How many of you had a catheter placed before the surgery? It hadn't occurred to me that one would be needed but I am reading the day of surgery stories and it seems several people did have catheters. Thanks!

I didn't have to have one and was banded the 19th of May .. We are the same age ..

I had to have one. I argued against it but the surgeon refused to do the surgery without it. It was put in after I was in the OR and was taken out the following day. I didn't feel anything but I got a UTI within 48 hours after having it removed.

I didn't have one, which surprised me a little bit. Five years ago I had a hysterectomy (warning -- TMI ahead!) and for some reason the doctor did catheterize me but didn't give me an enema or anything beforehand..... and I had a bowel movement all over the operating table in the middle of surgery. What a nightmare for the doctor and nurses!!! And a very near-nightmare for me.... talk about contaminating the operating field. The doctor was extremely worried that I would get an infection, and for 5 days they gave me 4 different antibiotics intravenously. I was lucky -- no infection. But that experience did make me ask the bariatric surgeon about precautions for the lapband surgery. He said he was very surprised my gynecologist didn't give me an enema before surgery, but that it wasn't necessary for the lapband and neither was a catheter. My surgery was at 1:00 pm and I hadn't had anything to eat or drink since midnight the night before so I guess my system was pretty well cleaned out by then!

I was banded on the 27th. No catheter.

I had a catheter that was put in after I was under anesthesia and taken out about 6 hours after surgery... no antibiotics, no problems.

I had a catheter, removed about 3 hours after coming out of anesthesia... when I got up to walk for the first time... had surgery in TJ Mexico on May 27th. Removal was painless and no after issues.

Kammi in Everett, WA

I had a catheter put in after I was in the operating room and "under" and it was taken out in the operating room before I returned to the step down area.

Didn't have a catheter.

Not really sure why some surgeons require it as you've been NPO since midnight and on a clear liquid prior to surgery AND had some sort of bowel prep that is bound to assist in slightly dehydrating you-the point I'm making is there's hardly any risk of urinating on the operating table!!

As a nurse, most MD's I work with will not insert a catheter for such a short surgery but you do have those old school MD's that just think another invasive procedure is warranted in case of complications. But it'll be up to your doctor. Take care and good luck!

I didn't have one

Some surgeons want it to keep the bladder empty, creating more room in the abdomen to work. It is inserted after you're asleep, and there really is no reason why it couldn't be removed before you leave the OR since you are supposed to be up and about after surgery. However, don't forget even though you have been NPO from midnight the night before, as soon as you get to pre-op you are getting IV fluids, and keep getting them all through your stay. What goes in, must come out. My doc just asks his patients to use the restroom before going to the O.R. I've worked in the OR for 16 years, every doc is different, and every doc thinks their way is the best way, it's how they were trained.

No catheter for me, THANK GOD! I had to give a urine sample before surgery, so my bladder was empty anyway.

I HATE CATHETERS!!! and that is one of the questions I asked.

No - I did not have one and would have begged not to have one if they said I was gonna get one Nurse laughed at me and said "Honey, we have old women who come in here and beg for them because they don't want to get up"

Hi

I had one-only because of preexisting problems. They also put it in after I was under. They left it in over night and took it out sometime the next day.

It was after they took it out that I felt the UTI feeling. I felt uncomfortable and I was sure I had it. I must have just been alittle iritated--no problems. I can honestly say-for me everything was a very easy procedure. Good Luck

Also, I want to say "There is nothing so good as eating like a normal person".

I like me and don't feel the shame of over eating for the first time in years!! LOVE MY BAND TOO!!!

Thanks everybody!! Well, it does seem to be a preference thing from surgeon to surgeon. I am hoping I don't have to but if I do, I am all for putting it in after I am asleep! I think it is just another venue for infection.

Thanks again! Really appreciate your comments!

I didn't have one either. My surgery lasted a little less than an hour!!!!!!!!