Catheter reinserted 3 times after prostatectomy

[Linnea56]

My husband had his prostate removed laparoscopically for prostate cancer. The surgery went well. He had a catheter for a week. It was removed and all seemed well. Good control, no leakage. None of the things he feared. But then urine flow slowed then stopped, and we had to go to the ER to have a catheter re-inserted, 16 hours after removal (OF COURSE this could not happen during office hours, so we could just go to the urologist). 2 days later it was removed again. This time he lasted 50 hours before it slowed to a trickle again. He had decided to go to work that day. In the interim I had read about taking hot baths to relax the urethra and bladder and taking ibuprofen to reduce swelling. The flow had already been stopped 5 hours before I knew of it and could suggest them. He tried those, but it was too late; no idea if they would have helped anyway. Doctor’s office said probably not.

They tell us, "Oh, this happens all the time." Sure, "normal" from their perspective. Just how many times is a man supposed to have a catheter re-inserted? But it is demoralizing for him. It is wearing us out.

What can he do to keep things open? All along he has been drinking a lot and urinating (or trying to) frequently, as instructed. The only exception has been at night (he usually gets up once, but will set his alarm more often if it will help). I appreciate any suggestions you can offer.

[Life360_Dave]

Maybe an MRI. They need to find whats causing pressure on the urethra.

[Linnea56]

How would you find out?

It did block up again yesterday afternoon. I had asked him to tell me immediately when it slowed or stopped. He sat in a hot tub of water for 2 hours, to relax that whole area, constantly refreshing with new hot water, as hot as he could stand.  (A friend who gets blocked from kidney stones recommended this, but I didn’t know if it would work for this). Hot water tank turned up all the way. 90 minutes in he got some dribbles. Then applied the scalding hot water with the shower head (it’s on a long hose that reaches all the way down) directly on the penis and the blockage gave way.  (I posted all these details in case someone has a similar problem and looks for ideas. )  

While he was in the tub his doctor returned his call. Prescribed valium to relax the bladder and muscles around it. A drug called Azo to relieve urethral irritation from the catheter removal.

When he got out of the tub I sat him on the sofa with a heating pad (a long narrow one) tucked around and up, to keep that whole area warm and relaxed. He is sitting on pillows arranged so as to put no pressure on the testicles or perineum.

[Life360_Dave]

My approach would be to find the exact cause of the stoppage. What exactly is causing pressure against his urethra.