Removal of catheter (male) advice pls

[twiddlingthumbs69]

My DH had an indwelling catheter fitted 3 weeks ago for acute urinary retention.
He is due to go to the clinic on Friday to have it removed.
We are both quite worried that once it's removed he wont be able to pee naturally, as the catheter has been in for 3 weeks and his natural reflexes may have been dulled.
Does anyone have experience of this and advice on what happened if they had a problem afterwards?
I'm really hoping that things go back to normal for him. We've both been so worried about this.
Any thoughts?

No personal experience but nursing experience. Generally people are okay once it’s removed but if he does struggle, there’s the option of a ‘flip flow’ catheter. It’s a shortened catheter with a tap. You do the tap at regular intervals and it effectively retrains the bladder. They will probably discuss that option at his appointment. Hope that’s helpful!

I don't know about men, but as a woman who had a catheter for exactly the same reason (urinary retention) I had a trial without a catheter at the hospital to see if it worked. For me it didn't, but they let me leave with catheters to self catheterise myself. It took a few days but I got my normal function back quickly. I sometime need to catheterise myself now and again, but probably twice a year.

My grandad had a catheter last year for about 8 months. It was removed and he was able to wee completely normally straight away.

I know for women ISC would be the go to, but I'm not sure that's the protocol for men.

Oh thank you so much. Seems it could be ok. I've been tying myself in knots (mentally) over this. Seems the flip flow might be a good option if he can't go. Fully expecting he will need to retrain his bladder and I'm hoping that he has a bit of incontinence (rather than retention) if anything.

Working care, I have a client who has a catheter for the exact same reason, he has an all day appointment next week to have it removed, he will be in for his appointment from 8.45 then home at 4, they will take it out by 9 then they will monitor him all day.

It may be worthwhile contacting the clinic tomorrow if you can pop up and get a flipflo at least he would have 24hours pre removal, however fingers crossed it should be fine without.

My husband had a catheter for about 10 weeks as a result of complications following bowel cancer surgery. It took a couple of days after removal to gain full function but no bladder problems since then.

My strong advice is to make absolutely sure that a nurse will be at the clinic to teach your husband how to self-catheterise. Hopefully, like my husband, all will be fine and he'll never need to do it. However, it should avoid the risk of him having to be re-catheterised if the TWOC fails.

I hope all works out OK for you both, I know it's a stressful time.

@Snowpatrolling thank you, that's exactly what DH is doing this Friday

@DontBeSoSillyMargo when you say full control, do you mean incontinence or not fully emptying?

The only urinary problem my husband had was being unable to empty his bladder. That was why the catheter was inserted and that's what took a couple of days to get back to normal when it was removed. He never suffered any incontinence.

In my experience they will remove the catheter in the Am then later he will have a bladder scan and check all ok.

It really depends on why he went into urinary retention. It may be that he has something underlying (enlarged prostate for example) or if it was really just an acute thing, like an infection or post operatively - he may just go back to normal once the catheter comes out.

3 weeks will not undo the decades of experience his bladder has holding and expelling urine so don't worry too much about that.

@missshortie89 I think the chances are it is an enlarged prostate. Could have been aggravated by taking antihistamine for 2 week's previously (who knew)
D day tomorrow so fingers crossed all will be well