Catheter

Relieving catheter pain

Pyridium phenaxopyridine urinary tract analgesic for those wearing a catheterI wrote previously about having to wear a Foley catheter.  At the time I wrote those posts I could not recall the analgesic that I used to relieve the irritation and pain of the catheter.  Well, I found a pill bottle with my leftover stash.

During each of my two emergency room visits the doctors inserted a latex catheter. The latex irritated me. Most likely I had an allergic reaction to the latex.  Also, the latex catheter was stiff. Every time I sat down or bent over, there was a pain where the catheter bent inside my groin.

During my second ER visit, I pleaded with the doctor to give me something for the irritation and pain. He wrote me a prescription for Pyridium. Pyridium is a tradename for phenazopyridine. It is an analgesic for the urinary tract. The drug is a tablet taken orally, preferably with food. It is quickly secreted through the kidneys and relieves pain and irritation from the catheter. Read more . . .

Wearing a catheter, part 2

Catheter extending from the glans of an erect penisFinally, after 2-1/2 weeks I got in to see a urologist. This guy is highly recommended. I found out later that other urologists chose to go to my urologist.

The first thing they did was remove the catheter. It was not painful at all, this time. I was either used to it or the nurse was much more experienced. I think it was the level of experience. The doctor did the usual things, digital rectal exam, ultrasonic probe up the butt. He said my prostate was about 50 grams. He prescribed a stronger antibiotic, told me to come back in a week.

He wanted me to continue wearing a catheter. He said my trouble with the catheter I had was because it was a latex catheter. He put in a silicone catheter that was a lot more flexible. It felt much better.  Read more . . .

Wearing a catheter, part 1

16 French size urethral catheter next to a penAs mentioned in my last blog entry, I made a trip to the emergency room at the local hospital to have a catheter inserted in my penis. The catheter relieved my acute urinary retention problem.

I did not know what to expect. I was ever rarely sick. Never had a catheter anywhere near my body. This catheter was about as thick as a pencil. It was inserted, with silicone lube, into my meatus, through my penis, through my closed up prostate gland, and into my full bladder. Once in place, the nurse inflated a balloon at the end of the catheter so that it would stay in place. Read more . . .