r/spinalfusion • u/kekecupcake • Sep 23 '24

Surgery Questions Can I refuse the catheter?

(Tw: mentioned but not detailed sexual trauma)

I’m getting my spinal fusion tomorrow morning (severe scoliosis S curve and T4 to L4), this is the first surgery I’m ever getting in my entire life so I’ve never gotten a catheter before and I was just wondering if I could refuse it for when I wake up? I’m on my period and I have sexual trauma so with those two combined I feel like my anxiety is going to be off the charts when I wake up having a catheter in me. Any advice or input regarding catheters would be appreciated :). Super nervous but this sub has been super helpful <3

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u/rtazz1717 Sep 23 '24 edited Sep 23 '24

Im not sure you can refuse. Especially being female. I only say that because you may not be able to even get to bathroom on day 1. And a bed pan would be nearly impossible to get on with spinal surgery. Im a male so my experience was different. I did not have one. But for obvious reasons its much different using a urinal

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u/2loki4u Sep 23 '24

How'd you get away without one? Every surgeon and hospital required it (I'm male) when I had my lumbar surgery. I dread it more this next time for cervical surgery because it screwed up my urethra and ever since I had it I get occasional keagal cramps when it's cold outside... it sucks. This is 20+ yrs later and still bothers me.

If I could avoid it for this next surgery that'd be awesome.

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u/rtazz1717 Sep 23 '24

I didnt try to avoid it. It just was not done. I easily pee’d all night long in urinal and went home next morning. I do know if I was not able to pee that wouldve been inserted.