Urinary catheter?

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BBwithBC45
BBwithBC45 Member Posts: 727
edited July 2018 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

Is it standard to use urinary catheters during mastectomy? Does everybody have it? Or is it for very long surgeries only?

I'm having a UMX tomorrow and a catheter is the last thing I want now.

Ladies who had unilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction -tissue expanders, did you have a urinary catheter?

Thank you!

B

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Comments

  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited February 2015

    I think it's standard procedure.

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  • dmarie71
    dmarie71 Member Posts: 81
    edited February 2015

    I think it is standard. I was very concerned because I have a bladder condition that causes pain and catheters are not my friend. They used a very thin catheter and I had it in for about 24 hours. I was so thankful because I had too much pain to move. The catheter did not bother me at all and I had no issues having it removed. I honestly did not even realize I had one in. By the way it was inserted after I was asleep in the OR.

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  • lmdi
    lmdi Member Posts: 15
    edited February 2015

    I think it's standard too. FWIW, I barely knew it was there, it didn't hurt at all and it was only for a few hours. I think it is used because they are afraid you might slip and fall on the way to the bathroom (because you'll still be woozy from the anesthesia and you won't want to move if you don't have to).

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  • Blessings2011
    Blessings2011 Member Posts: 4,276
    edited February 2015

    I had a BMX with immediate recon (TE's) a few years ago, and that catheter was my best friend.

    Not only did they need it during surgery (around 3-4 hours) but my PS always leaves them in overnight to spare his patients the pain and inconvenience of having to get up and pee in the middle of the night.

    I never felt it while it was in, didn't feel it when they pulled it out the next day, and surprisingly, the first time I went after having the catheter in, it didn't burn at all.

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  • horsemom
    horsemom Member Posts: 96
    edited February 2015

    I had one also and was glad. However I felt like I constant had to pee with it in...made it harder to sleep. No problems removing it and no burning 1st time after.

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  • SunnyC
    SunnyC Member Posts: 75
    edited February 2015

    I had 6 hours of surgery for a BMX with immediate reconstruction in August. The catheter was only in during surgery. It was gone by the time I was in recovery.

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  • BBwithBC45
    BBwithBC45 Member Posts: 727
    edited February 2015

    Just before the surgery, I told the OR nurse that I didn't want a urinary catheter. She said it's up to the surgeon.

    I didn't see or feel anything, but it took some effort to pee earlier, so who knows.

    I'm still messed up from anesthesia.

    Thank you all for your help and comments.

    BB


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  • roadrash
    roadrash Member Posts: 145
    edited February 2015

    HI BBwithBC45, It is good to hear from you. :D I hope you make a speedy recovery. I had a catheter. They put one in me and never told me until I asked why am I have problems going pee. I had to put my hand in warm water and other weird things to get back on track.

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  • coraleliz
    coraleliz Member Posts: 1,523
    edited February 2015

    I did not have a catheter during my BMX without recon. I was even told I could leave my underwear on, which I did. When I've had gyn surgeries, a catheter was placed during the procedure & removed before I woke up. It was necessary to keep the bladder empty when operating on the pelvic region.

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  • Trvler
    Trvler Member Posts: 3,159
    edited February 2015

    I love catheters. It's the only time I can sleep without having to pee. When I had my section Csection, I begged them to leave it in longer.


    Dmarie71: I am surprised they left any one in for 24 hours.

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited February 2015

    I did not have a catheter during my UMX (no recon). Dr wanted me up and walking quickly. So I was not just going to the bathroom but also wandering the halls within a short time after surgery.

    The only surgeries I've had a catheter for were my 2 C sections (many years ago).. I've also had a UMX, 2 cataract, wrist, detached retina surgeries and did not have a catheter with any of them.

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  • Ariom
    Ariom Member Posts: 6,197
    edited February 2015

    Like Kicks I didn't have a catheter after my Umx, no recon. My surgeon wanted me to be up and moving, so I was up and wandering the halls shortly after waking from surgery too.

    I did have a catheter for my caesarean in the 70's and had one for an ectopic pregnancy some years later and another for bladder surgery.

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  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 6,099
    edited February 2015

    I had a UMX without recon (no expander either -- just flat) and did not have a urinary cath. I ended up wishing I'd had one.

    The surgery took just 90 minutes, so I shouldn't have needed a cath. The problem was that I spent 4-1/2 hours in recovery because they didn't have a regular hospital room ready. There were no bathrooms or commodes (port-a-potties) in recovery -- just bedpans. So, after 6 hours had gone by without a bathroom break (and on i.v. fluids throughout), I thought my bladder was going to burst. I asked the nurse if she would help me walk to the nearest bathroom, but she refused. She said the only option was a bedpan.

    There I was, still on a Gurney, with an i.v. line in the back of my right hand and my left chest wrapped in a thick bandage because most of the soft tissue under the skin had been scraped off (Bovie cautery), and she's thinking I can climb up and balance myself on a bedpan? (Did I mention that she was a b*tch?) I told her that was impossible. I said she had two choices: escort me to a rest room, or take me upstairs to my hospital room. (Did I mention that I get really assertive when I get p*ssed off?)

    She got on the phone and yelled at someone, and they wheeled me upstairs to a newly available room a few minutes later. I don't think it's ever felt as good to pee as it did that afternoon. *sigh*

    otter

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  • AmyQ
    AmyQ Member Posts: 2,182
    edited February 2015

    I had a cath for 3 days and did not want it removed. I was up and walking within 12 hours but found dragging my pole with meds, cath, antibiotics etc was a piece of cake.

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