Having incontinence is something that nurses and hospitals deal with everyday. It is not something you should be in the slightest worried about.
If you are having spinal anesthetics, then as others have said, you will likely either have a catheter or placed in a disposable brief anyhow.
I recently was with someone who had hip replacement surgery. They did a spinal block and truly they did not have any feeling or control from the waist down. Hence, it was not surprising that after the surgery they had been placed in a diaper. Which was a good thing, as until the block wore off, they did not have control. It depends upon what the doctor and hospital protocol may be as far as using a catheter or external protection. It is also partly your choice, depending upon what the surgery is for and where it is located. If you do not feel comfortable with having a catheter, you should express that and it is okay to say you would prefer having a diaper as you already wear them for incontinence.
In many aspects, changing a diaper is no more inconvenient than nurses having to regularly check on, secure, empty, and replace a catheter bag. And there is less likelihood of infection than might be with an extended period of an indwelling catheter.
So if you are already IC, just tell the doctor and the hospital staff. You should not even bat an eye of being worried about it. It is just part of what they are trained in and it is not something to be embarrassed about. While to you and I this might seem a big deal, it really isn't for them. They would much rather have you tell them so they can either use a catheter or a disposable brief than have to change wet bedding.
Just don't stress over the diaper thing, I assure you that there is absolutely no reason to do so.
My best wishes for you with your procedure and I hope all goes well with the surgery and a speedy recovery.
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cm90210 said:
I’ve had a number of surgeries and each time my experience is that the hospital calls a week or two ahead of time and goes through all the details you need to know before coming - and also does a full history of all major systems. I’ve notified them at that time of my bedwetting history and the majority of the time, they’ve told me to bring what I normal wear to bed to surgery.
I agree with the others who have indicated that this information given over the phone - may or may not be passed on to the people taking care of you on the day you actually get to the hospital for surgery. In most cases for me, the people checking me in and stuff, had to go through everything again.
ON the times when I’ve had to take a hospital stay, I’ve taken with me print paper copies of my major medical history, medications, bedwetting and need for diapers while sleeping. These I gave to nurses, etc. when I checked in, and also saved one for the nurse on the floor once I got into my room. It seems that not all information gets passed from staff-to-staff.
If you have a major problem having a catheter, you might have to communicate this multiple times in order to get it accommodated.
Also, If you choose not to wear a diaper at all, I know that on my spouse’s hospital floor, they have a “no-diaper” policy. Their patients either have catheters or NOTHING. They just have accidents right in the bed and then the staff has to change them. The idea is to prevent CNA staff from being lazy and relying too much on diapers and not helping people get out of bed and into the bathroom. It’s possible and maybe even normal that when you get up to your room, having accidents in the bed wont single you out at all. Having diapers might even be unusual...
Also, I’d recommend bringing your own diaper supplies with you to the hospital. They dont always have them - at least in the states - and the ones they do are not very good!
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Holy cow cm90210! I am not sure what state you might be living in, or the hospitals that you have had to go to, but that is certainly not the case in areas I have lived in. My spouse has had surgeries almost every year, and I myself have had a few, as well as other family members, and in no case have I ever seen where someone is expected to just have an accident in bed because they have a "no diaper" policy. That seems like something out of the dark ages to be certain! I am not saying I disbelieve you, but everywhere I have been and in multiple types of surgery and among many different locations, that is so far from what I have seen.
I was with someone who just had hip replacement surgery and as I was with this person in recovery, she had been placed in a diaper either before or after the procedure. She had no knowledge of this happening. And it was a good thing, as until the spinal block wore off, she had no control and twice was changed before it wore off. There certainly was not a no diaper policy there and it was likely much easier than having to deal with how critically sterile that catheterization has to be, both during insertion, as well as care while it is in place and the removal. The last thing one needs after surgery is getting a urinary tract infection that could spread to other areas and affect your recovery.
If someone told me that the hospital I was staying in had a "no diaper" policy and if I did not have a catheter I would simply have to wet the bed, I certainly would find another hospital and doctor. That is absolutely ridiculous and makes no sense whatsoever. Instead of training and monitoring nurses to make sure they are properly checking on patients, helping them to the bathroom when they are able, and also changing diapers when they need to be, they would rather have patients have no protection and experience the embarassment of having the whole bedding changed? Let alone the exposure of nurses, and those responsible for laundry to things that would otherwise be easily disposed of in a diaper.
Come on, really? What is next? I guess newborn babies will have to have catheters in the hospital because nurses don't check them and change them frequently enough? Why would this be different than adults who are incontinent? Dang...
Or is this coming from an assumption that people would rather use a diaper than go to the bathroom --and that nurses would rather change a wet diaper than the time involved to get the patient up and help them go pee in the toilet? Oh my heavens!! What a thought!!!
But now that perhaps the OP is even more concerned after this discussion than before.... I want to reassure the OP that MOST hospitals and doctors will work with patients in a very understanding and compassionate manner. There is much more attention to dignity and what the patient desires than even five or ten years ago. And incontinence is something that is common and expected --even among those who are not IC, but may experience this during surgery and anesthesia. Hence, they are prepared to deal with it, and are willing to listen to your needs.
Do not be shy about sharing you are IC and whether or not you would rather have a diaper than a catheter. In some cases, you may not have a choice, but in many cases, you will.