On 13 Jun 2005 18:57:50 -0700, "Lisa Ann" >
wrote:

>Carol wrote:
>>After the catheter was removed, he couldn't "perform" on the toilet. The
>>nurse (charming woman) told me that he was having renal problems and that
>t>hey were worse than when he was admitted (gotta talk to the doc about
>this
>>- we were unaware of existing kidney problems). Today, after talking to a
>>more sympathetic nurse, as well as to Lynne A., we know that this isn't
>>unheard of after surgery, and isn't necessarily the terrible thing that I
>>was lead to fear. Nurse Charming also said something about an enlarged
>>prostate, but I'm not taking her word for anything at this point, and will
>>talk to the doctor at dawn tomorrow.
>
>First of all, I'm *so* glad Crash is better! I was getting worried.
>
>Secondly...the other nurse and Lynne A are correct; inability to "void"
>one's bladder isn't unheard of after surgery. (I love those medical
>euphemisms.)

Yes, this is very, very common. Especially with opiates: they can
cause what is known as cryogenic bladder, which means you can't pee.

I had it with all my surgeries, and it was downright painful
sometimes, as my bladder filled up with urine... After having to have
several catherizations to empty my bladder (not very pleasant), I got
so I asked for a catheter to start out with, until I got off the
opiates (Morphine, in my case).

Carol, I am sorry to hear about the pain issues. Did they ever give
him the spinal narcotics? It almost sounds like they didn't. When I
woke up from the surgeries where I had those, I had absolutely NO pain
until it wore off many hours afterwards. By that time, I was able to
tolerate the pain that I did have, and by the time I went home, I was
only taking Vicodin, and not that much per day.

I am hoping that everyone is right, and that the other meds that were
not given to him, would make a difference in how he tolerated the
pain. Even so, the pain I had after surgery, wasn't nearly as bad as
you describe.

Christine, who has had 4 hip replacements, and working towards another
one.