Catheter removed yesterday morning at 11am. Little bit of a sting but the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) was gentle so all good. Statlock removed some hair like a waxing even with lashings of alcohol.
Then onto testing continence. From the word go a could pee and stop/start with no dribbling. At intervals of ~20mins I improved slowly: 50ml, 100ml, 150ml, 200ml, 250ml. Then was scanned by the CNS and given the all clear to go home clad in an adult nappy and tena level 2.
Trip back included a 30min tube and then 30min train ride. I took a pit stop at every opportunity along the way. Unfortunately Paddington suspended all services when I arrived so had to decamp to Alternative Station. This meant ~90min journey so sat near a loo. About 35mins in got a twinge from downstairs indicating I need a pee. Then found all the facilities were out of order. Waited a few more stops and managed to hold it while sweating until located a guard and found alternative facilities in far end of train.
Got to home town and made it home only to step in through the door and feel a warm sensation downstairs. I made a b-line for the loo and emptied plus dried up.
After being pretty much normal continence all afternoon I noticed a fairly regular trickle of pee especially when laying on the sofa propped up with cushions. I guess this puts pressure on the sphincter below the bladder which is also battered and bruised plus urethra and penis pretty numb too after 15 days catheter.
Trying to pass wind also pushed a small amount of urine out. Coughing, clearing throat and sneezing spring a small spurt of urine when on the sofa. Managed the leaks and drips through the evening and hoping this isn’t the shape of things to come. Re-read the profs notes and reassured that’s it’s quite common early days plus when tired.
I geared up for the worse come bed time. Adult nappy back on with tena 3 and additional kitchen tissue adding extra buffer. Bed double waterproofed with absorbent tena pads to soak up anything during the night and hospital grade (waterproof) duvet and pillows in place.
happy to report during the night although I was up for a pee every few hours and catching the election shenanigans in the morning there were no drips or wetness so hard was a big positive.
This morning no issues until I sat on sofa in propped up laying position when I got a few drips. Plus when I needed to pass wind another small amount of urine emitted and caught in pads/kitchen roll.
im optimistic as can start/stop without issue and for the most part dry. Hoping the leaks and drips are just as result of post urethral catheter swelling plus obviously the stitches around the urinary sphincter (which also feels sore when articulated). It’s a bit battered and bruised and hopefully when this settles in will have pretty much full control. From the profs notes the biggest gains are during the first six weeks in respect of everything settling plus stitches associated with the anastomoses dissolve as I think they hold the sphincter open a little until they disappear.
Onwards and upwards. Good to be fully autonomous now both night and day :-)
Edited by member 13 Dec 2019 at 19:54
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