# Just had a catheter removed. Pissing fire! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 7, 2009, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-had-a-catheter-removed-pissing-fire/480280 "2009-01-07T20:53:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-had-a-catheter-removed-pissing-fire/480280/1 "2009-01-07T20:53:50Z")
I had a catheter today for a couple of tests. It was only in there for 10-15 minutes but it felt like 10-15 years. I just went pee and felt like I was pissing acid. How long can I expect this to last? It hurts so f’n bad it’s not even funny. (Male by the way) ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-had-a-catheter-removed-pissing-fire/480280/2 "2009-01-07T21:06:10Z")
They didn’t tell you :eek: - at least a year. Just kidding it should subside soon, drink plenty of fluids is what my doc told me… IANAD ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-had-a-catheter-removed-pissing-fire/480280/3 "2009-01-07T21:11:12Z")
Drinking a lot is good–concentrated urine hurts a lot more. Not being a male or a medical person, I can’t comment on how long this will last, sorry. ---
**Author:** ![sweeteviljesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-had-a-catheter-removed-pissing-fire/480280/4 "2009-01-07T21:21:51Z")
I had to get a cath once in the ER. (In fact, I think the guy who administered it was some creepy dude who sneaked in and stole a pair of scrubs since the doctor said she didn’t order the cath, but that is another story.) I was unable to piss for about twenty-four hours due to the pain. I called my dad who is a physician and he told me that if I couldn’t do it, I would have to go back and get cathed again. Naturally, I forced myself to fight through the pain and when I finally did piss, I got the Holy Spirit, albeit temporarily. In any case, it didn’t hurt much after that. FWIW, Rob who will never be cathed again without a formal declaration of war ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-had-a-catheter-removed-pissing-fire/480280/5 "2009-01-07T21:24:37Z")
> [@sweeteviljesus](#): > > I had to get a cath once in the ER. (In fact, I think the guy who administered it was some creepy dude who sneaked in and stole a pair of scrubs since the doctor said she didn’t order the cath, but that is another story.) I was unable to piss for about twenty-four hours due to the pain. I called my dad who is a physician and he told me that if I couldn’t do it, I would have to go back and get cathed again. Naturally, I forced myself to fight through the pain and when I finally did piss,\*\* I got the Holy Spirit\*\*, albeit temporarily. In any case, it didn’t hurt much after that. > > FWIW, > Rob who will never be cathed again without a formal declaration of war And that’s when you got your username? ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-had-a-catheter-removed-pissing-fire/480280/6 "2009-01-07T21:42:52Z")
Don’t they give you some pills for that? When I was in the Navy, I had a urethral stricture widened, requiring a catheter for a day or two afterwards. When they removed it, I took the pills they gave me and felt no pain whatsoever when I peed. Of course, they neglected to tell me that it turns the urine the color of Tang (bright orange). What a surprise that was! ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-had-a-catheter-removed-pissing-fire/480280/7 "2009-01-07T21:47:25Z")
Once I had a bladderoscopy or whatever you call it. They put a camera in your bladder. And there’s only one way in, boys. :eek: The first time I peed after that it was excruciating. But after that, it wasn’t nearly so bad. I got a pill that was a massive antibiotic, but it wasn’t for pain. BTW I’m glad the doc told me it would turn my urine red. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-had-a-catheter-removed-pissing-fire/480280/8 "2009-01-07T21:57:15Z")
I’m feeling faint just reading these responses… ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-had-a-catheter-removed-pissing-fire/480280/9 "2009-01-07T21:58:17Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > Once I had a bladderoscopy or whatever you call it. They put a camera in your bladder. And there’s only one way in, boys. :eek: Well, there’s another way in…but, through your kidney very likely would hurt even more. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![unclelem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ac91a4/32.png) [@unclelem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclelem)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-had-a-catheter-removed-pissing-fire/480280/10 "2009-01-07T22:02:59Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > How long can I expect this to last? It hurts so f’n bad it’s not even funny. It gets less painfull quickly. At least it should. For me, the pain was merely annoying on the second day, and gone by the third. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-had-a-catheter-removed-pissing-fire/480280/11 "2009-01-07T22:09:31Z")
There’s a urinary tract anasthetic that we girls use when we get UTIs - Uristat, or there are other brands. Assuming it’s okay with your doctor, I think it would help. (It will stain your underwear day-glo orange, though.) ETA - you’ll find it next to the tampons and pregnancy tests in the drug store. ---
