Hello everyone,
Five days ago, I had TURP surgery for an enlarged prostate (BPH). As background, I'm a 58-year old male who had been taking medecine (Flomax) for about two years for BPH. Then one day, the medecine stopped working and I had a severe case of urinary retention. My urologist sent me to the Emergency Department for a catheter, proscribed more medecine and scheduled me for the TURP.
I had the catheter removed four separate times in hopes that I could void, each time unsuccessfully voiding. Two weeks prior to the TURP, I met with the urologist and insisted he remove the catheter. Reluctantly, he agreed and I was able to finally urinate. So now following the surgery, I don't seem to be able to urinate. It's frustrating! The doctor said that my bladder had probably expanded so much because of the urinary retention and does not place the pressure it needs to urinate.
He's ordered me back to the Emergency Department for yet another catheter and said we'll leave it in place for two weeks then switch to a self-catheterization procedure. I assume the idea is to train my bladder again.
But, I could use the advice of anyone and everyone who's gone through this. I'm very frustrated because my urologist, despite being gentle, doesn't seem to explain or do his job fully.
I'm doing everything I can think of right now to urinate before I go back to the Emergency Department. I don't want to go!
Anyone have any advice, suggestions or recommendations?
Thank you!
Sorry to hear your distress. I detest the catheter. You would benefit from another opinion - in my opinion. I've found a lot of variation in knowledge and experience among uros. Is your GP in the loop? Or do you have "Rate My M.D." at your disposal. Your discomfort and lack of info need attention. Good luck.
I am sorry that you are going through this. I don't want to sound insensitive but why did you have to have a turp did you get any other test done to make sure it was your prostate not your bladder It seams like he didn't give you time to look at other options. Here you have a surgery and it don't work and you will have to have a catheter and maybe have to do CIC for the rest of your life. The doctor told you that your bladder expanded and that may be true but it could have been your bladder all the while not your prostate. Now you have to deal with alot of other problem and not being able to pee. Yes it seams like he did not do his job or explain any of the other problems. Before any sugery you should have other test to make sure what the problem is. I got this from my urologist years ago and I always will remember this before he did my urolift. A urologist it trained to figure out the problem and do as many test he can but if he can't find a problem they assume it's the prostate and start cutting it out but it do late if it is not the prostate. After its done if that does not fix the problem they fix the other problem and if you have another problem it goes on and on. Take care and I hope you get better. If he will not help you get another doctor that will. I don't think he did right by you Ken
PS I forget to say if you need help with CIC JIM is a great guy and he will give you all the information you need for CIC. He said no to a turp and was able to fix his bladder with CIC..Take it easy Ken
I don't know anything about TURP, but I've had the foley and gone through what you did removing it and having to rush back to put it back in - I advise you get them to teach you how to self cath next time you have it removed - a nurse will do it and then you will see the Urologist a few days later probably. Then you won't be stressed about returning to the emergency ward - also start taking Flomax again a few days before you remove the catheter - since you had a procedure the Flomax might help even though it was ineffective before. 5 days is nothing, you are probably still swollen inside, you could try taking Aleve when you remove the catheter next time. At 58 don't worry, you will be able to urinate again, it can take months for bladder to get back to normal though. Look for threads of jimjames on CIC self cath. The main thing is not to stress too much, you WILL get better, and if they teach you how to self cath trust me you will have that worry off your mind. It's much easier than walking around with a foley cath!
I would say skip going to get a cath put in for 2 weeks and go straight to self cathing.
im sure you Uro has samples he can give you till you get hooked up with a supplier, like medical 180 out of Oklahoma. Plus they can emer ship you some and get them in 1 day.
why walk around with a cath stuck in you for 2 weeks? Maybe immediately after surgery or a procedure, but that's not the case. Get your life back and start self cathing!
I agree with Anthony but it might not be practical, they need to organize a nurse to train stedavi on how to self cath, and give a supply to use while stevi orders some more. So foley and as soon as you can organize a teaching appointment even if it's the next day. Or maybe they will agree to teach today?
Did he scope you to see if you had a stricture? Urodynamics test? Ultrasound? Cat scan or MRI ?
Hi Stevadi,
Sometimes a prostate reduction procedure or sugery like TURP doesn't work because of the reasons your doctor gave with your bladder. It's unfortunate that you weren't told this prior to the TURP but that's another story, another topic.
