The thing I am most horror stricken about--after ACDF type surgery do you wake up in the recovery room with a bladder cathether? Do they insert this after anesthesia? If so, is it removed much later the morning after surgery? (I am more familiar with friends having GYN surgery.) I have heard some real horror stories in the past about friends who rec. a catheter in the preop. area (adding insult to injury & more stress before surgery). I understand the necessity of the cathether itself in a surgical setting. I would be extremely mortified if friends & family were allowed to see me with a cathether bag hanging at the bedside postop. (We all have our quirks--this is mine.) Thanks, everyone.
hi there.. take heart..
for both of my cervical discectocmies and fusions (sp) the catheter was put in after anestesia and yours will most likely be out when or shortly after you wake up.. like in the recovery room.. you won't even remeber it.. that will be the last thing on your mind.. they will want you up and about asap..
You're not crazy - this was one of my big concerns as well. I was honestly often more worried about that than the ACDF surgery. I had a big gyn. surgery a few years ago and woke up with a catheter. They left it is ovenight and my bladder spasmed all night. It was really painful, much worse than the surgery itself so before my ACDF I talked to the anesthesiologist about it.
Procedure really vary from hospital to hospital. Some don't cath at all if it's going to be a short surgery. Mine was put in after I was asleep and removed before I woke up - no problem at all. Just don't be afraid to let the anesth. know your concerns.
I think that the complexity of your surgery and hospital / dr preferences dictate if you will have a cath or not. In my case, I had fusion c5/6 with plating and my surgery only took 1 hour 50 minutes. I didn't have one at all. I think that one of the reasons for having one is what your ability will be after surgery to get out of bed to go to the bathroom.
I would ask your doctor about it. They aren't the most pleasant things in the world but if you can't get up on your own, it beats the old "bedpan".
The thing I am most horror stricken about--after ACDF type surgery do you wake up in the recovery room with a bladder cathether? Do they insert this after anesthesia? If so, is it removed much later the morning after surgery? (I am more familiar with friends having GYN surgery.) I have heard some real horror stories in the past about friends who rec. a catheter in the preop. area (adding insult to injury & more stress before surgery). I understand the necessity of the cathether itself in a surgical setting. I would be extremely mortified if friends & family were allowed to see me with a cathether bag hanging at the bedside postop. (We all have our quirks--this is mine.) Thanks, everyone.
Re: Simple question but what's bothering me most 
that will be the last thing on your mind.. they will want you up and about asap..
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