Post catheter removal

[Slimtim]

I underwent a buccal mucosa graft bulbar urethroplasty 3 weeks ago and have found this forum very useful as i went through each stage of the process and recovery. I was due to have my catheter in for just over 3 weeks but at the 2 week stage I started to experience blockages, blood clots coming through the catheter and severe pain in my stomach. Eventually I was readmitted to hospital and it was diagnosed as an infection caused by the catheter and the removal was brought forward and antibiotics prescribed.

I’ve now had a urethogram which confirmed no leakages and the catheter removed yesterday which gave me a near instant relief so I’m in the final stages of recovery. One of the things I’m finding is that my bladder can’t hold much capacity anymore and the time between deciding I need to go to the bathroom and it coming out is very short, 10 seconds sometimes. I’m keen to see if anyone else experienced anything similar and whether it’s just the bladder getting used to holding larger volumes again and the urethral sphincter starting doing it’s job again after being held open for a couple of weeks by the catheter.

[Clayton]

Congrats on getting through the surgery, and especially getting past the catheter.

Its mostly two things that affect your bladder and cause it to become more sensitive after surgery…

1. Bladder shrinkage. It is true that the bladder does shrink somewhat after having no expansion and contraction for weeks or months due to the catheter, but it goes away rather quickly. Usually by six weeks or so.

2. Bladder spasms. These cause the majority of the urgency problems, since they often feel exactly like you really have to go. They subside over time, but if you had a suprapubic catheter they might persist for a while. Having an artificial hole in your bladder wall comes with consequences. Your doctor can prescribe medications to help with the spasms, like oxybutynin.

If you’re going after only seconds or minutes, my guess is that you’re having spasms. Are you emptying much when you go again right away?

Clayton

[Slimtim]

Thanks for your response Clayton, it’s very reassuring.

I’m pleased to report that already I’m starting to see an improvement and can feel that my bladder can hold a little more each day, the urgency to go is lasting a little longer and I am starting to regain some control over the starting and stopping of the flow (which was the thing I was most worried about – particularly starting). It’s no where near what it was, but I can see it improving every day and still early days.

A couple of things I read that I think are really helping

Drinking little and often so that the bladder doesn’t go from having to deal with no capacity to a large capacity too quickly and increasing the volume over time.

Stopping and starting mid flow to help exercise that sphincter muscle, although a little uncomfortable, does seem to be building up my ability to control the flow.

Thanks again

[Author]

Posts