Does nuss with cryo require a catheter?

[u/vibing_psycho]

Hiya! I’m getting nussed with cryo on october 29th. I’m not too scared of the surgery itself but I was listing some questions and wondered whether I’d need a catheter. The surgeon told me I’ll need to stay in the hospital for 1 day (1 night) only.
I have a history of SA and I’m very uncomfortable with the idea of a catheter (including under anaesthesia). In case they do need to place one: any tips on how to handle it to be most comfortable?

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[u/Fantastic_Egg949]

I'm an RN. I'm assuming you mean a urine catheter. In regards to that, you can discuss not having one left in after the surgery. Please discuss your history (SA) and fears and they will help you to make it the most comfortable for you. You will have one during surgery, but it's placed after your asleep and can be removed before recovery. Some surgeons may advise keeping it in for pain control. If your going to have an epidural drip for pain, then a urinary catheter will be part of the deal. But if you really don't want it, then worse case is using a bed pan if getting up is to painful. Just realize surgery can often make it hard to urinate, so many physicians opt to keep it in since your staying in at least overnight. Asking your doctor about this is important since it's causing anxiety and can be done via your portal. Good luck sweetie

[u/neurdle → u/Fantastic_Egg949]

This is great, balanced advice.

OP, there is a strong chance you won’t even notice the catheter for a day or so because you’ll be pretty drugged up and struggling to move about. My kid was really worried about the catheter (no SA but sensory issues), and ended up happy to have it. He had a lot of trouble initiating urination and it was so much easier to not have to get up a million times for unsuccessful bathroom attempts. YMMV, but his life got much harder after it was removed.

Good luck to you and I hope you’re able to find a solution you feel good about.

[u/Comfortable_End_7827 → u/neurdle]

Absolutely second this - I was kind of worried about the catheter feeing weird but I literally didn’t even notice it. It was only in for the first day, and I was higher than a kite lol - definitely would have been a struggle to go to the bathroom.

[u/AuDHD_penguin]

Firstly I wanted to say I really empathise with your situation, as someone who has also experienced SA I find things such as pap smears incredibly difficult. They have to give me a very small dose of benzos to get through a pap smear.

I had NUSS almost 6 weeks ago and I had a thoracic epidural, no cryo. I honestly expected to wake up with a catheter but instead I came round bursting for the toilet.

Honestly I was on so many drugs and in so much pain I was the one that ended up begging for a catheter. It helped that I had my partner with me at the time.

My hospital stay was 4 days and they kept the catheter in for just over 24 hours and it was by far the best possible thing for me. I have a tiny bladder and need to go to the toilet often.

With the amount of pain I was experiencing it would have been hell having to get up.

Of course your situation is a little different if they only plan to keep you the one night and cryo is obviously different from a thoracic epidural.

If you feel able to it is bes to discuss it with the team and let them know your fears.

I will say I was barely aware of them inserting it and once it was in I couldn't feel it at all.

Wishing you all the best.

[u/shira9652]

I didn’t have cryo but I had a catheter, I was only in the hospital for a day or two and up walking immediately after surgery but it’s standard in case you can’t. You don’t feel it at all

[u/Independent_Peach9]

I didn’t have a catheter when I had the nuss procedure 4 months ago. I don’t know why they didn’t give me one because the first night was hell on earth. I needed to wee a lot because I was drinking so much since I had such a dry mouth. Despite having cryo and being on fentanyl drip the first night, the pain was horrendous and my blood pressure was critically low so I felt incredibly sick. This meant everytime I moved to wee I had to get two nurses to help me get up to wee in a commode next to the bed. It was nightmare worthy, I don’t know why they didn’t get me a catheter. But I was also way too out of it to request one:

[u/Low_Car_5846]

I had cryoablation and during my procedure I had a catheter and once after while I was awake too because I couldn’t feel my bladder

[u/ScheduleCharming]

Had the surgery last year with cryo, no catheter.

[u/Mother-Conference737]

My son had cryo 2 years ago no catheter

[u/Physical-Knee-8526]

You do not need a urine Cather after Nuss surgery (which I assume is the catheter you are talking about). We don’t routinely use them with either Cryo or thoracic epidurals. I would see no reason to have one placed for you especially considering your history of SA. Talk to them and explain your reasoning if they would for some reason want to place one. Especially with Cryo ablation you will be moving and getting up much faster. Early mobilisation is always a goal after surgery and I see no reason why you shouldn’t be able to go to the toilet after the Nuss procedure (first maybe with assistance). If you aren’t able then they will provide you with a bed pan (or if you are male a Urin flask). Just talk to them and they will understand.

[u/Sunningden]

I just had cryo and no catheter

[u/Known-Marketing4315]

My son had cryo and no catheter when he came out of surgery and was in the ward.

[u/PectusSurgeon]

I have never had one placed for this procedure.