No Catheter with Spinal?

WeAreSmalls · May 2013

Hi - I am scheduled for a RCS next week with my twins. I had an unplanned C-sec with DD 5 years ago. With DD I had an epidural and a catheter. I asked OB today if I would have an epi or a spinal and what the difference would be. She said it would be a spinal and the differences are that they don't continue to give meds through the spine (sounded like the initial injection lasts about 12 hours?) and I would not have a catheter. Looking at some previous posts, it seems that other people have had a catheter with a spinal. Not that I loved the catheter, but getting in and out of bed to go to the bathroom the same day as have a C-section doesn't sound too pleasant either. Just wondering what other people's experiences were.

Thanks

bumpuser5078523 · May 2013

I personally would insist on one. I had mine in for two days and still felt horrible getting out of bed. I had some complications with meds and blood pressure though. I don't know if that had anything to do with it.

KellyAnne82 · May 2013

Your doctor is probably referring to the catheter put in the spine to deliver the epidural numbing meds to you. Epidurals can be placed in and altered to add or back off the numbing power. Some people even get walking Epidurals, whereupon they are actually able to move about the room despite the placement.

A spinal, (which I had for my scheduled csection) is a block inserted into the dural layer of the spine. It begins to wear off beginning (usually) about an hour after it begins. You can expect your legs to go numb gradually (like falling asleep). I personally felt the doctors touching, but no pain. Strange feeling, but I had great staff in the OR who kept my mind off of it all. It cannot be topped up the way an epidural can.

You will most definitely have to have a urinary catheter in either way. The first 6-12 hours after your surgery you'll probably have the inflatable leggings on (to prevent blood clots) and you'll be stuck in Bed, unable to void. The nurses frequently check your urine bag to see the color/amount and record their findings in their chart. My urinary catheter went in after my spinal, so I felt nothing and it was super convenient. I drank a ton of fluids, which I wanted to do so my first urination on my own wasnt super strong. The catheter came out the next morning (painless).

Good luck!

kgs0505 · May 2013

I had a catheter with my spinal. the spinal lasted about 2 or 3 hours or so as far as numbness was concerned, but for some pain control it lasted about 18 hours. i still had break through pain requiring additional meds though. i wasn't allowed out of bed for 24 hours due to the magnesium they had me on, so a catheter was necessary. i can't imagine why they wouldn't cath you for a spinal, you can't feel a darn thing below the chest and the risk of you peeing everywhere and adding to the fluids coming out of you. i'd want one too.

Heather2884 · May 2013

I had a catheter with my spinal. My c-section was scheduled. They put the catheter in after the spinal. It seems like it stayed in for 18 hours of so.

WeAreSmalls · May 2013

Thanks for your responses. My OB was probably talking about the epi catheter since she mentioned it in conjunction with not getting continuous pain meds. I guess my mind just went to the urinary catheter.

vindaloo · May 2013

KellyAnne82:
Your doctor is probably referring to the catheter put in the spine to deliver the epidural numbing meds to you. nbsp;Epidurals can be placed in and altered to add or back off the numbing power. nbsp;Some people even get walking Epidurals, whereupon they are actually able to move about the room despite the placement.nbsp;A spinal, which I had for my scheduled csection is a block inserted into the dural layer of the spine. nbsp;It begins to wear off beginning usually about an hour after it begins. nbsp;You can expect your legs to go numb gradually like falling asleep. nbsp;I personally felt the doctors touching, but no pain. nbsp;Strange feeling, but I had great staff in the OR who kept my mind off of it all. It cannot be topped up the way an epidural can.nbsp;You will most definitely have to have a urinary catheter in either way. nbsp;The first 612 hours after your surgery you'll probably have the inflatable leggings on to prevent blood clots and you'll be stuck in Bed, unable to void. nbsp;The nurses frequently check your urine bag to see the color/amount and record their findings in their chart. nbsp;My urinary catheter went in after my spinal, so I felt nothing and it was super convenient.nbsp; I drank a ton of fluids, which I wanted to do so my first urination on my own wasnt super strong. The catheter came out the next morning painless.nbsp;Good luck!nbsp;

This. Are you sure you weren't confusing the catheters?

JSabs09 · May 2013

KellyAnne82:
Your doctor is probably referring to the catheter put in the spine to deliver the epidural numbing meds to you. Epidurals can be placed in and altered to add or back off the numbing power. Some people even get walking Epidurals, whereupon they are actually able to move about the room despite the placement.

This is what I'm assuming as well. Good luck!

erinm619 · May 2013

I just had my baby May 2nd and I had a catheter with my spinal. It was great for the first day when it still hurt to move. But by the beginning of the 2nd day I was begging for them to take it out because I wanted to get up and walk around. Now I am hating it because I have developed a UTI from it which is no fun! But it's definately nice not having to pee all the time like we did when we were pregnant!

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