Unable to pee after TURBT op

This is my first post. Just had a very stressful day, not helped by the fact that I suffer severe anxiety and depression. My husband was diagnosed with a suspected bladder cancer 3 weeks ago. The growth is small about 10mm.

He had a TURBT today, went in at 7.30am and was expecting to be discharged today, the registrar was sure that he would be discharged on the same day.

The surgeon said the op went well, there were issues in recovery with his blood pressure dropping low, they have remedied that. He has just phoned me at 9.30pm and said he won't be coming home as he hasn't yet managed to pee.

How common is this? Does this indicate a problem.  Has anyone on here had this problem? He is very down about this and I am worried. Am I right in thinking that he will have to have a catheter as a temporary measure?

Thanks for reading.

  • Hello and thanks for posting

    I'm sorry to read about what your husband is going through. It's understandable to feel anxious and worried given the situation.

    After a TURBT it's not uncommon to experience some difficulty in passing urine. This can be due to several reasons such as swelling from the procedure, irritation or even the effects of the anaesthetic. While this can be worrying it's often a temporary issue.

    Your husband staying in hospital overnight allowed his medical team to monitor his condition. If he continued to have trouble urinating a catheter may have been used temporarily to help drain his bladder and relieve any discomfort.

    Hopefully people will come along and share their experiences, as support like this can be helpful. But it’s important to bear in mind that every situation is unique. As you have posted in our ask the nurses section, you might want to post in another section of the forum as you may get more replies. 

    I hope your husband's condition improves and that he gets home from hospital soon.

    Give us a ring if you would like to talk any of this over. The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

    Best wishes,

    Celene

  • Thanks for your reply. He came home the following day with the catheter, removed it himself today and has managed to pee! A relief!