Keeping catheter from tugging

[justaguy]

Hi there! I recently had a urethroplasty performed on me and wanted to ask a question about catheter care. I currently have 2 catheters: a suprapubic one attached to a leg bag and one coming out of the penis (a foley catheter, I believe) that’s simply capped (not draining). The urologist who performed the surgery stressed that there should be no tugging on the foley catheter to avoid erosion (makes sense) and that it should exit the penis “straight” so it’s not pulling in one direction or another. Well, given that the catheter is flexible and any underwear or pants I could wear naturally tend to press the catheter against my skin, it’s virtually impossible to get it to exit “straight” – although any tugging should be relatively minimal. Am I overthinking this? Any tips?

[dillard]

for my foley, I take a large diaper pin and pin the catheter to the inside of my underpants near where the drain tube y’s from the balloon port. The catheter is flexible and long enough that this seldom causes a problem. The catheter comes out of the penis and makes a gradual bend downward into my underpants. I pin mine on the lower left side of the underwear. You could always discuss this with your surgeon’s nurse.

[Author]

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