Choices?

Hi Paul
Yes it happened to me a few time and also a little discharge around the penis end of the catheter, and yes you are never warned to the full extent which is frustrating as forewarned is forearmed.
How long will you keep the bag?
Mine was nearly three weeks (removed today yippee) but am getting incontinence issues which hopefully will not last too long.
I too had open RP but did not know until I woke up post op, hell of a shock but I am sure it was worth it.
Good luck with your recovery
HappyH

Don't be surprised if you do leak when the catheter is removed. I was a bit shocked especially when the nurse said it was normal and would be ok after a while.

My wife then had to rush off to the local chemist to get incontinent pads and I also purchased some tight underpants, which has helped but it is a bit alarming just how easily and continuously my urine is flowing, just hope I can get it under control. But it is still better without the catheter being attached to me.  

Just another step on the road to full recovery and also makes you understand just how big the full removal is, which is something i don't think I really understood before the op.

I think we have both had very similiar operations and experiences, I am just turned 65 and this has been the first major operation of my life, so it has been a huge shock to me, but having others who have experienced this on this website is such a help.

Good Luck for the 24th

I am expecting to leak a lot when the catheter comes out, I already have a supply of pads, going to be expensive I think, yes I think our OPs and recovery are very similar and I am also 65 and this was also my first major OP and only my second in my life, had a hernia OP about 15 years ago,

best wishes

onwards and upwards, one day at a time,


Paul

That would be nice

Paul

great news, I hope I get on as well as you when I have my catheter out on Monday,

best wishes

Paul

Ouch!!! I bet that really hurt.

Thankfully mine was a little uncomfortable but not really painful. But then the waterworks started which was a shock, but it does seem to be settling down.

Sorry to hear about your problems Chris I hope you make a speedier recovery from now on

I have to say that I didn't find the catheter to be a problem. Perhaps I was lucky but there was no pain or discomfort from it. We are all different and I guess we all tolerate these things in different ways. Hopefully you'll be fine.

All the best.

Kevan

Going out was fine, the catheter is strapped to your leg just keep an eye on the level, you would need to empty it quite often though, and at night you use a bigger catheter on a little stand and empty it in the morning. The catheter was strapped to my left leg and sleeping on the left side of the bed it was easier at night, be careful, try to sleep on your back or side otherwise you could kink the pipe and stop the flow of urine into the bag.

I had no pain only iritation only where the catheter entered the penis, however keep this clean , when I had a bath at night I made sure I washed the entry point with cotton buds with simple soap.

Hope this is reassuring and calms your fears.

James

Have a look at my post from the 20th August in "treatment experiences" by faffar888 there is quite a comprehensive description of my catheter experiences and care.

I wore pyjama bottoms to save things getting tangled and used an additional strap around the ankle to save the pipe being pulled.

None of my many numerous catheter removals have been painful or even uncomfortable,feels slightly weird, even the trauma caused by the swift removal of the first catheter was not uncomfortable. As others have said it is a non event.

Thanks Chris

Added,I sleep on my left side and had the bag on the left leg.

Edited by member 21 Oct 2016 at 19:38  | Reason: Not specified