My Dad had a circumcision, now needs a catheter, any reassurance anyone?

[JustKeepSwimming]

My Mum phoned today, said I have news but your Dad won't tell you & doesn't want to tell any of you...

Apparently had been having 'issues' (don't know what) and the docs found pre-cancerous cells on his foreskin so he had a circumcision on Friday.

Should have been a straight-forward procedure, was discharged that afternoon.

That night my Mum took him to A&E as he was in lots of pain and couldn't wee. He had a catheter put in and told to see another doc on Mon.

(had catheter in all weekend which surprises me)

Saw someone today who said they'll phone him later this week/call him to come to a clinic later this week (Mum unclear & I had 2 DSs in my other ear), catheter still in.

He's feeling very down, my Mum is worried about him, he's a very active 66yr old who flew through a hip replacement a few years ago, seems so unfair that a simple thing could end up with him stuck with a catheter :(

There seems to be no urgency to take it out - my experiences of catheters are that the docs are v keen to whip them out and get the system going again - is this normal?

Has anyone any knowledge/experience/ideas?
I've told my Mum to ring everyone tomorrow and make a nuisance of herself until they get a firm appt to clearly review the plan (make a plan). Anything else?

bumping for you as I've no experience of this-hope your dad is better soon

I am sure they won't be leaving a catheter in unless it's absolutely vital and he cannot pass urine without it.
The catheter will cause infections , they always do so hence they try and do without.
I expect they will leave it in until they are sure he won't go into retention again.
He should be seen by a urologist and the cause of his retention discovered. Has he got an enlarged prostate as well? He must have an appt to see someone soon ,no?

There will be a continence nurse specialist for your area that may be of assistance if you find he needs the catheter for a while.they will beable to get more info from distric nurses at your gp.

Thanks Helly :)

Ggirl - unfortunately they live quite far from me so i can only pass on the info about the continence nurse.
I don't know any more really than i posted - was tricky on the phone with my 2 boys trying to join in!
And then my Dad phoned my Mum's mobile (he's gone out but wasn't happy driving so wanted picking up) so we had to end call then. So AFAIK they are waiting for a call to say when to go in to some urology clinic....

From Google (i know!) it seems that one complication of circumcision can be damage to the urethra, so i'm guessing that's what's happened.

(when i had DS1 his head 'bent' my urethra in labour so i had a catheter put in to drain my bladder, then again after his birth, both times taken straight out and MWs encouraged me to wee in the bath (nice) and then i was fine, other than a severe uti a few days later)

Assuming 'damage' is worse than my 'bending' but surely he can't be left with a catheter in indefinitely?

I think decision about having a long term catheter would be further down the road after he's seen urologist, so judging by what info you've got it sounds like this is to tide him over until he can wee again on his own.

JKS, no info I'm afraid but have you posted this in General Health too? I think you'd get more answers there than in children's section!

(doh hadn't realised I was in Children's, how did that happen!?)

(will see if MN can move it, thanks)

My only advice would be clamp and release. If a catheter is left on free drainage for any length of time, the bladder becomes weak.
I speak from experience - thanks Oldchurch.

If they are resting his urinary system then it's quite normal. My son has serious bladder proves and us always put on free drainage for a while post op. Is he on anti biotics?

In older men it can happen that as their prostate is always enlarged, any operation in the area can cause them to go into urinary retention. In that case, they do leave the catheter in place for a few days and don't rush too much to remove it as they need to let the swelling go down. Due to mens anatomy, they are more prone to go into retention than women, and less prone to UTIs.

He is vvvv unlikely to need the catheter long term

If he had the operation due to penile cancer precursors, then it's possible there was a lot more prodding than you would think of with a regular circumcision

Thanks :)

I don't know about ABs, Mum didn't mention them, wil try and remember to ask later.

That all makes sense CMOT thanks, I can pass that on and hopefully cheer them both up.

seem to be doing fine in Children's, in fact! Hope all goes well for your Dad.

Hi there. The OP's just asked us to move this thread to General Health, so that's what we're going to do right now...

Thanks HelenMN :)

Just wanted to update - spoke to my Dad today and the catheter is out :)

He even told me about it (well not the finer details) - obv easier to discuss when you know you're basically over it.