Post op, catheter, discomfort down there and fed up! (prob tmi)

[fairplay]

Please can someone help me with ideas to lessen the pain and discomfort I'm currently in??

I had surgery to remove a sub urethral cyst on Monday, due to where the insicion is (side of my urethra) I have had a catheter fitted to remain in situ for 2 weeks to aide healing. The discomfort is horrendous! I have a discusting thick discharge from the urethra which doesn't smell at the moment but did smell up until yesterday (not terrible but not like roses). Its probably not that much discharge, enough to have to wear a pad though.

I'm not sure if the discomfort is from the catheter or from my healing wound. I am taking paracetamol and ibuprofen but it still feels so irritated and so itchy!

Do I bother the Dr with this tomorrow or is it just the way it is until the catheter gets removed? If this is the way it is what on earth can I do to help? Right now I want to claw at myself!

Yes bother the dr with it.

The discharge might be normal (healing from wound / irritation from catheter), but you need to get checked that there is no infection.

Catheters can irritate (I've heard it described as an irritation or feeling like you need a wee), but a catheter Puts you at increased risk of infection so best get checked.

Definitely see your doc. I had a catheter in for 2 weeks and while it was exactly a barrel of laughs I didn't have any irritation or discharge. Good luck

I had the needing to pee feeling towards the end which freaked me out

I use a catheter (self catheterise) between 1-6 times a day, every day. It can be irritating but I have never had a discharge.

Talk to the GP in case you have an infection from the op.

Yes, demand to be seen and do not take no for an answer. I was in exactly your position after I had a catheter for 3 weeks after a bladder injury during an emcs.

After a week, I could hardly walk because I was in so much pain. It eventually transpired that I'd been fitted with a very wide gauge catheter, which can be standard after an op in case you pass blood clots etc. But it was excruciating. They replaced it with one that was about half the gauge size, and the relief was just amazing.

So it may well be that they've used a similarly sized one that is just too wide for your urethra. In my case they umm'd and ahhh'd about changing it, as they were concerned everything might go into spasm from the shock. But I insisted, took a tramadol and made them give me gas and air, so I was all relaxed.

Do get seen and don't be afraid to insist that something is done.

Right thanks for your replies. I'll be on the phone to the Dr first thing. Bit shocked at the lack of info from the hospital before being discharged to be honest but that's a whole other thread!

I had this after my elcs and bladder surgery with hysterectomy (catheter in 2 weeks in total). I had an irritation from the catheter rubbing a bit like a nappy rash, sudocrem helped as did regular showering with very mild soap followed by thorough drying. Get it checked though just in case it is an infection setting in.

Like you I am having a lot of post op discomfort. However my catheter was removed months ago. The itch you describe is one of those things, as well as discharge. I have been back and forth to doctors who tell me there is nothing wrong. It feels as if I have the worst yeast infection yet. I keep telling them the itch is at the front, but they keep swabbing inside the vagina itself.

I did read something while googling for other people having this issue that if it itches while the catheter is actually in place that the balloon is inflated not as closely to your bladder as it should be or partially in your urethra.

I saw the doc this afternoon who checked for infection and confirmed that it is definitely an infection somewhere. My urine now smells awful!

I have antibiotics that should be working as I type but I'm still uncomfortable at the moment.

Hope you get it sorted soon mawinter. I suffer from recurrent thrush (which isn't thrush bit not sure yet what it is) and it is awful when they don't listen properly to where the itch is...I've had the exact same issue.

Glad you got answers!

DH is going to book an appointment with a Urologist tomorrow. Hopefully I can get this sorted soon because it is driving me mad.

I was bedbound for 8 weeks with a supra pubic catheter recently, as my bladder just couldn't tolerate anything being in there and I was in agony. Also had a urethral catheter at the same time (had major bladder surgery) but they removed that to try and lesson the horrendous pain and spasms I was getting. Unfortunately it didn't help.

Not only does my bladder not tolerate catheters, but they make me feel as if I need the toilet all the time.

Sadly they don't tell you about these reactions beforehand, but apparently a fair few people react like that, and I am one of the unfortunate ones. I have never been so glad to get something out of me in all my life!

Hi I’ve had a catheter in for just under a week following a prostatectomy and I’m experiencing exactly the same discomfort as you did. I also reported the same sweet smelling sticky discharge which no one seemed to have a clue what it was. I’m supposed to be having the catheter removed tomorrow so I won’t bother the doctor but I’m glad I’m not alone with the unbearable itch and other strange symptoms. Hope all went well for you in the end.