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Waterworks problem

Posted , 10 users are following.

nfmiller
nfmiller

First day home after LTHR and things progressing well except with the problem of passing urine, in fact, passing anything. It occurred to me that in the age of medical advances in nearly all fields, the only way of encouraging urine to flow is to stick a plastic tube up the urethra. I admit, it did find something for the nurse to do doing the night, but I would have thought someone could have come up with something more sophisticated by now. They have a machine that can tell you how much fluid is in the bladder - I already knew, it was full- but they don't have one to get it out. Nobel prize awaiting for someone.

0 likes, 17 replies

17 Replies

  • claudia95892
    claudia95892 nfmiller

    Posted

    It will get better. Keep drinking and eating lots of fiber, especially if taking painkillers and iron. My routine was disrupted since I was also on a catheter and large amounts of morphine and iron since I was anemic. Second surgery, no general anaesthesia, a lot less morphine, still low iron. No problems urinating but bowels are all over .
    • nfmiller
      nfmiller claudia95892

      Posted

      Thanks Claudia, slowly getting there but it's been a strain(!).

      Regards

      Norm

  • michael11283
    michael11283 nfmiller

    Posted

    These things are sent to try us. Catheters are a relief for a while but getting things going again naturally afterwards can be a problem. Keep drinking and your body will sort itself out.

    Similarly the combination of surgery, anaesthetic and pain relief does tent to stop the bowel working. At least (unlike with the bladder) you can go several days without it doing anything other than feeling uncomfortable. Most of us resort to Laxido or something. Drinking lots is also good in that department.

    Hope you are back to narmal soon

    Mike

    • nfmiller
      nfmiller michael11283

      Posted

      Thanks Mike, it's getting better already but that first night was a bit desperate.

      Regards

      Norm

  • Rocketman_SG6UK
    Rocketman_SG6UK nfmiller

    Posted

    I had that after my revision surgery - very painful isn't it.

    I too had the ultrasound to see if I was 'full up' or not ... like you, I knew I was, but they needed to be certain.

    Then a lovely nurse and lady doctor administered the plastic tube for me redfaceredfaceredface

    Graham

  • teri89306
    teri89306 nfmiller

    Posted

    During my overnight stay after surgery, they kept giving me stuff to "help the bowels". My first night home, after my husband went upstairs to bed (I stayed in the guest room on the main level), I suddenly felt "the churning". So as I'm wobbling down the hall with the walker, I'm thinking "nice! Hobble me and pump me up with GO PILLS!" I yelled upstairs to alert my husband and proceeded to make it 99% of the way to the toilet. After the explosion, I quietly rolled up the rug that was in front of the toilet and told my husband to please just go toss this in the washer on hot, no questions! Not a fun night at all!

    • claudia95892
      claudia95892 teri89306

      Posted

      Hi Teri, yes at the hospital they gave me sonokot and it was horrible. With a blood pressure of 85/38 I managed to get myself to the toilet even if I had buzzed twice and could not wait any longer. It was explosive diarrhea and the night nurse took 45 min to come. I was so exhausted that when she finally came, she was not pleased and uttering words about how much she hated her job. I was not impressed. The morning staff had to towel wash me. I am so happy it is all in the past.
    • michael11283
      michael11283 claudia95892

      Posted

      Claudia

      Sounds almost as bad as my experiences having bowel cancer. It's like banging your head against a wall, it's great when it stops!!

      Mike

  • arlowood
    arlowood nfmiller

    Posted

    Yes I'm afraid it's a common side effect of the spinal block anesthesia.

    I had my operation mid-afternoon so was pretty drugged up the first night so did not take too much notice of the fact that I was not passing urine. I was monitored the following day and despite plenty of fluids had still not "performed" by about 10pm that evening. Senior nurse decided I needed to be catheterised but with it being night shift I had to wait 2 hrs for the on-call doc to do the needful.

    I had the catheter in for just over 24hrs and soon after it was removed I started to pee more or less naturally. However I had to have my output recorded over the next 12hrs to make sure all was back to normal. It was a pain but probably worth it to avoid the after effects of general anesthesia.

    My bowels were also bunged up and although I had been cleared by the physio to go home on day 3, the nursing staff were blocking my release because I had not had a bowel movement. Eventually they relented and sent me home with additional laxative over and above the Senna tablets which were normally prescribed. Thankfully my bowels were back to normal the following morning so I backed off the extra laxative and stuck with the Senna to combat the potential effects of the codeine tablets.

    I'm just glad |I did not experience any explosive evacuations when my mobility was compromised - not a happy thought when you can't sprint to the toilet.

  • anniepaint
    anniepaint nfmiller

    Posted

    It’s really important to drink plenty of water and have fibre in your diet especially if you take codeine based analgesics. A stool softener like lactulose is good and gentler than some laxatives so you are not having to rush to the loo suddenly. Once you are off the heavy duty painkillers and able to move around more all the bowel and bladder issues get back to normal. Just another aspect of recovery we have to deal with. 

    Regards

    Ann

    • nfmiller
      nfmiller anniepaint

      Posted

      Thanks Ann, Ive been given Lactulose so hopefully that will get to work soon.Looking forward to when I'm off the painkillers.

      Norm

    • claudia95892
      claudia95892 nfmiller

      Posted

      My grandma used to live by prunes. So right after I came home, I had a prune before every meal. Within 2 days I was back to my normal cycle. I also drank over 2 liters of water and ate lots of fruits and veggies. I was also on iron supplements since I had lost 2 pints of blood and they did not give me a transfusion. I just wanted to get home. I ate clams and cream of wheat, spinach , black beans and a green powder in my shakes. I cut down on coffee and took calcium with magnesium and vit d3. I have been given the green light to continue beeing a blood donor since I am O neg. I try to take the least amounts of meds as possible.
    • nfmiller
      nfmiller claudia95892

      Posted

      Claudia, you are good - and sensible. I'm eating plenty of fruit and veg but I'm probably not drinking enough water and .. I can't stand prunes! However, it may be that I have to give them a try.

      Norm

    • claudia95892
      claudia95892 nfmiller

      Posted

      My son coul not stand them either but he hates the taste of Metamucil and being plugged is so painful. He loves a prune cake with a whiskey caramel icing. He is young and has weighed the benefits vs 2 sec of chewing and swallowing. Let me know how it goes after you try them.
    • nfmiller
      nfmiller claudia95892

      Posted

      Cake & whiskey, now you're talking. I might be able to get a taste for that. I hope I don't have to resort to the prunes, but if I do, I'll let you know!

      norm

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