urinary catheterization

i have a long history of anxiety problems, which are especially present when even discussing the procedure of bladder catheterization. having never experienced this while awake and alert, this procedure appears to hurt sooooooo much! my anxiety becomes so great just thinking about having this done, and i seriously doubt that i would be able to lie still, relax, and cooperate. i have talked with  2 close male friends about this and they both stated just how much pain this caused them. i have also seen a video on UTUBE showing the catheterization of a real live male patient, and he moans and groans throughout and seems to be in significant pain. his nurse even tells him, "i'm sorry. i know this hurts. i know this hurts.while she is inserting the catheter. so, my question is, assuming i am taken to the ER by ambulance and the physician orders a foley catheter for me, and i am squirming and resisting because of anxiety, is it possible for me to be sedated prior to having this done? i do not wish to refuse this if the doctor feels it is necessary, but i know i simply cannot lie there still and relaxed. if sedation is not a possibility are there any other options open to me? thank you very much and i look forward to your reply.        joe

[rmprdl1964]

Hi Joe,

If there is a need for you to be catheterzized it is the best to remain calm. I'm a male who has self catheterzized since 1996. Over the last 2 years I have had a urethral catheter for a year and a suprapubic catheter for about a year. I have had to have the catheters changed every 4 months.
I can state that the urethral catheter which is inserted through the penis into the bladder is not pain full. It can be uncofortable but not pain full. The thing that you have to do is to relax and not clamp down once you feel the catheter near the sphyncters. We normally have the reflex to resist things like this. Doing so will make it harder but should not make it pain full. we resist because we are anxious and afraind that we will urinate once we feel the catheter. Most medical personel knows this and do expect this. It is possible to have a freezing jel put down the urethra to numb the area. The problem that I found with this is that the freezing burns and does not have any effect on the sphyncters. I just ask for lots of lubrication when inserting the catheter. I prefer the penile catheter over the suprapubic.

I also have had numerous cystoscopies where they insert a scope into the penis. My very first one did hurt as I had severe prostatitis and they used a ridget scope over a flexible one. Every time I have been scoped since it has been uncomfortable but not pain full.

If you are3 really worried you should ask for sedation. It can be done by injection or by NOX gas. NOX does require a patient to breath the gas to feel minimal discomfort. I had a cyst exised that way. It is nice as it does not make one feel sleepy after.

All the best,

Ron

[MSKshelly]

Though not I male, I had the same anxiety about catherization as you do, but now have to self cath regularly.  The first time it hurt, i was inflamed and tense.  The advice about
is great...to add to that, you can also request some Valium etc.  I have had to have urethral dilations over the last few years as well... those are much more painful  BUT, I learned that if I take the Valium before the procedure, (Have a driver), they use lidocaine gel and I relax... it is not that bad at all!