Well there's this kinda wierd thing thats going on. I am 2 weeks post-op today. Pretty much ever since surgery (as much as I can remember considering the pain meds) I have felt this constant pressure on my bladder and pelvic area. Almost feels like I always have to go to the bathroom. Then when I do have to urinate (even just a little the pressure increases greatly. Also I am having trouble knowing when I'm done. I think I'm done but the pressure is still there. Wait a little bit, sometimes more comes out. I don't know if this is proctectomy related just one more thing that just kinda needs to work itself out...
But where is the pressure coming from? My mom wondered if it could be the constant drain that is in my pouch that is causing pressure. Since there is a good 6 inches inside my body.

I don't know and I don't want to make a big deal out of it until its lasted a while or I can't get any answers here

Anyone have any thoughts?

--
katie

Have you had since since the foley was removed or did it just begin?

Its been going on for some time. Don't remember if I felt this way while the Foley was in. That came out about 3 days post-op and I was still on the PCA pump. When I get the urge to pee though its REALLY strong, even if its just a little bit.

Katie
I would go to the doc and rule out a urinary infection.Then take it from there.

yea, i had some really funky peeing problems right out of surgery.
they took the foley out, and i didn't pee all day, so they put it right back in (talk bout ouch) and left it in a couple more hours took it out, and then i did pee myself, but it got to be HELL, where i literally had pressure and urge to pee every 15 min, on the clock. i actually started timing it, and sure nuff, it was very literally every 15 min. i'd get up to pee, and piddles woudl come out. mere drops.
it got so annoying being attached to the IV that i just got a bedpan and would get outta bed, piddle, grab tissue, get back in bed. repeatedly.
didn't sleep pretty much at all.
nooone could tell me anything, figured my bladder was just kinda dopey from the surgery or something.
and then i had to get in a car and drive 5 hours home, lemme tell ya THAT trip was fun. we couldn't stop so much (by then i'd gotten up to a half hour between urges to pee) so i just did the same thing, had a jug of sorts, was in the back of the car peeing in a cup while my mom was driving. talk about humility being abolished by then.
and it very slowly and gradually got better. but it was one of the more aggravating things.

and now, i sorta feel like i have super bladder or something. i can go ssoooooooo long without peeing, and when i do, it's like waterfalls (heh, this whole post is like T.M.I)
but i do also notice that like you said, i sometimes think i'm done, and then more will come out. so i kinda sit on the toilet and make sure everything that wants to come out is coming out.)
my boyfriend and i still refer to me as a camel. it's like i ahve a reserve in there or something. my theory is my bladder just has way more room to fill up now that there is no pesky large intestine in the way.

but either way, we're all different, i would definitely at least bring the issue up to one of your doc's just so that they are aware, and maybe have suggestions or know why. and if they think it's serious enough to get seen by someone, they'll probably let you know

you shouldn't have to wait to bring up something you think might be an issue. as soon as it becomes something of a pattern to you, you should tell someone. who knows, sometimes it's easiest and best to catch something early if need be.
please let us know hwat happens.

Well for about a month after I had my j-pouch removed I had to self-catheterise because I couldn't get it all out and would have a constant urge to pee. It eventually got better and I was able to pee on my own but I've not been able to pee straight since! Honestly, I mean when I'm sitting on the throne it always splashes the front underside of the seat. If I try to lean forward so that it goes down the bowl better then the flow will stop so I have to sit upright and just have to clean the seat every time I pee. Yeah, probably far too much information!

Even now if I leave it too long before peeing then I get that same pressure pain and it lingers for a few minutes after I'm done so I just pee whenever I empty Wee Willie's bag thus saving the discomfort.

Shell

I had the pressure you are describing after they took the catheter out. My bladder was distended and they had to put it back in for 2 more days. When I went home I still had the pressure and never felt that I went enough. First my surgeon had me take flomax to see if that helpted and when it didn't he sent me to a urologist. She said the nerves were probably traumatized from surgery and I had to self catherize and measure the output until there was less than 100cc, then I could stop. Thankfully, I was able to stop 3 or 3 days later. It took a while for that feeling to completely go away. I would definitely call your surgeon, and see if he thinks you need to see a urologist.

Hope you feel better soon,

janna