Is there a Catheter Sticky on this forum?

Hi Guys,

Just got home from surgery, everything went swell, I will post my experience when I'm not so exhausted but..

The biggest issue is the catheter and I have pieced together various tidbits of advice here and there but can't find a sticky of cath tips. I had gone to the largest sporting goods store and they didn't have sweatpants with the button sides and I don't have the velcro pari from my male stripper days, so for now I guess I'll toddle around in a bathrobe.

For going on outside walks, which I will attempt in a couple of days, they gave me a small travel size but suggested I use the hospital size on for when at home. Are we suppose to carry it around with us? Has anybody here come up with a technique to move around one's house with the larger bag? We can't hang it from our belt.

Also, they forewarned me that my scrotum will swell unless I ball something up and sit on it. It is starting to get uncomfortable. It's been around 30 hors since surgery.

Thanks,

Nick

There are a lot of catheter comments in the stickies at the top of the forum. We only allow two, as having a page or more of them drives off folks when they have to scroll through them.

The snap-sided pants can be ordered from Adidas - they call them basketball pants. That is where I got mine. I also went to Old Navy and bought some cheap cotton pants, and cut just enough of the side seam stitching to fold up the empty bag and slide it through.

For the house, use one of the reusable grocery bags, and rob a shoulder strap off a camera or computer bag to hook to the handles.

I'll see if I can find the original post where I went through this. Hasn't changed much in seven years ....

Nick, I didn't have any luck finding those pants either. But, I just bought extra large sweat pants and 'lounge pants' and dropped the bag down my leg after winding the tube around my leg. For late night walks, I sometimes just put the bag in a shopping bag.

142 said...
I also went to Old Navy and bought some cheap cotton pants, and cut just enough of the side seam stitching to fold up the empty bag and slide it through.

I cut out the bottom of one of the pockets in my favorite lounge pants to do the same thing... roll up the bag and pass it outward from inside the pant leg. That way you can carry the bag in a cloth shopping or a bucket and empty it easily without dropping the pants.

I never used the travel leg bag, I carried the larger one around in a tote bag which worked great. Any kind of loose fitting sweatpants will work fine for you.

I wore shorts and used the large bag exclusively. I didn't go out in public during my time with the catheter. I just walked around the house. Of course, I ended up with blood clots, so maybe I should have been out walking much more.

I had swelling like you. The doctor didn't give my any advice on coping with it. I just waited for it to subside, which took a while.

Hang in there, the week will be over before you know it.

Leaking a little is normal, if what you're describing is a little discharge around the tubing. Ususally this occurs when there is increased pressure inside the bladder, such as when bearing down to defecate or from a bladder spasm. If it persists frequently your doctor could prescribe an anti-spasmotic such as Vesicare to reduce the spasms, but that is not really necessary if this is only a small and occasional problem.

I've had a Foley several times since my RP for a few weeks and have been thru it all as they say. I would often wear a pad to keep the goop from getting on my clothes and sheets. Just be sure to keep the tip and tube clean and lubricated. I used baby soap and polysporin.