catheter for urinary retention

[debbied1215]

Does anyone have advice or tips on getting a catheter removed? My husband had it inserted due to urinary retention. The oncologist said his prostrate is full of cancer and pressing on the urethra. He has started adt with casodex and lupron. Soon to add zytiga. He also takes flomax. He’s tried twice now and was unable to urinate on his own. Help!!

[GP24]

In this case a surgical removal of the prostate can be performed. This will also remove a lot of the resistant tumor cells.

[Mike1971]

I couldn’t pee at all after a bladder operation, so I did Self-Catheterization - Clean Intermittent Catheterization. This enabled me to train my bladder and after a year I could pee like normal again without catheter.

We discussed it here:

healthunlocked.com/advanced...

[spencoid2]

It is not clear what you are asking. Do you have a Foley catheter inserted that you want to remove? If it was inserted just to deal with retention and there was no surgery that needs to heal around the catheter, you can remove it but will likely need intermittent catheterization.

I hated the Foley whenever I had it and much prefer intermittent catheterization.

To remove the catheter you need to remove the fluid in the balloon at the end of the catheter. This is usually done with a lure tipped syringe to be sure the balloon is completely empty but some just cut the tube that goes to the balloon. I think this is not a great idea and that sucking out the fluid with a syringe is better to be sure it is totally empty. I think the amount of fluid used ranges from 10 ml to 50. The fill volume may be marked on the catheter

[turkeyjoe1]

I assume it is a Foley cather. I had to have one for 3 months due to the same problem. I waited until the pain was to much from not peeing. My kidneys started shutting down. It did some damage to my kidneys. I had it removed after one of my tests. Doctors asked if I wanted to try not using it. I tried and was back in the office in 4 hrs getting it put back in.

I did a TURP Surgery and have peed like a 20 year old since then.

I had to wait a few months after that to start radiation.

[Pattycakepgh]

My sweetie had two experiences with urinary retention that sent us to the ER. At that point choice was long term Foley use or doing self catheterization (as Mike1971 described in his comment above). While he hesitated at first and needed my assistance, self cath done 3x per day, was the best choice - more comfortable and less restrictive - than a foley. After 6 months he was able to urinate again on his own.

[SteveTheJ]

If he's not urinating you don't want to remove it. But it can be done, you have to have the little syringe to remove the fluid from the part that inserts into the bladder. Or maybe your situation is different from mine.

[j-o-h-n]

The oncologist said his prostrate is full of cancer and pressing on the urethra.

Have the doctor's nurse remove it.... That's what you're paying him/her for....

p.s. Please update your dear Husband's bio. (age? location? treatment center(s)? doctor(s) name(s)? PSA score? Gleason score? meds? and etc?) All info is voluntary but it helps him and helps us too. Thank you!

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

[Bethpage]

Sorry, Bethpage passed in March of this year. All of her knowledge and experience is with her. Her husband, Ed.

[CAMPSOUPS in reply to Bethpage]

Oh my Ed. I am really sorry. Myself saddened. I appreciated her presence here in her comments. I had no idea she had passed. I actually felt comradery with her as well.

I truly hope for the best for you in these times.