Men's Real Life Experiences of Being Catheterized

I really don't remember the first time I was cathed, but don't remember any particularly painful effects, which I likely WOULD have remembered.

I've been doing daily (multiple per day) self caths for 25+ years, and occasionally have problems due to my "odd anatomy", so different than normal. Google the term "Indiana Pouch" for significant details, but the short version is an internal bladder replacement reservoir made from the end of the small intestine and the first segments of the large intestine. After slicing and dicing, a stoma is creted at the low abdomen, in the belly button, or at the base off the penis hooked to the urethra, as mine is fashioned. It's not fully continent, but neither does it drain completely, so daily episodic catheterization is required.

Now when I need a foley, I always insist on inserting it myself, cause nobody else can easily navigate the twists and turns of the Indiana Pouch unless they'vebecome very practiced. Few nurses have such practice...

First, I have had lots of Foley insertions.

I have urinary retention and confirmed neurogenic bladder. Long term issues, and as the Dr. wrote recently in my chart, catheter dependent.

My first insertion was when my retention had gotten much worse and I was very nervous, the urologist said would you feel more comfortable with a Foley catheter for a while? I said yes. He told the nurse to insert a 18fr 5cc, and he left, the nurse, a veteran of urology said I'm going to stay with you, and she helped me get fully undress and into a gown. She helped me onto the table (back injury) as she took her time and got things ready. As she did, she got very talkative, so I started talking with her, even thou very nervous, but she told me over half of patients like you decide to use a Foley catheter all the time, and it will cut down on your incontinence, she said you will probably still need incontinence protection, but you should be better. She cathed me and it went good.

She had a wealth of information

Today , I still self cath, but monthly I must have a Foley catheter to dilate me, its very large. Also I'm never cathed now without a urojet insertion first

I have had Foley catheters inserted after procedures on my prostate. After having a rigid cystoscope inserted, the Foley is easy. Having it removed is a really odd sensation.

I've had 2 Foley's inserted in me while awake and I HATED it! I've had about 8 Flex. cystoscopies and I HATE them!

Never while awake. Only after anesthesia. Never any issues.

Definitely have enjoyed them. Have enjoyed using estim while having one inserted along with drinking directly whether in myself or my girlfriend. Had one inserted in my GF and drank while using a vibrator on her clit. She went wild and came big time.

Years ago I had my bladder scope for the first time and it felt great I love the feeling when it passes through the prostate

My last catheterization was after eye surgery. I had a retinal detachment. The repair involves putting a bubble of gas in the eye to press the retina against the choroid layer. So I had to lie face down after the surgery for 16 hours. To keep the pressure in the eye down the doctor uses Diamox, a diurtetic that makes you urinate. I awoke in the recovery with my face in a special pillow, with the face cut out allowing breathing, but holding my head in position. I had surgery late, it was midnight when I got to my room, groggy. By and by my bladder filled. I pressed the call button. The responding nurse was a slim woman. I couldn't see much of her in the dim light. She reinforced the need to stay face down. "Let's try you getting on your hands and knees. I'll help hold the urinal. Upside down the gown tying only at the neck only covers one's upper arms but neither of us commented on my nudity. I'm small. She pushed the urinal against my scrotum so my penis would be in. I couldn't go. She helped me slither out of bed carefully keeping my head down to stand. No results. It seemed forever, with the pressure building when the returned with another helper.

"I called the doctor, who has ordered a catheter. That's a tube we put in your bladder to drain the urine."

"I had one before after another surgery."

"Good. You know what we're going to do. I'll explain everything anyway. This is going to be different, as you have to stay upside down, but we've done it before for retina patients." I watched as they opened a large plastic envelope and took out the 2 liter bed bag and tied it to the bed rail. One of the nurses opened a catheter insertion tray, spreading the white paper over the bedside tray table. The other opened a long enveloped dumping catheter in it's light blue plastic envelope. They lowered the tray as far as it would go then raised the electric bed as high as it would go. The bed was just a little higher than the tray table. They then had me get on my hands and knees again spreading my knees about six inches apart. They pushed the dangling gown forward so it was all under my shoulders, leaving me naked again, and placed the blue plastic backed pads under me to catch fluids.

My genitals were dangling out of reach between my legs. "Move you body forward a little so we can get to your penis," said one of the nurses. My genitals were dangling out of reach between my legs. She gently pushed on my butt while peering down. "Hold still there. I looked down and saw my dangling scrotum a couple inches in front of my thighs.

