|
Post by karen80222 on Apr 11, 2007 12:16:17 GMT -5
Hello! I am posting this mainly for my bf's sake! I need some advice badly! It appears to be common practice to keep you in the hospital until you can pee. I have had 3 surgeries -- 2 laparscopic - and 3 times I have NOT been able to pee! The first time, they closed the outpatient surgery and instead of checking me in to the hospital, they wheeled me over to the ER so they could keep an eye on me until I peed and all the rooms were full so there I am with pain meds wearing off in the hall. Second time, they were getting ready to close up for the day and still couldn't pee so the nurse made a deal with me -- she would let me go if I would go to the ER if I still hadn't gone by midnite. Third time -- guess what -- they were closing down & still hadn't peed. I had been there since 6 that morning & it was 8 at nite -- I was hurty & in a really bad mood...I believe I may have ripped the leg pressure things off and threw them at her, tried to lie about peeing, and freaked out on my boyfriend -- I think I may have made him cry. So -- they close & send me to the maternity ward to be monitored until I peed & they could release me! I thought this was heartless! My surgery results were basically that it would be difficult if not impossible to conceive or carry a baby to term & they put me up with new mothers & babies?!?!?!?!? So -- I think my bf is ALREADY terrified about what will happen if I don't pee -- I don't blame him!!!! I talked to my dr & her said either I could wait until I peed, or she could insert a catheter to be removed in 24 hours! I don't like that idea AT ALL! Do any of you have ANY advice how I can get to peeing afterwords? ? I'm already so nervous about it that I almost can't pee now!!!! Again, any helpful hints would be GREATLY appreciated!!!
|
|
|
Post by Tiff on Apr 11, 2007 14:34:37 GMT -5
I knew that the only way they would release me is if I would be able to pee. So when I awoke I immediately started asking for water or something to drink in hopes to fill my bladder enough that I had no choice but to pee.
|
|
|
Post by karen80222 on Apr 11, 2007 19:58:25 GMT -5
Do you think I should bring my own water? I know it sounds silly -- but I seem to remember they brought me like a little Dixie cup of water then I didn't refill it for a while -- my bf was filling it in the bathroom! It's like the muscle to push the pee out is sound asleep -- but whatever keeps it in there is locked up tight! Anybody think there's something they could do anesthesia-wise or anything like that?
|
|
|
Post by ouchy on Apr 11, 2007 20:23:49 GMT -5
I think bringing your own water is a great idea! Basically, anything you anticipate needing, bring with you! I brought Chloroseptic throat spray bc I knew my throat would be sore from the tube!
I also had trouble peeing; it felt like gravity had to take it or something. Didn't really feel control over my muscles enough to push.
|
|
|
Post by christineann on Apr 12, 2007 9:43:26 GMT -5
I had this problem after my lap. I was just way too dehydrated to pee and I wasn't able to drink a lot in the hospital because I had a lot of nausea. The nurse called my doc who agreed to send me home. The nurse gave me instructions to come to the ER if I needed to pee but couldn't. I did fine after I got home and drank more water, although it was still hard.
If your inability to pee is due to dehydration, maybe you could ask your doc if it would be ok to send you home with instructions to go to the ER if you need to urinate but can't. That way, they only insert a catheter if you come back to the hospital later unable to pee. It seems so unnecessary to submit you to further trauma by inserting a catheter when it is probably not needed.
|
|
|
Post by karen80222 on Apr 12, 2007 10:02:35 GMT -5
You guys are WONDERFUL! ;D Ouchy -- thank you SO much for reminding me of the Chloraseptic -- I totally forgot!!! But -- put it in my bag this morning!!!! Christineann -- excellent option! I am going to push for that tomorrow at my pre-op appointment! Thank you so much!!!!! It gets to be too much when I've been there all day, they stop giving you pain meds so you can leave, then you're in pain, the nurses are crabby - justifiably - cus they want to leave and well -- my temper gets a little short! I am concerned too cus my surgery isn't until 10:30 in the morning! And with my track record -- I'll be there til midnite! If they admitted me -- that's fine -- but sitting around random areas of the hospital -- no way! Again -- thanks so much -- and WELCOME!
|
|
|
Post by angelas on Apr 12, 2007 13:04:22 GMT -5
Hey Karen! I really had problems peeing afterwards - even at home for the first couple days I had to sit there for a while and hope it would come out! ahahaa! but it looks like you've gotten some pretty awesome advice here - some that I think I'll take too!!
