How does it feel to have a Foley insertion?

GrumpyRN, NP · Feb 18, 2016

I have never heard of a Uroject before - didn't even know there was a product available to help numb men up before a foley insertion. No where I've worked has stocked it. You learn something new every day!

Seriously......? America does not use something like this? Instillagel Sterile Gel | CliniMed, Ltd. :eek:

I have had a couple of catheters inserted and my biggest worry was "who is doing it?" Is it someone I know? Or worse, one of my colleagues?

Should be a pain free experience and only some mild discomfort as your bits are grabbed and then the catheter inserted.

Found that if you have one in for a few days when it is taken out the urine stings the urethra something fierce.

Lev, MSN, RN, NP · Feb 18, 2016

I will point out that for people with kidney stones especially, foley insertion or even being straight cathed can cause the ureter to spasm which is very uncomfortable.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Feb 18, 2016

It burned when it went in, and I felt like I had to pee the entire time it was in. That sensation never went away, I can't remember anything about the removal aside from vowing never to allow anything that close to my pee hole ever again.

I feel the same way about never letting one that close to me again. When I woke up in the Neuro ICU after brain surgery, I think one of the first things I said was "take it out, take it out now." They refused and said it had to stay in the whole time I was in the ICU. If I ever have surgery again, I'm smuggling in an empty 10cc luer lock syringe so I can take the damn thing out myself when I wake up.

CBlover, BSN, RN · Feb 18, 2016

Had an in and out cath once. Couldn't even feel it. A obgyn doctor inserted it. I had a Foley catheter once too before childbirth but had an epidural so I couldn't feel anything.

Extra Pickles · Feb 18, 2016

I once had a male patient in his thirties tell me it was like having a broomstick coated in glass shards inserted, made quite an impression on me! It wasn't because of me because he said it was like this the last time and the time before that, I guess he'd had a few. From that description I think I can safely say it was painful!

I had a foley and don't remember it going in must have been anesthetized at that point but for the next day that I was awake and still had the thing it was truly awful. Every time I moved in the bed it hurt. The nurse taped it to my inner thigh and used a clamp too but it still moved just enough to cause me severe discomfort. I don't remember it coming out either so I guess that was far less uncomfortable than having it in!

JerseyTomatoMDCrab, BSN · Feb 18, 2016

I've never had one but I have inserted PLENTY and got a range of responses. "Not so bad!" to "I wouldn't volunteer for that" to "Devil woman go back to the fiery pits of hell where you belong and rot forever"

I will say that I don't understand the posters saying they never liked inserting them. I LOVED placing them. Like, so much. I don't know if it's because I am good at it and we all like doing things at which we excel. But the people on my unit called me the pee-pee whisperer.

mrsjonesRN · Feb 18, 2016

I hope I never know what it feels like...

Farawyn · Feb 18, 2016

Seriously......? America does not use something like this? Instillagel Sterile Gel | CliniMed, Ltd.
I have had a couple of catheters inserted and my biggest worry was "who is doing it?" Is it someone I know? Or worse, one of my colleagues?
Should be a pain free experience and only some mild discomfort as your bits are grabbed and then the catheter inserted.
Found that if you have one in for a few days when it is taken out the urine stings the urethra something fierce.

Yes. We have it or the equivalent at our hospital.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Feb 18, 2016

In my experience, catheters are pure torture. Insertion is awful, but having it in is worse...I have constant bladder spasms and need pyridium to cope. Ordinarily I have a high pain tolerance, but this is enough to reduce me to a whiny, pathetic five-year-old. That's why I'm so good at insertion---I know what it's like to be catheterized.

OCNRN63, RN · Feb 18, 2016

I'd say a lot of it depends on the skill level of the person inserting the foley. I've had five surgeries in the last five years and needed filets for several of them. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't the most pleasant procedure, either.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 18, 2016

Lol does it hurt? Is there a stretching, burning or stinging sensation?

I had an indwelling Foley inserted in 2008 immediately prior to undergoing a uterine fibroid embolization procedure. The Foley insertion was quick and painless. The fibroid treatment, however, left my uterus feeling as if it was on fire for the first 24 hours after the procedure.

Jensmom7, BSN, RN · Feb 18, 2016

I've inserted many over the years (like JerseyTomato, I was the unit "pee-pee whisperer" lol), and using plenty of lube and one smooth motion (as opposed to the insert a little-stop-insert a little-stop that I saw often) seemed to make it less unbearable.

I've only had two, personally. One was during an anaphylactic reaction and I was in the process of not breathing, and the second was when I was under anesthesia before gallbladder surgery. So, I never felt them go in.

Neither were in that long. The first was discontinued after I was extubated and up on the general floor, the second after I hit the floor from PACU. Both times I was like, "I know you want me up and ambulating. Tell ya what. Pull the Foley and I'll meander to the bathroom."

Since I was at the hospital where I worked, and everyone knew me, I got my way. [emoji56]