The second woman bent over and peered at my genitals. "I see what you mean. His penis is retracted." I looked down agan. I'm not very big anyway and being a grower the head of my penis was barely visble from the folds of the scrotal skin and my balls. She addressed me, "Susan has to get to your penis to clean it and put in the catheter, so I need to hold back your testicles. Is that all right with you? I'll be gentle." I mumbled an assent. She pulled on a pair of gloves, and reaching from behind, lifted my balls up and back; gently encircling the scrotum above the testicles with thumb and forefinger, she supported my testicles in her palm while pulling lightly. "Does that hurt?" I told her it was all right.

"That's fine," said Susan. "I can see his penis." My penis, two inches, was sticking out. Susan slid the catheter tray under me. There wasn't much room. "I've done this upside down before," she said confidently. "I have to touch you," she warned. I felt her hold my penis behind the glans and stretch it. I couldn't see but felt her rub a wet sponge circularly around the head of my penis, and repeat the cleaning.

"I'm going to inject a lubricant and anesthetic in the end of your penis," she said. "No needle, just a cannula," she reassured. I felt the cannula enter roughly into my penis. I gasped. "Sorry about that," she said. It was a weird sensation feeling something moving inside. When she pulled it out, I felt her squeezing the end of my penis. "We need to wait a bit for the anesthetic to take effect." There was a short silence. Susan asked, "How long have you had the detachment?" I discovered the bad vision skiing. This question led to a 3-4 minute casual chat while the anesthetic took effect. I kept thinking how weird it was, talking to two women about skiing while I was naked, one holding my balls and the other squeezing my penis.

"Please," I pleaded, "my bladder hurts. Just stick it in. It can't hurt worse than my bladder."

Susan cut short the conversation. "I think you're numb enough." I looked. Adeptly with one hand she picked up the catheter--it looked too big to go in my penis--and slid back the plastic sleeve exposing the tip. I couldn't see as her hand hid my view. I felt her pull on my penis stretching it, and then felt nothing as she looked like she was shoving it in. There was some pressure. "Push like you're trying to pee," she said. Apparently that did it. She quickly fed more tubing in, while I heard the urine sloshing into the tray. The pressure on the bladder was quickly relieved. When the pain ebbed away, I relaxed. I hadn't realized how tense I had been, from the pressure in the bladder and how tightly wound up I was.

"You can't know how much better that feels!" I said. "I really appreciate this."

"Our pleasure," said Susan

"You can let go, Jackie. Plug the catheter in the bed bag, please." When Susan pulled the tray out I took a look. The end of my dick was brown, with the yellow tube sticking out. The other nurse was already pulling off strips of tape. She pulled the tubing off to my right and taped it to my hip and groin. "You can lie down again." It took some adjusting to feel comfortable as they covered me. I was asleep in no time.

I didn't particularly care at home I cath 5 times a day so if somebodyvwahtsvtobtake over for awhilr have at it , i have beutogeni bladder and bowel so if you want to do the cainging and diapering have fun , I cath 5 times a day for last 10+ years and use that as my changing point, I can also have cystoscopy with out missing a beat after all this time I dont realy feel it .

@bratwurst I am curious as to why you had to stay in the hospital over a detached retina AND be cathed. A few years ago my left retina detached and I had 8 tears. I got the whole gas’s bubble thing, but I had to lay on my side, with my head about 30 degrees for a month and a half. I did not have to stay in the hospital, nor was I cathed. I noticed my a big blac blob in my vision that was my indicator that something was very wrong. It didn’t take anything else to see it. It was there when I woke up one morning. Also, just this past Halloween, my oldest brother’s retina detached with tears. He also had the gas bubble and had to lay face down for about a week. As soon as the surgery was over, he was sent home. No hospital stay or cath. Soooo why did you have to have one or was that just a fantasy hospital stay?

I just had a urodynamics test where two catheters were inserted. The first was for adding saline and dye to my bladder and the second for measuring pressure in the bladder. This was the first time I had catheters inserted when my urethra had not been numbed first. The catchers were uncomfortable when inserted and pulled out.