**Author:** ![fortytwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f9ae1b/32.png) [@fortytwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fortytwo)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-had-a-catheter-removed-pissing-fire/480280/12 "2009-01-07T23:08:12Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > Once I had a bladderoscopy or whatever you call it. They put a camera in your bladder. And there’s only one way in, boys. :eek: > > The first time I peed after that it was excruciating. But after that, it wasn’t nearly so bad. > > I got a pill that was a massive antibiotic, but it wasn’t for pain. BTW I’m glad the doc told me it would turn my urine red. It’s called a cystoscopy over here. I have to have it done every 6 months and from my experience, it takes me about 12 hours to make taking a leak only mildly painful. As far as I remember it took about the same time to recover after I had a catheter removed. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-had-a-catheter-removed-pissing-fire/480280/13 "2009-01-07T23:20:20Z")
And just for the folks who have never had the joy that is a cystoscopy: [A cystoscope](http://www.endoscopy4you.com/assets/images/medit_cystoscope_450.jpg) :eek: And yes, they do insert the whole length. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-had-a-catheter-removed-pissing-fire/480280/14 "2009-01-07T23:24:54Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > Once I had a bladderoscopy or whatever you call it. They put a camera in your bladder. And there’s only one way in, boys. :eek: > > The first time I peed after that it was excruciating. But after that, it wasn’t nearly so bad. > > I got a pill that was a massive antibiotic, but it wasn’t for pain. BTW I’m glad the doc told me it would turn my urine red. That’s what I got today. It hurt like hell and hurts worse after. Peeing isn’t as bad right now but still burns like hell ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-had-a-catheter-removed-pissing-fire/480280/15 "2009-01-07T23:54:14Z")
To be more specific I had the cystoscopy, which hurt, and then had a catheter for a urodynamics test. Along with a probe up my ass. FUn time. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-had-a-catheter-removed-pissing-fire/480280/16 "2009-01-08T00:21:41Z")
The burning will last about two days. Every time you pee, the pain will be less. Bite the bullet and pee as often as you can. A Haiku: Philosophers say “If” Is the unkindest of words Wrong; it’s “catheter.” ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-had-a-catheter-removed-pissing-fire/480280/17 "2009-01-08T00:38:42Z")
For me, if it had been in a long time it hurt to urinate the first few times after. But it goes away pretty quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-had-a-catheter-removed-pissing-fire/480280/18 "2009-01-08T01:47:46Z")
I had a kidney stone removed from a ureter. I was asleep, of course. They left a stent in, though. Anyway, they said I could leave the hospital as soon as I could urinate. Hey, no prob. But they didn’t tell me what it was going to feel like. White hot tungsten razor blade shards. They could’ve at least mentioned that a low pressure approach was advisable. It took a few days before it felt like passing water instead of HCl. But, that stent still had to come out, so I was back at the hospital in five days, and for that I wasn’t asleep. In fact, I don’t think I could’ve been more wide awake. (Side note: That lidocaine jelly she injected first doesn’t do squat.) Fire pissing redux for a couple more days. Kidney stones are proof that God got a D-minus in his Anatomical Design 101 class. ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-had-a-catheter-removed-pissing-fire/480280/19 "2009-01-08T03:01:29Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > I had a catheter today for a couple of tests. It was only in there for 10-15 minutes but it felt like 10-15 years. I just went pee and felt like I was pissing acid. > > How long can I expect this to last? It hurts so f’n bad it’s not even funny. > > (Male by the way) it ain’t fun. ☹ 24 hours and it is only uncomfortable. 48 hours and it is a bad memory. It is a long 24 hours though… ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-had-a-catheter-removed-pissing-fire/480280/20 "2009-01-08T03:04:13Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > Once I had a bladderoscopy or whatever you call it. They put a camera in your bladder. And there’s only one way in, boys. :eek: > > The first time I peed after that it was excruciating. But after that, it wasn’t nearly so bad. > > I got a pill that was a massive antibiotic, but it wasn’t for pain. BTW I’m glad the doc told me it would turn my urine red. I had bladder cancer (caught early though. I went from cancer victim to cancer survivor in one afternoon and no chemo. I was lucky). But it means my doctor takes a look around every six months. It is FAR better than the alternative, but no fun. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-had-a-catheter-removed-pissing-fire/480280.md?page=2)