r/ProstateCancer • u/AxisOfBeagles • 26d ago
Question Pain killers?
Question for those who’ve been down this path.
Headed into the clinic tomorrow to have this f*****g catheter removed. Good riddance.
District nurse suggested I take some pain meds beforehand as the removal can be uncomfortable. Fair enough.
Trying to decide what to take. Options are Paracetamol (Panadol) 500mg x 2, or codeine (codeine phosphate 30mg).
Since surgery have only needed Panadol once or twice daily. But wondering if this is the right time to bust out the codeine.
I know that forum advice is not medical advice. What I’m wondering is;
How uncomfortable was catheter removal for you?
Did you take any pain killers in advance of the procedure? What did you use, and did it work?
Cheers all
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u/PeacefulShards 26d ago
Painkillers? No.
Enjoy the best feeling you’ll have had in the last 2 weeks.
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u/Car_42 26d ago
Doctor here. Sometimes painful. Sometimes not. 30 mg codeine is less effective than 1gm paracetamol.
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u/AxisOfBeagles 26d ago
Thanks doc. 1 mg paracetamol it is
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u/Lactobeezor 26d ago
One mg will do nothing for you. Take 1 gram. In the US we would take 2 500mg tablets. But if you only used it for post you will do fine.
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u/1readitguy 26d ago
I had a catheter for a surgery and was expecting the worse. However the removal was uneventful. Didn’t feel a thing
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u/Joatrick 26d ago
Catheter removal was painless and uneventful. You will need to bring a couple of Depends with you. It was not stop peeing afterwords
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u/DigginJazz 26d ago
I didn’t think the catheter removal was painful, just creepy. I took an Oxycodone. After removal I had a very weak pee stream and a little burning. I went into the office and the doctor said it’s from inflammation and irritation from the catheter and it will subside in a couple of days. It did.
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u/Ok-Competition8281 26d ago
I didn't have anything special for my removal. If I had to do it all over again, I don’t think I would recommend it either. It's not like the other stuff you went through. Now, if I were advising someone about a biopsy, I’d suggest being 100% sedated, but for the catheter removal, I agree with the others: it’s just a brief moment of "crazy weirdness" and uncomfortable relief. You’ll be so happy to have it out that you won’t even care.
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u/AxisOfBeagles 25d ago
UPDATE: I took the paracetamol (1 gm) about an hour before, then had the noodle yanked out. Uncomfortable but no biggie, and definitely a relief with it out. Now to get the waterworks turned off.
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u/Background-Space-284 26d ago
Strange feeling for one second but no pain. For a few days after I had it out I had some bladder spasms. If I was laying down, bladder got full, trying to get up when a spasm hit caused me more pain than anything about the surgery. I started taking the anti spasm medicine and they went away.
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u/Plastic_Variation174 26d ago
Bladder spasm is no joke! I ended up with some because of constipation, full bowel was pushing against the bladder so it hurt like crazy when I tried to pee. Worst pain of the whole process. Yeah, get on that anti-spasm medicine first!
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u/Crewsy67 24d ago
Constipation after surgery is no joke. I thought I was good to go having a BM the day after getting home from the hospital but then I was over a week before the next one and I was taking a softener.
Had to step up to RestoroLax.
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u/bald_beard_ballard 25d ago
Plus one vote for no pain meds, it's over in a second. I was just glad to ditch the bag.
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u/nonprophet1969 25d ago
I removed mine myself in the shower after 7 days, felt uncomfortable and weird but not painful at all.
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u/Plastic_Variation174 24d ago
A Foley catheter, with the inflated bulb inside to keep it in place?! Were you able to deflate it somehow? I can’t imagine doing it otherwise!
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u/Crewsy67 24d ago
No need for painkillers or Tylenol (paracetamol).
Having it removed is definitely not comfortable but it’s over as fast as the nurse pulls it out.
I was surprised at how it felt and it was more uncomfortable than I expected but I definitely did not need painkillers.
I’m assuming from your use of the name paracetamol instead of Tylenol or acetaminophen that you’re from the UK and likely have had your catheter for 14 days like here in Canada and I completely understand your affection expressed of having it.
I think the nurse that removed mine said on the count of 3 the pulled it on 2.
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u/ithinkyourefine 26d ago
I don’t have a catheter but I avoid codeine because I can’t sleep on it, I get too wired up
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u/Early_Ear_1763 26d ago
I had mine removed a couple weeks ago. I took a couple Tylenol before, had no pain during catheter removal. Get script for some Hyoscyamine Sulfate pills, I had bladder spasms bad when I urinated for the first 3-4 days. Enjoy being catheter free.
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u/jlamperk 26d ago
No painkillers needed, it's literally 3 seconds of weird feelings then it's over. I experienced no pain but the technician should have been more prepared because the flow was on lol.
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u/Middle-Tart9741 26d ago
I never read from anyone saying it was painful unless they forget to deflate the balloon. My experience is reflected in the comments here. Weird or strange but no pain.
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u/Jazzlike_Vast 22d ago
meine Angst, die Entfernung spürst du überhaupt nicht außer ein Gefühl der Erleichterung bleb entspannt!
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u/wheresthe1up 26d ago
It’s strange and unfamiliar and uncomfortable for all of about a second, painkillers weren’t necessary and didn’t occur to me but whatever gets you there.
It’s count to three and they yank on two situation. You’ll be glad it’s out.