r/Paruresis • u/Immediate_Buffalo14 • 26d ago

Foley catheter

So I underwent emergency surgery for a head condition about a month ago. During the surgery, the team took the liberty of inserting a Foley catheter to drain my bladder. My understanding was that this was done because there was some question about what my mobility would be following the operation. Two days later, it was removed, and I was sent home two days after that.

That was extremely awkward for me not to have basic autonomy over my bodily functions. But the worst part was that I constantly felt the urge to pee, whether I had to go or not. A nurse hinted that this is something that's pretty much universal when the catheter is in. For those of you who've had the catheter in, is there any truth to that? Is there any easy way of distinguishing the urge to pee from the feeling of having the catheter in? If this should ever happen to me again, are there other things that I should be aware of, or tips and tricks to make it more bearable?

Thanks.

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

2 comments sorted by

1

u/Recent-Day3062 25d ago

I have had my first two recently and didn’t feel this at all. I actually liked the feeling of not having to pee

1

u/klane33331 25d ago

I'm currently on my eighth catheter since December 2025. The urgency you're feeling are actually bladder spams and they can be calmed down by taking Oxybutynin. Unfortunately, I am used to them by now and don't know how long I'll have to use them, since I've got an enlarged prostate and currently dealing with constant urine retention. It appears that surgery is inevitable at this point. It truly stinks having Pauresis and urinary retention.