Going forward, his advice is good. See how you do in two weeks when the Foley comes out and if you still can't void by yourself, then learn how to self cath (CIC).
Many of us here, including myself, have been self cathing for years and although it can be a little bumpy for some in the beginning, after a few weeks it's pretty easy and soon can become a non issue. It also has the potential to rehab your bladder ato the point where in the future you will be able to stop CIC completely, although no guarantees.
We have several threads here dedicated to CIC, but I'll just make two quick points.
First is to order the right catheter which your doc probably will not give you. There a few good ones to start with but I'll give you the names of two.
My favorite is the Coloplast Speedicath Coude. Second would be the Coloplast Speedicath Flex Coude. You should try and get samples of both and see which ones you like. Just call up Coloplast and get some free samples. The size most men start with is "FR14" but I would also get a few samples in the next bigger size "FR16" in case you can't get the 14's in. It may seem counter intuitive but sometimes a bigger size goes in easier than a smaller size.
If it looks like you're going to be self cathing in two weeks I'd be proactive and get your rx's and catheters in order now. Otherwise, you will probably walk home from your doc's office with whatever caththeters he happens to have in his drawer. Not the end of the world but also not the best way to start self cathing.
Jim
Maybe just check my advice with youre doctor but wait till youre bladder is quite full before you urinate so that youre bladder can have enough volume to release. Aparantly it is good to stretch and shrink youre bladder. What it means is that you must wait till it is full and then you must empty it completely.
I guess I forgot my "second point". LOL. It had to do with your self cath schedule but that can wait until you see how it goes. But in general, if you can't void very much at all on your own, in the beginning you will want to self cath around 6x/day. So it's important that your doctor writes you an rx for 180 catheters a month. You don't have to use them all, but you want the rx on hand.
There's still a possiblity that in two weeks you will be able to void OK when the Foley comes out, but better to be prepared in case you can't.
Jim
How long did you have the catheter following your TURP? You are going to have swelling in your prostate and it will take time for that to go down, weeks, not days. It could be that it was removed too soon.
I don't think the doctor did any other test. And gave him no options on others procedures. If a turp is what you need to fix the problem so be it. But it did not. And of course the doctor is going to tell him it is because of the bladder retention stretching out the bladder. To cover his butt That may be so but it may not even been his prostate it could have been his bladder which was his problem. With out test you will never know. i hope he gets better Ken
Stevadi,
While you're ordering some samples, ask for the non-coude version of both catheters to try as well. Since you've had a TURP, you may not need the coude versions. Also, if your doc is knowlegeable in self cathing (most aren't) you can ask him about this as he knows your anatomy. But IMO the best catheter is the one that works best for you, that's why trying a few is helpful.
Jim
Thank you Jim. I think he will need some help from you and you are the best Ken
Take every ones' advice and do CIC. No need for meds and you can clean and reuse your catheters. Wash hands, rinse catheters in warm water before and after, store in 99% isopropyl alcohol. I have been doing this for three months now and no infections. Also swab yourself before and after, and don't forget the ky jelly. You will then have complete control. All thanks to Jim. Best of luck, Paul
He didn't mention any tests so we don't know if any were performed. And, we also don't know if other options were offered. All he said was he can't urinate after TURP, which does happen to more than a few guys. After he gets some healing time in things could change greatly.
Paul and Stevadi,
Unless your insurance doesn't cover catheters, I suggest against re-using them in the beginning.
Besides the xtra inconvenience of washing and drying, you will be limited to externally lubricated catheters.
Both of the catheters I recommended are single-use, hydrophillic catheters. The hydrophillic coating is more slippery than catheters
that use external lube, and in general less irritating especially in the beginning.
On the other hand, if you have to pay out of pocket, nothing wrong with re-using an external lube catheter. Catheters have been re-used around the world for many years and if you're careful with the washing and drying there should not be any complications.
Jim
Yes he was not clear on that I hope he will get better I know it take time after a turp to heal. I hope with GODS help Ken
Sorry to hear about your issues. Have you looked into CIC....self cath? There are threads on here that go into great detail. A guy buy the name of Jim is very good with it. He can give you the particulars.