5 days post op and having to self catheter

I didn't have to cath but I'm sure someone will be on soon to help out. Maybe ring your docs office. Isn't there some kind of numbing gel you can use?

Also, the bloating/distention is unreal. I look like I'm 5 months pregnant.  Is that normal?

Hi. There. When I had my op they tried taking catheter off on day 3 but bladder wasn't emptying so it was re-inserted. I was discharged on day 5 with it still in and various bags to change and told to come back in 2 days time so they could try taking it out again. When I went back which was now 7 days post op I was very constipated also I hadn't been or even passed wind post op. So my surgeon prescribed me an enema as he said sometimes the bladder won't empty if bowels are pressing on it. So after my emena which was a great relief I started to empty bladder more efficiently. I passed my 3 pee scans and was allowed to go home catheter free.

When they took it out first time and then put back in I was told this was common as the survey was very stressful on the bladder therefore some bladders needed more time to recover than others.

What I'm thinking is that maybe you could have benefited from having it left in a bit longer. I'd also heard that some people have to self Catherterise for a while to allow recovery to bladder. I'm so glad they gave mine more time asni didn't fancy having to do it myself. I'm surprised they didn't tell you how long to do it for and to come back for more bladder scans to see if finally emptying properly. Give them a ring on mon and get some advice. I hope it's not too long.

As for feeling very bloated that is normal. Takes a while to settle down. I'm 6 mths post op and I still feel like that sometimes.

Hi Angelica,

This was my only issue. My surgergy was outpatient for rectecele and cystecele & bladder sling. I'm 51. Went home with catheter, next day took it off, I peed, went home couldn't go.went back to Doctor with massive bladder pressure, they did catheter and I had more than 2 lt of urine. They catheter back on went back 3 days later, still could go on my own. At that point I agreed to selfcath. Did that for 5 more days, but I was starting to go some. Very slow drips. Every once in awhile more would come out.. I only did the catheter 4 times in 24, hated it, made me burn.After that I just to toilet a lot. I was so miserable! Even at 6 weeks, I was not emptying complete. The DR said I was retaining 1/3. Long story...... One thing I discovered along the way was the first 4 days I had taken Percocet painmeds, and after that I took Tynol PM to sleep. I discovered after having another episode where I could not pee at all, around 5 weeks. That there is something in both of those that can cause you not to go, or restrict your flow. I stopped taking the trynol Pm, most of it stopped. I'm now 14 weeks out. If I let my bladder get to full, I have a problem with slow flow, until I get it empty. I didn't have this problem before surgergy. It has been by only issue. Everything seems to be healed up, or looks that way.

My doctor didn't thank it was enough of problem when it didn't empty all the way. I never got a bladder infection. But, I took cranberry pills, cranberry juice, and apple cider vinegar to help. Those catheter make you feel horrible! I hope this long story helps. Sorry you are going threw it.

Self catheterisation following prolapse surgery is more common than women realise however you shouldn't be suffering from a sore urethra. Have you spoken to anyone on the ward about this because you could introduce infection that way. One of the causes is the wrong size catheter.