@Breaze I had the surgery late in the day. Perhaps that's why my doctor had me stay for a few hours after surgery. When I woke up it was probably near midnight. Some things are good med fet, but I hope you'll agree that having a retinal re-attachment surgery isn't one of them. Nearly losing the vision is not a good fantasy subject, nor is staying home face down 3 weeks. By the way. I had to have extra lasers in the office post op. Sat in front of the microscope, lens on my eye, and nearly a hundred extra shots. Took 3 weeks for the gas to go away. I soon had a cataract in that eye; the cataract surgery was nothing: ten minutes and out. Post op I had cystoid macular edema. I couldn't see in the center due to swelling of the macula (center of retina) After a month it went away. I see 20/15, no glasses for distance.

Only twice in my live, first time around I was 12 and going into surgery. When I was told I was getting it done I felt scared, anxious. Was was not a happy camper. Hurt like a B going in the nurse didnt know what she was doing and forcefully did most the procedure. and then there was my latex allergies which the woman totally ignored. It was a very traumatic painfull experince for a boy my age to endure.

Second time was around a year ago. Had to go to the ER, nurse anounced she had to put one in. All the traumatic images from my earlier experience came back to hunt me but This time around she did pay attention to my latex allergies and she was gentle enough. It was uncomfortale but less painfull....

I have been cathed several times. Now that most hospitals use 2% lidocaine jell to lube you its not as bad as without as the lidocaine does do a good job of numbing. Still uncomfortable being plulled out and you piss fire the first few times after its out

My ex husband has to have a bladder scope done every 6 months. He had bladder cancer in 2015. He says now... it isnt a big deal for him. The cath on the other hand after the first time he had a tumor removed though, was a big deal and quite painful for him.

Maybe there is something wrong with me but i am 70 yrs old and have experience some pain in my life--I never experience such pain as the few times i had a catheter put up my penis Am I different from other guys? Luckily it only takes a number of seconds but my God it was painful!

As mentioned before, I self cath with a 16 fr at least once a day. doesn’t hurt

As I have posted before, I have had several Caths, and cystoscopies. I have had three laser lithotripsies done and two stents removed. The last laser lithotripsy was done two weeks after they aborted one because of a septic infection was to great. The catch I had in the emergency room because I was to out of it to give a urine sample was done with no set up up as seen on videos, just lube insert and take sample. I remember both my daughter and wife being in the room with me. I don't think that the nurse said anything to them but I'm not sure. My daughter turned her head but I don't know what my wife did. None if the procedures were painful or even very uncomfortable. I have written about these procedures previously and the septic kidney which mimicked a stroke.

I had one done 6 weeks ago prior to major surgery. It was inserted under general anaesthetic...so I can'-t comment on how it felt going in. Had itvremoved 3 days later ( when I was very much awake!!). Obviously, I knew it had to come out at some point. The nurse who performed the task was very professional. Yes.,,there was an incredibly intense burning sensation which made me gasp and then took my breath away for several seconds. My urethra tingled for a minute or two, but that sensation soon subsided. I did not experience any subsequent pain or discomfort when urinating. None whatsoever.

Oh, I dread it and really dislike it. Woke up after open-heart surgery being catheterized and it was kept in two days. When it was taken out the feeling was just horrible! I get injections in my eye every few months and they are nothing compared to that! I could not go on my own after the cath was removed... so after a day of that, had to have another placed back in! I cringe just thinking about it. After it was removed in a day, able to go on one, but then developed a severe UTI ... So, being catheterized is something I fear... (If only I could like it like I like things going up my rear ha! )

Like many of us here, I've dealt with 'butt' issues all of my life and have had many examinations, enemas, and the like in a medical setting. Hell, I just giggle now when some nurse or other is fooling with my ass. Butt issues dealing with Mr. Wiggly are an entire different thing!

I had my first appointment with a Urologist. The Medical Assistant fetched me from the lobby, down the hall to a rest room where she asked me to go in and "void". She waited outside until I was finished then on to the exam room. I was told to undress waist down and up on the table whereupon she started to wash my belly including grabbing Mr. Wiggly to move him outta the way, etc. --no giggles now, that was difficult.

Then the female Urologist came in and after some discussion proceeded to 'cath' me with a 'look-around' device catheter. It was a bit painful and not enjoyable. I survived. It was the first of some that led up to the removal of a tumor in the area just below bladder.

the boxcar

I have a very overactive bladder and have tried every prescription medicine to no avail. I tried a different one a few months ago and it seemed to work. It worked too well. it shut my bladder down completely. I couldn't get more than a few drops out of my full bladder. After 40 hours of not being able to go I'd had enough. I couldn't stand the pressure anymore and wen t to the ER.

