2 days until catheter removal

Cheers Nick, your cheque is in the post.🙂

At 51 you're one of our younger members. Welcome to the forum mate.

My catheter removal was a self induced disaster. The removal itself went well, especially as the poor nurse had very little to grab onto as she pulled the tube out.

I was anxious to leave but had to provide a urine sample before they'd let me out. They provided a litre jug jug of water, thinking it would hasten my exit,  I downed the lot. Another half hour went by and I still couldn't provide a sample. So like a fool, instead of waiting, I had another litre of water. It was only then then I managed to squeeze out a sample.

However, only 5 minutes later, whilst in the middle of a huge queue at the hospital car park pay station, the flood gates opened! It was like someone had thrown a bucket of water over my jogging bottoms. I've never felt so embarrassed.

When we got to the car the deluge continued. I had to get some shopping bags out of the boot to protect the upholstery. The wife was driving, but despite my protestations, refused to put her foot down, and tootled along as normal.

I was peeing continually and had to pull into a chemist for some adult incontinence pants. The lady assistant was very understanding. She saw that the puddle I was standing in getting deeper and let me use their staff room to put on the pee pants.

What a journey that was!

Anyway, when we got  home I rang the hospital and told them what had happened. They politely told me that I was an idiot and that the water they'd supplied was meant to be sipped and not gulped down in a oner. They became even more exasperated when I told them that I downed another jug.

Surprisingly my stupidity hadn't caused any permanent damage. I was okay in a couple of days. 

Edited by member 03 Jun 2025 at 10:05  | Reason: Typo

Hello! 

I’m Nick, I’m 51 and have been enjoying reading the conversations in this forum (and in particular laughing at Adrian56’s comments).  I am relatively new to the site having being diagnosed in April and had RALP towards the end of May.  

I am having my catheter removed on Weds and am a bit apprehensive about it given some of the stories about leakage but I will be pleased to say goodbye to the bag and pipe for sure.  I did my pelvic squeezes for a couple of weeks - do people think that made much of a difference?

What were the helpful trial and errors that people did that helped with the transition?

Cheers

Nick

Jim

I have had around 12 trial without catheter and never failed. Mine usually took around three hours. I usually drank plenty of water before getting to the hospital, I found  that if i was well hydrated before getting to the hospital the water they give me to drink at the trial without catheter (TWOC) passes through me far quicker. It is better to leak a bit than have a catheter put back in because you failed the TWOC. The removal is frequently described as weird, it should be pain free. If it gets stuck on the way out ask for a urologist to attend, my surgeon is convinced a swift removal after getting stuck caused my post op stricture issues.

Make sure you have some pads, the hospital will normally give you some, but as a work colleague used to say better to be looking at some than looking for some. I took a towel and cover for the car seat in case of a "major" leak but it never happened. I also had a urine bottle in the car in case of an emergency. The towel is useful if stuck in a traffic jam with a coachload of people at the side of you😀. You could take a spare pair of trousers and pants, again i never needed them. Elasticated waist trousers make it very easy to change the pad in a hurry. 

Once the catheter is removed remember to contract those pelvic muscles as you are going from sitting to standing up, this is when lots of us experienced a leak.

Thanks Chris