be free of it.  Sometimes walking around the hospital I would walk too close to something and catch the tube.  Or I'd start to get out of bed and be tethered to it.

The first night the catheter was out I got up about every two hours to pee because I couldn't figure out whether or not I had to go.   I'm better at that now, but every once in a while it is hard to get it started.  The sensations are all different and it seems it takes relaxing different muscles to get started.

But it is all worth it.

- Kate

[lpfix2009]

I just noticed this from my surgeon's instruction sheet:

Okay, so this means 5 days in the hospital but the catheter stays in for an additional 3 days? Eep! How long did you have to keep your catheter in? I was under the impression it came out during that first 5 days.

This is taken out of context of my SRS papers from Montreal concerning the Catheter.

A urinary catheter will be left in the bladder for 7 days. After the catheter is removed, you will be able to urinate while sitting. The sensation to void is unchanged. Occasionally, patients may not be able to urinate after the catheter is removed. This is a temporary problem caused by swelling around the uthera. The catheter must be replaced, and should remain for at least 1 week. You can still return home as planned, and have your personal physician remove the catheter.

Also mentions that the uretha will be shorter and your more likely higher risk for bladder infections (UTI)

[Northern Jane]

In 1974 the catheter stayed in for only 4 days.

It was hard to figure out how to send the right signal for the muscles. It is different than before, things are rewired. It is weird. At first you sit there and think, 'how does this work?'. It wasnt automatic.

That was my experience as well, trying to figure out what to relax. Being re-catheterized wasn't fun and they weren't going to release me until I could pee! What worked for me was laying in a warm bath. Once I figured it out, no problem.

[FairyGirl]

Fairy,
   Since you are going to McGinn, and I just did, they remove the bag from the catheter when you leave the hospital. So, you are left with a four or five inch tube with a cap on the end of it. You will keep that in until your first follow-up appointment. It stays pretty secure under pads and your underwear. You use those days to "train" your bladder to hold pressure again. It's not pleasant, but it's only about 4 days, so not too bad.
   As for moving in bed, you will pretty much be on your back, no side sleeping or anything like that, so no worries about it getting pulled or anything like that.

Kat

Thanks Kat! I've been wondering how you're doing and what you think of your results so far? Please feel free to PM me if you like, I'd love to hear about your experience!

[Sarah B]

My catheter was removed (well everything was removed) before I went home.  Sometime later a week or two weeks later I had to go back to the surgeon for a check up.

I do not remember if I had to pee before I could go home.  However I did have problems peeing after I left hospital.  Basically I was dehydrated from having hot showers and baths. (To relieve the pain)  As Kristyn said drink lots of fluids and you will pee!  Contract the muscles to stop and relax and push at the same time to commence

If the catheter accidentally comes out before it should come out then the surgeon or doctors will determine if it has to be put back in place.

Kind regards
Sarah B