After 40 hrs of not peeing, you will practically beg them to cath you. A male nurse did it and it was incredibly painful. I did finally get relief and drained 2000 ml (not a typo) out of my straining bladder. they offered me a choice of straight cath or a foley which would be left in. I chose the straight thinking my bladder would be back to normal.

he next night i was back at the ER where they put a Foley cath in. It hurt almost as bad, but not quite. I was attached to that and a leg bag for 3 or 4 days. When I saw a urologist, he told me i'd have to self-cath for the time being and i was horrified. Well, turns out that with a bit of practice, it became really easy. a 14 fr red rubber cath, a tube of KY and I was going. it was nice going 3 times a day rathter than thte 20-30 i was used to.

After a couple of weeks, the swelling in my prostate went down and I am now able to pee normally. I have thought about letting them go ahead and injectt botox into my bladder to temporarily paralyze it. i'd have to cath everyy day again, but the overactivity would be taken care of.

SoapySalute - I cringe just reading your account! Don't know how you ever manged to self-cath... Reminds of when I wore contact lens wondered and cringed at the thought of doing that.... also getting an eye injection every 3 month, no problem for me - But the though of sticking something into my penis - wow, it hurts just thinking about it... and I have bladder/prostate problems so this might be in my future...

I've been cathed several times, there's a real turn on about a woman putting a tube up your penis to take away your ability to pee when you want or to do other things to you.

The first time was at age 16 when I was in the hospital for a kidney/bladder stone. After being given a huge dose of laxatives the night before and enemas that morning a nurse catheterized me and clamped it shut. I was taken to x-ray where my bladder was filled excruciatingly full with contrast media and my full bladder was x-rayed. My cock was then laid on my stomach so the tech could see it and then she removed the catheter. I then had to pee on myself while being x-rayed while voiding.

This resulted in surgery and I woke up catheterized and was kept that way for 2 weeks. Nothing more embarrassing than the nurse measuring and emptying your catheter bag.

More recently I woke up with abdominal pains and the ER insisted on a urine sample. Being in too much pain to pee the nurse inserted a single use catheter and got the sample she wanted. Once again a woman taking away my ability to control my won bladder. :-)

SoapySalute - I cringe just reading your account! Don't know how you ever manged to self-cath..ure...

After a time or three it's really pretty easy and doesn't hurt a bit. You get used to the feel of it going by the prostate. That feels weird but doesn't hurt. It was actually nice not to be a slave to my bladder for a change.

I was cathed several times. Always in the hospital and always after I was in surgery and asleep/drugged. First time when it was removed a nurse came into the room with a towel and hypo syringe. She announced she was going to remove my catheter. I panicked! A hypo? how bad is this going to hurt if they are going to give me a shot! She then explained the hypo was to remove the saline from the balloon that was keeping the Cath from sliding out of my bladder. She was kind, and gentle and it didn't really hurt. Matter of fact at one point it sent an orgasm type of shiver through my body. She said that's when the end was passing through the prostate. I was never awake when one was inserted but certainly no complaints about having it removed.

After a surprise bout of vertigo I was hospitalized since I couldn't stand or do anything else. That included urinating. The doctors were concerned and a nurse came in to speak to me. She asked me if I wanted to be catheterized or did I want to try and get up to go. I couldn't get up without vomiting so I didn't care about what she would do. I said OK, she left and came back with a kit and proceed to slide a skinny tube into my penis. I absolutely felt nothing except a slight pin prick. That was it, I was told I filled two bags in a very short time (how much it was I have no idea). It was removed some time later only to be done again the day after they removed it. Sorry still no weird, sexual, or exciting feeling.

Most hospitals are now using lubricant with 2% lidocaine if you are being cathed while not sedated. It makes a huge difference, a bit uncomfortable but not the from hell pain without. The only draw back is they should wait 5-10 minutes after injecting the lidocain/lube for it to be most effective. Some nurses want to inject you and then slip the cath in right away, dont let them! It will be the best investment in 10 minutes of time you have ever made

Thanks Mothersboy - I did not know about waiting for lidocain to take affect! Most helpful. Is there anything to help when they withdraw the cath?

I have experienced intnese pain in lie infrequently but havin g a catheter put in was the most painful thing I recall It was brief but it hurt like crazy---I rarely raise my voice but i was shouting i embarrassed myself. Why was it so painful for me? it was terrible when

n it first entered my pee slit Any other guys react like me?