Catheter discomfort

[Toofaroutallmylife]

I had some vulval skin removed on Saturday (backstory: January 2019 I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma on my vulva so had half my vulva removed; January 2020 some skin changes in my vagina detected and removed; May 2020 further skin changes noticed and removed)

Because the area removed on Saturday was close to the urethra the surgeon put in a catheter to aid healing.

I had a catheter after the big op in 2019, but I don’t think I noticed it so much as I was generally such a mess!

But now it’s really bugging me. I constantly feel the need to pee and I’m generally uncomfortable, but I can’t work out if it’s the catheter or the op causing the discomfort.

It’s just getting me down. I’m hoping to get it removed on Tuesday but everything seems a bit uncertain with covid. I’ve read that the need to pee is normal but it’s just so uncomfortable.

I don’t know if it’s worth speaking to the nurses or if this is just standard and I need to put up with it.

Any thoughts?

Yes definitely get in touch with your nurses. Has there been any bypassing at all? Is it painful or more discomfort? The positioning may be slightly off, sediment built up etc. so definitely worth getting checked out. Is it a TWOC clinic you are attending on Tuesday?

Yes, certainly worth speaking to them. 1 catheter size smaller might have been more suitable in some cases. Is your urine clear? Is it cloudy, bits floating or offensive smelling? You might have a catheter induced UTI which will add to the discomfort.

best of luck, but give them a call.

Thanks for coming back so quickly! It’s discomfort rather than pain. I had a general anaesthetic which has slowed “everything” down so I’m getting some bypassing on the loo. I’m taking lactulose to try to sort that bit out.

I’ve had two catheter’s fitted. One after an operation the second after child birth. The first one was awful It felt uncomfortable and I felt like I was going to wet myself constantly. The second one I didn’t notice at all. I would ask to have it checked. It might not have been fitted properly or there might be an issue with it. First time round I presumed that’s what it was supposed to feel like.