OT but I need to know?

[rachie204]

Has anyone ever had a cathater put in?  Is it painful?  My niece is only 8 and has to have one put in on thursday for a procedure they are doing and she will have no meds.  I'm very worried that it is going to be physically and emotionally tramatic for her.

[kas59]

I have had it done two times.. and both because of child birth.  Pain ?  I can say yes.. if the right person is doing it.. no pain.
Its up to the skill of the person doing the insertion.

If they are in a hurry.. not well versed.. it will hurt!  
If they know what they are doing, take time.. and care it won't hurt.

* another problem, if you already have infection.. you can count on it hurting probably.

[KellyA74]

I agree with kay84 in saying that I've never had any complaints when I've inserted them either...I think it it totally has to do with the skill of the person doing it, and unfortunately you don't know that until the time comes.....It's obviously more difficult on women then it is on men.......I've mentored new grads and watched them insert caths for the 1st time and I find that most just jam around in there and don't actually look for the "spot"...if it's someone who has done it many times it shouldn't be that bad.

[loismwallace]

I had one for a bladder infection and it was VERY painful. I was even sore after they removed it. Trust me, the benedryl WILL help. It may not seem like it, but it will. She should take it about 30 min before the procedure unless they tell you otherwise. One worse, my oldest son when he was 1 they had to do one and they gave him Tylenol before the procedure. He still cried.....So did I.....Hope she feels better.

[Jame0223]

I actually had a catheter put in when I was about 8 years old too. I had reoccuring infections and they put one in. All I remember was laying on the table and they told me they were going to stick a tube in me! I was freaking out and I remember they were beginning to do it. I started screaming and closed my legs. I would not let them do it! So they ended up having to knock me out and I woke up and it was in. Then they told me to pee on the table and I felt weird so I wasn't going to do that! But my mom talked me into it. It came back inconclusive though...so it was a waste of pain!

[kay84]

i am a nurse and have inserted many catheters in ladies i have also had to have two myself for my c sections and can honestly say that they are not painful. nor have i had any complaints from ladies about insertion or removal. i think you should try and relax as much as possible and ask for a lubrication to be used as there is one available. the catheter should be the least of your worries

[lilpixie]

I dont know what therese101 is talking about... i had one when i mc  (they were doing ultra sounds and what not) I had no meds and found it EXTREMELY uncomfortable from start to finish!  Im so sorry she has to have one : ( Its only painful when they take it out and put it in durring its just uncomfortable.

[therese101]

i have had one recently with no meds. It does not hurt, she will be fine. I repeat it did not hurt at all

[110279hld]

I have had it done several times no meds.  I don't think it was any big eal.  It didn't bother me at all.  I have a problem - when I take certain meds I can't urinate, therefore I must have a urinary cath.  I don't know if it is because I know relief is coming from th epressure, or ehat but it doesn't bother me at all.  
Now, a little kid, that's a different story!  My baby had one at 6 weeks and it was awful , but anythinga at that age is.  Good luck, I would ask for somjthing or tell them no way!

[kelliestarr]

Has anyone ever had a cathater put in?  Is it painful?


I had one put in but I also was hooked up with drugs to take away the pain from the surgury I had. So I never even knew it was inside me until my friend came to visit me and told me about the cathater.

[motherofan18month]

i cath my neice all of the time because she is a paraplegic...she isn't supposed to feel it but every time me or any one else does it her legs start jerking so it has to hurt in some sort of way for the nerves in her legs to react to it.

[KellyA74]

Let us know how the poor little gal makes out!  Also, tell your sister to give her Childrens Tylenol right after.....It may help with the first pee-pee after the catheter comes out.

[rachie204]

thanks so much kelly!  I will let my sister in law know about the cream and have her call tomorrow.

[KellyA74]

They can use lidocaine cream before they insert it.....I put them in ALL the time....piece of cake...I've have one 2x but was under for surgery both times, so from personal experience I can't say......But they can certainly use measures to make it more comfortable.....And if someone knows what they are doing, it should go in fast (less than 15 seconds) and once it's in there should be no discomfort.....It's the insertion that can be uncomfortable, and some burning when removed......I had a little burning sensation the first time I peed after, but then was fine.  I wouldn't say that I've ever had anyone say that's it's hoorendous....just plain uncomfortable.

[sam75]

actually i hadnt had anything when they were putting it in, no epidural etc!!!! that came after i got taken to theatre.

[Kim1989]

i had one. and i hated it. i was in so much pain during labor and the darn thing made it soo much worse! going into my bladder wasnt bad but everytime i had to pee all i felt was horrible pressure and felt like it was going to come our or something. maybe the pressure of urine hurt only because it was pusing on the tube thingly i dont kno but i hated it. it got better after a few hours

[kennedydp5]

i too have had them only while medicated for a c-section...  but my dd had to have one put in when i took her to the ER when she was almost 2 for a uti.  the nurse made me help hold her down so they could do it...  it was awful!  and though i'm sure she's forgotten it by now, i haven't!!!  i hope there will be a way to help your niece not feel the pain from that...  that's just not fair!!!

[rachie204]

I spoke with my grandma today and she has had lots of them and she informed me that there are two different kinds, the regular and then a kind they use for procedures to get test samples which is what they will prob. be using.  She said it is less painful but still painful.  I am passing all of this info onto my brother and sister-in-law.  Thank you all!

[110279hld]

I have had a few urinary caths and really didn't think it was that bad - certain meds make me unable to urinate and when that happens I have to get a cath.

[MOM23ANGELS25F]

sam75-
the only reason you didn't feel it was because you had an epidural........


Rachie, I wouldn't let her have the precedure done unless they give her something to somewhat sedate her..... She's too young and it will be very painful.. And if she can't keep still long enough, and they miss the opening to the bladder, they will have to keep going at it until they get it in right......... I would insisst on something to knock her out or make her comfortable.

[sam75]

i had one put in when i was in labour as i had to have a c section and i never felt it. i hate pain. but i was having extremely bad labor pains at the time. it hurt a little having it removed though.

[Gina209]

Yea it can be used for many things...Bladder, Intestines, Kidneys, Blood etc...I figured they wouldn't be able to knock you out or give you anesthesia...but you would think they would do a little something extra for kids since it's so very painful. Aww the poor thing!

[rachie204]

my siste-in-law asked if they could do any type of meds to knock her out or anything and they said no but she could give her some Benadryl....Seriously that isnt going to help.

[sweetangel7]

It is extremely painful!  Never had one but my mom has and I have had friends who've had one...how sad that your niece has to have one...maybe they can give her a little something to ease the discomfort and or anxiety involved.

[rachie204]

awww.....i am so worried.  I'm going to be sick I swear.  They are doing it b/c she has had tons of UTI's and they want to check her kidneys (i think)