Catheter

[Winter2019]

Anyone here who couldn't pee by themselves at all after catheter removal? What was the next step? Did it go back to normal?

Gave birth 3 days ago to dd2. Same as after first birth couldn't pee straight after birth. So I've been on and off catheter, with a bag, without a bag, been urine drained out of me. When without a catheter yesterday morning could pee however couldn't empty bladder fully. Today can't be at all. Have the urge and feel like it's about to come and nothing. I've been in tears non stop.

Me! I had a cathether for 24 hoyes, came out, no control so they popped it back in for 24 hours. It took a week or so to get back to some semblance of normal and a few months until i felt the normal urge to 'go' (before that it was just nothing then full to leak!).
All very normal and as long as it was improving and i was doing my PF exercises, the GP didn't feel the need for female physio.

Congratulations on baby x

Make sure you tell the hospital... I had a fast 2 hour labour. Unfortunately needed to self catheterise for a year.
No issues after that with further pregnancies.

Not after pregnancy, but did have it twice during pregnancy, had a catheter in for a week the second time and was referred to the TWOK clinic at the hospital. Mine was because my uterus was stuck inside my pelvis and squashing my bladder. A week of having the catheter in at home righted it for me. And my uterus then flipped out. After birth I had no urge to go, could go nine hours without needed a pee. Had to instead just take myself to the toilet every hour or so to try and go, the feeling didn't properly return for a couple of months, I thought it was normal and never questioned it

I had three foley catheters ( the indewelling ones with the bags and the valve) in for a week at a time after giving birth and every time they took it out, I couldn’t go, the urge was there but nothing.

They finally taught me to self catheterise and I had to do that for about 5 months before I could go myself again, it’s now just over a year ago and I can go by myself with no need to catheterise but I feel like I need to go more often than before.

Hi, long time lurker, but I don’t usually post. Reading this prompted me to register and reply, because 6 weeks ago when I gave birth to my daughter this was me, scouring MN and the internet all night for anyone else who had been through the same. I had a failed ventouse delivery followed by forceps, episiotomy and a third degree tear. I didn’t feel the urge either, and failed the test when they removed my catheter in hospital. I had to have my bladder drained a few times, and three different catheters - both bag and flip flow. They all leaked at different times, including over the floor, the bed and my husband. At my lowest point, I rang the hospital in tears at 2am, standing in a puddle of my own urine. I thought it would never get better, partly because no one told me that this can happen. It looks like she was in an awkward position (back to back, then half turned to face sideways) and bruised my bladder as she came out. And as these issues fall somewhere between urology and gynaecology, no one seemed very clued up or ready to offer reassurance that it wasn’t am unusual situation. I also went into this spiral where I was too afraid to drink enough water, so failed another test when the fourth catheter was removed and I had to be readmitted for a night.
Six weeks later, I’m a hundred times better. There are still leaks, control is not back to normal yet, and when I need to go I need to go, or else accidents happen. But it feels like it’s improving day by day, I’m catheter free, and functioning more or less like a normal person. I’m doing my pelvic floor exercises religiously using the Squeezy app and will see a women’s issues physio in due course, to make sure any residual issues are addressed.
Sorry for the long post, but I know exactly how you feel and I wanted to let you know that it does get better. Keeping all fingers crossed for you that it’s sooner rather than later.

@earlgraywithlemon thanks so much for replying! Sorry just noticed it now. Glad you're better now!
I'm home now, catheter free however still can't empty my bladder properly and it's pretty sore and uncomfortable when I'm peeing. Especially at the start and at the end. It wasn't like this before do don't know why now. In hospital they said it's because my urethis irritated from having cathet in and out etc but surely it should be getting better day by day?! They said I've got urine retention but I'm convinced I've also got UTI. They won't give me antibiotics! Been on 2 types of tablets for retention and no progress. Another appointment tomorrow. I'm honestly in such discomfort. Have been drinking loads of water, herbal teas, started using supplements abd and there's not really improvement...

Sorry for mistakes, baby in my arms 😊

@Winter2019 so sorry to hear it’s not getting better. Have they taken a sample to test for a UTI? They did twice for me, after the second and after the last catheter. They both came back clear, but even so they gave me a dose of IV antibiotics to make sure. I don’t remember any particular pain, but then my tear and episiotomy were so sore that I might just not have realised. It sounds like you should push for them to at least take a sample, if they haven’t already.
Sending you a virtual hand hold It’s so dispiriting, and the last thing you need is this and being dragged to hospital appointments, when all you want is to focus on your new baby.
Also, I meant to say - when I first started doing my pelvic floor exercises I couldn’t feel a thing. They’ve gradually got better, and I think they’ve really really helped.

Thank you!
They did blood tests while I was still in hospital and they came back clear so they said no antibiotics. I did ask couple of times as genuinely believe they would sort me out. Will see what they will say tomorrow. It's no improvement so far.

Also, can I be doing pelvic floor exercises when my bladder is not properly empty? Would it not make it worse?!

Have you tried double voiding? You pee then wait about 30 seconds then try again, I often stand up and walk a couple steps then sit back down again. I had a 3rd degree tear which healed well but the weight of my current pregnancy is causing some issues and often have to do that at the moment.

What makes you think you are not completely emptying? They can do a bladder scan before and after passing urine to see what volume is left for you. There are a lot of options for you, it might not be immediate but there are medications, physio, bladder training even botox.

As an interim, make sure you pop the tap on while you pee! That helps a lot of people.

Drink lots of water and do your pelvic floors - my muscles stopped working for a while and needed to do a pelvic floor clench while weeing to fully empty my bladder

**Also, can I be doing pelvic floor exercises when my bladder is not properly empty? Would it not make it worse?!
I was told in hospital to do them, even when I wasn’t voiding completely. But maybe check at your appointment tomorrow? The NHS Squeezy app is very good for doing the right amount of those.
As well as running a tap, as a previous poster said, I was also told to lean forward and apply gentle pressure with my hand on the bladder area to encourage voiding.

I've had couple of scans after the loo, that's how they know it's not emptying properly. Also, I can feel it myself. Yes, tried double voiding, it was kinda working but it's worse now cause it's really sore. I mean more sore than it was before hence I wanted antibiotics as I do think it's some kind of infection. Have had urine infections in the past so know how they feel. Had 2 types of tablets for urine retention and they've not made a difference. I've watched videos on YouTube for best positions for emptying the bladder properly and it did help originally but now when my urethra is sore and burning it's no much help

I’m surprised they’ve not had you self catheterising if they know you’re not emptying properly. I’d ask why.
Good luck, mine was a lot better after a month