A Disappointment

Yesterday, Friday, I went to the hospital to have the catheter removed. This was done with no problem and I just had to hang around and make sure I could pee before going home. So I was plied with tea and water to encourage the process. The first couple of attempts just produced a dribble with some blood. The next was a bit more encouraging - enough to slosh around in the measuring bottle - but still pretty pathetic. After lunch of a salad sandwich, more tea and water, the next attempts at peeing were more productive and were clear of blood but it was clear that I was taking in more liquid than I was passing out. The nurse said she'd give my bladder a scan after my next attempt to see how much fluid was being retained in my bladder. The scan showed that there was about 300ml still there.

It was decided to give it a bit longer before deciding what to do next. I had another cup of tea and went for a walk out of on hospital entrance around the block and back to the other entrance. The next pee was still less than 100ml.

Decision time. I could go home and hope it improves. The down side to this option was that if it didn't improve and I began to get discomfort due to the build up of urine in my bladder I'd have to go to A&E to get it sorted because the day case ward would be closed. So far there had been no discomfort despite more liquid intake that output. The second choice was intermittent self catheterisation. This would allow me to go home with some catheters and to use one maybe twice a day to stop my bladder getting over full. The third option was a permanent catheter like the one that had been removed that morning although I could have a "flip flow" valve (like a tap) instead of a leg bag.

I was very tempted just to go home and hope for the best but decided to give self catheterisation a try. The nurse explained what was involved gave me a catheter and left me to give it a go. Holding the tube (a normal sized one) in the proper way there was no way I could manage to even get it started. I discussed my failed attempt with the nurse. She told me that it would be all right to hold the tube near to the end to be inserted if that would help. She got me a smaller (narrower) sized catheter and offered to be around whilst I tried to insert it. This time I got it started and it was well in before it hit some sort of obstruction and refused to go further. The same thing had happened last week when two nurses failed to insert a catheter.

Now it was only the third option left. The nurse went off to get a normal catheter which she managed to insert with no trouble. A bag was attached initially so that my bladder could be drained then a "flip flow" valve was put in its place. The nurse had also brought along a bag containing some reusable night bags, a spare "flip flow" valve, a couple of leg bags, and a leg strap to keep the leg bag tube close to my thigh. She also contacted the company that supplies these items. They will contact my GP for a prescription, deliver extra spares on Tuesday and when ever I contact them for more (the one prescription is enough no repeats needed). She also put in a request for an urgent appointment with my Urology Consultant so that something can be done about the problem.

So, rather than being rid of the catheter as I had hoped, I'm lumbered with it indefinitely. There being no point in going along to the hospital each week, having the catheter removed, trying to pee, failing, and going home with another catheter. Especially if the problem has been brought on by various tools and tubes being poked into my bladder and something in the pipes, possibly the prostate, swelling up in protest and restricting the flow. I'm not inclined to allow any further internal investigations though. I'd rather stick to using the catheter for a couple of months whilst any potential inflammation settles down. I don't want any more prodding about causing more inflammation.

A curious thing with the catheter is that even though my bladder is emptied into a bag or via the "flip flow" valve, every now and again the system tries to pee normally and manages to squeeze a small amount of fluid out past the tube. Most of the time it is just a drop or two but occasionally it is enough to be potentially embarrassing. It is easier to manage with the "flip flow" valve because using the valve upon the warning signs usually pre-empts this happening. Even so, I'm using incontinence pads in case it happens whilst I'm out and about just in case.