Christina,
It sounds like you’re on the right track to find out what’s going on, and it also sounds like your doctor is being upfront about things, which is actually a good thing, even if we don’t always like what they’re telling us.
I had a suprapubic catheter for about five to six months. It’s not exactly fun, but you do get used to them eventually, and some of the biggest drawbacks can be treated. The area is obviously tender at first, but that goes away over time. It can also weep a fluid out with some people, as it did with me. This often lessens with time, but it can take a year or two to start improving. Catheter changes can be painful or painless, often depending on who is doing it. Nurses are usually better than doctors. They’ll give you a medication for bladder spasms, and you should always take it before a change.
Hopefully you won’t need to go that route, but if you do, it’s not the end of the world. A lot of people live with suprapubic catheters to make it easier to live a normal life. Activities like hiking, swimming, sex, etc, are difficult with a urethral, but a suprapubic makes them possible.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Clayton