The first hours and days following catheter removal.

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User

Posted 15 Aug 2025 at 18:59

Hi. Had my catheter removed today but wasn't quite prepared for the lack of control I'm experiencing and wanted to know if it's common? I've been drinking although a bit less than yesterday when the catheter was still in. When it came out, I turned to sit up and some urine came out. I went overkill I felt, and had brought complete disposable pants rather than pads. I've changed into a pad now, about 5 hours later, but here's the question....

Is it normal not to have any sense of wanting to urinate early on? I just feel as if the pad has taken the place of the bag and the bladder is just emptying into it. I did regular pelvic floor exercises before the RP and have done some today. I've stood over the toilet hoping to wee for myself but nothing yet. The nurse didn't ask me to stay until I'd urinated although I've seen videos where that is the case, plus an ultrasound device was used.

Any advice or experiences would be appreciated - thank you.

User

Posted 15 Aug 2025 at 22:03

Hello again mate.

What you're encountering has been experienced by many on here. For the first week or so, I felt I had no control at all and was completely unaware when I wanted to pee. It was a very depressing time but things got better relatively quickly.

I don't know why, but I was always much drier through the night than the day

When I had my catheter removed I wasn't allowed to leave hospital until I'd passed a urine sample and they did use some sort of ultrasound scan.

I hope you feel better soon.

Edited by member 15 Aug 2025 at 22:10 | Reason: Typo

User

Posted 15 Aug 2025 at 22:22

Hello again Adrian. Thanks for your reply. Phew, what a relief. I panicked for a few hours but scoured the forum and found it's not unusual. Actually just had a "conventional" wee and was able to stop mid steam, so going to bed feeling better than a few hours ago.

Thanks again.

User

Posted 16 Aug 2025 at 12:06

The ultrasound check is to make sure you actually empty your bladder when you do wee and it's quite important.

User

Posted 16 Aug 2025 at 12:11

I'll call and check on Monday but I'm sure there was a good reason why I didn't experience this. The nurse had been doing it for years and I had confidence in her, still, I'd be interested to know why I didn't have it.

Thanks for commenting.

User

Posted 17 Aug 2025 at 13:57

I am two days ahead of you and can confirm what you are experiencing post catheter removal is common. I had my catheter in for three weeks because my surgery was "salvage" (after previously having radiotherapy) so it was a bit more involved than normal. However I too was a bit depressed and concerned by the level of incontinence immediately after my trial without catheter. Each day seems to be a little better though and I can now say at least half of my wee makes it into the toilet under my own volition. I still leak heavily when standing up and walking but at least I can now actually stand at the toilet and pass a stream - its only been 5 days so I think this is good progress. I like Adrian am also more or less dry through the night but I make sure not to drink much after 8pm and definitely no tea which is a real diuretic for me.

I would like to say for anyone about to through trial without catheter - do not take a long journey home without having a toilet nearby or having some sort of bottle you can use in the car and do take extra heavy duty pads. They make you drink about a liter and a half of water to check everything is working down there. You then pee a couple of times over the next hour and if thats ok they scan your bladder to check its ok. Then they send you home. What they dont tell you is that you've probably passed about 500mls of that one and a half liters and if you live more than half an hour away that other liter of water is going to hit your bladder soon. Mine hit me half way home and I told my wife quick pull into tesco and I can go to the loo. She did this but as soon as I stood out of the car I realised for the first time that I had no control whatsoever - my full bladder let go and overwhelmed my pad leaving me soaked and standing in a pool. I can kind of laugh about it now but at the time it made me very embarrassed and depressed. There are others on this site with similar stories so if it happens don't let it get you down - but be prepared - and wear dark trousers !

User

Posted 17 Aug 2025 at 14:13

Thanks for replying mate. It's come at a good time as I'm on a real downer after changing pad for the third time today. I did kegels and yoga for 6 weeks prior to surgery and thought I'd breeze through the recovery.

You're another who's mentioned the voiding trial. I didn't have one, which I will check up on tomorrow. I can't hold a drop of fluid, except at night and can have a fairly controlled wee first thing. From there it all goes downhill leaving me very distressed by early evening. I take comfort from knowing it's common as opposed to being a rarity and unsurmountable problem.

Thank again.

User

Posted 17 Aug 2025 at 15:49

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Never had the accident but that's exactly what happened to me.

Edited by member 17 Aug 2025 at 15:52 | Reason: added the quote

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