AUR

I ended up in the emergency room and was given a foley. Had it for nine days, and actually peed better once it was removed.  Still had to have additonal urolift clips installed.  I now keep a box of pre-lubed intermittent coude catheters in my closet in case it happens again. They're not difficult to use and are less uncomfortable than a foley, IMHO.

Steve, 

I experienced AUR for the first time on May 30 of this year.  I went to the ER and actually received TWO Foley catheters because the first one was leaking urine through my urethra. EACH TIME that the catheter was inserted, it HURT LIKE HELL!!!  The ER doctor said I had prostatitis and gave me an antibiotic. 

I immediately called and made an appointment with my Urologist after the ER visit.  At the appointment, the Doctor said without examining me, that I DIDN’T have prostatitis, but AUR due to BPH, and scheduled me for a cystoscopy a few days later.  Since I had already been taking Flomax & Finasteride for BPH, what she told me was no surprise.  The cystoscopy verified that my urethra was severely obstructed by prostate tissue, and we discussed treatment options.  

The original cystoscopy was easy with NO pain.  But they had to take out my Foley Catheter to do it, and  then put in a new Foley when the cystoscopy was finished.  Again, It HURT BADLY as the catheter went past the prostate area.  Because of the INTENSE pain I felt when getting the first two catheters, after the cystoscopy I ELECTED to have a Foley until my TURP surgery on June 20, INSTEAD of self-catheterizing (CIC) several times a day.  I DON'T KNOW anything about CIC and the pain involved (if any), and that's why I elected to have another Foley. 

Of course, during the TURP surgery my catheter was again removed, and was replaced with another one that I kept for 5 days.  I had a Foley catheter for a total of 28 days straight. 

Like you, I didn't know what was going to happen AFTER catheter removal because of the total time I had it.  I brought some Depends Undergarments with me in case I had urinary issues; I’M GLAD I BROUGHT THEM!  I WASN’T LEAKING, but every few minutes I had to urinate with a much urgency and didn’t always make it to a toilet in time.  That extreme urinary frequency and urgency didn’t last but a day or two.  Steve, I think that the frequency and urgency was due to the TURP surgery; not the catheter.  But I don't know that for sure. 

The BOTTOM LINE is that I DIDN'T have any incontinence after catheter removal, and my urine steam was near-normal again. 

Good luck to you! 

?Gary

Had numerous catheters mostly the 14 days and also self cathed, never had problems with Incontinence as a result. Have incontinence now after Prostate removed and likely to be for 12 months and had it for 6 months after a TURP, but it came good. These procedures also give you E/D but that is another story. Don't worry about it as they always paint the blackest picture.

David

Hi Stephen!  I had AUR 4 years ago, almost to the day.  All new to me, it was!  They drained 2.5 LITERS from my distended bladder, shoved a catheter up, attached the bag to my leg, and said, "We have an appointment for you in FIVE WEEKS!"    

I thought, "Bloody Hell I'll where this thing for five weeks!"  Did a whole lotta reading, found this site, learned a lot very quickly, and in a week switched to CIC.  Psychologically, emotionally, practically speaking, I HATE permanent catheters and will avoid at all costs.  Gee, why not add a colostomy bag that I don't need, while you're at it?!?!    (Been cathing most of the past four years, used to get UTIs regularly, but haven't even had one of those in over 18 months..

Probably the reason they put in the stay-in-place catheter (as opposed to one-time-use disposable ones) is just that its easier and safer for the doctor than to try and train you and get you supplied to do CIC.  I had been heading in the direction of UAR for a long time... years.  I wasn't having incontinence issues until I got prostatitis which is a urinary infection in men.  My prostate was inflamed and enlarged as told by the digital rectal exam.  My GP gave me antibiotics with the assumption, I guess, that when the infection went away so would me urinary retention.  The antibiotics did clear away the prostatitis but didn't help the BPH.  I began having overflow incontinence at this time; not really sure why though because I don't think my prostate grew that much in just a few days.  I was having urgency and frequency before that, worsening over a couple of years but was always able to hold it.  When I started wetting the bed and had to wear diapers under my clothing I went back to my GP who finally referred me to a Urologist. But before I could get in to see him, I did an ultrasound at the emergency clinic.  When they found I was retaining somewhere around 1600 ml they had a nurse cathaterize me.  I don't remember at any time did they offer to put in a foley catheter or one that stayed in place.  As soon as I started getting the CIC routine down the incontinence went away.  I elected not to do the surgery that they offered me (green light) and became comfortable with doing the CIC about 4 to 5 times a day.  I've been doing that now for about 16 months and am seeing an improvement in my bladder function.  Its very slow but I'm hoping to avoid the surgery.  My doctor says my prostate is "not that impressive" so I'm thinking that, in my case, a lot of my problem may be that my bladder got stretched out and the nerves were not telling me when it was filling up.  This forum has been very helpful to me especially due to a few people sharing their experience.  

hope your problem will go away after urolift like myself. Only caution I can offer is to find an experienced urologist. In my opinion, urolift is the safest procedure for bph.

good luck!