|
|
|
Post by cherry on Apr 13, 2007 2:54:14 GMT -5
I couldn't pee until the next morning, mainly cos I couldn't keep water down. They had to put me on a drip, dose me up with anti-sickness meds and said if I could keep water down they'd let me have a cup of tea! If you're not too nauseous to be allowed a hot drink, maybe besides taking your own water (and maybe some cordial if you get sick of drinking it plain) you can take some camomile tea which is a natural, gentle diuretic and much healthier than black tea so you should be induced to pass water through your system a lot quicker xx
|
|
|
Post by angelas on Apr 13, 2007 9:05:44 GMT -5
This was another topic I brought up at my pre-op appointment. They will most definitley NOT let me leave until I pee. In the past I've had nurses let me go anyway... but this hospital will not. She told me that once I reach recovery I will be givin drinks to 'wake up' my bladder and get it working again. She said that after not being able to eat or drink for so long, a lot of times there isn't enough in your bladder to actually signal having to go. I had problems keeping anything down during my first lap (that sucked so bad!!!) but I learned just to take my time and drink slowly. I usually ask for gingerale since that also helps to calm my stomach. Atleast I'm prepared to stay there as long as I have to now, that will prevent me getting mad at the nurses for not letting me go! HA!
|
|
|
Post by ouchy on Apr 13, 2007 9:11:33 GMT -5
I drank and drank and drank (until my tummy was puffing out), and I still couldn't feel that I had to go! I had to really strain to be able to pee afterward.
|
|
|
Post by angelas on Apr 13, 2007 9:41:28 GMT -5
hahahaa!!! ya - I can picture myself just sitting there thinking how pretty the floor tiles are! HA! I remember I couldn't go for the life of me when they finally said to just go home!!
|
|
|
Post by karen80222 on Apr 14, 2007 9:26:33 GMT -5
GREAT news!!!! I had my pre-op appointments yesterday (5 hours worth -- I was exhausted) and talked to my dr about the peeing thing---how bad it has been, how long I've had to stay, how ugly I have been, how terrified my bf is, and that to consider that by the time she's done with dinner and putting her little boys to bed....I will STILL be at the hospital waiting! Then I asked her how long it normally takes to pee after this kind of surgery...she said worse case.....2-3 hours! I almost fell off the table -- I told her my minimum was 6 hours! Then I took the advice of asking her to write orders to let me leave without peeing, if I promise to go to the ER if I don't go later. SHE SAID YES!!!!!! She wrote a note for my hospital file and I am to remind her again just prior to surgery so she can verify it with the nurses!!!!! Hooray!!!! I am so happy! Kinda funny -- but the note said...Karen has a difficult time voiding after surgery, but this has not been an indication of any problems...merely a reaction to the anesthesia and pain meds. By my orders, if she has not voided after 2 hours and is becoming a B-I-T-C-H....please let her go with the intent of her returning to the ER for a cath if necessary" -- HA!!!! The nurse I gave it to looked scared! Of course....maybe being a pessimist....maybe being lied to by drs and nurses in the past...I hate to get my hopes up and not being allowed to leave. Either hospital policy overriding or something! Of course...if she feels that she may have damaged my bladder or urethra or something -- I will gladly stay just to make sure everything works! Anyway -- Angela, when you talk to your surgeon right before your surgery...beg!!! She might say ok & if your bf promises he will take you to the ER later -- she might go for it!!!! Unless, again -- she is operating very close to or on any urinary tract systems. I am keeping my fingers crossed -- but, will be taking a STACK of magazines to read while sitting on the toilet waiting to pee....just in case!!!!!
|
|
|
Post by ouchy on Apr 14, 2007 9:38:52 GMT -5
LOL! Good job, Karen!!!!! Way to go!
|
|
|
Post by angelas on Apr 14, 2007 13:55:37 GMT -5
HAHAHAHAAA KAREN!!!! you make me laugh so hard all the time!!! I'm pretty sure I'll have no troubles rounding up a stack of magazines either!! I will definitley ask them!!
|
|
|
Post by karen80222 on Apr 14, 2007 15:25:04 GMT -5
The thing that is kinda making me nervous is that they have just one big room for recovery. When I had my last 2 laps, I went from surgery into the main recovery room, then after that back to my original room (with bathroom) to finish recovering. But the nurse yesterday said they mainly only do the one recovery room -- not the second.
That bums me out cus I know the only bathroom will be on the other side of this cavernous room and I like to finish recovering with someone I know. And I get really nauseous & will probably throw up all over myself -- or whoever is on the way to the bathroom! The last 2 times, my bf has been there waiting for me & helping me out with the barf pan & even helped me get dressed. And I could bs with him & watch tv, etc. But it sounds like this isn't an option. Kinda lonely I think. I don't like that at all! And -- I was hoping to take my own water & tea, etc. so I wouldn't hafta rely on a nurse to keep getting it for me...but they discouraged it and said the nurses would be getting me anything I needed.
Has anyone else dealt with this before? How do you deal with it?
|
|